14 months

Wesley is officially a toddler, and I'm amazed at the little person he's becoming everyday! Two of my good friends had babies in July, and seeing the newborns again just reminded me that Wesley is really a big boy now.

Walking
He officially started walking Monday, Sept 12th -- at 13-1/2 months. Before that he was cruising, standing on his own, and take a few steps here and there - but mainly he just wanted to hold your hand.

Books
Wesley has an infatuation with books. He brings you books to read, and we have a stack of them in our bedroom to read at night. He loves turning the pages, and he definitely has his favorites.

This book infatuation all happened around the 1-year mark when I took a book out from the library called Hard at Work by Ant Parker. He would pick up this book and hand it to you, and we had to read it to him again and again. As he got more coordinated, he would pick it up and crawl to you with it in his hand. He loved just sitting in our lap while we read it to him (and this expanded to the other books on his shelf). I've been reading to him since he was born, so this could be the reason he's so enamored with books. We take lots of trips to the library, and we have books all over the house -- and I have a lot of late fines.

Talking
Wesley is just a big blabbermouth (like his mom). All he does his blab. We can't understand anything but it sounds a lot like words -- just not English. He says Mama and Dada, and Tat for the cats. And he repeats sounds, for instance Matt was going "Beeeep - beep beep" (Long, short short), and Wesley repeated making a sound that was Long, short-short. And a month ago, he was by the stove and I said, "HOT!" and he repeated "HOT" -- now he's actually getting the gist of it because he says it by the stove, by my cup of coffee, and to his food when it's hot.

He also understands a lot too. If you ask him where his ball is, he'll point to it. If you ask him where his socks are, he'll stare at his feet. It's too cute.

Playing with the cats

 Wesley has finally figured out that you can play with the cats. He knows which toys are theirs and he'll purposely get them, bring them to the cats, and he'll try and play with them. Usually it's his toys on a string, which is easy for Wesley to manipulate.  He likes to shake the feather and Guinness paws at it, which makes Wesley scream happy. And then of course he likes to lay on Guinness - who actually lets him. Mini? Well, she'll have nothing to do with Wesley.

Toothless Joe

Poor Mini Cooper had to have 3 teeth removed this morning. That cat has some serious dental disease not caused by deadbeat parents but by genetics. She got her two big canines removed -- the ones that make a cat look like a cat. I haven't seen the damage yet, she's hiding somewhere, but good thing she has her boyfriend Guinness because her single's ad reading " overweight and toothless" wouldn't get that many responses!

Cat stroller

Not really, but maybe he's giving us a hint that he also want to go for daily walks! This is the first that Guinness has napped in the stroller and it's been out since before the babe was home. He did go to the vet that day so maybe he just needed someplace to snuggle...

The Cats & the Baby

One of my friends wanted to know how the cats are adjusting to the baby.

The answer is ... surprisingly well.

Matt and I were really worrid they would be jealous or mean, and start pooing and peeing around the house. So far (knock on wood) that has not happened. First off, when we did the nursery, we always allowed the cats inside. We never shooed them away or made them feel unwelcome. When Guinness showed too much interest in the crib, I would just pick him up and move him away.

When the baby came home, we never made any loud noises when they went near the baby; we just watched and observed. We always wanted them to feel like this was a non-threatening thing to their environment.

Guinness watching the baby

And so far we have found that Guinness is very interested in the baby. He loves to go up to him and try to smell him. When he's in his bassinet, Guinness lays in the bed so he can look over him. On occasion I've caught Guinness's paw in the bassinet but that was only because he wanted the pacifier.

Mini, on the other hand, can care less about the baby. One time, the baby's arm was outstretched and Mini tried to rub against it. When she realized he wasn't going to rub her head, she deemed him useless and walked away. When the baby's in my lap, that doesn't stop Mini from trying to edge herself in too to get some much needed rubs.

This is all better than a mean pooing cat!

A Parade of Felines

Matt and I love our cats, and we love taking pictures of them. Here are some to entertain you from this past winter.

Guinness napping in my Boppy pillow

Napping in front of the fire. Their favorite place in the winter.
Guinness had to take the ottoman since Mini hogged the spot in front of the fire.

Mini grooming on the chair.

Sharing real estate in front of the fire.

Nothing better than being petted by Mama. Guinness is passed out on my lap.

Lights, ornaments, star ... cat

This is Guinness in the Christmas Tree.

Earlier this week, I saw him run with glee and leap into the tree and lay on one of the fake tree branches (3 branches up, not one of the lower ones).

How the tree didn't topple over is a Christmas miracle!

If I had a Million Dollars

... I would buy each one of my cats one of each of these

Cat Fancy

1 years old

Happy Birthday Guinness!

4 years old

Happy Birthday Mini!

We call her the "carpet."

If I had a million dollars ...

... the kitties would have a new bed!I just read about Kittypods in the paper and I thought they were too cool for school. Guinness just meowed, "Buy me one!"

Speaking of Guinness, he was getting into the Masters this weekend. He loves the TV more than any cat I've ever met, although his favorites are: football, golf, and Vince Vaughn movies.