One of those days


Cate's friends drying out from the wash
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

When I walked into Cate's room this morning, I knew immediately that it would be an interesting day. Vomit all over the sheet, blankets and matted hair. Poor Cate! I am not sure she even called out to us when she got sick; if she did, Telfer didn't hear her from our room and I didn't hear her from the couch downstairs. I am sleep training Miss Jane – eating three times in the night was finally deemed excessive – we are down to eating once but endless pacifier-retrieval-missions are filling the hours.

Cate seems fine and was in good spirits all morning, especially once her hair was clean. Poor Mickey and Elmo! I must admit, I snickered while taking the above picture. Everything else dried in time for nap but Olivia and Mr. Mouse had to fill in the very important roles that Mickey and Elmo usually fulfill.

Jane also decided to add to the fun – she literally blew through three outfits in one hour. More laundry. I managed to get this picture of outfit #1 moments before it came off. A present from Grammy & Papa. Strangely, I have managed to stay in a good mood although I am a little afraid sickness will descend. Regardless, it helps that both girls are now napping at the same time in the afternoon. Mama needs a break!


Cuteness is killing me
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

Week 3/52: Travels in Siberia by Ian Frazier

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Telfer gave me Travels in Siberia by Ian Frazier for Christmas (after many mentions and hints on my part). Three reasons why this is the perfect book for me:

1. Russia Love: I too have a bit of Russia fascination after going on a Youth in Mission trip to Ukraine in college.

2. Armchair Traveler: Especially at this stage of my life, reading a travel memoir is as good as it's going to get for awhile. I took a memorable Travel Literature class in college where we read, among others, Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck, Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon, and Roughing It by Mark Twain. I have been interested in the genre ever since.

3. The New Yorker: Frazier is a writer for The New Yorker and Telfer and I both read the three [long] parts of Travels in Siberia that were first excerpted in the magazine. It's true: we have a bit of a crush on The New Yorker.

Travels in Siberia is a little too long (500 pages) and meandering (really? you need a whole chapter on the Siberian sable?) but the book's structure reflects the vastness and strangeness of Siberia itself. And there is a map in the beginning. I love a book with a map.

Report: Girls Weekend


girls weekend
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

RaChelle always describes the aftermath of girls weekend so much better than me. Read her description. Yes, I did not take one picture and shamelessly stole all three of these pictures straight from her blog. I have amazing friends. As usual we ate very well and drank copious amounts of coffee. Really, as long you eat and drink well, can you have a bad time? We really missed Bliss this year though. RaChelle and I are thrilled that all of our girls get along so well. They WILL like each other!


girls weekend 2
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

Sisters II

I am loving these pictures I took yesterday. One right after another. I love how the pictures totally capture the personality and stages of our girls right now. Jane is very smiley but has that slightly manic look in her eye. Will she keep smiling or will she start screaming? Cate is both soulful and a ball of energy. On to the next thing! Both girls are growing out of their clothes at an alarming rate. Cate is finally out of most of her 18-24 month items, hardly news, but Jane is graduating from 0-3 month sizing into 3-6 months. 



Week 2/52: Just Kids by Patti Smith

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Compulsively readable and left me feeling deeply, happily, uncool, Just Kids is punk rocker Patti Smith's memoir of her early New York years in the late sixties/early seventies, focusing mostly on her relationship with the artist Robert Mapplethorpe. Lots of name dropping. Bob Dylan is everywhere. Janis Joplin. Jimi Hendrix and Patti have a moment in a stairway. Lots of overly-innocent prose. But I finished Just Kids a week ago and it's sticking with me. Not sure if it's exactly worthy of a National Book Award, but it is certainly evocative of a certain time and place.