Monday, May 12, 2008

New Baby in the House

I'm a grandma!

Well, not really. My daughter's moving into her own apartment on June 1st, so what did she have to immediately go and do? Get a kitty, of course.

That means I have a grandkitty. And, my, she is a cutey!

See her head peeking out from the hood of my daughter's sweatshirt?

My daughter picked up the darling on Friday and all weekend, the house has been abuzz with Layla. That's the name she's given the little sweetheart. Although she's not all sugar, this one. Trust me, there's quite a bit of spice oozing out of those tiny, razor sharp claws!

My son's been playing with her every chance he gets. My husband's snapping pictures left and right. My daughter's friends having been coming in and out of the house by the droves. The girls have been oohing and aahing. Even the big, burly guys have been fighting over who gets to hold the six week old ball of fur. I'm not kidding. They're probably the cutest of all with her. But I find myself, too, heading to my daughter's room to see if the kitten is awake.

Our dogs are all curious about this tiny creature that started out hissing and spitting at them. They know she's a baby and are cute as heck around her, so cautious and respectful. She's now, this tiny little thing, in just a couple days, walking fairly comfortably around the dogs. Our full-grown cats are another story. It's a good thing Layla will only be here a few weeks. The house is feeling a bit crowded.

I guess it's another sign spring is in the air, puppies and kittens everywhere. But is really is fun having a kitten in the house again. The best part is, she's not staying. That's the grandma-ish part I like!

Is it just me, or do most people go gaga over babies, human or animal? Could you sit for hours playing, holding, petting?

What is it about a baby that gets the whole house happy and playful and miraculously united?

PS: I'm now wondering if I'll be getting ANY work done today. Guess who's crawling around on my desk and, right now, preparing to attack my fingers as they click across the keyboard, all while my daughter blissfully sleeps?

Helen

16 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh, the hope and pleasure of expectation that accompanies new life! That and the irresistible lure of newborn fur.

I, too, have grandkittens. Mine-- two gray tigers with white feet and bellies-- are called Chacka and Frick. I'm just glad the kids got those names out of the way before they started to procreate. They are the babies of the family in nearly every way. . . except, NO MOTHER"S DAY CARD! What's up with that?

Anyway. . . guys are usually the biggest suckers for the cute little furry things. . . my sons are the same. Go figure. Maybe because it's safe for them to lavish attention and go gaga over something so small and defenseless and cute. Like tough, alpha heroes who are handed a baby to hold or protect. Too cute.

Have fun, Helen. LOVE the pics. . . especially the last one!

Kathleen Eagle said...

Yesterday my daughter announced that she's a new Mama, too. She has 3 dogs already, but the new babies are feathered. (She's still an Eagle--kept her name when she married--so feathers seem quite natural.) A quaker parrot and a lovebird. They're babies, but they bonded at the breeder's, so E took both. She's always been such a critter person. Oh, the variety over the years! The only kind of babies she's planning. Said she came home yesterday to hubby at the combuter with a bird on his shoulder and one on his head. She married a bird of a feather!

Cindy Gerard said...

Layla is a doll. And yes, I think there is something deep inside all of us that makes us programed to lose our hearts and sometimes our heads over puppies and kitties and babies. They represent all things good. New life, wide-eyed innocence, absolute trust. What's not to love?
Speaking of babies, our little Haley Brianna, who was 3 months old yesterday, made her first visit to Grandma and Grandpa's house with her 3 brothers and sisters. All sweetness and light and promise. Again, what's not to love :o)

Michele Hauf said...

I love kitties! Have fun with it before she takes it away.

My daughter just moved and she's excited to get a dog. But she wants a pit bull like the one used in the Target ads. I'm no dog lover to begin with, but a pit bull? I may never visit again. Oy.

Debra Dixon said...

Layla is soooo cute! Makes me want another baby! Of course the newest one I have won't be a year old for a couple of months.

I go gaga over puppies and kitties but I've never really been a baby person. They've never liked me. Just my great-nephew and my son. That's pretty much it for babies who trusted me. The rest just cry when I pick them up.

And I get NOTHING. NOTHING. Nothing done if there is a baby kitty in the house. Maybe I would if our baby kitties didn't always come as foundlings and need intense people-therapy.

Yeah. That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

Helen Brenna said...

Chacka? Where did that name come from?

Kathy, my daughter sounds just like yours. I have no doubt she'll eventually have a zoo of her very own. Too cute, her husband with the birds on him at the computer!

Sounds like a lovely Mother's Day weekend, Cindy. So glad your grandkids got to visit!

Michele, I totally get the pit bull reaction. I've met some sweet tempered ones, but they still scare me.

Is that Target dog a pit bull? I thought it was something else, but I can't remember the breed name.

Helen Brenna said...

Deb, that surprises me that you're not a baby person. I would've guessed babies would love the sound of your voice, it's so pretty. Hmm.

As for getting nothing done ... I'm sitting at my desk trying to work and Layla's been attacking my shoeslaces, my shoes and, of course, my legs. I finally had to take her back into my daughter's room. Mommy's got to get up!

Playground Monitor said...

We had to get rid of our cat last November and I've been waffling over getting another one. On the one hand, I'm not sure I have the patience for kitten antics. On the other hand, the rabbits are taking over my back yard and eating my flowers and a cat would solve that. I'm afraid to adopt an older cat because I could end up with the same behavior problems that caused us to have to get rid of the last cat.

What's a mother to do? Maybe I'm still grieving for Spooky and when more time passes I'll be ready for a new kitty.

Layla's a cutie all right.

Marilyn

Helen Brenna said...

Oh, Marilyn, the decision for a new pet is a big one, if you take it seriously. I don't blame you for hesitating. And cats are an especially long commitment being they live so long.

I cautioned my daughter until I was blue in the face. I think she understands, as best a 19 year old can.

What kitten isn't cute???!!!

Michele Hauf said...

The Target dog is half pit bull, half something else. Can't recall. I think sometimes our kids fall in love with the IDEA of having a pet, but when it comes down to taking care of the thing? Well, as parents, we all know how that goes.

mslizalou said...

Layla is so cute. I love kittens and puppies. My uncle's cat likes to check her email everytime he turns on his computer. It was fine until the day she erased one of his new poems. Luckily he was able to find it again, but Cece is no longer allowed to be near the laptop.

Christie Ridgway said...

Layla is adorable! I could be convinced about a kitten on the pix alone, except I think it would upset our very elderly lab. He still loves to be the center of attention!

Yesterday afternoon I took Son 1 to his girlfriend's house. Her parents are all excited about the new puppy they're getting next week. Had the bed and toys out already. It was so cute!

Helen Brenna said...

I hear you, Michele, and I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed!

Speaking of kitties who love email ... Layla was crawling around on my desktop and messing around on the keyboard when I had just the blog opened. She ended up creating some kind of tool bar on the bottom of my screen that took me a few minutes to delete.

Christie, you'd be surprised how quickly dogs adapt to cats - can't say it's quite as easy the other way around! lol

Unknown said...

Speaking of kitten-love. I heard a doctor speak on PBS about women's health. She said women produce a hormone that keeps them healthy. And that hormone is secreted when they see something that makes them go 'ahhhhhhhh'. Something that clutches at their hearts. For her it was baby birds before they get there feathers. But for lots of people it's human babies. For me, well..Layla fit the bill. Enjoy her while she's there, Grandma.

Helen Brenna said...

Boy, I believe it, Lois about that hormone business. Weird, our bodies, huh?

Tez Miller said...

What brave kids you have, letting a cat sit on their shoulders...but perhaps Layla hasn't made it to the hair-chewing stage ;-) Still, she'll find out where shoelaces are sooner or later ;-)

My cat Manny is a loud purrer, but you can't even hear my sister's cat, Jimmy. Is there a "normal" when it comes to purrs?

Thanks for sharing, and have a lovely day! :-)