Guest Blog: From Claudia, the Midwife who helped bring new kitty

Hi friends,

Although we only got to meet Claudia briefly before the new kitty arrived, we thought she was a pretty neat lady.  We found a copy of this very beautiful letter Claudia wrote to Elena and wanted to share it with all of you since it made us both a little misty-eyed.

Enjoy,

Simone and Caldecott


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Dear Elena,

I will probably not get the pleasure of watching you as you grow to become a child…a teen…a woman. You will likely not know me, or I you. Yet you will always hold a special place in my heart. I was the midwife who attended your birth. I guided you as you slipped gently from your mother’s body. I watched over you as you took your first breath. I will always remember the day of your birth and you will always be one of “my special babies”!

Your mom and dad would have done whatever it took to bring you into the world in a way that was most safe, gentle and loving, and that is, I think, why they chose to have you at home. Your mom worked very, very hard to give birth to you: they don’t call it labor for nothing! She also had to overcome all the fears of the terrible things women are told about birth in our culture. Birth is powerful and very beautiful but girls and women are taught it is something to be greatly feared. Your mother was very strong and very brave. And your dad stood by ready to help and support her in whatever way he could. Sometimes that meant swabbing her face gently with cool cloths, and sometimes that meant going to the kitchen (while two dear women friends cared for your mom) and making cupcakes for everyone. Birth is a celebration!

When you were finally born your dad helped to put you right into your mother’s arms, and the room was filled with love and awe. How beautiful you were, and what a miracle!

As I said, your mom needed to develop a new depth of strength and courage during the birth process. I am sure that these qualities will remain with her and help her to become just the mother you need as you grow and develop through the years. Her empowerment will also help to shape you to manifest many positive qualities and to become the brilliant and unique individual you are and will be.

And who knows? Someday when you come into your own as a woman you may choose to have children and to experience birth for yourself. I hope you will be attended by a good midwife, and that you too will perpetuate the miracle of birth and life with the same joy, dignity, and love that your mother and dad experienced on the day you were born!

Love always,

Claudia

Simone Says... (not to be confused with "Simon Says")

Hi friends,

I just wanted to write and let you know that I am doing fine, even though you haven't seen me much in pictures lately.  I don't hang out with the new kitty that much, because I want to avoid this happening to me (see attached picture of Caldecott).  I am a cat, not a couch.

I do try to hang out with my Imma a lot when the new kitty isn't around.  That way I can get all her love and affections without having to contend with anyone else.  All in all, the new kitty is fine.  I've heard from other friends of mine who have one of these that they cry a lot and sometimes stink. Our new kitty doesn't cry that much, and she doesn't stink too often. She's actually really friendly.  Despite all that, this is about as close as I'm willing to get.  This is a picture of me sniffing her while she hangs out in my chair.  (This is the sweet chair that vibrates and has an attachment for my iPod.... which she has also taken over by loading a bunch of Jewish children's songs on it and deleting my Jewish cat songs... sigh....)

Other important news from my corner of the world is that my parents started feeding me tuna fish. This is to help me with my food allergy.  I LOVE tuna fish -- straight out of the can.  Unfortunately it makes my Imma gag, and no one wants to hear someone gagging before they eat a meal. My Abba has been out of town for the last few days, and I can't wait until he comes back, because he doesn't make those noises before he makes my dinner.

Last, I wanted to show you this funny picture that I took with my Imma and Abba a while back. We were playing with the functions on Photobooth and came up with this one that makes me look like a rabbit. Neat, huh?  In the meantime, I'll try to get in some more pictures with the new kitty, but I can't promise anything.

Your friend,

Simone

Hanukkah Games for Cats... and other updates

Hello friends,

It's taken us a while to get on to the computer since the new kitty has been using it nonstop to email her giant fan club.  Please don't forget about us when you're posting all those nice things on facebook about how cute she is.  We're cute too!  Here's a new photo of Caldecott to remind you of our cuteness. Also, while we've for sure decided that the new kitty is definitely not a kitty, we're not sure what else to call her, so we'll just keep calling her the new kitty for now. Our parents call her "Little Bean" with variations on that theme (sweet bean, baby bean, beanyis, clean bean, etc.).... and yeah, we don't know what a beanyis is either, but she gets called that a lot.

Anyway, since we haven't been able to do some of our usual activities, due to the new kitty monopolizing our stuff (i.e., computer, bouncy chair, play mat, etc.), we've come up with a new game in honor of Hanukkah.  It's called "Hide and Go Dreidel."  It's a combination of Hide and Go Seek and Soccer. We found this great little wooden dreidel on the table (shh - don't tell anyone we were up there) and started kicking it around the house for the other cat to find later and kick it back.  It's great fun!  Such a satisfyingly loud noise as the dreidel skitters across the hardwood floors.  We only play this game at night -- the darkness adds so much to the excitement of the game.

Also in honor of Hanukkah, we decided to have the new kitty pose for a Hanukkah picture.  We call this one "Still Life with New Kitty, Flowers, and Hanukkah Equipment."  Let us know what you think. You can see how much the new kitty is enjoying the menorah.  She seems to like bright and shiny objects.  Oh to be young again....

We also thought we'd share this funny picture we took of the new kitty getting her nightly bath. She is clearly enjoying that as well (you can tell because her tongue is sticking out -- she told us that's her way of making a thumbs up since she doesn't have good fine motor skills yet). Actually, she pretty much seems to enjoy everything except getting burped.  We wouldn't like it either if someone picked us up and patted us on the back every time after we ate.  Might cause a hairball or who knows what to come up! We're not sure why she gets burped, but we think it's pretty funny that she can't just burp on her own like we do.

The last picture we'll leave you with is one of our favorites. This is the new kitty cheering for Simone in last night's game of Hide and Go Dreidel. Our parents thought she was asleep in her crib, but she came out to join in the fun. As you can see by the tongue, the new kitty is clearly enjoying the game.

Until next time.... Happy Hanukkah!

With love from your favorite felines,

Caldecott and Simone

PS -- For our concerned California friends -- here is an artistic shot our Savta took of Simone with our Imma and the new kitty.  Our Imma looks a little tired, no?