Ew, Yuck

A few months ago, a young man made cat calls at me while I walking only to cease such catcalls upon seeing that I was walking with a baby.  I think the young man's reaction to seeing Katy was appropriate.

More recently, I was walking in my neighborhood with Katy in her stroller when a man driving a truck traveling toward me hung his head out his window and made kissing faces at me, complete with kissing sounds.  He was obviously aware that I was with a baby.  He was either making kissing faces at me or at Katy.  Either way, his reaction to seeing a mom and baby was not appropriate.  Ew, yuck.   

Duplo Blocks

Shortly after Katy was born, some friends gave Katy a set of Duplo blocks.  Although Katy cannot put the bricks together, she spends a lot of time exploring the different shapes, sizes, and colors of the bricks.  Her exploration, which began as staring at the bricks before putting them in her mouth, progressed to include rubbing the bricks on the floor, banging the bricks together, pounding the bricks on other objects, and poking her pointer finger in the small holes on the underside of the bricks.

While Katy meticulously examines the bricks, I sit next to her and build.

I build symmetrical shapes.

I build structures that use all of the pieces.

I spell.

I build people and furniture.

I incorporate other toys.

I make sure Katy has fun while I am building.

Katy recently learned how to pull bricks apart, which has seriously hampered my ability to build anything.  Most of my "building" now consists of tall towers designed specifically for Katy to pull apart.  Someday, however, Katy will learn how to snap the bricks together and then I will begin teaching her how to build.

Clapping and Standing Was Never So Fun

Last week Katy clapped upon hearing applause in a soundtrack.  I thought it was coincidence, but then she did it again the next day.   Today at the Little Gym, Katy stood on her own for a few seconds before slowly lowering herself to the floor.  Then she did it again at home for her dad.  

It is a really cool experience to grow a baby inside of you, birth that tiny baby, and then serve as the baby's sole source of nutrition for several months.  It also a really cool experience to watch that tiny baby develop from a sleepy, helpless blob into an interactive, clapping and standing tiny person.  Oh, I love being a mom.

Convertible Mom

Last night, after Katy went to bed, I went to Target in my convertible.  I made my $1.50 purchase minutes before Target closed, and then I headed home.  The weather outside was nice.  Really nice.  It was so nice that instead of taking the direct route home, which is a mere 2.2. miles, I took the 30 minute "scenic route" that somehow took me to the expressway.  It was dark, and it was late.  The top was down, and the radio was up.  I did not feel like a mom, and I liked it.

Nine Months

Today Katy is nine months old.  At nine months, Katy is constantly looking to pull herself into a standing position, she loves for me to help her walk by holding her tiny hands, and she sometimes insists on feeding herself.  I can see the toddler inside her trying to emerge.

One evening this week, Katy was having a hard time falling asleep for the night.  I finally picked her up  and laid her on my chest to rock her.  Eventually, her wiggles gave way to my firm hold and she began making little sounds I hadn't heard in months, little sighs of defeat as she drifted to sleep.  It reminded me of the sleepy noises tiny, newborn Katy made and that Katy is still my little baby.

Katy June and her Dad.

Attorney at Law on Hold

The week before last I left this:

For this:

Self-imposed unemployment.  Stay at home mom.  Attorney at law on hold.  Whatever you call it, hopefully it means no more Saturday nights spent like this:

Work, work, and more work.

I'm pretty sure my new client doesn't understand the significance of the recent change.  Someday, however, Katy will be an adult with a career of her own and in all likelihood, a family of her own as well.  Maybe then Katy will understand what this change means for her, for me, and for our family.

Only a week in and I already love my new job.  Praise God for opening doors, providing options, and guiding life decisions.  

Change is in the Air

Katy recently helped Chris bid his job farewell.  

The view from Chris' last office.

If there is anything constant in my Life as a Sias, it's change.  Here's to hoping the newest changes are the start of something good.

My Favorite Board Books

Katy doesn't have a lot of toys, but she does have a growing book collection because I love board books.  I love board books so much I started buying them before I was pregnant.  Currently, the following board books are my favorite ones to read to Katy:

1.  Hot Dog, Cold Dog, by Frann Preston-Gannon.

A rhyming book about opposites, this book is one of my favorites for several reasons.  The pages are much larger and sturdier than average board books.  The pictures are not only creative and adorable, but they feature re-occuring objects like rabbits, a coffee cup, and bones that are fun to look for on each page.  And of course, who doesn't like a book about dogs?

2.  Snow, by Uri Shulevitz.

A story about the excitement of a young boy surrounded by doubting adults.   The watercolor images alone are enough to make this book a favorite, but the text is equally artistic without resorting to the standard rhyming, rhythmic lines found in so many board books.  I found this book on clearance at TJ Maxx and bought it because it was cheap.  The more I read this book, however, the more I like it.

3.  Freight Train, by Donald Crews.

Another TJ Maxx find.  Simple text and colorful, graphic images convey the movement of a train using words like trestle and hopper.  What's not to love?

4.  I am a Bunny, illustrated by Richard Scarry.

This book follows Nicholas the bunny through the changes of each season.  Richard Scarry's illustrations are what make this book so fun to read.  The pictures are colorful, busy, and fill the entire page.  I also like the book's tall rectangular size.

5.  Apple Pie ABC, by Alison Murray.

A book about an adorable dog and fresh apple pie, this book couldn't be more American. Like most ABC books, this one features just a word or two for each letter of the alphabet.  Unlike most alphabet books, however, this one tells a story by combining the sparse text with pictures.  I like this book because each time I read it, I add my own text to link the sparse words together based on the story told in the images, making each reading a little different.

I should note that none of the above are Katy's favorite book.  Katy's favorite board book is a book called "Meow, Meow."  The book features large photos of cats photoshopped on brightly colored backgrounds with lines like, "Chloe the fluffy kitty has soft white fur, stroke her tiny tummy and maybe she will purr."  Needless to say, I'm hoping Katy's literary tastes will mature significantly as grows.

Cradle Rolle Comforts

Katy recently started attending the cradle roll Sabbath school class at church.  One of the staple props during class are felt bibles.  I remember these same felt bibles, and the felt image of Jesus inside them,  from my childhood.  It's nice to know that the word of God never changes, even when it's in felt form.

Summer 2015

It's Labor Day weekend, which marks the end of another summer.  Because summer began as my lengthy maternity leave came to an end, work dominated my summer.  The Sias, family, however did find some time to enjoy the warm weather.

In June, Chris and I took Katy to the beach for the first time.  We stayed in Los Fresnos, which is about half an hour from South Padre Island, because hotel prices on the Island during the summer are ridiculously absurd.  Almost eight hundred dollars for two nights in a Holiday Inn?  No thank you. Los Fresnos, on the other hand, is home to the oh-so-lovely, soaked-in-nature, quiet and intimate Inn at Chachalaca Bend.  The inn is actually quite romantic, so much so that a couple with a young baby were admittedly a little out of place.  Katy, however, is still immobile and therefore rather flexible when it comes to new places.  

The Inn at Chachalaca Bend

The resaca at The Inn at Chachalaca Bend

Spanish Moss covered trees at the Inn.

Baby's can sleep anywhere.

Of course the highlight of the trip was dangling Katy's tiny toes in the ocean for the first time.  As usual, Katy's response to this new experience was disproportionate to our excitement.  Sometimes I forget everything is new to Katy and therefore, her focus remains small details like a bow on an article of clothing, the way her hand moves, or a silly sound.  Until she masters the small details that we take for granted, grand places like the beach, which are comprised of thousands of small details, are lost on her.  

First trip to the ocean. 

The beach party - Katy has mostly adult friends.

Katy preferred the dry picnic basket over the wet ocean.

After a few minutes of attempting to convince Katy of the Ocean's wonder, Chris finally sat down in the water with Katy.  Within a few minutes, a small wave crashed on Chris' back.  I watched as Katy's face changed from disinterest to shock and shock to anger.  Crying and wet, the fun was over. 

In July, Katy and I traveled to San Antonio to meet-up with some of my girlfriends.  I was nervous about taking a road trip with Katy without another adult to keep her happy or attempt to keep her happy during the drive.  Traveling in a two-seater sports car, however, kept Katy very happy.   No longer relegated to the lonely backseat, Katy was quite content sitting next to her mom for four hours.

More of Katy's adult friends.

In August, Rachella took some vacation time to spend with her family.  Chris and I convinced our parents to drive eight hours to the Valley to spend a week providing free childcare services.  Grandchildren really do have a magical sway over their grandparents.  

   

Katy met her Great Grandma!

Four generations at church together.

Katy's second trip to the beach.

Where's Katy?!?!?!

There she is!

Katy's second trip to the beach. 

At church with Grandma and Papo.

Katy with her Grandma.

I was a little bummed because the summer was going to end without Katy going for her first swim.  Then, today we went to a friend's new house and discovered that they have a pool.  Finally, on the last weekend of the summer, Katy went swimming.

Katy really enjoyed splashing the water with her hands.

Although we didn't take any big vacations, it was a good summer.  

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

Last weekend I ate Crazy Bread from Little Ceasar's pizza.  A few hours later, while asleep for the night, I woke up sick to my stomach.  I immediately tasted the culprit: Crazy Bread.  For the next twelve hours, I was unable to keep much of anything in my stomach, and I felt best when I refrained from eating, drinking, and moving.  This lack of activity and energy, however, was difficult because Chris was out of town and I was the sole caretaker of a wiggly six-month-old baby.

Thankfully, God sent supportive friends named Heidi and Stella to my aid.  Heidi brought me some stomach settling Sprite and rehydrating Gatorade.  A couple hours later, Stella came over to watch Katy while I slept.  I am beyond blessed to have Heidi and Stella as friends.  Thank you, thank you, thank you, Heidi and Stella for your kind acts.  It was so very helpful, and means so much to me. 

Cowabunga!

Chick-Fil-A recently offered free dinner to anyone who came to one of their restaurants dressed like a cow.  My dad thought this was funny because he didn't know anyone who owned a cow costume.  Silly dad.  Your granddaughter has a cow costume, and she looks pretty cute in it.

The free dinner was only for people wearing a cow costume, so naturally Katy ordered her mom's favorite: a number one with no pickles, waffle fries, and a diet lemonade.  Upon ordering a diet lemonade, the employee taking Katy's order asked Katy if she was watching her baby weight.  Very cheeky.  

GC 2015

In July, Chris, Katy, and I went to our first General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.  It was like going to the Disney World version of church - feeling exhausted and excited at the same time due to thousands of people, a lot of walking, and too much to see.

Chris' meal on the way to GC. It was very
un-Adventist.

The exhibit halls surpassed my expectations in both size and quality.  There were so many booths and so many old friends wondering through the space that it became overwhelming.

Part of one of 3 exhibit halls.  

It was very cool to be in such a large city surrounded by so many fellow Adventists.  The Adventists were everywhere.  There were so many Adventists that some coworkers of mine who also traveled to San Antonio while GC was taking place noticed the lack of hotel rooms and the crowds of well-dressed people all over the place.

One of the Alamodome meetings.  Lots of people!

The sense of belonging among the crowds was most impressive after evening and Sabbath services, when a seemingly never-ending stream of people filled the closed streets between the Alamodome and the convention center.  I have never seen such a large, orderly movement of people in the middle of a busy city.  

Standing in the constant stream of Adventists Friday evening.

Of course, the result of thousands of Adventists from around the world overtaking downtown San Antonio was comical at times as well.  It was funny to see so many people in church clothes among the summer tourists, especially considering the summer heat.  I saw several foreigners walking around in suits and oversized cowboy hats, perhaps thinking that their Texas souvenirs helped them blend in.  On Friday afternoon, I saw a group from Africa attempt to prepay for their lunch at a restaurant the following Saturday.  The poor girl at the front kiosk had a difficult time explaining why this arrangement was not possible.   Also on Friday, Chris went shopping at a downtown department store for some dress clothes.  The store was ridiculously crowded with other Adventists.  When Chris asked a sales person about the crowds, the sales person said it started when "they arrived."   On the final evening of meetings, I saw a group of people standing in the Alamodome chatting next the scooter parking area.  One of the ladies had draped her sweater over the edge of the "scooter parking" sign so as to cover the "s" in "scooter parking."  Unfortunately, the group standing next to to the sign was comprised entirely of women.

Heather shared a women's ordination button with Katy.

With all the crowds, Chris and I were happy to get away for a while and spend some time at my cousin Matt's house.  It was a nice break from GC.

At Matt's pool. 

With Matt and Harry.

Katy tries the timeout chair at Matt's house.

Timeout is funny.

Katy did fabulously well with the changes in her routine while we were at GC and even slept all night in her travel crib, which prompted me to start using her crib at home as well.  For a baby who started out sleeping in bed with mom, I am very proud of her relatively short transition to sleeping through the night in her own bed.  She's a keeper.

We ran into Brian!

With some Scenic Hills Pathfinders.

One of our favorite families.

We're Still Alive

I last blogged on May 17.  Three days later, my maternity leave ended.  These dates are not coincidence.  Time moves at a record setting pace when two working professionals attempt to balance demanding jobs, caring for a baby, maintaining a home, and spending time with each other.   I am not sure how much longer we will maintain this pace but for now, here's a run-down on Life as a Sias three-months post-maternity leave.

1.  Katy is adorably wonderful and beautiful, and I love being her mom.  

2.  I've breastfed Katy for six months, and I have a freezer full of milk to spare. While I was pregnant, I naively assumed breastfeeding was something babies and moms know how to do.   Much to my discouragement, Katy entered the world on a sleepy hunger strike, and I was tired, weepy, and unused to so many people seeing my exposed chest.  The conditions post-birth were less than ideal for teaching something new to a tiny human incapable of communication or reason, much less learning something new myself.  After four long days at the hospital, the pediatrician finally let us take Katy home, but not without one final condescending, "Are you sure you can do this?"  Within a couple of days at home, however, Katy and I started making positive progress.  Fast forward six months and I can proudly say that Katy hasn't tasted formula since she was eight days old.  The ten pounds she has gained since birth?  That was all me. Take that hospital pediatrician.  

3. Katy has two teeth.  The first tooth came in while we were traveling.  The teething fussiness that so many parents lament consisted of one brief episode of screaming/crying as I was getting Katy ready for bed.  She slept all night, and the next day she had a little tooth protruding through her lower gums.  I recall thinking to myself proudly, "this teething business is not so bad after all."  Never say to yourself, "this teething business is not so bad after all," even if only in your head.  If you do make the mistake of such cavalier, ungracious statements, stock up on infant tylenol immediately.  You will pay for your mistake when the next tooth comes. 

4.  Katy rolled over for the first time about a month ago.  I encouraged her to repeat the trick.  Now I beg her to stay on her back while I attempt to change her diaper.  The girl loves to be on her tummy and sometimes she succeeds at lifting her tiny torso up on her wobbly arms and knees.  Based on prior experience, I know that I will regret encouraging this new trick, but I can't stop myself from getting excited.    

5.  After Katy was born, Doug was demoted to the role of a dog.  This was tough for him, as evidenced by unusually clingy behavior.  When I returned to work, our friend Rachella and her son Leonardo started staying at the house with Katy.  It was at this time that Doug was further demoted to the role of an outside dog during the day.  He has retaliated by spending his day in constant pursuit of the lizards living in the flower beds.  The neglected plants will never be the same.  

Katy is waking up from her nap, so I will have to postpone the rest of my thoughts for later.  For now, enjoy some pictures of my KatyGirl. 

Katy in her jumper.  It's large and plastic, but
she likes it.

Like I said, Katy is adorably wonderful and beautiful.

This girl loves to be on her tummy.

Bath Time

Right now, bath time is my favorite time with Katy.  No longer bombarded by the noisy distractions of the day, I sit by the side of the tub in a quiet bathroom and gently pour warm water over Katy's tiny body.  My undivided attention coupled with the soothing water make Katy calm and happy.  To top it off, Katy is stripped down to nothing but her beautiful, soft, and wrinkle-free skin.  During bath time, Katy is nothing but pure, sweet baby, and I love it.