SNOW!!!

Bellingham is swimming in snow, snow and more snow. I still can't believe that we have gotten this much:

Saturday: 3-4 inches

Wednesday: 5 inches

Thursday: currently snowing, therefore, more inches

When I heard "Winter Storm Blast" on the news, I said to myself: Yeah right. But low and behold...here it is and it isn't going anyware, anytime soon!

I have always loved the snow. I prayed and prayed for it to snow each winter when I was younger. I even thought singing: "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas..." would prompt those beautiful white flakes to fall from the sky. Needless to say, my hopes were annually crushed...living in a town directly on the Puget sound coast didn't allow much snow. But this year, it has blown past that barrier and now we are basking in white fluff everywhere. Piling up on the fence posts, clinging to thin tree branches and covering the streets thick.

Sunday's sunny shot.



Nick and I have ventured out on many walks with Charlotte and quickly discovered that she, in deed, is a snow-loving dog. Being a natural burrower, plus a pup with tons of energy, she frolicks to and fro with great pleasure. Charging up hills, cramming her face in the walls of snow, spinning around quickly to run back to us to say hi...then heads off to do it all over again. It is really quite refreshing to watch her excitement. I brings back all those childhood memories of me hanging out with my cousins and spending hours sledding, snow mobiling, fort building, snow man building and slushy making. For some reason when you are a kid, you just don't feel the cold. It interests me to know why the novelty of it wears off as we age. Yes, I do love to do a snow angle here and there, and sled on little hills, but the overall gut-wrenching excitement has definitely simmered down significantly. Now a' days, I enjoy keeping the blinds open at night to watch the sky glow and drink hot cocoa and snuggle with my man in our warm home.

Today I will go on a walk with Charlotte...perhaps my inner-child will come out for a little snow frolicking myself. She's always excited to head out there!

Is there more to life than a dog?

Little bear LOVES to kiss dad.

I know I have been blogging mostly about the dog lately...but truth be told, I honestly had no idea that I could actually love a dog this much. I guess I am shocked by my very own behavior and adoration for our new puppy. I never wanted to be one of those people who doted over their domestic pets...talking about them endlessly to anyone who was willing to listen. Last weekend I was afraid that I was in deed turning into one of those people. I had to candidly ask the bf, Anne Marie, her honest opinion if the above was true. She ever so confidently confirmed that no, I am not yet at that point. After all, Charlotte is still very new to our lives...she is still a puppy and learning new things each day; how to appropriately live in the Vann household. PLUS, people are still asking about her. So...AM says...it's OK for now; just be sure to check yourself in a few months when the newness wears off. If I'm not careful, I could easily be one of "those" people.

Lately, I have been wondering if I talk to the dog more than I talk to Nick. After a objective look (as objective as a girl can get with herself), I have deduced that it's situational. Sometimes I just want her to sit on the floor and entertain herself for hours as Nick and I share life together. Then there are times when I just wanna scoop her up and never let her go. To me, this is normal...just like all the other things in my life; all things come in cycles. At times I have a high need for daily exercise, then other times the mere idea of exerting myself exhausts me. Or those one-off days when I NEED to a certain type of food that I usually never crave...like Chinese food or oranges. Either way, I am sure a balance will be discovered.

Nick and I have noticed a pattern with Charlotte's preferred resting spots in the house. She has a tendency to settle in anywhere that resembles a cave. Her favorite place when we are in the common area of the house is under the table:

Then sometimes, when we can't find her, we head towards the bedroom and often see this:


During my working hours, Charlotte sits at my feet under the desk:

And of course during movie time, she gets the best seat in the house.

She's a funny, funny doggy.

Ring that Bell!

The last few weeks have been quite the ride with our new little addition to our family. I would say that the three of us have found a nice rhythm to daily living. Granted there is still LOTS of things to teach, learn and adjust to, but overall, the past 5 weeks of having Charlotte has been nothing but a blessing. Nick and I have continually been impressed by her quick learning and people-pleasing tendencies. In fact, it is a no-brainer to say that Charlotte lives true to the reputation Wheaten Terriers uphold: Stubborn, yet loving. She responds to her name (most of the time, though, not outside where those leaves, rocks and 1,000,000 scents reside), sits when demanded (yeah, so it may take 4 or 5 stern "SITS" but she gets it), chews only on her chew toys (besides Anne Marie's slippers) and takes good care of the house when we leave (in her crate). The biggest accomplishment, without a doubt is her bell ringing. For the past 3 weeks, we have hung a bell on our back door that we ring every time we take her outside to go potty. Last week, the association finally clicked, and she nudged the bell with her nose, then turned, sat and looked at me like: "OK mom...it's time!" This was such a big accomplishment, I was ready to bust out the champagne, shoot off the fireworks and throw a party! You have no idea how much mental space this tiny behavior modification has freed me. Knowing that Charlotte now has the ability to communicate the #1 house recking problem I was worried about, is a tremendous accomplishment. Ever since we have had her, my productivity has decreased by 85%. The divided attention of working and watching the dog SLOWED everything down. She sniffs and sniffs and sniffs everything, all day. So I was constantly convinced that the minute I turned my head, she would decide it was time to do her duty. But alas, now I feel like a free woman! A woman who can go about her business throughout the day and take her outside when she decides it's time. Granted we are still on the 2.5 to 3.5 rotating cycle, but hey...she's only 15 weeks old, her bladder is still growing.

The next task at hand: Charlotte walking on a lease. Right now, our "walks" are more like us either dragging her and being extremely frustrated OR us trying to reign her in being extremely frustrated. Any suggestions are always welcomed. Otherwise, we are going to end up with a home-body puppy who runs tracks in our house due to lack of exercise.

Look! Matching beards!

A trip to the beach in Steilacoom.

Poux meets Charlotte!