A time for change

Before I even begin this blog, I beg of you not to judge me. I didn't know I would be struggling with this issue...I wasn't prepared for it. I am, in fact, still processing my thoughts, reactions and realities. But since I am a "verbal processor" I thought typing this out may help...along with sharing a story with you.

My beautiful, moppy, shaggy, oh-so-adorable, car stopping dog is gone. Not gone, gone....Charlotte is still very much alive and with us in the Vann household...but her beautiful exterior has vanished. See my dilemma...such a worldly, shallow concern, but a concern non the less. Wait for it...there's more.

For a while now, Nick and I had concluded that Charlotte would in deed need a hair cut soon. Many reasons brought us to this conclusion: Even during our meek 60 degree days...we would find Charlotte panting like a mad dog, seeking out shade where ever she could find it. We were needing to brush her everyday to manage the clumps and clumps of knots that were forming in her hair. We were constantly stopping her while at the park or on Galbraith Mt to extract the multitude of sticks, pine needles, ivy and other miscellaneous items she collected from mother earth in her leg and belly hair. We even had a scare late one evening due to her projectile vomiting...later to conclude internal cloggage of pine needles in her tummy had messed with her digestive track (while I, of course, thought she was dying). Again...because of her self grooming techniques of extracting park debris from her legs and eating it. So obviously it was time for a cut.

Last week, I did my researched...called a few places in town to learn about their process and pricing. Just so you know, cutting Charlotte's hair costs more than Nick and my haircuts combined. Awesome. But, due to the reasons above, we knew it would be worth it. Overall...less day to day maintenance.

One option we liked:

Another option we liked:

After we scheduled an appointment, I spent some time on the net, searching for Wheaten Terrier hair cuts. I had a specific look in mind and didn't give up the search until I found a few that I liked. I should have know at this point, that it was time to let go of the "mop look" and embrace the change that was due to occur. The thing is though...I didn't want to. I loved my little shaggy bear. I loved that she had this moppy body. I loved that she could only see clearly when we was running at mock speed and the wind blew the hair out of her eyes. I loved that people would roll down their windows and ask "what kind of dog is that?" or stop mid conversation on a sidewalk corner to bend over and pet Charlotte. She was unique. She was different. She was stinking cute!!!! But never the less, Nick and I printed out the photos, discussed, in GREAT detail, what our expectations were, so that when Nick dropped Charlotte off at the groomers, he could clearly communicate what we were wanting.

The big day had finally come, so Nick dropped her off in the middle of the afternoon. Time progressed and Nick hadn't yet received a call from the groomers, that Charlotte was ready. So he stopped by to pick her up at the end of the work day, thinking that they were near done. They requested that Nick return in 2 hours...saying that Charlotte's hair was more matted than she had thought and needed to hand cut the hair with scissors. I was getting a little nervous...because I didn't know what to expect at this point. I kept on thinking...WOW, I'm going to be able to see Charlotte's eyes. Wow...she is going to be completely BLOND when we get her. She's going to have a beard!!! (per our request).

Sure enough, 2 hours later, Nick got the call and picked up Charlotte. We had a few guests over at the time, so obviously I stayed home to be with them.

Upon Nick's return, I suddenly realized that I was worriedly anxious to see Charlotte. Through our back door, I could see Nick's face, but not yet our newly groomed dog. The look he gave me was "prepare yourself." With guests' attention towards that back door, Charlotte was reveled to the crowd and let me tell you...it was a SHOW STOPPER. My hands shot straight to my mouth, my eyes bulged as big as bowling balls and I just stopped breathing. Charlotte of course ran in and greeted everyone, like her usual self, licking and jumping and scaring little children...luckily, not knowing the drastic effect she was having on me. I looked at Nick and immediately scolded him for teasing me like this..."This isn't our dog...where is Charlotte?" His response: "Andi...yes she is...that is Charlotte." Hand still on mouth, I sucked in an even deeper breath and was caught between needing to face reality and running away. With tears welling in my eyes...I called Charlotte to me to get a closer look. Sitting in the middle of the kitchen, she happily waddled her self over to me and gave me a lick. Yep...this was in fact my dog. Mop dog no, more, she is now...well....different.

I felt bad for my gracious guests. They could tell I was still in shock and all responded in different ways. Kristen, sat with me on the floor as I battled through mental dialog ranging from...it's just hair to Oh my gosh...what did they do to my dog???!!! Trevor reassured me that Charlotte's heart was still the same. Right...check...got it. Beauty is only skin deep. Anne Marie just looked at me with wide eyes...knowing that eventually I would get over this and come to terms that my Charlotte is still my Charlotte. As for Nick...he was dancing on a fine line. Trying to be both supportive and realistic...that is a tough dance to dance at a time like this. So I worked through it verbally. Telling myself that I should have prepared myself better for the drastic change she would take. That it really isn't THAT bad...just different. That I would adjust. That I couldn't' allow myself to be feeling saddened and overwhelmed and shocked and outraged anymore because Charlotte is totally a vibe dog and would be able to tell that I was having issues with her. And because life isn't skin deep...

So now...15 hours later, I am still working through this. She is different. Still being Charlotte in having the same: mannerisms, cuddly ways, big stretches, kisses and enthusiasm for life. But it will take some adjusting. Nick laughs at me and inquires about my need for counseling. My laugh back because I know it is silly for me to still be feeling this way. But in a way, I feel like I have lost a part of the old Charlotte and have now gained a new dog. I am looking forward to time. Time seems to help with stuff like this. You get used to things. Then it becomes normal. So that will help. I am also looking forward to the perfumy smell to rid her body. It's just not very Charlottesk. I am excited to go on an adventure with her and let her run and get a little dirty like she should be. And mostly, I am excited for her hair to grow out a bit...to merge back (just a scooch) into a bit more of a shaggy dog and not the blunt, sharp characteristics that define her external appearance now. Don't get me wrong. I still love her as much as I did yesterday morning, before this whole debacle began. I still smash my face into her face and give her the love I desire to give. So, as I tell Nick...try not to judge me...just love me and let me work through this...as silly as it may be.

Charlotte Update

Yes, it's true...we LOVE our dog. Each day seems to get better and better with Charlotte being a part of our family. She is quite the trooper when it comes to hiking:

Dealing with the crazy snow storms (doesn't the snow look like leg warmers):

Working with me in the office (she often hogs my seat):

And, of course, being completely spoiled by Alpha Nick:

Now that she has passed her 6 month marker, Charlotte is turning into quite the obedient dog. Her traumatic chewing phase lasted about 2 weeks (for me that is), and though it wasn't completely financially or emotionally damaging, it was still very annoying.

She spends most of her days sitting on something soft (not the couch unless invited) and looking out the window or sleeping or following me from room to room as I go about my day. Ruff life. She has also graduated to a being confined to the kitchen area while we are gone, rather than locked up in just her small kennel. So far, that arrangement is working out for us all...except for the random times she decides the the throw rugs should entertainer her, rather than her chew toys and the ipod playing music. She responds quite well to her name (when other dogs aren't around of course) and is nothing but a little lover, which seems to make up for those moments of complete and utter frustration. It's all a learning process, but I am happy to report that I am more and more content with her overall temperament as she matures into a dog.

Who said plastic cones aren't in?

Charlotte is adorning some new neck gear this week after coming out of major surgery. Even though the idea of having adorable little Wheaten puppies running around the house crossed our minds, the time, effort and frustration just didn’t seem worth it to us. So she got fixed last week and now has the pleasure of wearing the cone when we aren’t around and at night.
She is such a trooper and is healing well!

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!

My Sleepy Bear

Charlotte (AKA...my little bear) is rather sleepy today. To me, this is a gigantic blessing. We have been working diligently on what it means to not pee in the house, how to walk on a leash and appropriate room edict. In other words, not licking, chewing or biting everything that even slightly resembles grass, sticks or her play toys: carpet, chords, the "boot cut" feature on my pants, socks, calculators, my stamp collection, oh how the list goes on. To give her credit she is an exceptional puppy, but honestly, I am whooped and have been craving a day like today.
To paint you a picture: Charlotte always goes outside 5 or 10 minutes after a meal...she is like clockwork and does her duty. After that, we take a walk to release some of that puppy energy. Once we get home, we spend some time playing, then (when behaving) she can follow me around the house as I go about my business, and a bit later, she goes back into her crate for a little nap. Well...today she has absolutely no motivation what-so-ever for any of the above except for napping. She will eat and then fall asleep by the time I get her to take her outside. She is rather resistant to the idea of peeing, and seems her preference is to hold it as long as possible (you know you have done this on a really cold morning while all comfy in your bed). Unfortunately for Charlotte, I know better, and insist that she follows me outside. When she finally straggles out of her crate, she looks like the worse bed head you have ever seen, but ALL over her body. With her hair is every which way, her slow blinking and straggling manor, I can't help but laugh...as this is such a perfect picture to a really, really tired and out of it human. After 3 or 4 full body stretches she finally makes it outside, squats in instant she is one the gravel, and heads back inside. Sometimes I wonder if she is even awake or just sleep walking. After that hugely laborious task, she straggles back inside to her crate, plops down and is sleeping again in 2 seconds. I have a feeling it must be growth spurt day and she needs all the rest she can get to keep up with her body working hard.
Today is the first day she has had the privilege to sit along side me in the office as I work. Typically she is chewing at random things (this is not a puppy safe room - too many small objects to chew on, not to mention the carpet that looks like grass...bad for many reasons). My favorite part is when I reach down to give her a little pet, she makes these really small squeaking sounds...as if to say..."Wow Andi...do you really have to interrupt my slumber...I was getting so cozy." Just now I tried to call her over to sit by me. From 5 feet away, I got a glance, a sigh and an immediate full body sprawl on the floor, eyes shut. Her back legs are fully extended behind her rear end and front legs tucked under her head. She looks like a real person laying on a couch. Amazing. Unfortunately Nick has the camera so I can't post a shot of her body position right now...but there will be many more opportunities...I am sure of it!

Charlotte update

Life in the Vann household gets a little better with each day. Charlotte is learning how things roll around here: Nick and Andi are in charge, she is not. It's a slow lesson...sometimes it is clear as mud to her, but in order to reinforce the #1 rule, we persevere, hoping that SOME ground is made each day. She is pretty much on the two and a half hour schedule...doing her duty outside that is. This is a great relief to me (well to us both...I am sure) because it allows me to get some work done, catch up on house stuff, as well as hit up the gym and run other errands during her crate time. We have gone on a few walks around the neighborhood. I use the term "walk" very loosely as it is more of a sniffing fest for her and a "Charlotte Come" chant for me. But no more...today I read up on how to walk with your dog, so hopefully a stroll around the block with take 10 minutes rather than 30. Yes, yes...book knowledge is very helpful when it comes to these sort of things. Luckily, I am wisely reminded by my loving husband that puppies don't go by the book, so I must remain optimistic even if she isn't perfect. Yeah, yeah...OK...I got it.

Charlotte has had a lot of interaction with people this week as we hosted our couple's group on Monday night and a church plant meeting on Tuesday night. She has taken to everyone really well, including Belle, Kristen and Trevor's 2 year old daughter. It must be "your the same size as me, therefore I will chase you around and sniff all over," kind of thing. It is so wonderful to see her interact with others. I SO badly want her to be a friendly to all kind of dog, yet obedient to her Alpha dogs. I realize that all these blogs about this dog may seem a bit over zealous and a perfectionist...which may or may not be the case. I am trying to balance the desires for having a well behaved dog, letting a puppy be a puppy, yet implementing the wisdom's that these books portray. I am sure that in 3 months from now, I will look back and laugh at my nervousness and compulsive attitude, but until then I will just persevere without overloading myself.

She is a bit of a lush when it comes to being in Nick's arms. I try not to get jealous.

Just the Girls Today

Today, I am mentally exhausted and it is only 3:30pm. The puppy...she's racking my brain. Let's start from the top:

Last night when we finally hit the sac with Charlotte settled in right next to us (in her crate on the floor). Without a whimper, she was down and out for the count. It was a big day after all...she got new parents, a new home, new smells...oh life must be exhausting for a puppy. I woke up several times throughout the night...hoping that she was alright. I think scary SIDS (Silent Infant Death Syndrome) thoughts were running through my head. I mean, I know Charlotte isn't a baby, but still...she is so little and cute and relies on us so much. I just didn't want anything to happen to her. So when 6:30am rolled around, I was relieved. The morning routine (take her outside immediately, then feed her, then take her outside again, then play with her, then put her in the crate - See I am very By-the-book) was supposed to be Nick's job. But I was just so excited about this new creature that I had to be apart of it. We quickly discovered that this "feed her then take her outside to pee" thing doesn't really happen like that. She peed in her bed during the night. She has been after all, peeing in her bed her whole life up until now...so it's up to us to break her of that habit. So as I clean her bed...Nick takes her outside to see if she has any left. Nope...she's empty. So, he brings her back inside to eat breakfast. She takes a few bites and considers it done. She is not interested in water, so we pick her up out of her bed so she can poop, but alas...she has already left us two lovely little nuggets (for those of you who don't have an animal...I hope I am not discusting you too much. As a matter of a fact, I probably wouldn't have even read through this whole blog last week, for I had no knowledge of what life is with a puppy. But for those of you who have had a puppy...you are with me...I know you are). I am in shock and beginning to freak out at this point (note that it is 7:05am)...I mean...dogs aren't supposed to POOP in their bed right???? The book says so!!!! So, this time I take her out to see if she has any more and Nick cleans it up. Shockingly enough, Charlotte is all about playing and not about doing her deed. We try to be stern, but when she is running all over the place and frolicking in our garden, it's tough to keep her to focus on "going poddy." Alas, we figure she once again, emptied her tank inside and we head back in.

By this point I am both freaking out and trying to remain strong. I have the "day shift" with her all by myself and am trying to syke myself up for this adventure. I am reminded by Nick that he is just a phone call away, so if anything comes up, just call him. Nick has had 10 puppies in his life, so this is cake. I, on the other hand, am summoning all the strength I have not to quiver and cry in the corner.

By 9am it is time to take Charlotte out again for another pee. I take her out of her crate to take her outside, and bam...instant puddle on the floor. I figure this is better than in the crate, but not quite up to par with the backyard. I take her out anyway, so she can associate that that is the poddy place. Nothing gets through to her...she is running all over the place...deciding to test the limits and head to the front yard via crawling under the deck. Tricky little thing. Now it is confirmed...it's time for a leash. So...I gather her up, her crate and head to the PetStop for a collar and leash. With her, my purse and canvas bag (be Green!) in hand, I am realizing that trying on collars is going to be a bit of a challenge. The nice worker lady helped me after a 10 minutes of analyzing of which one fit Charlotte's' personality best. Pink collar with little bones it is - adjustable! We discover that she can kinda get out of it, but by next week...it will be the perfect fit. On the way home, Charlotte is not too fond of the car ride, but this may be a blessing, because she hardly even realizes she has a collar on.

Once she is in the house, in the crate, I realize it is time for a run for me. I gather my stuff up and am really anxious about leaving her alone. What if someone breaks in and steals her? What if she just stops breathing? I am frantic, but trying to get a grip. After all, I am so fortunate that I can be at home with her all day anyways! So I go on a super short run and pray that she is alright. Honestly, I don't even think she missed me. She has taken to her crate quite well...her chewys and christian rock music is all she needs it seems like.

The lunch routine is pretty much exactly like breakfast, except this time, she can't get away while outside because I am loosely holding the leash...much better for us all.

After lunch, I realize that puppies are mentally exhausting. Yes...they take up time to feed and pee and play and clean up their messes, but really my mind is always thinking...is Charlotte OK? Sometimes, I walk past her crate to pretend to be getting a pen or something just to make sure she moves. We are trying to teach her to hold herself (yeah...that's working great....) and independence. So for now, she stays in her crate between meals and after play time. But that doesn't stop me from going over there every 4 minutes just to check...see I just did it. She's fine. She's actually amazingly sweet. Just lays in there...so very content...waiting for the next go around.

I am discovering that it is tough for me to balance between wanting to raise a good dog by being firm and just wanting to just play with her all day. I know that it won't be like this for much longer (hopefully 3 weeks max), but it is almost like torture to know that my little furry, bear like creature is in there. But then I remind myself that this is good for her (they like to have their own den) and for me (she realizes that we are top dogs around here).

I am just relieved that Nick will be home in an hour or so and we can tag team this together. Can you imagine if I ever have a kid??? I am going to be freaking out! Ohhhh...now THAT makes me tired just thinking about it. Oh and just as a side note...I haven't gotten a lick of work done today. Ahh well, I pretty much knew that was going to happen. Tomorrow is another day!

Charlotte Is Here!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen....
It is our esteemed pleasure...
To introduce to you....
The newest member of the Vann household...

Charlotte Autumn Vann!!!

That's right folks...it has been a long time waiting, but we finally have our dog! Some of you may be scratching your head intensely, wondering if what you are reading is a joke. After all...this is Andi right??? The girl who doesn't even like dogs. The girl who would just walk on by a puppy without a mere glance. The girl who took 2 years to adjust to the fact that her mom has a dog and that petting her might be a good idea. Well, I am here to say that it is not in fact a joke.
It all started around this time last year with a letter in the mail from my mom. Attached was a photo copy of a "mop head" dog and a note saying "I think you two should get one of these." I laughed it off and shook my head at her persistence. After all...her getting a dog was a shock to all of us...we never had animals in the house growing up...in fact, my dad used to throw gravel at the neighbor cats who tried to poop in our driveway - talk about reinforcing the fact that domestic animals are bad. I told myself, no way would we get a dog. They are expensive, they poop, they shed, they are an inconvenience and they tear apart your house. Nick reinforced this fear last Christmas by surprising me with a puppy. A fake puppy of course, but due to my response, he was more than relieved that it was a test rather than the real thing.

Come early summer, I started singing a different tune. Nick and I began talking more about what would it mean for our family to get a dog. I liked the idea of having a permanent running partner...a companion throughout the day as I worked at home...a cheery creature to greet you at the door no matter what the day had brought you, what the weather was like or how you felt at that moment. A dog started to sound really, really good. So we investigated and turns out that my mom was right...a "mop head" was quite appropriate for our family. More formally named a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, it carried all the characteristics that fit us to the T. First and foremost, Wheatens have hair not fur...so no shedding. Secondly they are extremely physical animals so enjoy running, biking and just plain being outside. Very apropos for the Vann's. Thirdly, they are smart dogs...hard headed yes, but completely loyal (some (Nick) may describe me being like that). They are active when we are active and chill when we are chill. And lastly, they are friendly...greeting all people and other dogs with an excited hello. That was enough to convince me it was time to start looking.

In mid-July we stumbled upon a breeder in Everett and met 3 of her pups. They were adorable and at the perfect age for adoption, but due to bad timing (remember last summer was the busiest time of my life), we decided to wait it out.

In October, we decided to give it another whirl and were extremely disappointed to find that most Wheaten breeders in the Washington/Vancouver, BC area had litters in the Spring. Even more so disappointing, our back up, the breeder we met during the summer originally planned on having another litter in December, decided not to put valiant efforts in impregnating her female Wheaten due to her increasingly busy schedule. We even went as far as considering having a puppy shipped to us from the mid-west, where they seem to be in abundance. After deciding that we are not in support of what could have been a puppy mill, we moved on. If God wanted us to have a dog, then God would deliver a dog.
He did...through my mom. During their last visit up here, my mom, with all her Internet savvy skills found an add in the Seattle Times listing Wheaten puppies. She passed along the number and I chatted with the breeder that very night. After a 20 minute interview (the breeder questioning me on the conditions of our home, yard and lifestyle) we decided that we should meet the pup and see if we were a good fit. We met up with her and the pup on Sunday night on our way home from Ridgefield in Bellevue. As it turns out, this is the one and only time she bred her Wheaten. She said that it is a lot of wear and tear on the mother, plus a lot of work for her to take care of the pups. Due to the owners care and attachment to the pups, she insisted on meeting the potential owners AND viewing their home before allowing the transaction to occur. Well...tonight was the night that Nick and I learned we passed the test. Charlotte was hand delivered after a thorough evaluation of our fence, kennel (thanks Diana!) and bushes that acts as the barrier between us and the freeway. We signed the contract, got the papers and was handed our puppy.

Tonight has been completely dedicated to showing our new puppy the digs and at the same time, reading fervently through the How to Raise a Puppy book (again...thank you Diana) to ensure we are doing everything right. We are happy to say that she has already had a successful pee outside. And believe me for the anal, by-the-book-when-it-comes-to-new-and-unknown-things me, this is a big deal. I would say Charlotte is adjusting well to our home. She slides around a lot on the hardwood floors chasing from one toy to another. We can tell equal time spent with Nick and I is important as she scurries over to Nick for a hello and belly-rub then back to me for a hello and a face-lick. She likes it best to be sandwiched between the two of us while sitting on the floor, but mostly she is content if we are in eye site. They say that the first night away from their mom is the toughest. We will find out very soon. I predict lots of whining in her crate next to us and every ounce of my body wanting to put her in bed with us. But alas...the puppy book says no, so I too have to say no.
The first few days are a big adjustment for the pup...afterall...we ripped her of the home that all she knew and is now living with 2 strangers. But, by this weekend, I am sure she would love a visitor or two. So please feel free to stop by anytime this weekend to say hello. We want her comfortable around people and need you to help her get there!