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.