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.