This is the 1 kitten that survived birth. Mama-cat has been a great mom. The kitten is about 3 weeks old and so tiny. That's my hand in the background just to show you how small it is. Kind of looks like a little skunk doesn't it? We know who the father is...he wanders around all the farms out here. He's friendliest tom-cat...he is black w/ a white tuxedo. Notice the resemblance! The mom (the famous cat of the "Ginger-kitty and Emma-the-hen" duo is a tortoiseshell w/ big, green eyes. This kitten has some tabby stripes to him that are going to make his markings so beautiful.

As for Eliza...

Been meaning to take the camera along to the pool for some updated photos and videos since that's where we're spending most of our time. Until I actually remember to put the camera in the pool bag, all I have to offer is this video.

I've been working on having Eliza acknowledge or respond to a question or request. She has been doing excellent in either sounding "yes" or "no" and/or shaking her head to respond. Let me tell you, as a parent to a non-verbal child, just getting an appropriate response (as in yes or no) is such a growth.

I was really worried about Eliza being away from school for the summer months and had to think long and hard about what I wanted to concentrate on with her during the summer. After a few days at the pool and noticing everyone saying "hi" or asking her questions, I decided to focus on helping others and Eliza get "focused" on one another (teaching them how to get into her space and get that response from Eliza and getting Eliza to feel comfortable enough to make the eye contact with them). She is doing great. She responds faster to me and still seems to randomly ignore some people while acknowledging others. That's another subject though because I truly believe that she is more in-tune with people than we realize and that she is picking up on some energy...

Anyway, pardon the summer pj's and bed-head in this video. I'm so proud of her!

Eliza in June: Very deliberate, very opinionated...very communicative! She "told" me that I didn't buckle her into the car seat the other morning by saying "mama...MAMA" until I turned around from the front seat and she was pulling on the seat belt trying to do it herself. She "reminded" me to give her a vitamin this morning saying "mama" and pointing to the cabinet w/ a big smile. She's also been talking back to us in a sassy, too-big-for-her-britches way already trying to negotiate with us...sounds very chinglish and we don't know what she's saying other than understanding her tone and feistiness. She looks right into our eyes and leans her face forward (chin out) and tells you off. It's very funny. Eliza has been making lots of choices herself too(what cereal to eat, what to pack in her lunch...) and even what to buy at the grocery store. Much to Daddy and Allie's delight, she chose Fruit Loops and Corn Pops (yuck). And the other day, after getting her dressed, she picked out a different shirt and pushed it at me. I've been finding her dresser drawers open and certain pieces of clothing pulled out. Hmmm. Lastly...drum roll, she's been waking up dry and peeing on the potty in the a.m.