What A Piece of Work Is (Wo)Man....

"I can't find my neck."

It's hard for me to believe that Little Stuff is 33 weeks old today. Watching her change from the tiny helpless bundle I brought home from the hospital, to the wriggling, wiggling, toddler candidate has been the most fascinating experience of my life.

Today, Izzy can clap her hands, wave "bye-bye," say "Momma" and "Dad-da," and scoot incredibly fast after the cats on her little belly. (They're thrilled, by the way. Deeply. Thrilled.)

As hard as her Daddy and I think we're working, it occured to me that Izzy is working just as hard if not harder. She's had to master sitting up, rolling over, hand eye coordination. Eating solid foods, recognizing Momma and Daddy, nursing, and drinking from a sippy cup. Not to mention crawling, scooting on her back, first words, picking things up, putting them down, blowing raspberries, passing objects from one hand to another, sleeping through the night and finding her toes!

Then there's also all those exhausting photo sessions with relatives and accepting all those compliments from strangers. (yes, yes, I'm adorable. But it's not all about looks people! Sheesh!)

No wonder she needs two naps a day.

"It's exhausting being this cute."

I know that every new parent out there thinks that their children is unique and miraculous and I happily join their ranks. I'm also going to go out on a limb here and say that we're all of us correct. Every child truly is beautiful, fascinating and enchanting, the way every flower is remarkable and lovely.

I guess what having Izzy has taught me is that just because something is common doesn't mean it isn't miraculous. Is a sunset any less astonishing because we see it every day? How long can you stare at the Grand Canyon before it loses its wonder?

So go ahead and enthuse to me about your baby's every nuance and every tiny achievement. I want to hear about it, I really do. I agree, it's wonderful and astonishing and strange. And I'm thrilled for you. I'm thrilled for me! And I can't wait to see what tricks Her Majesty performs next. It's the best reality show in town. I've got to sign off now. My little miracle just blew out her diaper. Looks like someone's been eating peas. Love and luck to you my friends. Enjoy all your miracles, big and small.

"More pease, pleas!"

Fat Joey Knitwear on About.com!

Knitting for Kitties
By Alissa Wolf, About.com Guide
See More About:
animal charities
cats
knitting
The late, great Fat Joey was the inspiration for a knitting business that benefits pets.Photo courtesy of Jill Holland

Meet Jill Holland, Who Purls for Pets:
The first time I met Jill Holland she was knitting…and knitting, and knitting, and knitting.
I first became acquainted with Jill in New York in the spring of 2011 when we were both working at a convention hosted by a suburban Philadelphia ad agency for which I perform freelance copy writing.
Whenever I’d venture into the break room of the hotel where we were working, I’d invariably find Jill there, merrily knitting up a storm.
During the course of a conversation, I learned that Jill is the first-time mom to baby Isabelle; a part-time actress and entertainer, and shares my passion for pets.
When I informed her that I was the Pet Shops Lady for About.com. her eyes lit up; she reached for her cell phone and began proudly showing me pictures of her three kitties. I soon learned of her one great four-legged love.
A Fat Kitty Inspires a Charitable Knitting Business
Jill then produced a business card that read “Fat Joey Knitwear – Warm as a Kitten,” bearing a headshot of a rather cynical looking kitty with a white face and unique gray triangular marking on his nose. He had a mildly annoyed expression on his furry mug that seemed to say, “What are you looking at?!”
Jill wistfully informed me that Joey, the kitty love of her life, had passed on some three years earlier.
She ultimately channeled her grief and her growing love of knitting into a small business through which she donates proceeds from her handiwork to animal causes.
I’ll let her tell how this came about.
The Tale of Betsy Ross and Joey the Kitty
“I learned to knit when I was working as a first person historic interpreter for Historic Philadelphia, Inc.,” Jill revealed. “I wanted to learn a craft that would be appropriate to the 18th century and still allow me to make eye contact with people when we talked.”
“One of my fellow interpreters generously taught me the basics and I quickly became obsessed with knitting, purling, ripping and casting on. Eventually, I portrayed Betsy Ross at the Betsy Ross house in Philadelphia and as my knitting (and spinning) skills grew, so did my fascination with all things wooly.”
Knitting for a Cause - PAWS
“Down the street from the Betsy Ross house is the home of one of my other passions, the [Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society] PAWS Animal Shelter. After my Betsy shift was over, I'd go down there and volunteer, giving kittens flea baths, walking and socializing pit bulls, administering meds, sweeping floors and collecting scratches - ouch! Always, I enjoyed the company of the cheerful, dedicated staff and fabulous furry residents.”
“Fat Joey Knit Wear (warm as a kitten) was created to honor the memory of the late, great Fat Joey. Joey (who was really only ever big-boned) was a foundling rescued from the mean streets of Philadelphia and my constant companion for 12 years. It broke my heart when he passed away three years ago.”
"I thought the best way to remember Joe would be to help other critters have food, medical attention and, eventually, loving homes. Therefore a portion from every sale of FJKW goes to either the Paws shelter in Philadelphia, or City Kitties in West Philly. Sometimes it's 10 percent; sometimes it's a 100 percent! I was thrilled when I first realized my knits would sell and deeply grateful to be able to help the kitties, even in a small way.”
Fat Joey Knitwear made its debut at a craft show held in the Betsy Ross courtyard. Although Jill didn’t have high expectations, she was thrilled when she sold out almost all of her goods that day.
“The PAWS shelter received a nice donation in honor of Joey and we've continued to send goodies to them and City Kitties in West Philly,” she said. “Every year, FJKW donates several scarves to the City Kitties Art Auction. We've also added a blog: The Incredible True Life Adventures of Jill, Dave and Fat Joey and an Etsy store. Fat Joey Knitwear is currently on sale at Sanctuary in Philadelphia.”
“Donating to these shelters helped ease the pain of Joey's passing. We've also adopted three more kitties over the years - Maggie, from PAWS and Sammi and Jake from City Kitties. All three conspire to steal and destroy my knitting, and all three are wonderful, spirited companions.”
I’m sure the kitties of the world would agree that you are also wonderful, Jill.
On their behalf, I wish you continued luck with your knitting for kitties. I am certain there is a special place in heaven for people like you!
(For more information about Fat Joey Knitwear, visit the Etsy online boutique.)

Vote Early and Often!

Everyone's favorite 3-legged therapy dog, Festus, has been nominated for the Hero Dog Awards, sponsored by the American Humane Association. Please vote for him! It's free and easy. Just go to this link to vote for Festus: http://www.herodogawards.org/view-entries.html#view/359/204689Once you're on the page, just scroll down and you'll see Festus' picture and you can click 'Vote' on the right. For every vote cast, Cesar dog food will donate money to the AHA, a worthy cause. So vote for Festus and help the AHA!Vote every 24 hours!

Racing past milestones

For those of you who are just tuning in, Izzy's got tons of new tricks! Lately she seems to be racing past milestones, leaving her Dady and me breathless. It's amazing how much she's changed from the tiny little bundle we brought home from the hospital. She's so much more like a toddler than a baby now. And while we delight in each of her accomplishments, there's a part of me that's already whimpering, "not yet! not yet! Stay my sweet, cuddly bundle for just a little longer!" No chance, Mommy!

This week we saw Izzy passing her toy from one hand back to the other, place her head deliberately down on her Daddy's chest for a snuggle (instead of just letting it flop) and Dave thinks she turned over from her back to her front, although as he wasn't watching at the time we can't confirm this and are watching closely for further developments!

3-Legged Pooch Brings Happiness to Sick Kids

So proud of my friend (and former Director) Domenick Scudera and his Therapy Dog, Festus Go ahead and watch but be prepared for a deluge of warm, fuzzy feelings...Hmmm....Fat Joey wonders...do cats ever become therapy animals? Does anybody know?

!3-Legged Pooch Brings Happiness to Sick Kids

Maggie, Sammi and Jake featured on City Kitties "Where Are They Now ," page!

"Miracle" Maggie, Queen of the Universe

The Terrible Tumbling Tabbies....

Naughty Jake

I iz TOO a Xmas Decorashun!

A Wonderful Ending for Maggie, Sammi & Jake
by Meg on May 27, 2011
in Success Stories


Jill and her husband are the willing servants of three kitty dictators. Their first one is Maggie, who was just a tiny sneezing kitten when they brought her home from the PAWS shelter, where Jill volunteered. Jill didn’t know it at the time, but Maggie had picked up parvo virus, since her previous owners had never bothered to have her vaccinated for anything. Maggie bled out all over the house one night — it was horrible. Her parents rushed to to the Penn Vet Hospital and then to The Cat Doctor. Maggie was actually dying on the table when a blood transfusion from the vet’s cat, Figaro, brought her back to life. Unbelievably, Maggie survived her bout with the disease and overcame multiple viral and upper respiratory infections as well. Since Dave and Jill were now regulars at The Cat Doctors, they got to know the staff pretty well. That was how they learned about City Kitties. When they wanted to find a companion for Mags, they came to us!


Their second kitty, Sammi (formerly Samosa, Hester‘s daughter and sibling of Emma, Lucy, and Binx), is a sweet natured orange tabby and the most maternal of their herd. Sammi is forever trying to groom her kitty siblings and her human companions as well. When Dave and Jill give their daughter a bath, Sammi hops up on their backs and supervises, making sure they don’t miss anything! And when their daughter cries, Sammi comes looking through the house for Jill, to make sure she knows about it. You don’t need expensive baby monitors when Nana Sammi is on duty! One of Jill’s favorite things about Sammi is how, when Jill was heavily pregnant and miserable, Sammi would sit on her feet and read mysteries with her every night. Jill is still trying to think of a way to thank Sammi (perhaps Jill will forgive Sammi for peeing on their wedding quilt…although Sammi still maintains her innocence).

This brings us to Jake (formerly Lennox), a foundling from the mean streets of West Philly. He is cuteness and mischief personified. His one bad eye is a result of an infection picked up when he was a stray and gives him a distinctly piratical look. This is appropriate, since he is also an accomplished sneak thief. Baby pacifiers and toys, every pen in the house, earrings, hair elastics, champagne corks, paper clips, etc. all find their way to his secret stash behind the refrigerator. Despite his kleptomaniac streak, Jake is one of the most affectionate kittens Jill has ever met. He LOVES his Daddy and gives him a personal escort to every room in the house. Like Sammi, he likes to supervise bath time. He is insatiably curious, and loves to hide out in the dishwasher, and if he can get in it, the refrigerator.

Best friends
Jake and Sammi are especially good friends. It must be a “tabby” thing. Jake loves nothing more in life than pouncing and wrestling with his sister. They race each other around the house in what their parents refer to as the Kitty 500. They have wrestling matches nightly, when they form orange and black tumbleweeds as they roll around the house together. All three kitties LOVE hanging out on the screened in porch, pretending that they are wild predators. The backyard faces a nature preserve, where deer, possums and birds of every sort are frequent visitors, so it makes for some VERY good kitty TV.
Jill and Dave’s lives would not be complete without their critters. Maggie, Sammi and Jake bring them unconditional love and laughter every day and make life SO much more interesting. Jill and Dave are so grateful to City Kitties for rescuing their fur people. City Kitties is so grateful to Jill and Dave for providing such amazing homes for three wonderful kitties. What a happy ending for three fuzzballs!

Fat Joey on About.com!!!!

http://petshops.about.com/od/Petservices/p/Knitting-For-Kitties.htm


WOW, are we excited today at Fat Joey Knitwear. Writer Alissa Wolf, the Pet Shop lady for About.com (I know you've heard of it) published a story about Fat Joey Knitwear! It's a lovely piece - we are touched and very grateful for Alissa's interest. NOW GO READ IT! FAT JOEY COMMANDS YOU!