Playing in the water park
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

Last week was HOT. Like I thought I was going to suffocate hot. Okay, so that’s a little dramatic but we were in need of some water relief. Another mom I know told me about this little playground at 117th in Riverside Park that has little spouts of water shooting out of the ground. Basically the urban version of the sprinkler-in-the-back-yard.

Cate, who has never been in a pool, took to the water in an instant. She started off in her dress which quickly came off. Next time she’ll wear her swimsuit. I have already signed us up for mother-daughter swimming lessons when we get to Olympia.

Playing in the water park
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

Playing in the water park
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

I did this with Cate so I'll do it again. Jane because we love it and Josephine for my maternal grandfather.

  

zoo!
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

This is my favorite picture of Cate and Telfer right now. We went to the Central Park Zoo with Eleanor, Grammy and Gramps and Cate, as you can see, is a fan of the zoo. She loved feeding the animals in the petting zoo and watching the penguins swim. Perfect little zoo for small children. I will take her one more time before we leave.

So, two pieces of fabulous news.
1. We are having another GIRL. Aren't you surprised?! I KNEW it was a girl…and that's what we both were secretly hoping for. Also, the ultrasound indicates that I am around six days ahead of what they originally thought which makes my due date October 2. That's good news to a pregnant woman!
2. Telfer passed his oral boards and is now a board-certified anesthesiologist. Nine years of marriage, nine years of training. All good years. We are thankful he's [almost] done though!

We had a wonderful time with grandparents in New York. Mendy and Eleanor babysat one day while I headed to Ellis Island. Lovely, lovely day. Cate loves her aunt and grammy.

I finished a lot of moving and house and insurance details last week. Choosing movers is a time-consuming process. My favorite moment: telling an unnamed moving company my email address (includes my first name and then librarian) so he could send me a quote and getting the response: "are you a stripper?" Um, no. We went with another company.

Telfer worked yesterday and all through the night so he's home taking a nap (so is Cate). Later today I am headed out by myself for a bit. Trying to decide: go to MOMA or get errands done that I can't usually do with Cate. Fun errands though (fabric store, bed, bath & beyond, a furniture store in a dance studio in mid-town). Decisions, decisions.

I promise more tomorrow, but here’s a cute video of Cate singing to herself this morning. It went on for at least five minutes. 

oooh what’s this?
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

Yes, we found a house to buy in Olympia. We suspected this was the one, but you never know until you actually see it. The house is within walking distance to downtown and is a few blocks away from the elementary school we want our kids to attend. Pretty exciting. It needs a lot of work. Both bathrooms and the kitchen will need to be gutted eventually but we have learned that paint is a really good place to start (and more affordable than major remodels!).

We forgot how involved buying a house can be and when you add the distance and the time change…well, things have been hopping around here.

In other news, Chris and Mendy are coming for the weekend and then Mendy stays on until Friday. We are looking forward to a good time with them. Oh, and we find out the gender of the baby tomorrow (19 weeks already). I hope I can sleep tonight…I am that excited to know.