As intrigued by this new arrival as she is anything, Kimi came to check out baby Kayla. Kayla, being less than 3 months old can't do much more than sit in her seat, kick her tiny feet, flail her little fists and make noise. From Kimi's point of view as she sat on the floor by the coffee table where Kayla sat in her little seat, I am sure all Kimi could see were the feet and fists attached somehow to something that made a really BIG noise.

Kimi sat there bright almond eyes staring, little sable head cocked to one side and her ears pointing in opposite directions. (in case you didn't know this, her left ear points down like a good little Sheltie ear, the other one defiantly straight up). As this noise machine increased in tempo and decibles, Kimi stood up on her hind feet trying to see what in the world could possibly be so loud. When she got her first full view of a real live human BABY, she fell over backwards. PLOP! I laughed and Kimi jumped to her feet with a smile. She began her little hip-hop routine of jumping up and down, up and down, like a bouncing furry ball. I know she wanted a better view of this noisy wonder so I carefully sat baby Kayla in her seat onto the floor.

Kimi watched intently as I placed the seat on the floor, her eyes never once leaving it. As it lowered it and Kayla came into view, Kimi's eyes brightened. It was amazing as I watched the dawning over take her little features. Her eyes grew sparkly. Her tiny mouth dropped open in surprise. Delicate ears pricked to attention. Kimi dropped her nose slowly, closer to this wriggling wonder.

Suddenly Kimi's head shot up, her eyes landed on mine and a huge grin formed as she shouted "YIP!" I took this to mean WOW!" Her sharp yip startled Kayla who let out another loud squal in protest. Kimi's eyes jumped back to this source of noise and her haunches dropped to the floor in confusion. Kimi's grin never left her face as her eyes danced from the baby to mine. I gave Kimi my permission to move in for a closer look and she stood up. Slowly, she edged her nose closer to a tiny bare pink foot. The foot kicked, Kimi jumped, then yipped. Her sharp "YIP!" caused the foot to kick again, narrowly missing Kimi's nose.

Laughing at this, Kimi slapped carefully at this foot with her own white paw. I warned her to be careful and she moved forward toward the babies head. Slowly--very slowly, Kimi's nose creeped closer. For each inch that her nose drew in closer, Kimi pulled it back quickly by half.

Kayla moved her head so Kimi was in her own line of view and grinned a toothless bubbly smile at what she saw. Kimi stepped up closer and offered a grin, minus the bubbles, of her own in response.

Getting excited at what she saw, Kayla stiffened her tiny legs and let out a loud coo. Kimi's ears came up sharply, her nose dropped in shock and she quickly backed up two steps. Looking at me as if to say, "Hey! This thing talks!" Kimi's mouth moved in a soundless bark. Grinning again, Kimi leaned in and touched this neat smelly little bundle with her nose. She touched her just once, then jumped back quickly as if expecting something to happen. Like one would prod something unknown and possibly dangerous. This " baby-thing" cooed again and Kimi's head drew back sharply in surprise. Her head turned, laughing eyes captured mine, and she cocked her head again. She yipped at me then as if to say "COOL!", then turned back and prodded the babies cheek with the cool wet tip of her tiny black nose.

Carefully, the tip of her little pink tongue slipped past her lips, gently touching the babies face, Kimi rolled her eyes back over her shoulders to see if mom was going to catch her in the act ot "tasting" baby Kayla.

Not watching the baby, Kimi jumped straight up like a shocked cat when Kayla's tiny clenched fist suddenly clipped her under the chin. In her hurry to dodge this suddenly dangerous object, Kimi tripped over her own feet and tumbled to a rolling pile of scrambling fur. Quickly, if not gracefully, she shot to her feet again, whirled back to face her foe and let out a piercing "YIP!". This startled Kayla again and she began to wail. With this Kimi dropped to the floor and laid there watching, and listening.

Finally deciding it sounded like fun, Kimi sat up, threw back her head, chin pointing upward and in true fox-like fashion, joined in. For every wail from Kayla, came another "O-O-O-OOOhhh" from Kimi. With every cry of the wild from Kimi, Kayla's wail grew louder.

I couldn't contain myself any more and I added to the noise level as laughter burst from within me. I picked up Kayla in one arm, Kimi in the other and offered my laughing comfort to both.

I was rewarded with a snuggle to the cheek from Kayla, and a breathy little laugh to the other cheek from Kimi. All was quickly righted in their world, and thus began a blossoming friendship between the two "babies" of this house.

What the heck--if you can't beat 'em-join 'em!!

Kristi
Kimi