lemonade stand
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

I was walking back from the subway yesterday afternoon and saw this lemonade stand across the street from our apartment. Of course I bought some – who can walk past a group of cute children running a lemonade stand without partaking? Proof that NYC is really not that different from anywhere else.

Telfer is getting over a bad cold and on Saturday, especially, felt rotten. We were supposed to all go to Molly's 30th birthday party in Prospect Park but quickly struck a deal: He stayed home with the baby while I went to the party.

Doesn't sound like a big deal? I was gone from 11:30 AM to 5:30 PM…the longest I have been away from Cate since she's been born**. I had a good time at the park (Happy Birthday Molly!) and did a few Andrea things on the way there, namely, walked a whole lot (Central Park South, down 5th Ave to the NYPL). Telfer and Cate did fabulous; Telfer fed her lunch, put her down for a nap, and took a walk, all without me hovering and commenting on technique. Definitely valuable.

**I should clarify here: it's not that Telfer has been unwilling to stay with Cate, it's more of a breastfeeding issue. She just started to drink successfully out of a sippy cup and now I don't have to worry about her becoming dehydrated on these hot days. She's going to start whole milk in a sippy cup today!

a love to last a lifetime
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

Cate had her first taste of macaroni & cheese last night. She ate about three times the amount I expected her to consume. She LOVED it…

In other news:
My best friend had a baby girl on Wednesday. Claire Elizabeth Hendricks. Is that not a beautiful name? I am so wishing I could stop by about now and clean a few toilets or do SOMETHING helpful. Maybe her next baby? I am positive RaChelle appreciates talking about baby #2 when baby #1 is all of three days old. 

cate and telfer
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

My goals today are pretty slight: mail a package, read Cate a few books, take a shower, you know, big stuff. Telfer’s main goal today, anything but slight: take the anesthesia boards.

All of the tests for the last three years were practice for this particular test. After the written test today he will take the oral boards most likely in the fall and then will finally, officially become board-certified. I think we should have a party. Tonight, anyway, we are going out to an early dinner with Cate and Henry. There is a restaurant in our neighborhood with a generous patio and fabulous pizza.

profile
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

Grammy Mendy was our first visitor last week! We enjoyed showing her around our neighborhood. It rained quite a lot while she was here but still managed to be sweaty at the same time. Regardless of the weather, Cate loves her Grammy and kept looking for her after Mendy left for the airport on Sunday afternoon. Sad but cute.

Mendy babysat one night and Telfer and I had a date night. We went down to the West Village to visit a certain bookstore and to enjoy a fabulous dinner. Date nights are just awesome.

Life feels normal now, in a good way. Our routine is set; Cate and Henry get lots of attention and walks. (Henry is doing a little better this week. He has a grooming appointment on Thursday and a vet appointment on Friday. Maybe he has worms?)

We have the important things figured out, namely, we have finally found a Thai restaurant that is almost better than our favorite Redlands place (and delivers to our door in 15 minutes). Pumpkin curry with chicken is now my most favorite thing in the world!

perfect
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

This is the current background on my phone. I cannot seem to look at it enough. Yes, this is my family, still is, oh better check one more time. Yep, still there.

Telfer set up the high chair last week and Cate seems to love having her very own chair.

Appearances can be somewhat deceiving. This is probably the third spoonful of food Telfer has fed Cate (not that I am keeping track of course). Henry looks so peaceful in the picture but is still having a rough adjustment. He’s stopped vomiting and pooping in the apartment but is now tearing out patches of his hair around his tail. Poor puppy.