Awww!

I love where we live.  I love the trees and the whole feel for our little part of town.  I even love that there are stray cats around.  It makes it feel a little bit "small town" or "country."  This is especially true when there are babies.  We are the sort of pet owners who get our pets spayed or neutered exactly when we are supposed to do it, so I didn't think my kids would ever get to see the stages of babydom of animals.  I remember newborn kittens and puppies from my childhood, and I like that my kids are actually getting to see some tinies, too, especially when I never will have to pooper scoop or feed or vacuum up hair or find a pet sitter, etc., etc., etc.

We had kittens born in our side yard last year.  It was fun watching out the windows as they grew.  Only one of those four kittens is still around our neighborhood, and she just became a mom.  She chose our front yard to keep her babies.  There are four of them, and their eyes are still closed.  We sneak and hold them most days, and the mom has, surprisingly, not moved them.  We tell ourselves that she must trust us to leave them there even after she sees us steal them for cuddles.  Yes, they all have names, but, no, we will not be taming them and keeping them.   Soon enough their eyes will open, and they'll be on the move.  This year I won't be so surprised when I hear the pitter patter of tiny paws on my roof.