button garland – close up
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

At the request of Mom & Alyssa, here’s a picture of my button tree. I think it turned out very cute except looking at it now, I think, my goodness, that’s a lot of buttons, who would actually spend the time sewing buttons onto wire? Oh wait, that would be me.

smiley girl
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

Cate is a little over two months now and yesterday was the dreaded two month vaccination appointment. Cate was not impressed with the proceedings. She actually turned purple. Traumatic, yes, but she took the best nap ever, even allowing her parents to meet at a local restaurant for a glass of wine. Very thoughtful of her. And, as you can see by this picture, yesterday’s events have done no lasting damage. She spent a good ten minutes smiling and cooing at her daddy this morning.

All four girls
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

Is it possible to find four cuter girls?

tales of beedle the bard
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

While Telfer was working and Cate was sleeping, I spent an enjoyable evening reading The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Sigh.

Cate in her oft repeated Thanksgiving outfit
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

I have been a little negligent in posting this week. It's been a strange one. Telfer is really busy at work, we've had trauma/drama with cars, but mostly, my days slip by, busy with feedings, naps, laundry, baths, poopy diapers and a smiley, darling baby.

Also, I have been preoccupied with decorating for Christmas. I love decorating for Christmas but what used to take me one day now took three. The baby is certainly one reason, but I became obsessed with making button garlands (I got the idea in my favorite home store in Richland while shopping with Mom). Literally, I spent every spare moment for three days threading buttons on thin wire. Ridiculous but! the little tree in our library looks so cute. I will post pictures soon.

Our Washington Thanksgiving trip was such a success. Cate was a successful traveller, conking out at every available opportunity. Her parents even caught up on issues of the New Yorker and The Week. On our first flight, the passenger sitting next to Telfer didn't even realize we were traveling with a baby for quite some time…Even if she is a horrible frequent flyer in the future, we will look back on her first flight with fondness.

In Olympia, Cate met her Aunt Claire, Uncle Nate, and Aunt Eleanor for the first time. She approved. RaChelle drove down from Vancouver to meet Cate while we were in Olympia. So fun. The two of us went to coffee to chat and mini-celebrate RaChelle's 30th birthday. We then spent Thanksgiving In Richland at my parent's house (my mom's Thanksgiving dinner is still my favorite). Cate met her Papa, Uncle Nate (yes, she has two), and cousins Eden and Cora for the first time. She approved of them too. How blessed is this baby to have two sets of loving grandparents and a host of wonderful aunts, uncles and cousins? This is a blessing we certainly don't take for granted.