Strange Machines

I’ve been down with some food-hating bug and probably guilty of throwing my own pity party.

A friend of mine posted a kind note over at Five Cats about Boy and I found myself missing him again.

His death was something I’d been dreading for years but even when it came so unexpectedly, I was not prepared.

I have never loved another cat like him. He was like my own child. I wish for so much more than just 17 years with him. But all I will have are the memories we shared and the wonderful unconditional love that only a cat can give me.

Since she turned one, almost overnight Kitten became incredibly attached to me. She would howl if I was out of sight and inconsolable till I picked her up.

I read on Babycenter that this is normal for her age (and vaguely recollect that her brother was the same). Funnily enough, Wolf is the same now too.

It is like they are feeding off each other’s emotions. Night time it is a competition: who can nurse more. But I take it in my stride.

Maybe 4 years of night waking has made me immune and/or I’ve learnt to cherish the late night cuddle time with my little ones before they grow up all too fast and I have to start bribing for a cuddle.

But of course she does. She has been comprehending me since she was probably around 4 months old but now at 1 year old she is starting to respond to what I say and ask her.

She’s started waving bye voluntarily when the occasion calls for it.

She can pass me things when asked.

She overhears me telling so and so she can do it and she does.

E.g. Today my Mom told me to watch her as she was climbing up a chair. I told Mom not to worry as she can do it. She never turned to look at us but she paused a second when I said it as if she’d heard. She climbed up, turned herself around, sat down and then clapped and laughed gleefully.

She has also started to imitate words. She doesn’t reproduce them exactly but sometimes they are very close, like the duck I showed her today. She said duck very clearly.

Other times her favourite words are article (probably ah tickle) and book.

She has begun to walk.

Fun days!

This beautiful doll and lovely hand drawn card arrived from Chal-Baby from South Africa for Kitten today!

It was from her Godma in Malaysia who remembered her first birthday. Kitten absolutely loves her!

What I love about Etsy is it brings all these talented artisans from around the world together to sell their craft. Here is one of them.

And Kitten says a huge thank you to Godma and she misses you so much!