Friday, we went to the pet store and picked up your 5th birthday present. Welcome home Abu the hamster! Before lunch, we went to V.I.Pets to look at their selection. You saw a hamster that you really liked, so we asked the lady if she could take it out of the cage. When she saw what hamster you picked, she said, "I don't know about that one, it's kind of ... sassy?" She tried to scoop it out with one of its toys but it jumped on to her lap. It then proceeded to bite her finger and pee on her pants. I said, "Okay, we don't want that one. Can we look at some of the others?" She brought down 3 separate cages before we found a nice buff colored teddy bear that seemed very friendly. Mom declared, "We'll take it!" Later we brought Daddy back to the store so he could meet Abu and we could take him home. We brought a little carrying cage to take him home in. Well when Mom tried to scoop him out of his cage he bit me sooo hard on the finger it drew blood. I started feeling a little panicky about bringing this thing home, but we did anyway.

When we got home you were so desperate to hold him. We sat you on a chair with a towel over your lap. I laid his cage on it's side to coax him out then I set him on your lap with a cracker for distraction. It seemed to work because we were all able to pet him without getting bit. When he started running all over you, we thought it best to let him get aquainted with his new home. So I picked him up and proceeded to take him over to his cage. I then tripped over your vanity stool and about threw him out the window. Luckily, the hamster didn't get hurt (Mom was another story) and he made it safely into his cage.

We've had Abu out a lot over the past 2 days and he's only tried to nibble at you once. You are doing so well with picking him up gently and holding him so he doesn't get away. He seems to like his ball and runs on his wheel ALLLLLLL night. I'm just relieved that it doesn't seem to bother you or keep you awake. The cats are curious, but so far have not tried to jump up on your dresser for a closer inspection. I had to go in there last night and cover his cage up with a towel though because Rossi was too close for comfort. You love your new hamster so much. I hope he sticks around for a while. I already told you to be prepared because they don't live a long time. You seemed to understand. Today, we clean out his cage for the first time. I'm going to make you do it. You're getting so big so fast!