Life
The afternoon sun was shining bright and Emma had her first taste of grass, delish. I was captivated by the rays as they sparkled off her sparse head of hair. She winced when the wind blew and I realized we need to get outside more. This was a beautiful little moment on a windy afternoon.
(#nofilter)
My sweet little city mouse was wondering why I’ve put her down on the lava/grass.
Check out the entire 52 project here.
Here is a little conversation we had with a couple sitting near us at dinner the other night.
Them: Oh your baby is so cute!
Us: Why, thank you, you’re so sweet.
Them: We are expecting our first, she is seven months along, we are also having a girl!
Us: How exciting! Little girls are wonderful.
Them: What is your little one’s name?
Us: Emma
Them: What a beautiful name, we are naming ours Stella.
Us: That is so sweet.
Future dad: Is it scary? Were you scared?
Paul: Not scared, but nervous. I didn’t do any research ahead of time, but I figured it out as I went.
Future dad: Oh right, nervous, that’s the word. I am nervous.
Us: It is nerve wracking, but amazing.
Them: Well God bless you three.
Us: And many blessings to you too.
Paul and I talk to strangers. And we talk a lot.
It is something that each of us have done independently our whole lives and something we do as a couple as well (peas in a pod). Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I am in one of those moods where the headphones go in and I want a completely conversation-free bus ride. Usually Monday mornings.
But I enjoy meeting people anywhere and everywhere. We have chatted with a young transplant from the Czech Republic here on a work visa. We met a family visiting from Brazil and had fun making Emma laugh. We get restaurant recommendations, we give directions, we say hello, and we smile. I ask questions and I make connections.
Although you won’t find me chatting about the weather alone in a dark alley, I am always one to stop and chat with a stranger. I find out about a piece of their lives and they find out a piece of mine. In a city with a zillion people, we have a moment of connection.
I hope Emma sees Paul and I connecting with people from all walks of life. I want her to be confident and outspoken as well as kind and open towards others. We are not meant to walk this earth alone.
So I challenge you to say hello to that woman on the bus or that man tapping his foot on the bench or that family who looks like they are from out of town.
Who knows, it could lead to something great.
AWKWARD
- Coming to terms with the fact that I never read the Terms of Service of anything before I accept. It’s going to come back to bite me in the butt one day.
- The stinking no sleep, post daylight savings time, time change punch in the face. As much as I love that extra sunlight, I do not love the constant feeling of grogginess. My cooling eye mask has had quite the workout lately trying to carry these eye bags.
- Not being able to pry my still-attached head hair out of the talons of my charge. She has an iron grip. Tears have been shed trying to de-clamp my hair. My tears, not hers.
- Having serious angry feelings about my lack-luster nursing bras. Can Victoria please make some of those angel bras in those sassy colors for the mommy section?
- “Oh you’re a full-time student and you have a baby? But who watches her during the day? Oh daycare? Oh.” Yes, because heaven forbid a young couple utilize the magic that is daycare. Can we all stop judging everyone else’s childcare situations. Stay-at-home moms rock! Stay-at-home dads rock! Working parents rock! Families helping watch the little ones rock! That is all. #endrant
AWESOME
- NOT studying for boards this past weekend because that ship has SAILED. Yes, I am done with boards and I happy-danced all the way to my bed where I napped for 47 years.
- I am still dreaming about our delicious trip to that castle winery. We definitely will be heading back this spring. Slurp.
- Watching Emma’s problem solving skills. Her newest trick is scooting to the edge of the bed, rolling on her tummy with her feet dangling off the bed, gripping the comforter, and slowly sliding off the edge and landing on her feet. She then proceeds to walk out the bedroom door like she owns the planet. Ten months old, guys. TEN MONTHS.
- Blue Apron deliveries.
- Listening to Paul give Emma a bath while she plays for a good 30 minutes. They have more fun than two kids on splash mountain.
I always wonder what babies are thinking. Specifically, I wonder what Emma was thinking when I put ten different hats/wigs on her head last weekend. Please don’t run away from home. I got a glimpse into her future with these flowing golden locks. Except neither Paul nor I have a luscious mane, I doubt we are truly looking at her future do.
She’s going to be a master of disguise.
A photo posted by Samantha (@substance_soul) on Mar 7, 2015 at 6:34pm PST
We had fun trying on all the costumes. It was a great day.
Check out the entire Extraordinarily Ordinary 52 project here.
Oh hey, I survived my dental boards. I am still processing everything, so in the mean time here are last week’s and this week’s 52 Project.
For lent, I asked Emma if she would give up making messes. She rolled her eyes and dumped out her box of blocks.
8/52 The force is strong with this one and this photo represents a small snapshot into what our mornings and evenings have come to look like. These past weeks, she has discovered the magic of the ON-OFF switch on her noisy toys. Watching her play and discover has become one of the highlights of my day. A simple toy to me is an endless supply of possibilities for Emma. I only wish I could get a glimpse into what her little mind is processing as she inspects each new tool in her box.
Clearly, all children are born little scientists. They ponder, and wonder, and discover, and experiment, and try, and try again. The wonder in her eyes, the thrill in the discovery, and the infinite nature of trial-and-error is another extraordinarily ordinary moment in our lives.
Breakfast is served! Well, not for you Emma, for me. I am going to eat your little toesies.
9/52 This past week was a stressful one in our home. Well, I was a giant stress ball because I took my dental boards this week. This allowed Emma and her daddy to spend a lot of quality time together lately. But now that I am back above water, I have had a moment to reflect on the wonder that is this little girl. She has really figured out this walking thing and enjoys exploring her classroom. The other morning, Paul dropped the little one off at school and she went straight to her high chair for her favorite meal - breakfast.
I cannot believe that she is nearly one year old. Pretty soon, she will be telling me what she wants for breakfast while we all pass the morning paper around. Just kidding, no one reads actual newspapers anymore. But I am looking forward to our morning routine as she changes and grows.
Check out the entire Extraordinarily Ordinary 52 project here.