Misha saw his first cat at a bookstore a month or so ago. He was so excited, he learned to say, “Kitty!” Esther video called me so that he could show off his cuteness and his new word.
So I went on Amazon and bought him a stuffed cat to commemorate the day, and Amazon told me that he also needed a book about cats, recommending a book called, Not My Kitty. This book is a touch-and-feel book that goes through a number of different types and colors of cats that are labeled as “Not my Kitty,” until the last cat, which is, of course, the one the child has been looking for.
Last week Misha climbed on Esther’s bed with Not My Kitty and opened it up next to Goodnight Moon, Misha’s favorite bedtime story. He flipped to the page showing a set of gamboling kittens and then slowly leafed through Not My Kitty in a cross-referencing activity, not unlike the work his post-grad parents do on a daily basis. We may have another scholar in the family. I didn’t hear whether or not the kittens in Goodnight Moon are Not My Kitty, but I fear it must be so.
A few days ago, Misha cuddled up to Esther’s growing baby bump and kissed her tummy.
He looked into Esther’s eyes and said, “Kitty!”
It’s remarkable that he understands that there is something inside of Esther, and adorable that he might be expecting a kitty next February.
Actually I know it’s not a kitty because Esther went in for her twenty-week ultrasound and told me….
IT’S A GIRL!!!!!!!!
Esther called me on a Saturday morning while I was at Sprouts buying bacon and cream for our pancake breakfast. I laughed maniacally! I was hoping for a girl because I had a dream that it was. It’s cool that, though my dreams don’t mean much usually, this time I got something right. Esther said that everyone was sure it was a girl. Looking at the pictures, there’s not a lot of difference in the way she’s carrying, but her baby bump does look less the basketball that was Misha.
For whatever reason, it was hard for me to get all the kids to sit at the table, though Saturday morning pancakes is our most famliest of family meals. I cajoled and threatened. I made Justin stay longer to wait for Xenia, who didn’t want to get out of bed. I had a pad of paper with everyone’s names so I could write down all their reactions.
Ι said, “I’m going to make an announcement! Slow down your reactions so I can write them down….Esther and John Ben are having a girl!”
Kelly, who was with us that morning, put her hands on either side of her face and said, “Wow!”
Sophia and Coryn looked very happy.
Xenia and Justin both said, “I knew it!”
Jonah and Basil made fun of me by saying in slow motion, “Iiiiiit’ssss aaaaa giiiiiirrrrrllll.”
Mike quipped, “You made such a big deal about making an announcement that I was afraid you were announcing that I’m having a baby!”
Mike and I are to be grandparents again. We’ll have both a grandson and now a granddaughter. I’m so excited. Now I have to go out and buy a little, pink, frilly dress.
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