Our First Field Trip: The Hallway

– Hi everyone. It's us, and 'dis our first field trip, but...
– Oh yes, hi everyone. Sorry but we is a little distracted right now.

– You know Nate, I don't understand why 'dat Kitty play so hard to get, especially when she make me smile 'dis big. 

– Oh, she toy with us alright, Seth.

– Now she doing that thing where she stare and glower at us for a long time.
– I know! She does 'dat all the time! I doesn't know why. All we wants is to pull Kitty's tail, but it's like she not trust us for some reason. 

– Hey, here she come!
– Sorry, I is busy doing my impression of Kitty coughing up hairball. I think I nail 'dis one. In fact, I think Kitty nail one here too. We should tell Mommy to wash 'dis floor more often. 

– Oh, don't get me started on 'dat Mommy, Nate! I still think you's better turn around tho'...
– Oh I will, but first I need to let our favorite people know that if you'd like to see the exciting conclusion to 'dis episode, you need to be hopping over to our YouTube™ channel without delays. 

– Oooh, 'dis our first cliffhanger!
– Well, not quite – but still pretty exciting. I hope you is going to check it out everyone!

- L.

In The Jungle. The Mighty Jungle.

The lion is not sleepy at all actually.



The new Fisher Price Rainforest 1-2-3 Musical Gym proved to be too much temptation for Zed – who has been shy about lurking in the nursery since M. chased her out after a particularly stealthy attack on his ankles. You can't really blame her for bravely venturing in once again to have a peek at the dangling butterflies though.

Oh yes, and the babies seem to like it too. ; )

- Why hello there Madame Butterfly!



– Pardon me while I knock you out. BAM!



– Hey mommy, did you see all this neat stuff?



– There's this. And there's this. And there's this thing over here that does this.



– It's all so exciting, it makes my face go like this:



Ha! Well, the reviews are in and it looks like it's a hit all around. Now get out of the nursery Zed!

- L.

Keeping Watch O'er The Flock

Early yesterday morning, a backlit Zed kept watch as Nate snoozed peacefully on the couch. I was over at my makeshift desk with Seth in my arms – he was a little fussy – and the camera was handy so I quickly snapped a shot of this sweet scene. What you can't see in the shadows of Zed's face is how protective she looked as she gazed down at my little one. I already knew that Maine Coon cats have a good natured temperament – and as a result are good pets around children – but I did a little more research and found this:

While Maine Coons are highly people-oriented cats, they are not overly-dependent. They do not constantly pester you for attention, but prefer to hang out with their owners, investigating whatever activity you're involved in and "helping" when they can.

And this:

The Maine Coon is well known for its loving nature, kindly disposition and great intelligence. Maines are especially good with children and have always been a popular and sought after companion.

While the great intelligence part is debatable, I'll vouch for the rest. Zed's a pretty sweet kitty and gives us no reason to feel nervous with her around our little ones (she might need to worry in a few months though!).

Of course, when her hard work "helping" is done, there's nothing like curling up in the sunny spot for a well earned nap:



- L.

Since You Asked... Zed

Zed is doing just fine. For a poor, neglected kitty she looks rather content actually.



– L.

My New Toy

... is a Nikon D90 – and while I love our little Canon point-and-shoot, this is just so much more, you know? I spent the earlier part of the day getting the battery charged and then got started on figuring out my new camera. I still have a way to go, but Zed made a very cooperative test subject and I was really pleased with the practice shots I was able to take.





The close-up shots are amazingly sharp. I think I can almost smell the cat breath here:



Also, with our boys arriving soon, M. couldn't have picked a better time to spoil me with such a great gift. Thank you sweetie! : )

- L.

Merry Christmas!

Because nothing says Merry Christmas quite like a cat in antlers (also because I just couldn't *not* get them). Zed's opinion may differ – and the pleading look in her eyes probably says it all. Ah well, we've done our best to ensure she'll be relieved to be ignored a little when the babies get here.

Of course, you'll be relieved to know her hard work posing was not for naught and she was duly rewarded for her efforts after.

See Exhibit A (a.k.a. the mysterious contents of the gift-wrapped box):



Of course, you should only mix the two at your own peril:



M. nearly lost a hand last night because he couldn't get the baggie open fast enough. The box itself actually contained a kit to grow your own catnip plant. The "sampler" was included to tide over impatient kitties in the meantime I guess. It was definitely a big, big hit and the claims that the contents are "proudly grown in B.C." are not to be taken lightly – this is some seriously potent stuff and since a little goes a long way Zed will be enjoying her gift for weeks days to come. We should all be so easy to entertain. : )

- L.

Guest Post: Gud Halp Iz Hard To Find

I iz halping. Honest! Someone has to guard the box and keeps the instrukshenz shredded. I also leav'd sum hairz behind to keep the babeez warm. U needz halp with ur nursry? Call me! I'z in the book.

- Z.

Try To Act Casual

I'm not sure this is exactly the face of innocence:



But it's the face that's attached to the cat who immediately found the box with her name on it after we unpacked the presents my mom sent us for Christmas. Behold her handiwork only moments later:



Must be some serious catnip in there. Needless to say, this has been (safely) tucked away for the time being. Of course we'll let Zed finish opening it herself when the time comes – might as well since she's halfway there already.

- L.

Some Assembly Required

Boxes, boxes everywhere filling up our living room after IKEA delivered the bulk of our nursery furniture this afternoon. M will have his work cut out for him assembling everything — fortunately he's become an expert at all things IKEA since we got married. I'm not going to mention the new office chair with the upside down seat he put together last night because he was probably pretty fatigued after spending most of the morning and afternoon shopping for everything yesterday.

I couldn't even accompany him on that arduous trek since my feet are currently too sore and puffed out to allow for too much mobility (getting that checked out tomorrow in case you're wondering). I'm so glad M's mom was available to keep him company and help out with the shopping — also made sure he got fed. Thanks Leslie!

Zed is in the background surveying the scene and she's not too impressed. The chair she's sitting on is M's old office chair and it's going out with the garbage tonight. It's had a good life but will be sorely missed by our cat who has spent many hours safeguarding it in M's absences. Poor Zed. She has no idea how much everything is going to change very, very soon.

- L.