And Now a Word from Norm

Meow. This is Norman the cat. I used to be my parents' pride and joy, but that all came to a screeching halt about 13 months ago when they brought little Gracie home. I did not know what to think about her at first. She didn't do a lot except sleep those first few months. Then, in the blink of an eye, she started moving all over the house, making a ton of noise, and getting up in my business. Don't get me wrong, I love the little tyke. But can a cat get a little peace and quiet around here?

I don't quite know how I got roped into this, but I agreed to write a little something on Gracie's behalf. I would rather be napping right now (that's cat napping to you human folk), but maybe I'll get some belly rubs or extra kibble for my efforts.

So, let's start by talking about Gracie's teeth. At last report, she had about six little Chiclets. Now, she has nine-going-on-eleven, including two molars. She's working on a third molar as well as a new tooth on the bottom front. The teething pain seems to come and go, but she fancies my tail as a teething toy. Hey, I do what I can to help a sista out.

In addition to nibbling on my tail, Grace also loves to pull on my ears and bury her face in my fur. I especially love it when she wraps her little arms around me and squeals with delight. She has recently figured out that if she gently pets me (rather than maul me), I'm more apt to stick around. Sometimes, she corners me and I have no choice but to bat at her with my clawless paws. For some reason, that just makes her more gleeful. She thinks we're playing a game. Ah well, she doesn't mean any harm.

Let's see... Grace had her 12-month wellness exam a couple weeks ago. She's a little over 19 pounds and 29 inches. In fact, come to think of it, we're about the same size. Who knew? Dr. Jan said she's healthy as a horse and developmentally right on target. I have no doubts about her language development. Sheesh. The kid talks a blue streak, even if she's the only one who knows what she's saying. Some of her more discernible words include "Dye Dye" (bye bye) and "Hi."

In other news, Grace is really into running, climbing, and standing on things. She loves to go outside and explore everything in sight. Indoors, she especially enjoys riding her princess car and rocking giraffe. At school, GG's class is learning about the life cycle of butterflies. She even made a cocoon out of a Popsicle stick and yarn!

Last weekend, I got the whole house to myself because Mom, Dad, and Gracie all went to the beach to visit Grandma Jan. Auntie Nina and Uncle Chris just adopted a baby Lhasa Opso puppy named Bogey, and from what I hear, Grace thought he was a stuffed toy. I'm not jealous though. I know Gracie has enough love to go around.

Yawn. Stretch. Well, I think that's about it. I've done my duty for the night. Now, I'm gonna go hit Dad up for some well-deserved pets. I gotta secure my spot on his lap while I can...