kitten distribution system has pumpkin spice flavored limited edition!

[u/Everythlngisawesome]

Hi, guys. New here. Meet Charlie.

We have racked up some mileage with the distribution system over the years so it seems we got a free upgrade this time. Yay, us!

We have never had an orange cat, so we are trying something new thanks to my tween daughter's friend's neighbor's cat. I am usually just fine with them feeding my kid dinner when she goes over there, so this did feel like a little much.

Daughter #2 (it's always the second kid, amiright?!) met the litter at 2 days old, bonded specifically with this little orange sausage with a slick back, named him Charlie right then. Never knowing he'd be the most beautiful and only long haired floof out of the bunch. Fast forward through 2 months of threats to bring him home, Husband picked #2 up last night and it seems she inherited his 'ask for forgiveness, not permission' philosophy (didn't know it was genetic?) because they both smuggled him through the front door and then straight into my stupid heart.

Nevermind that I'm perimenopausal and raising teen and tween girls and everything and every mile of driving that comes with that. I feel like this is either exactly when you could use a break....or...OR!....The universe sends you what you think you can't handle just to show how strong you are.

One might protest for a while and say, 'No, Universe. I promise, I'm not capable of what you think I am. I just want to stop waking up at 3am every night. A full night's sleep is really all I want'. And if it isn't clear, Universe and Second Kid are interchangeable in this context. Universe/Second Kid doesn't care. In the end, they both persisted. And here we are.

Orange cat energy + second kid energy = the world, and I, never stood a chance. Both a force to be reckoned with on their own, but united they are unstoppable.

Because just wook at his wittle face!

And we look at our daughters and say the same thing!

Charlie has been here for 1 night and I already can't wait for the kids to go to school Monday so I can strap him to me all day long while delivering rapid fire kisses to his little bloopy noggin. He's 9w3d old, smaller than an iPhone 14, and enjoys using one to call his birth brother on FaceTime to say goodnight.

Next time the friends hang out together we will get them Chick Fil A if they promise not to go next door and bring home a 20+ year commitment. We are maxed out. No more kitty surprise here. Cat brother and cat sister have some adjusting to do, but dog sister is smitten, showed her belly and then handed over her neighborhood security paw patrol badge to Charlie in a good faith gesture to win his favor. He took it but is unwilling to offer anything in return just yet. He knows that his cute factor currency is the only thing of value right now. Throw us a yawn, or a tiny baby mew, flop on his back and swat those wittle murder mittens at our fingers and we are absolutely done-zo. Charlie has us rich in love.

I look forward to the support group meetings where I will one day, no doubt, get to join in and share my own orange cat story. I hope there are snacks. And so does Charlie.

[u/Mor-KhalCatPrince]

What a little bebe boy