White Wonder aka Kitty

When tomorrow starts without me

Don't think we're far apart

For every time you think of me

I'm right here inside your heart

Margi Harrell

I first met Kitty in January 2007. I saw him in a flash as I was picking up the bachelor. White cat with bright blue eyes. He was shy and quickly retreated to his room (what later became my office). I had never been a cat person. Truthfully I just never got them. Cats in general seemed to show a certain aloffness that I didn't fancy. Little did I know that in that instant me and Kitty would be taking a long journey together.

It was a wonderful relationship that the bachelor had with his pet. I listened to the stories that both Kitty and the bachelor shared. Hockey with bottle caps, where Kitty could retrieve them in his mouth. Kitty reminding the bachelor when it was mealtime for both. Kitty kept a tight ship of fun and work that they both seemed to enjoy.

Then I came along with my loud, squeaky, dancing self. Kitty and I didn't really see eye to eye in the beginning. But I came up with a plan...I love animals. I love holidays. In fact the two should go hand and hand. HA HA. One of the first fights I had with the (now) boyfriend involved dressing up Kitty in holiday garb. I am pretty sure there was a holiday collar involved and there was definitely bells. The boyfriend (and Kitty) would not be degraded in such a way. Imagine dressing up a cat. Who is this woman coming into our home? ha ha.

A snowball fight occurred on another day. I greeted the boyfriend with snow in the face one winter afternoon. Snowballs quickly made and thrown in the house. Screeches coming from my direction as snow managed to go down my shirt, water dripping from my face. Retaliation was on my mind but Kitty would not have his best buddy be attacked in such a way. That was the fateful day that Kitty bit me. Blood even rolled down my leg. I jested, "how dare he bite me" but couldn't help smile that he was so protective of the people he loved. Not aloof at all.

I was now the girlfriend in the boyfriend's life and I chose to live with both Kitty and man. That was when we both started to adapt to our new life together. Kitty indeed had to compromise. I took his spot in bed and possibly some cuddles. A diet was strictly enforced (as per vets orders). At times I would see him shoot off to his scratching post taking out some frustrations.

Then the games would ensue. We would all take turns hiding behind the couch and creeping around, "psyching" each other out. Bat the ball back and forth. Zig zag across the carpet with feathers. Play with bags on the ground. Slide ice on the floor. Sometimes a scratch would result but it was all in good fun. He was a garden cat (you had to be with the boyfriend) and he loved it. Kitty would smell the flowers leaving a trace of pollen on his face, or munch on the bit of cat grass that was planted for him.

Kitty became accustomed to my early morning wakings. So much so that if I decided to sleep in on a Saturday or Sunday he would come into the room at 6am and remind me that he is in need of food (as it was me that had enforced the diet...or what he thought as it came when I came). He would meow in my ears at first. Rubbing his face on mine. Purring persistently. I would roll on to my stomach so he couldn't bug me and he would hop onto my back and meow straight into my ear. I would try to buck him off but he would brace himself onto my back so that there was no losing him. Little doubt that of course he got fed.

There were times though that Kitty felt the need to take a little vacation. He would take a little jaunt out in the alleyway of our apartment or to the park out in the back. I swear he would watch as we all scrambled to find him, calling his name. And it wasn't just me and the boyfriend. The brothers, the mom and dad, friends have all been seen out in the alleyway calling Kitty's name. Not one summer would go by when we lived in that apartment where we would not be looking for Kitty. Always finding him in both exasperation and relief. Because in the end we all loved Kitty. And Kitty loved us.

His cuddles were the best. Most of them were reserved for his buddy, and his friend, my boyfriend which later became my husband. Kitty would hop on his lap while he was on the computer and just snuggle getting pets and warmth. He loved being petted right at his shoulder blades or right under his neck at the collarbone. Sweet deep purrs of gratitude would be returned when you gave him just the right amount of love.

It was a special bond they both had and I the opportunity to see and participate. They lived a lot of life together. 16 years in fact! They had seen people come in and out of their lives. Some stayed, others didn't. Some moved in and stayed for the long haul (me). And those some brought in more family (me again and welcome Bentley). And more family again (little babe).

Kitty saw a lot of changes and managed to adapt to each one with the Kitty ease that made us love him all the more. He moved to many places finally settling in on our last home. With that he enjoyed many views out the window, many rooms to hide, many plays along the banisters swatting our hands, many things to scratch (ahem the rugs...and the scratching posts) and many places to go out in the yard and remain safe.

He was an incredible cat. He was our Kitty although like his name he was quite a wonder. We loved him and we will sorely miss him.

Thanks for all that you gave us little guy. Rest easy now.
XOXOX

Sleep Training Day 27

So what has happened since that late night of 12, 2, 4 am! ugh. The thought of it still makes me sleepy!! ha ha. I have stuck to your nap times when I do you nap. Not necessarily long...sometimes an hour, sometimes 45 minutes but more often 30 minutes. But you do nap.

And you seem to cry right before nap time as if to tell me...yes it's time (or maybe, it's getting late?!) ha ha. Regardless you show you need it. And you get them. More often three times, sometimes two (believe me, when you drop that third I will be so happy as that is the hardest one to get).

The biggest thing I noticed was putting you to sleep an hour and half earlier than we usually do. 6pm in fact. And guess what?! You usually fall asleep in 5-10 minutes and stay asleep. I've had to move up dinner for you and you have a longer bath time (usually with your dad) so you can do a bit of extra play before bed, but you are a goner at 6.

Now the tricky part. Do you wake up every two hours or no? For the week I started you got up twice at 2 am, then put yourself to sleep. I would feed you when you woke up first in the night between 9-11 and then I wouldn't go back to your room till about 4-6am pending time. But usually you slept so you got it. No waking at 7, or 8, or 9....and then no waking at 12, 2, 4. SAY WHAT! Who knew?

So where are we in the sleep? Twice a night max which I can totally handle. You get up once in the late night 10-12 and once in the early morning 4-6. Or the odd 2am then 6am. OR MY FAV the just 4am!

You still do the occasional cry it out and unless you are overtired, it lasts less than your mobile (and I have timed that its 15minutes). I don't go in as really I now think I just peeve you off when I'm there to just settle you.

So what have I learned? You know what, I think I can read you a bit better. I understand sleep a bit better from that book. I've noticed you settle in more to a regulated pattern that you have never shown before so that's cool too. AND I know things will change. Naps will get dropped, you will slowly be awake more in the day, naps (rumour has it but I won't believe till I see it) will get longer, and guess what nursing will eventually cease to exist in the night (that is the one I'm dreading as sleeplessness although probably for a short time will come again).

Regardless I feel good about everything. I think all of us in this family of three have done a good job. Until the next sleepless night....(let's hope it comes later rather than sooner).

Oh and that book I read (which many in my mom's group have apparently used as well..with similar success) Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Marc Weissbluth.

oooooooo james corden

so this guy i have a teeny little crush on...mainly cause he loves to sing in his car the way i do and his laugh makes me laugh....AND now he has done a carpool karaoke with broadway showtunes!

love. too bad the last song brought on crocodile tears from the little one. need to teach her the awesomeness of broadway as i need dates in the future!




love

Eight is great

You are nearing 8 months in just three short days. Say what have you been up to...

Well you can probably guess quite a bit from the previous blog posts.



You have been mighty busy! And that is no joke. You are an official crawler. As soon as you mastered that (just shy of a week ago), you started to pull yourself up in standing position, with whatever object you can find. That means laundry hampers, dishwashers, and even people (your dad's leg hair included). I started to bath you in the laundry hamper about two weeks ago just to keep you from falling but it seems to just entice you to stand more...you are an active monkey!



But you don't always need to be on the move. You love to play with balls, spatulas, tupperware, macaroni rattles or just sit on the floor clapping your hands squealing away. If we hide things under blankets, or behind us you look around for it. You love to drop things and have your people pick it up for you. But number one is playing with you parents. Zerberts galore from your dad and mom throwing you in the air and flipping you upside down. Those are your favourites.





And right now we seem to be your favourites. If one of us disappears and leaves you (with not one of us) you seem to get a little strange. And lets face it, at dinner time or when you are eating if you hear your dad, you give big smiles and if he walks away I will hear your cries. You don't like it when he leaves your sight! I guess I am 49% in your eyes and your dad is 51%!



You and Bentley have become better friends and it's only a matter of time (and when you get a bit bigger) where you will be best friends. He really enjoys your snacking time and you enjoy climbing on him. There have been some run ins as he may have stepped on you or bumped into you. He can be a bit clumsy and not realize where he is walking. But you are a champ and are quick to forgive.

You have started to just eat what we are eating as you have taste tested quite a bit. The only time you like help is at breakfast. Other than that you insist on feeding yourself with minimal help. And you have cut another tooth giving you a grand total of three teeth two on the bottom and one on the top. Toothy smiles to come.

We have spent a lot of time outside enjoying the weather. You love eating the grass, dandelions, and picking some of your mother's flowers (stay away from those...ha ha). Going on walks with your family, going to the market on Sundays or Saturdays. Strollering around. Playground time. Attempting to go in the dog pool. Lots of sunny outside time.



We are doing mom's group one last time although due to your new sleeping arrangements we miss a bit of the beginning. You had one more photoshoot where I think you looked pretty darn cute. We have gotten together outside mom's group which has been kind of awesome as that's the whole point of it if you ask me!



And lastly your sleep. Well that's a whole post in itself but as of right now since the new sleep regime (I think we are on day 16) its working well.  I think your father and I are a little astonished that it is working pretty well. I am sure regression will occur but we are a bit more educated on it so hopefully we can progress back.

love you to the moon and back
xoxox

When I am not a mom

Guess what?! I am not always a mom (well I guess now I am always a mom, ha ha). But I can have a little alone time now and again! And with that alone time I have become super efficient doing things that give me a wider sense of self. I get to expand my role to more than a mom, but again be a friend, daughter, wife, etc.

So what have I been doing?
I have the honour of being a bridesmaid this year to one of my very great fantastic friends. I have already got to see her "say yes to the dress". AND I have to say, she looks fantastic in it. We have done the very awesome Bridal Fair (and sought out all the samples...maybe me only, but come on there were ice cream machines!). AND I got to help make the wedding invitations and just hang out during little one's bedtime (I love anything crafty so I was all over that).

I have managed to sneak in workouts. Stroller aerobics was my go to for awhile and it was hard core! But now they are falling in on nap times and mine won't sleep during a music filled work out. So I do a bit at home, dog walks 5 times a week, and have dusted off my most favourite bicycle and started riding it around in the evening. Soon I may add running and the gym to my evening routines if this little one keeps up the sleeping.

I have enjoyed starting my scrapbooking again (2012 album done! Yikes and YAY). Watching lots of movies, netflix. Loving my new computer and using it daily as there seems to be lots to organize in my "digital world".

Enjoyed hanging out in the front and back yard. The smell of the freshly mowed grass, admiring the solar panelled lights as they come on (and realizing I need to hang outside more often during the night). Loving the flowers in the front and veggies in the back.

Hanging out with my friends. Co-workers discussing work life. Going out for dinner with friends. Seeing movies in the theatre (summer ones too, my favourite). Planning events with my mom's group outside my group.

And thinking of other projects, activities that I would like to attend in the summer and fall. Possibly our community league and a church that I think I would enjoy. Doing a photography course. Plan a sign making class. Finish the cabinet in the basement. And of course fitting time in to be with my partner in crime. Oh the plans!

Being a mom is pretty fantastic, lovely, rewarding and a whole bunch of feelings that really are hard to articulate. But it isn't the end all. I am glad that I can stretch my wings out a bit more and be part of a greater home, community and world incorporating my little daughter in it.

xoxox