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.