Happy Tenth, Little Girl

Today is a day of MUCH celebration in our world, for a variety of reasons, one of which is that it's my sister's birthday. Happy birthday, Lori! :)

But it's also an auspicious occasion for this munchkin:

Today she turns ten.

TEN.

How did this happen?????


Ten years ago today, my friend Kari emailed me to tell me her mama cat just had a litter of kittens. I'd been toying with the idea of getting a little brother or sister for Kaegan, my yellow cat who had just turned five. I felt that he would really enjoy a younger sibling. Glares and stares later indicated that perhaps I was mistaken in that theory.

But anyway. Kari said I could have first pick if I wanted. The parents were black and white cats and every cat in the litter was the same - except this one. {The vet later told me this meant she had a different father. Who knew they could do that!?} So I decided she was the one I wanted, and on Father's Day that year, she came to live at my house.

And for the last ten years, she has been a mixture of cute, adorable, irritating, maddening, hilarious, and on her own terms - cuddly. She's been the lone ranger for the last five years, since Kaegan's death in 2011, and this time I've learned to read the clues ahead of the game, and I'm certain that bringing home a sibling of any variety would be tolerated...in no way whatsoever.

She's loved having a dad named Ryan and truthfully could take or leave me, these days. Who cares that I took care of her exclusively for the first seven years of her life. Have you seen RYAN?!?! He's the best EVER! That's why if you need her, you'll most likely find her lurking somewhere around him.

But before those days, it was just the two of us:

 {We've come a long way in a decade, haven't we??}

She was so little back then:

And though he insisted he did NOT like her, they made fast friends.

And she's been a Grandpa's girl from the get-go.

My girl, too. You know. Before Ryan. :)

We've celebrated every year...from the big first birthday bash:

And we'll be celebrating today, as well! {And she's no less possessive of toys as time goes by.}

So happy birthday, Braeya-girl. You make us laugh {and occasionally you make us crazy}. We love you and are excited to have you as part of our new season of Shafferland!