It was Time to Say Goodbye

Our cat, Pumpkin, was unique. Anyone that met her did not really forget Ms. Personality. She was equally cranky to everyone that visited our house. She has been part of the our family from the beginning.  Jut got her before we were even engaged...and she's just moved down the totem pole from there.

She was a feisty little kitten that loved to race up your legs.  She ate my roses that we placed on top of the refrigerator one night in her youth. She'd wake me in the mornings by playing with the kitten in the mirror.  She was one crazy kitten.

She turned into a crazy cat. She was territorial of our house.  She didn't like anyone else in it. She'd stand guard and make her presence fully known by all. If one stayed around for a long time, she might jump on his or her lap, but that didn't mean that you were a friend and heaven forbid if you tried to touch her while she was perched there.  She was the queen just gracing  you with her presence.

She loved my pregnant bellies. She'd start sitting on my belly as soon as there was life in there...a couple times she made me nervous because there was no plans for baby and there she'd perch.  But, she wasn't so impressed with the babies on the outside.  When we brought M home from the hospital, she jumped up on our bed, looked at the baby, looked at us and you could hear her say, "Really?  Another one?Why on earth did you do that?!"

Since we moved into our house, she and E had become good friends.  E could even pick her up on most days.  Pumpkin would hang out in E's room on her bed or in her little chair.  E complained that she'd take up too much space in her bed at night. The boys aren't allowed in E's room and we figured that Pumpkin decided that it was the perfect refuge.

However, Pumpkin was nearing her 14th birthday and arthritis had set into her hind quarters. She'd lost a few teeth.  Age was catching up to her.  Additionally, she started some unpleasant behavior problems.  Her time with us was up.

M was just beginning to notice Pumpkin

C took the news with glee.  We sat down to break the news to the kids and C raced at her yelling, "Pumpkin, you are going to DIE!" He reminded her of that fact for her remaining three days.  He obviously didn't really get it. When Jut got home from the vet, he questioned something about how he was back from Heaven already.  Then, his dad made him mad the other day and he exclaimed, "I'm going to send you where Pumpkin is!"Things are hard to sort out in the three year old brain sometimes.

So, now we are without any indoor four-legged companions. Two cats haunt the outside of the house and one desperately wants to be an indoor kitty. But, our pet status isn't going to change anytime soon.

M at 2 months

Oh how quickly babies change! This show how much M has already changed from a newborn to now. He's in the bouncy seat for all three pics.  The first one doesn't show how little he looks very well since he's so bundled in blankets, but he's just a little peanut. He's outgrown that Thomas 3 month outfit and it is packed away and now he's sporting 3-6 month clothing and it doesn't look big on him. Notice he's grabbing the frog today...he's also started grabbing handfuls of my hair.  It is time for a haircut or constant ponytails.

 M's siblings are still loving him...sometimes too much.  C is a bit forceful and has no patience for his crying.  X loves him to pieces and is always trying to be a helper.  He consoles him when I'm busy...fetches things...always says, "How's my little M-man?" is a cute singy-songy voice. E generally ignores him except to give him a hug and kiss at bedtime, but she likes to have her chance to hold him when he's in a good mood too.





M is starting to coo and make more noise daily.  I love those little first happy baby noises.  He's really starting to smile frequently.  Those first little toothless grins are the best!  He's also started drooling and making bubbles in the past couple of days.  Looks like we'll have another drooly boy.




Sleeping is an ongoing issue.  He likes to sleep with us most of the night.  He only naps if he's being held or sleeping on his tummy.  I'll be glad when he can roll over and finally sleep at night on his stomach.  He sleeps so much better.  He's a very gassy baby and the gas doesn't seem to bother him when he's on his tummy. (He only sleeps on his tummy supervised since it is against all recommendations...just fyi).

He did roll over when he was doing tummy time last week.  He was so surprised.  It made me laugh to see the look on his face.  He hasn't done it again, but we haven't been doing much tummy time as we've been pretty busy during the day and he's been asleep for the night by 7ish.

M loves the exercise ball.  Bouncing to sleep is his favorite way to enter the land of nod.  My back is getting much stronger from being on it so frequently.  I may regret introducing it to him, but it puts him out like a light and sometimes that is all that matters.

Month two has been much less eventful than month one.  We've enjoyed getting into the swing of being a family of 6.  I even broke out the cloth diapers last week finally. I've been baking muffins and cookies again.  We are getting the hang of this...if only I could get a bit more sleep, life would be pretty good. However, M is finally nursing at night too...so my mandatory pumping sessions are finished.  Hallelujah!  And, he can nurse in about 10 minutes during the day.  Things keep getting easier!  I love my snuggly newborn...but I also love the changes that come that make life easier.  Keeping up a 'newborn' schedule is exhausting and it is nice when progress occurs.  M even when 5 hours between his night feeding last night.  As sad as it is to see the newborn phase ending, it is nice to be exiting the phase too.

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He had his 2 month check up today (May 21st)...He was 14 lbs 2 ozs and 23 inches. He's doing great!