Sisters...

Callia and Maia are becoming fast friends as they are really enjoying their time together. Every day, I make sure they have time to be right next to each other (besides feedings) when they can interact and be close to one another. Lately, whenever we have them face to face, they smile and coo at each other and it is the most adorable thing I have ever seen. They were even making each other giggle the other day. Of course, whenever I try to capture this on film they don't do it. It's a conspiracy.....

We are getting ready for Halloween - Aunt Jodi, Uncle Mark, and cousins Jack and Charlie sent the girls these great bibs plus really cool Halloween socks. We plan on dressing the girls in their costumes and answering the door with them, if they are still awake. We usually have some neighborhood kids stop by and that is always fun. Jason and I usually have a pumpkin carving contest but it is always debatable who has "won" since we are also the judges. We will see if we can find time to carve this year. We will make sure to post pictures of the girls in their costumes.

These are pictures from Daddy's birthday...it was a very special day!

Callia

Maia

Approaching 12 weeks...

It's been a really hard week as we have all been adjusting to the loss of Aslan. It is so strange to walk past our bedroom and not see him there or hear him "yelling" at us for attention. Anya, our female tortie, really seems to miss him, too as she spends the whole day on the part of the bed that she and Aslan used to hang out on.

On a happier note, the girls are doing very well. Callia is 10 lbs 11 oz and is smiling up a storm. She loves to "talk" and just tonight was cooing for Daddy as he was singing a Grateful Dead song to her. Maia is 10 lbs 2 oz...a bit smaller than Callia because she wasn't eating as much for awhile there. Partly because she decided she didn't like her bottles anymore and then she caught a cold. But now she is eating well again and using Callia's bottles which have a faster flow nipple. She is definitely a person who knows what she wants and that includes wanting to be held all the time. Sometimes, while I am attending to Callia, Maia works herself up into a "tizzy" until I finally come over to her, put the sling over my shoulder and the minute she sees it, she sighs. She loves riding along in the sling as long as she is close to Mommy.

Maia

Callia

Our beloved Aslan

Today we said goodbye to our wonderful Siamese cat, Aslan. He lived for 19 very happy years and finally gave in to kidney disease after several years of medications and subcutaneous fluids. We are all missing him tremendously but are so glad he is at peace. Jason wrote this sweet obituary in his memory:

Aslan Redi passed away on Saturday, October 4, 2008. He was with his caretakers, Jason and Carrie. He had been suffering from kidney disease for five years. Aslan was born in 1989 in Centerbrook, CT to parents, Pogue and Chaing Harper. Aslan spent the early part of his life in Princeton, NJ where he was mentored by fellow Siamese cat, Ming and "befriended" by Cairn Terrier, Yoda. In 2000, he moved to Belmont, MA with Jason ("dad"). In 2004, he was joined in Belmont by cats, Anya and Owen (and "mom" Carrie). While his relationship with Owen was tenuous, he became a good friend and companion with Anya to his very last day. Aslan was known for his Olympic jumping ability, his classic Siamese wail, his friendly, intelligent nature, and his warm nightime cuddling. He will be missed by his family.