A birthday for Pooh and other news

it’s pooh’s birthday!, a photo by telfandrea on Flickr.

Cate woke me up yesterday morning at 6:45 to tell me she had to go to the bathroom and did I know it was Pooh’s birthday? I did not know. We decided to do it up big: cupcakes, party hats, candles and an invited guest. Gresham came over and was like really? But how did you know it was Pooh’s birthday Andrea? Sidenote: one of my favorite things in the world is how Gresham says my name – Andwea. Well, Gresh. I don’t really know. Cate told me and we just went from there.

It’s been a good but really busy few weeks for our little family. A major bright spot: Anna came for an overnight visit and we made carrot-cardamom jam. More on that later. Both Cate and Jane have had a lot of ear problems and on the advice of our pediatrician, we are going to take them to an ENT next week. Cate is practically deaf in one ear she has so much thick fluid built up. I also went to the podiatrist last week because I am getting the very, very beginnings of bunions and will basically do anything to make.it.stop. So orthotics here I come. But really, my most favorite thing was the old-fashioned patient notes I got in the mail yesterday from the podiatrist. He describes me as “a pleasant alert oriented non-overweight 34-year-old female.” I love this so, so much. When I am having a moment, or a series of moments, I need to remember that someone at least thinks of me as pleasant AND alert. And not fat. Yes.

Last Saturday the girls in our life group went on a girls night – we ended up at Third Place Books in Seattle (very cool bookstore) and met Glennon Melton of Momastery. Just a good night all around.

Untitled, a photo by telfandrea on Flickr.

What else? We are doing a lot of yard work this spring and we are finally getting chickens. I know! I am so excited. I think I sent Telfer three chicken-related emails yesterday.

I did indeed finish Middlemarch and I urge everyone to try to read it. It’s a masterpiece and officially my favorite novel. I am in awe. I love how complex her characters are – no one is entirely good and no one is entirely evil. Like real people. Eliot is a compassionate writer.

Reading The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer at the moment and like it a lot so far.

And please, when you have about twenty minutes, please listen to this interview with my friend Bekah Hall. I was having a hard parenting day but happened to listen to this after my girls were in bed. Her interview, on parenting a child with special needs, inspired me and gave me the perspective I needed on so many levels. Bekah’s blog is here.

One last picture: this is Jane one morning before I took her to preschool with a ponytail. Does it not kill you just a little? What a sweetheart.

ponytail girl, a photo by telfandrea on Flickr.