lots of girls
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.
Cate and I have been back in NYC for two weeks already and I am clearly behind in all things. But will you look at this picture? There are a lot of girls on that couch; even Elizabeth's dog is a girl. Had a wonderful time in Olympia and Richland but I will say this: barring absolute necessity (moving to the NW in July – ahem.), I will never fly with an 18-month-old again. I will leave the rest to your imagination.
can you read that?
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.
What else?
Cate is going to have a sibling on or about her second birthday! I am almost 16 weeks already…We were trying to hold out and wait to tell everyone until we knew the gender of the baby but my appointment is not for three more weeks AND we are heading home AND I look pregnant. The cat is out of the bag.
Good pregnancy so far. Beyond tiredness in the first trimester and immediate, all-consuming hunger. Don't leave a tray of meat alone with me! I am having major girl feelings about this baby but my intuition has proven completely unreliable in the past. Currently agonizing over girl names. Still taking suggestions?
daddy!
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.
Pray for Telfer if you read this today. He is in Atlanta taking the Anesthesia Oral Boards. He's actually nervous for the first time in his life. I know! We've been married for nine years, dated for two, and this is the first time I have actually seen him nervous. After NINE years of written tests, all of the sudden there is this switch to an oral exam format. It's a completely different skill set. If he passes (will know in about a month), he'll be board certified. So no pressure. He's been in Atlanta studying since Saturday morning and I think he feels good about the whole thing…
busy busy busy
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.
Meanwhile, I am keeping Cate and Henry happy back in New York. Considering Cate emptied the entire box of kleenex before I even noticed, I would say we are experiencing success. She was very pleased with herself and since I wasn't really paying attention I just laughed and grabbed the camera. Cate has a cold and is teething so I was dreading three days alone but it's been good.
mini globe!
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.
We went to a flea market close to our apartment yesterday and I finally found a tin mini globe. Have only been looking for one close to a year. I know, I could actually just get one on ebay but I love the thrill of the hunt. Talked the lady down $10 as well. Cate yelling, HI! Hi! Hi! probably helped a bit.
Telfer gets back on Tuesday and we leave for Washington early Wednesday morning. We're going to visit Chris and Mendy in Olympia and look at a few houses. There is one house we are particularly excited about. Since we know exactly what neighborhood we want to live in, the availability of houses is somewhat limited. Telfer will fly home on Sunday but Cate and I are headed over to Richland to stay with Mom & Dad for a week.
I haven't posted in such a long time so get ready for a slightly ridiculous post.
Here's what we have been up to:
tree in front of our building
LOVING spring. Spring is a miracle after a real winter. For those of you that live in a place with four seasons, tune me out, but after eight years of Southern California, I just forgot about spring. The trees are in full bloom. The park is actually a destination unto itself rather than a place where I quickly walk Henry. You can buy lilacs on the street. Easter was all the more miraculous this year. Resurrection has layers of meaning.
VISITORS I. Missy and Jason spent a delightful weekend with us in March. Highlight meal: Fatty Crab. I could eat their sliders every day of my life. I didn't take any pictures!
in bryant park
VISITORS II: Also, Anna and Amanda spent almost a week with us at the beginning of April. The weather was beautiful and we had a lovely time together. Cate and I joined the two of them for some events and bowed out for naps during others. Here we are having lunch at 'Wichcraft in Bryant Park. I am all about the sandwich.
BOOKS: While Anna and Amanda were here, we went to hear the Irish authors Colum McCann (National Book Award winner for Let the Great World Spin) and Colm Toibin (Brooklyn) speak about their work and on subjects ranging from the immigrant experience in New York City to the Irish Catholic Church. I have been to a lot of author events and this was, by far, the most fun and the most inspiring. Definitely a highlight of Anna and Amanda's trip. This event took place eleven blocks from our apartment and I have a set of tickets for this season. Tonight Eleanor and I are headed to Rereading Middlemarch with Jennifer Egan, Siri Huvstedt and Margot Livesy. This may not be everyone's cup of tea but it is certainly mine.
bandaids and lollipops @ the pediatrician!
CATE: Cate had her last visit with her doctor here in NYC and we were so thrilled to show off her walking capabilities. Cate only weighs 20 pounds at 18 months, putting her into the 5th percentile. Pretty normal on height but has a huge head (90th percentile). And I hope you don't think I am too mean but I can't help myself: That's a huge noggin! Virtual planetoid! Orange on a toothpick! If you get that, we probably went to high school together or you have watched So I Married an Axe Murderer fifty times.
PASTRY: Telfer has been on research these last two weeks and gets to leave the apartment at a normal time instead of in the dark. He even stayed home and worked one morning so I could go out to breakfast by myself. I had better not get used to this, but oh, I could.
DATES: There are still so many things we want to do in New York before the end of June. So many things. We crossed one off the list on Saturday. Eleanor babysat for us before and during Cate's afternoon nap while we went to brunch at Pippa and walked through ABC Carpet & Home, a huge and expensive home store. I like it there because I am not tempted to buy anything since literally everything is out of my price range but it's so much fun to look! We walked up to the Flatiron and then got Stumptown Coffee at the Ace Hotel. And to top it off, the weather was beautiful. See:
flatiron in spring
stumptown @ the ace hotel
GLEE:Let me geek out for a minute and say, yes, I am more than a little excited Glee is back. Shame on you if you haven't watched it yet. I tried to link the Sue Sylvester Vogue video but most of the sites "may harm my computer." Trust me.
easter brunch
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.
A rare post from Telfer.
This is somewhat obvious – but when you live somewhere with a real winter season you really appreciate spring when it arrives. The trees lining the streets and parks are blooming with pink and white flowers, and we have had several days in the 70s and even 80s this week. This picture was taken Easter Sunday – we went to brunch with visiting friends (Anna and Amanda) – such a beautiful day.
The nicer/warmer weather also bodes well for Henry’s enjoyment of walks in the park, as well as more opportunities for Cate to swing and walk/play.
Andrea Y. Griffith 