Do they know?

Have you ever heard that animals know when you're pregnant?  I've read that dolphins are able to detect the fetal heartbeat and get totally enamored with pregnant ladies.  A friend told me that her horse wrapped it's head/neck around her belly strangely one day and she didn't understand what he was doing.  Then a few days later she discovered she was pregnant.  I've definitely had horses seem very interested in my belly.  Softly nuzzling it and sometimes go so far as not wanting to leave me alone!  It really is like they know. 

My cat, Jade, is another animal that makes me wonder if she knows I'm an expectant mama.  Starting very early off she would come drape herself across my belly.  Jade isn't usually a super lap cat, but my whole pregnancy she has consistently shown interest in my belly and comes and lays on it frequently.  I always wonder how she can be comfortable laying on my lumpy baby-full belly with him squirming and kicking underneath her.  But, she never seems to mind.  In fact it's the opposite, she goes fast to sleep.  Weather she's able to detect the baby or not it sure has been super sweet to sit or lay quietly as I absorb all the kitten love and baby movements. 

I've never been a cat person before.  I probably would have said "I hate cats" and totally never saw myself with one.  But, this cat is special and she's totally stolen my heart.  I found her tiny puffball baby self at the barn in Okinawa and rescued her.  Since my dog passed away last year I really want to get a puppy, but that will have to wait a bit until I get the new baby thing under control.  I would have a whole zoo of adopted animals if Brad didn't constantly tell me no! 

Cat lady

I had heard about this crazy cat lady heaven for a while now, but finally decided to venture out and see this unique and strange little place for myself. 

Basically this cat lady collected a shit ton of cats, the way cat ladies do, and then decided to let people pay to pet them and she'll bring you a juice/coffee/tea while you play.  The "set" was something like 750 yen for an hour.  And you go in, put slippers on and proceed to have free rein with this horde of fluffy, lazy kitties.  There happened to be a tiny kitten in residence when I went and I about flipped my lid over this thing and wanted to put it in my purse for Jades new play friend, but Brad, the voice of reason said that the cat lady may just be crazier than I am.  Which is probably true. 

No, in reality, the place was super funny and strange, but sweet.  This lady takes in all these cats (and trust me there are so many homeless animals on this island) and she treats them really well.  She has created her own little cat haven with all kinds of fun toys, beds, baskets and the cats seemed really happy there.  The cats were clean, well fed and just plain happy.  And the cat lady was really sweet too.  You can tell she REALLY loves these cats.  Brad was such a good sport going along with me to this place! 

Funny little place for my fellow cat ladies out there. 

Happy Easter from Jade

It couldn't be baby kittens first Easter without a photo shoot! She is pretty much the cutest, sweetest kitty ever. She must really love me lots to put up with me!

Mommy's little Easter bunny:






My key to photography? Lots and lots of photos. I figure that way I'll get one or two good ones.

See, this is really how she felt about the whole thing. If looks could kill. Too funny! I love her.

This has been another pretty great week! To me things feel so normal, unexciting and ho-hum, but I'm living in another country, working a dream job and surrounded by tropical waters and palm trees ... so strange how the abnormal becomes normal!

I got some really, really nice rides on Makoto this week. Our dressage is getting so fancy-schmancy! Love him to absolute pieces. Really need to get some shots of him in action sometime soon.

I had great lessons this week and my students are just blowing me away lately. They have all come such along way. It will be very hard to part with some of them once PCS season starts this summer. This is my student Haley jumping Rocky:

I love my work friends so much. We all met at my favorite bagel place to talk and take care of some business. Probably the most fun work meeting ever. And of course Madie brought little Addison and her adorable, ruffly, pink bottom. She also had this hot pink flower headband and was too cute for words as usual. Baby fever alert!

Two of my co-workers and I are really excited about this weekend! We are having a photographer do a shoot for us with the horses at the beach!! I have never had professional photos done except at my wedding. Thrilled!

So of course I have nothing to wear to this photo shoot. Alexis happens to have her wedding dress here and is going to trash it, in fact it is this reason the whole thing got put into motion. Madie and I don't, so we went out shopping around the meager options on this island. I didn't have high hopes, but I decided to try some new stores. I went to Demure Ladies Boutique and went straight for the dresses, but didn't have any luck finding one full enough that would allow me to sit on the horse. But, the sales lady was oh-so-wonderful and helped me pick out a very beachy, flowy outfit. Here's a sneak peak.

Next I went to American Wave vintage shop and even though the store was pretty tiny it was packed full and constantly reminded me of a grandma's attic. Madie and I took turns in the dressing room putting on classic after classic. Unfortunately, most of our initial favorites were itty-bitty and it's true that people were just smaller way back when. Both of us however came away with vintage dresses to ride our horses in. My dress is far from my original vision, but given the options on this island beggars can't be choosers and Brad even said he liked it, and I know he'll tell me the truth. I tried on ALL my dresses for him and at the end he said "ehhh, no. Go buy something." And buy I did!

And here is Jade, stuffed into her dress that is now too small for her. It feels like just yesterday that it fit her. Getting big too fast! Looks like I need to do some shopping for her too. ;)
And we made some exciting plans for the end of the month! Here's a clue... we are going to the country where pho is from!

Awesome Week Recap

This has been a pretty nice week for my husband and me. Except that we had to spend the week apart. We both were working a lot, but that's not a bad thing when you love your job.
My week consisted of an easy week of lessons. I rewarded a bunch of my students with rides down to the beach. I got in some really good rides myself, which was great since I hadn't been riding very much with the show stuff going on.


Spring is in the air! I think we may be finally getting over the most rainy and grey winter ever over here. My parents sent me (and Brad) the cutest Easter basket. My parents know me all too well and were sure to pack Brad his own separate chocolate bunny. Not like my thighs actually need a whole chocolate bunny to themselves, but that's what running's for right?!


This week was our colt's 1st birthday! He's getting big so fast.

I used my post-show new found free time to relax on the balcony and read with the kitty. Yup, she's wearing a harness.


Jade is the apple of my eye. I had no idea I could love a cat so much. When my hubby is out of town she is pretty much glued to my side (or lap) and I love the company and how much she makes me laugh.


Brad, as I mentioned was away this past week on a work trip. But, check this out. This lucky duck got to fly to:
Majuro, Marshall Islands
Tonga
Ohakea, New Zealand (stayed in New Palmerston North)
Pago Pago, American Samoa
Pohnpei, Micronesia






The plane kept breaking down, so the poor thing had to spend a couple down days enjoying those tropical and exotic locations. Rough life! Yes, I'm jealous. But, he was on an important check ride flight, so he was kind of stressed. He acted as the aircraft commander and planned the whole entire flight from Oki to Majuro to Tonga to New Zealand to Pago Pago to Pohnpei and back to Oki and taught a brand new co-pilot at the same time. He did pass, so he's relieved. And I'm very proud of him!

Pretty successful work week for us both I'd say.

Adorable Animals

It seems like every time I get on facebook another one of my friends is pregnant. Makes me feel extra pathetic for blogging about my cat... but hey, maybe you all need a break from all the baby bumps?

And who doesn't love a kitten in a tee shirt dress! You may remember this same dress on my hedgie back when he was partying it up for his 1st birthday, but he was kind enough to loan it to Jade for their play date.



Lately we've had double the kitten fun at our house. Zoey has been staying with us while her owners are out of town. Jade wasn't a fan of this house guest at first, but after a few days the kittens were big time besties. We get endless entertainment watching these two play and be cute together.