TThe whole Baby D experience jump started my maternal side. After many long and heated discussions and soul searching, Kevin and I agreed it was time to add to our little family. And, so, it is with much excitement that I can announce a new addition to the McLaughlin clan.
Please put your hands together to welcome Charlie.

Charlie is a young Siamese fighting fish. He weighs, well, not much, is approximately two inches long and cost a whopping $3.75. I think he has Kevin’s stunning profile but that could just be the proud mom in me. Charlie is adjusting to his new life very nicely. He swims around and puffs up real big when you walk by his tank. Dang, is this fish cute or what? We are currently working on dinner time. Right now, he hides under his plant when your hand makes a shadow over the bowl while feeding. However, I understand this is perfectly normal for a fish at his age and that over time he’ll learn that the hand = food.

If you’d like to send cards or gift to Charlie, he really likes bloodworms. I’m thinking by the end of the week he should be up for visitors so long as you don’t have a cold or any sort of contagious fish killing virus. *JOSH*

Actually, I highly recommend a beta. They don’t need a heated tank or circulated water because they are air breathing fish. Yup, that’s right. A beta has gills but they aren’t real efficient. Instead, a beta will pop to the top of his water and gulp air. It’s really rather neat. This means, however, that you must have a tank that is exposed to the air. If not, your beta with suffocate and die. I know, this is rather strange, but that’s what I’m told.

Beta’s are particularly nice at work. If you can, bring one in a small bowl, plop it on your desk, and you’ll find yourself relaxing and gazing at him while he swims away. It is the best stress release around. It will also cause frequent visitors to “check on the fish” which is an added bonus too. I’d love to bring Charlie to work but I doubt he’d survive the MAX ride. But if you can, do it. You won’t regret it.

Oh yes, the latest craze is to make these living vases. If you have the time/energy I suppose it’d be pretty cool. You can find some basic instructions here. Just make sure you leave some breathing room between the roots and the water for your little fishy to gulp air!

My instincts have been appeased and there is a certain balance in our house. Fish, cat, dog, person. Sort of flows together like some strange nursery rhyme. I like it!