We did it...

We bought Connor a pet--actually three pets! I took Connor to Wal-Mart with me last Friday evening. We passed through the pet section while on our way to the baby aisle. Connor let out a loud, "FISHY!" I didn't even know he knew the word. I was pleasantly surprised and really wanted to buy him a fish, but I knew I needed to get back home with two cases of diapers. Later that night, I told Jimmy about Connor's excitement over the fish. We both agreed we would take him back to Wal-Mart the next day to pick one out.

Fast forward to Saturday morning, we loaded up the entire family and headed to Wal-Mart to pick out a fish. We ended up waiting nearly an hour before the Wal-Mart employee was available to help us. By that time, we had each grown attached to a fish. Yep, you guessed it. We ended up leaving with, not one, but three fish.

We set the tank up within an hour after we were home. Connor kept running up to the tank and yelling, "FISHY" while hopping up and down with excitement. Every now and then he grabs me or Jimmy by the hand and takes us up to the tank. He then looks up at us and tells us that the fish need to eat. Actually, he says, "EAT!" I think he has tried to say hungry too. So, we let Connor drop the fish food in the tank. He loves to feed them!

Yesterday, I had a migraine and was not feeling well. Needless to say, I was moving a little slow. That's not a good thing when you have a two year old in the house. Suddenly, I heard a big CRASH! I turn around to find Connor on the table with the fish bowl (no chair or stool in sight so I'm not sure how he got up there). He had pulled the pump out from under the rocks and completely out of the bowl. The tank was now murky from being agitated and there was water everywhere.

I scolded Connor and then tended to the tank. I immediately noticed that I could only find two of the three fish. I started saying (out loud, but to myself), "Oh no! Where is the fish?" Then, Connor looks up at me and says, "FISHY!" I look down to find a squirmy, black fish between Connor's thumb and pointer finger. The poor fish was being pinched to death. I let out a little scream, "Ohhhhhhh!" Then, Connor says, "Ohhhhhhh!" And throws the fish on the floor.

At this point, I realize just how girlie I am. I frantically look around to find something to help scoop the fish into the net (so that I don't actually have to touch the fish with my hands) so I can put it back in the tank. I grab a hanger, flip the fish into the net and dunk the net into the tank. The fish floats to the top and appears to be taking his last breath while Connor is crying in the background. Then, the fish starts to swim to the bottom of the tank. Noticeably injured, the fish is swimming on his side in one direction. One of his fins is injured so its kind of like paddling in a canoe with only one ore on one side. He's practically going in circles.

Then, the side door opens and Jimmy walks in with a look on his face like, "What's going on?" After eying the tank, he looks at me and starts laughing. I tell him the story and he laughs even harder. He tried to convince me that we should put the fish out of his misery and flush him down the toilet. I'm too soft hearted for that. So, the fish is still in the tank swimming in circles. I'm hoping he will recover soon and be just as spunky as he was the day we bought him. (I assume he is a male fish because Jimmy picked him out.)