It's a matter of time

Jamie has not really actively started lobbying for a pet, but we get the feeling that it will happen sooner or later. About six months ago, while we driving in the car (and thinking about this blog I realize how many things I relate that happen in the car-that's living in Houston for you!), Jamie busted out with the statement that he wanted to get a cat. We asked him to repeat himself, not sure we'd heard correctly and he said, "Yes, I want to get a girl kitty-cat and name it Sally." We had to admit that the idea gained immediate currency on cute points alone.

Little more has been said about Sally, but lately he has adopted some toy pets. There is, interestingly, a distinction between the stuffed cat and pig with which he sleeps and the would-be pets. Kitty cat and piggy stay in the bed but there have been two animals who've gotten to be companions during the day. First there was a small pink lizard, no more than an inch in length, whom Jamie dubbed, appealingly, "Splash," since Jamie liked to put him in water. Splash had a good run, but is just too small not get lost, and so hasn't been seen in a few weeks. Splash has been replaced by Snakey, who, being some 4 feet long, is a lot easier to keep track of. Actually, I should give his full name: "Snakey Poisonous." He likes to take Snakey everywhere, but we have to draw the line at bringing him into Connor's school and over to friends' houses. Snakey, you see, is really rather life-like, fangs and all, and it can be a little disconcerting to see him suddenly, for both children and adults.

I think, if it comes to it, we'll push for a cat over a real-life Snakey.