Something that has surprised me during this transition of me into a Stay-At-Home Mom is watching my pets also transition. The oddest change, has been how the animals are adjusting to having a toddler around all the time. NikkiZ has always liked the cats more than the dogs (they’re not as licky) but lately, all of the animals seem to want to hang out with her. If you’ll notice, it seems that Sunflower pops up in a lot more of our pictures lately. It’s like she is always hovering around NikkiZ, waiting for some love. NikkiZ, if she notices sunflower, will try to love on her a bit. It seems that Sunflower actually likes her form of love. The aggressive, sticky sort of love that only a toddler can offer.

NikkiZ would still like everyone to know that she still does not approve of dog kisses. She doesn’t mind the occasional snuggle, but the second that tongue comes out, she runs for the hills.

Now it’s time for the other side of the coin.

This is Cisco. MrZ bought him as a puppy a couple years before we met. Cisco is a Boston Terrier and has several medical conditions that make him the most pitiful family member. He shakes a lot and has seizures, although they’ve reduced greatly since we now live in a house with no stairs. He has bad knees and his teeth are too small. This means his tongue is almost always hanging out. He is MrZ’s first baby, but he loves everyone. Unless you dance. Or hug. He doesn’t like those two things and he’ll bark at you until you stop. He loves to play fetch and will eat anything you put in front of him.

This is Lil’ Girl. Aka: Lily G. MrZ’s friends found her when she was a pregnant stray and since they knew he had another boston, they brought her to him. He took good care of her and gave her litter away after it was born. She was part of the family every since. We don’t know her exact age, but the vet says she’s about the same age as Cisco. They had a litter together and two of those puppies live with MrZ’s parents. Lil’Girl is insane. She’s not a big fan of hugs or being pet, but she will try to give you kisses as long as you let her. If you are against doggie kisses, she becomes much more pushy. She will eventually slip you the tongue. You must learn to accept it. She’s very physically fit and could run/play for hours and never grow tired. She is the alpha dog in the house and takes care of the others. She cleans their ears and periodically humps them (even though she’s been fixed) just to remind them she’s in charge. She’s like me in that sense.

Both of the Bostons have stinky gas, but that is part of the breed. They also both snore. Luckily - their personalities make up for those two things.

This is Sweetie. She is a lab/beagle mix we rescued on the 4th of July several years ago. She earned the name “Sweetie” because she is, honestly, the sweetest dog you’ve ever met. When she’s not freaking out over your arrival. She panics when people come into our house, and gets so excited she often pees. But give it 10 minutes and she’ll be curled up in your arms and looking at you with her big brown human-like eyes (a lab trait) and you will not be able to resist her charm. She looks like a lab puppy, but is full grown. She is very hyper but also very sensitive and needs reassurance that you love her at least 54 times a day. She’ll eat paper and cloth of various sorts, depending on how much you want her not to eat it. If it’s an old sock you care nothing about? She won’t even look at it. If it’s your winter coat? It’s gone.

Those are our animals! Now you know!

Canape asked me in this entry to introduce my pets. And since there are two days left in November, I figure now is the time to do it. However, since I’m trying to reach 100 entries by the end of the month, I’m splitting it up into two entries. (So close I can taste it.)

This is Bambi. I was not a cat person and was mildly allergic but I rescued Bambi for LilZ right after his Dad and I split. Partly because I wanted some company when LilZ was at his Dad’s, and partly because I had a hard time saying “No” to LilZ. (Still Do.) We went to the shelter and he picked out the cat. He also was in charge of naming him, but since he was four, his first name was “Butterfly Poo Poo Pie.” That only lasted a few days and then he changed it to “Jake.” After a few weeks he changed it to “Bambi” and it has been Bambi every since.

Bambi loves to give the head butts, but would rather not be held. Bambi is really awesome and loves people and sometimes talks to you in weird Meows that sound like drunken english. Or maybe it’s because I was drunk. Either way, he’s awesome. And he was my first pet I could call all mine. When he gets a chance, he really likes to sleep on my head. He will also come when I call him. He loves me.

This is Sunflower. We adopted her in the same way as Bambi, letting LilZ choose the cat and the name. I was dating MrZ at that point, so Sunflower has always been around MrZ’s dogs and tends not to realize they are not cats. Or that she’s not a dog. She loves to be held and will hop into the laps of any stranger. Especially my father-in-law’s, who happens to be allergic. She seems to prefer those allergic to cats.

She will snuggle with the dogs and in weird places (as you can see here) that are either (a) warm or (b) hidden. She will sometimes hide in the laundry room only to scare the shit out of me when I reach to the pile of clothes she’s sleeping on. She hates her tail which means MrZ will taunt her with it endlessly. It’s quite funny and she never seems to catch on. She’s short but has a big belly so we sometimes call her Peanut Head. She’s the cat Most Likely To Think She’s a Dog.

MrZ and I have definitely become Cat People over the years. I’m sure there are cats not as awesome as ours, but we are quite fond of Bambi and Sunflower. Except for when they drink the milk out of cereal when we get up to get a glass of water at breakfast. We’d prefer they quit doing that.

I was browsing my Daily Chuck when I noticed a familiar face on the same page. My cat! Bambi! Looking all dapper as usual. When I first saw that Dooce was being sponsored by the HP Wetpaint Wiki, I signed up like a good lemming. I uploaded a couple of pictures of my animals (like this one) and then immediately got confused. I wasn’t sure what I was doing or what was the point. I’m kinda slow. BUT - my pictures are still there, of course. And I guess being used in an ad?

I know - not a big deal. But I thought it was cool and I know there are at least a few of you out there who will smile when you see that ad now and think, “Dude. That’s Zoot’s cat. Hanging out with Chuck.”

We bought the HD TV awhile back, but it has only really impressed me during Planet Earth because I’m girly and just don’t care about HD. I just want to see my shows. I don’t even really care if it’s in color.

But Sunflower? Has fallen so in love with the TV because it houses very realistic looking animals for her to watch and ponder the existence of. We caught her chasing a mouse and actually trying to paw at it during one HD show. Then the big cats came on and she found several different places to sit and watch the footage and was mesmerized by them for several minutes. It’s really neat because you can tell she knows they’re not real, but she’s still fascinated by them. Totally cool and makes me wish I could hear her thoughts.