Paul speaks

If you know my husband personally, you'll know he is one funny fella...quirky, but hilarious. And when Paul speaks, I never know what is going to come out of his mouth.

While singing a lullaby to Emma.
Paul: Hush little baby, don't you cry. Mama's going to buy you a mocking jay.

When reading A Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Paul: He ate through a load of crap and got a stomach ache.
Emma:
Paul: See Emma? This is why you have to eat healthy.

Cough.

He saves me when I'm at the end of my rope and when pregnancy cravings strike. Oh, he's just the best dad and husband.

A new normal

Except there is nothing normal about it, it's just life and life is always a'changing, am I right? New milestones, new adventures, new normals, new abnormals, and I wouldn't be your trusty momumenter (mom + documenter, it made sense in my head) if I didn't break it down for you.

The biggest new thing going in our lives at the moment is that I got a new...label maker! That's right. Well, it's still en route from amazon, so I'm sure I'll be labeling everything that stands still in a day or two. Watch out. I'm giddy with excitement. 

Oh yes, and I started my new job! I've been working for two weeks now and it is certainly different. But in a good way. I am a dentist at a community health dental clinic serving low income families. It is hard work and I am hustling the whole time, but I am loving it so far and it is incredibly rewarding. Last week I was doing new employee trainings nearly every day so I have barely had time to breathe. But now I should be settling into our new schedule. I will be working on Mondays and Saturdays and Paul will be having special time with Emma on those days. We are looking into daycare/preschool options for Mondays in the future, but for now that's where we are at.

Because I had Emma while I was in dental school, I had to go back pretty quickly after she was born. I was at school five days a week so I am familiar with the "mommy has to go to work" feeling (wahh). But this time around it is different. Emma is more aware now than she was at three months old. She waves bye-bye and runs to me when I come home. It is tough to leave her, especially when she cries, but I am doing this for her. For us. And let's face it, mommy needs some time to talk to adults. 

I don't know how to be normal.

I have also had a renewed perspective and appreciation about my quality time with my family and my time at home. Here is what we were up to last week.

It rained last weekend so Emma got to play with her favorite toy - the umbrella. She insisted on bringing it with her everywhere. Although, we did have to draw the line at opening it in the car and in church. Although our priest is a little trigger happy with the holy water sprinkling. Paul got an eyeful the other day. ;]

We are suckers for cake pops. Those trendy little devils.

This pregnancy is giving me the biggest sweet tooth on the planet. And if you know anything about my dietary preferences already, you'll know that's saying something. Ice cream and pastries are already my love language, so this baby will obviously be coming out really squishy.

And covered in funfetti sprinkles.

Emma has been enjoying my confections. Of the savory and the sweet varieties. Last week I made baked potato soup and it was a hit.

Contrary to what her face tells you, she actually enjoyed it. And we all know she enjoyed the cupcakes.

Each evening after dinner we have been having dance parties. It is probably one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Emma really knows how to get down and boogie. Sometimes she has my graceful rhythm and sometimes she does Paul's adorable off-beat booty shaking.

Get down with your bad self girl.

We have also been enjoying quiet mornings. Miss Emma is a fan of waking up at 6-6:30 am (oh joy) but her bed hair, PJ-clad playtime in the morning is sweet. I've mentioned it before but she loves playing with her babies and tucking them into bed and it melts me. I hope she is this nurturing to baby boy. 

Speaking of baby boy. I went on a nesting frenzy last week and did all the baby laundry and bought some new clothes for baby boy. I cannot believe how little the clothing is! I die.

I mean COME ON.

But I am wondering why it is so hard to find neutral and subtle baby clothing. Nearly everything was TRUCKS or SPORTS or BRIGHT or NOVELTY and it was just gross. I scoured the racks for some simple colors we have a nice stash of onesies and leggings going on. I will be compiling a little registry soon if people want to gift us anything. I think all we need is socks, diapers, and miscellany at this point. I kept all of Emma's baby stuff in good condition and tried to buy as many neutral things as possible so *pats self on the back*.

And because all I can think about lately is food, we have been enjoying the fruits of my cravings. Last week it was banana pancakes and In N Out. This week I'm sure it will be something different, oh wait! ravioli. That's what I want right now. And burrata. And butter. Moving on...

And because Sunday is now our official church/family/quality time day, we enjoyed the perfect weather at the beach. Alameda is a little island with a great beach area. The waves are minimal and the water is shallow. Emma had a blast playing in the sand and I'm pretty sure we took half the beach home in her swim suit. But Emma badger does not care.

And because I'm crazy, we slathered on SPF 50+ sunscreen, donned her SPF hat and swim suit with her SPF water shoes and one awesome swim diaper. I think she ate a good bit of sand too.

Our new normal is pretty great. Although I'm sure things will be turned upside down in about three and a half months.

Woah. Scary.

A mad March trip

Paul, Emma, the bump, and I just got back from a quick trip to visit our families. Paul had some time off of work so a road tripping we went.

The road trip to see our families usually goes like this:

make lists, charge iPads, pack, pack, load up car, traffic, cows, cows, cows, COWS, potty and sanity break, an hour of squirming at the end, whew we made it

This time was no different EXCEPT we went straight to my family first (5.5 hours driving) verses Paul's fam first (4 hours) and let me tell you, that last leg is a killer. The burgeoning bump makes it hard to get comfortable and there is only so much Netflix the toddler can be bribed with before she MUST GET OUT.

But we survived. Mostly. *eye twitch*

We spent time with my family for the weekend and Easter fun. And by fun I mean Mamaw (my mom), Lolo (my dad), and Auntie (my sis) smothering Emma with more attention than I thought was humanly possible. Like her head wasn't big enough already... 

A trip highlight: I got to eat my favorite bagel in the whole world which is only sold at the specific bagel store in my hometown. GIVE ME ALL THE SMEAR. And my life may be a little sad.

We left for Paul's parents' on Monday morning where Emma was again given princess status and did I mention how much I love family and my free hands are all *celebrate good times come on*. Paul's birthday (OLD MAN) was on Tuesday and his BFF took him golfing and beering while Emma and I spent time with her cousins (Emma's heaven on earth). We went to his family's favorite pizza place for dinner and I ate the best cake I've EVER had. EVER. EVAAAAAAA. 

Champagne cake from a local bakery and I'm pretty sure the frosting is made of angel tears. 

Actually I am 100% certain.

We drove home Wednesday morning (which screwed up Emma's afternoon nap but I guess I'll trade that over her screaming the whole car ride). Emma graduated to forward-facing car seatdom and I think she is diggin' her new throne/freedom. 

We got home and unpacked and did a little grocery shopping and she promptly put herself to bed by 7:30 (after an attitude-soaked bath). 

Whew!

And because I know you didn't come here to just read me blather on, on to photos!

Pure heaven.

You know, it's too bad she doesn't know how to relax.

Matching Easter dresses and all.

Behind the scenes of the unsuccessful family photo sesh.

She takes UVA/UVB protection very seriously.

Ya old man. 

Road trip buddies!

Well unpacking sure has changed since we've had Emma.

"I'm tired of your shenanigans mother."

So there you have it. Tomorrow's post is tentatively titled - What we did Thursday. 

Just kidding. 

Maybe.

A reintroduction - a life in pictures

I got to thinking the other day about my blog. It really is a life blog - in every sense of the word. It's my life in word and picture. Every once in a while, I like to do a reintroduction here and there (and there too) about myself or about this blog. So today, I thought I'd share with you a little bit of life so far - mostly in pictures (and lots of 'em), but here you go. 

I went to California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, CA and graduated in 2011 with a BS in Biological Sciences with minors in Chemistry and Philosophy (cough, nerd). That is where I met my husband and best friends. I was 18 and we met at this little club and the rest is history.

Our first school dance, April 2008 | Graduation from CLU, May 2011

Paul and I were married on July 23rd, 2011 in Southern California surrounded by family and closest friends. It was a simple wedding, filled with love, laughter, and a lot of dancing. We spent our honeymoon in Orlando at Disney World and The Wizzarding World of Harry Potter. Our five year wedding anniversary is this July, yay!

Our wedding day, 23 July 2011

Disney World, July 2011

I went to dental school at the University of California, San Francisco and graduated last year. After years of study, volunteering, shadowing, and standardized test-taking, I finally got my DDS. I am incredibly proud of all I accomplished academically.

Graduation day in San Francisco, June 2015

We found out we were expecting our first child in my third year of dental school. Our darling daughter Emma was born on April 28th, 2014 and is our pride and joy. She is effervescent and just perfect. We are expecting our second child in early August 2016. 

Maternity photos, April 2014 | Emma's birth, April 2014

For my fourteenth birthday, I received my first digital camera. I have been documenting everything ever since. Now I can just carry my phone in my pocket and when I am old and gray, I will look back on these photos and my heart will smile. I like to capture the every day moments and special occasions alike. Of course my favorite subject these days is Emma.

Emma's first day at home, May 2014 | Fourth of July 2014

Emma's first trip to Lake Tahoe, August 2014 | Halloween 2014

Emma's Baptism, 21 December 2014 | Christmas 2014

Valentine's Day 2015 | Easter 2015

Emma's first birthday party, April 2015

Emma's first trip to Disneyland, June 2015 | Fourth of July 2015

Halloween 2015 | The day I found out about #2, December 2015

Christmas 2015 | Valentine's Day 2016

Who else is crying? Just me? Okay. 

Now that we are all up to speed, I look forward to many more memories and I am hoping you will still be here to share them with me. 

Home bodies do have more fun

While the name of this blog is Substance and Soul, we sometimes find ourselves all out of both substance and soul and we are left with the good old-fashioned, everyday, normal, boring, pointless ramblings of one Samantha A-W.

You're welcome. Or I'm sorry.

The other name of the post could be "#motherhood" but I stopped myself. Self-control is sometimes a trait of mine. Then again I am currently working my way through a half pound of chocolate that I bought just yesterday, so self-control cometh and goeth.

And because a good handful of my posts from the past weekish have not been all rainbows and sunshine, I thought I'd throw a few of the better moments over here at headquarters at your eyeballs.

Because we're happy.

One of Emma's favorite activities as of late is painting. Or "paaaaaaaay" as she calls it. However it is also an activity that gives me quite the eye twitch and certainly an activity that requires hawk-eye attention from the fun-hating mom. Messes and Samantha do not mix. Or clutter. Or dust bunnies. Wait, where was I?

Oh yes, but when I finally cave and let my little Em Gough have at it, I am always tickled by the results. And for the most part she keeps messes to a minimum but I did find a few dollops of green/brown evidence splattered across her play area. Somehow. 

I did discover these bath paints that also happen to be soap (I love you Target dollar section) so I'll throw those in with her nightly bath and I feel less guilty when she re-grouts the tile with neon green goodness.

At my 16 weeks update a couple of weeks ago, I complained that I had not been feeling the second trimester bliss quite yet. But what a couple of weeks will do for the mood and for the body, I'll tell ya. My appetite is up. I want all the foods. I am less stomach achy and throw upy. And the little peanut is doing some serious acrobatics in there which gives me all the warm and fuzzies. 

I have been craving certain beverages of the adult variety, but alas, I have to abstain. So far virgin bloody marys in the morning and decaf tea (with cookies) in the afternoons have been my jam.

Mmmm, the jammiest.

And so future Emma doesn't think that all I did was complain about her lack of sleep, I must present some of the better motherhood moments from the past few days. 

It's these moments that make the hard ones seem less hard. It's that special smile, that hilarious giggle, and those toddler things that make my heart swell. 

Let the mom fawning commence.

I made Swedish pancakes for dinner the other night and it was one of the best dinners we've had in a while. We all crowded in the narrow kitchen and ate pancake after pancake as they came hot off the skillet. I prefer butter and powdered sugar. He prefers butter, powdered sugar, AND syrup. She prefers almond butter and banana. It was one of those perfect evenings. So simple yet so sweet. When she was getting full, I gave her a baby wipe and told her that she could wipe her hands and face when she was done. She then proceeded to use a half-eaten pancake with a gooey almond butter center AS HER NAPKIN. Paul and I just stared. Then cracked the bleep up. 

Good try. 

A very bubbly bath was drawn immediately after this dinner was completed.

When the weather is cooperating, we go on walks to burn off some of the cabin fever (or the calories from the seventh pastry that I consumed that week, but whatever). We like to play this game called collect the sticks. Our front yard is currently strewn with the winners because this mom does not bring nature into the house. Unless it's a tiny succulent, then I'm all game. 

Emma likes to call them "stiiiiiiiii" (rhymes with glee, coincidence? I think not).

About once per week, Emma and I like to go on a lunch date out of the house (no dishes! no clean up!). It's usually somewhere quick like the IKEA bar or Panera but she is a hoot and a half when it comes table manners.

Note the elegant paper napkin shoved in her neckline. 

She is apparently a fan of see food.

(Bad mom joke winky face.)

And to top it off, this morning she quietly (an anomaly for Emma badger) sat in her corner and read -- proudly wearing her favorite accessory (rain boots) and pointing to her favorite animals. 

She slept in her bed all night long last night and took at 2.5 hour nap yesterday, so my good mood may have something to do with that. Sleep may be my favorite pastime. Actually, food is. Sleep is second. Well third, wine is up there. 

Never mind.

See we're all normal here. 

Kind of.

Catch you on the flip side. You know where to find me.