Our "Other" Family Member

Jon and I have had pets in our past. All of which left of scarred and I'll be honest, very anti-pet. However, we had an experience that made us start considering if a pet in our family was possible. You can read about it here. After our Halloween "Black Cat" incident, we started thinking about getting the girls a kitten for Christmas. It was easy to keep on our minds since Tyli asked about when she was getting her dog, or her cat, five times a day. Literally!!

She would tell people matter of factly that she was getting a dog for Christmas. I would tell her that she wasn't and she would say, "Yes I am." In such a way that left no room for argument. Normally I don't let myself get so easily bullied by a 3 going on 4 year old, but the idea of a cute little kitten was growing on me.

So we did it. In hindsight we could have taken away every other present the girls got, because nothing else mattered except the kitten. Tyli and this cat had a special bond from the beginning. She held the kitten all day, and I think every day since.

She did have a couple of bad allergic reactions that made us nervous about our new family member, fortunately they went away so Midnight is apparently not going anywhere. :)

That the name the girls chose, Midnight. However Tyli did go through a name changing phase. My mom loved to visit and see what the cat's name was that day. Other names given were Black Cat, "purrrr"fect, "purrr"night, Leven (I happend to be reading one of the Leven Thumps Books and she thought it might be a suitable name.), Thump Thump (Also book related), and Thump night. And those are just the ones I can remember. Each time it was a new name, if you accidentally referred to it as Midnight you would be strongly reprimanded.

To say Tyli tortures the cat would not be lying. I've caught her dragging it around by the tail, kicking it...hard...in the stomach, burying it with toys, blankets, and towels, pushing it around in the toy shopping cart, and I even found it strapped into the toy baby stroller with a leg through each hole. For her to only come through all this with a few scratches is a testament to what a good temperament this cat has.

Even though it seems like Midnight would avoid this girl at all cost, she seems to be his favorite person. She is the only one who can call him in when he is outside. She'll stand at the door yelling "Here kitty, kitty, kitty!" At first it was a cute sweet high pitched call. Now it is a full on yell. Yet, he almost only comes to her.

Now Madi also adores the kitty. She is just at a different phase in her life and doesn't quite have the time to dote on Midnight. However she won't leave the house in the morning without kissing him goodbye and includes him in every family illustration.

We've all become a little attached and love the thing in our own little way. To see the girls so in love and see the cat so patient with them has one us over for sure!

Life's not all bad for sure!

All worth for these two!!