Happy Daddy Day

"Happy Daddy Day!"
- Emma

We had a glorious Father's day indeed. Emma and I picked up some early morning doughnuts. We went to church, had lunch at CPK, strolled around some shops, and spent wonderful time together.

Sundays are our special day and on this one we celebrated a truly amazing man. This daddy-daughter duo makes me happier than I can say.

This adoring father

This man is the epitome of an adoring father. This family of ours is his greatest happiness and it shows every single day. I walked down the aisle looking at this man with his teary eyes and huge grin and I did not think I could love him more than at that moment. But, I have loved him more each day and seeing him father our daughter and fawn over our son growing in my womb makes me love him more than words can describe. Just typing this is making me get all choked up. 

My husband is my partner in life and in parenting. He doesn't babysit and he isn't lost without me around. He knows what he is doing. 

He changes diapers, washes hair, kisses boo boos, and whispers daddy's here. He sings and dances, makes silly faces, and booms with laughter. He makes sure the car seat is buckled, coaxes food into a stubborn toddler, and disciplines with stern expressions and a whole lot of love. He takes her to the park, teaches her how to play tennis, and takes adoring videos of her laughing. He talks in high pitched voices, reads countless books, and talks to my stomach. He cries when he feels his son kicking and rolling around in my womb.

I am lucky to spend life with this wonderful man and adoring father. Happy Father's Day darling.

Beep beep

We got some new wheels! Do I sound cool yet?

Yesterday, Paul and I bought our first car together. What a milestone! Even with the whole marriage thing and the kids thing and the fact that I am a doctor thing, this feels really adult-ish. (I know, logic is not my strong suit right now haha. I'm still on the test drive high.)

But after some research and a lot of talking, Paul and I decided that we needed a bigger car. We were not quite ready to go for that big "family" car yet, (I wanted a minivan and he rolls his eyes whenever I suggest it) but we wanted more leg room and more space for our growing fam (#twocarseatssoon). 

It's the fanciest/techiest car I've ever driven. I know a lot of high tech stuff is more standard now-a-days but we have been driving my trusty 2007 Corolla and the fanciest thing in that car is the 6 CD changer.

Our new ride has a back up camera (WHAT SORCERY IS THIS) and bluetooth (IS THIS REAL LIFE) and tinted windows (I'M EASILY IMPRESSED) and a touch screen (AM I DRIVING A PHONE) and a whole bunch of other cool stufffffff. 

Besides the techy stuff, it has incredibly high safety ratings and fantastic gas mileage so yay! 

I already programed my favorite classical music station so I'm ready to roll down my windows and take a ride with my homies. And by homies, I mean other people who drive the speed limit and listen to public radio. 

I know what you are thinking, calm your wild ways Samantha. 

On life, lately (at home edition)

(That blog post title sounds weird, but I'm going to just go with it.) This could also be titled we have cabin fever and are on survival mode. Or I'm so tired and my hair is greasy but we are surviving. Yeah those just don't sound great either.

Basically these few things are going on that are making me a bit harried. Emma has been waking up at the crack o' dawn and I miss sleep. (I know it will be ten zillion times worse with a newborn but it feels pretty poopie right now.) Nap time is unpredictable and I am lucky to get 90 minutes uninterrupted. I usually spend 89 of those minutes sitting, staring blankly at my wall trying to regroup for the second half of our day. This week, our landlords started construction in our back drive way/parking area. While I am sick of the dirt driveway and I look forward to no longer traipsing dirt through our entry way on the regular when they finally pave it, the construction is loud and the jack hammering happens to coincide with nap time. I think Emma is also getting a cold (and when did it become a thing for her to come up to me, ask for a hug, then proceed to wipe her nose on my shoulder???).

And to top off this not so delicious sundae, I also have general pregnancy fatigue, back pain, and heart burn. Oh joy. (I'm just full of sunshine aren't I?)

BUT what I have come to realize with the help of some awesome/inspiring/rock star mamas who I know -- it's okay to give your momma self a little leeway, a lot of forgiveness, and just go with the flow. I've been feeling like a home body, we have been living in various forms of PJs and yoga pants, my hair is extra greasy, and I am not sure I've vacuumed in a few days. But so what? 

During the past few days, Emma and I have just been going with it. I have been throwing together various activities and toddler distractions just to give myself a 1.7 minute reprieve. She's happy for a minute and I don't have to listen to two year old tantrums for a second. Small victories. 

Here is life lately, the at home edition. Jazz hands.

We have been making many smoothies over here. Emma is fascinated by the nutribullet and she will practically eat anything I throw in there. Chia seeds, check! Spinach, gotcha!

Parent tip number 390,283: Tape a huge piece of paper up under the kitchen counter, provide a box of crayons, and watch the masterpiece unfold. 

Thanks Pinterest for this idea. Pipe cleaners and an upside down colander. Boom, that's 3 minutes. 

After Mr. Jack hammer woke her up halfway through her nap, I let her crawl into my bed to attempt to coax her back to sleep. It worked for 30 minutes. EYE ROLL. 

I have been attempting to cut out processed snacks for this one so DIY trail mix has been our replacement and it's a hit. The chocolate chips are the first to go, obviously. That's another few minutes. *pats my own back*

I will congratulate myself with this activity which kept her busy nearly an hour on and off. We sorted pom poms in different colors and I made up different games. I got to sit comfortably on the couch for this one. *kicks my feet up* 

I was at the end of my rope last night so I took a long, luxurious bath with the essentials. I think Paul saw the desperate look in my eyes and told me to lock the door for as long as I needed. 

Not pictured: my iPad with Netflix streaming at its highest volume.

This morning we actually "enjoyed" the construction because Emma got to see the big flat bed truck and the dirt loader thing (I don't really know its official name). She kept saying "DIRT!!!" and "WOAH!!!" We also compared pictures of the vehicles to this cool book she has. 

Her excitement is pretty darn cute though. Oh, you adorable dirt loader lover. 

Now we are going to hop in the shower for a long steam session to loosen up her sinus congestion and buy us a few more sanity-saving minutes. We also made some banana bread this morning and that was a good five minutes of mixing ingredients and who would have thought the oven window with the light on is as good as Daniel Tiger? No I.

Survival mode, on. 

Happy Friday.

And for your viewing pleasure, a little video of our color sorting.

I wear two hats

I wear two hats most of the time. One is my doctor hat, clinical and methodical, the other is my mother hat, nurturing and surviving. Each role is challenging and rewarding. I am proud and intimidated by both. (Truth be told, my mother role is much more intimidating.)

I am doctor. I diagnose, I treat, I fix.
I am mama. I admire, I marvel, I dream.
I tell my patients to brush and floss. I remind parents to avoid sugary snacks and withhold bottles. 
But I share my ice cream and cereal. I give in to tantrums and offer snacks. 
I am interested, but detached. I am engaging, but professional.
I get messy and am completely attached and in love. I fawn, I swoon, and give more hugs and kisses than I can count.
I advise and recommend. I drill and fill. 
I teach and model. I clean and cook.