Meet Abby...

We've been thinking

about getting a dog.

I know, I know,

they're a lot of work,

but I've thought about it

and decided that I was ready.

(knowing that I'll be the one mostly taking care of it)

***

Here is our sweet Abby

Okay...

I know she looks sweet,

but she's got some chompers on her.

I told Jason that she bites

 too much

and too hard,

he thought it is normal puppy behavior

BUT

the vet confirmed that she has

a problem and we need to fix it.

Easier said than done, but we're working on it.

The vet explained

that because she was the runt of the liter

she had to make herself known.

On a good note:

runts are usually very smart

because they have to be able to

figure things out fast to keep up with the others.

It is true,

she is very smart.

I taught her to sit on our first day home.

She picked it up fast and 

also knows come, off, and down.



It is like having a newborn...

1.  I get up with her every 2.5 hours

for potty breaks.

2.  We had the hardest time naming her,

feeling the pressure that she'll have to live

with it forever.

3.  I can't go anywhere for too long,

because I can't leave her in the crate for very long.

4.  I've had a bit of anxiety about what

she is going to need from me,

and how can I entertain her.

5.  I have to deal with poop, 

and I've heard

sometimes throw-up. 

***

I don't come from a family

of animal lovers,

but I've never minded dogs or cats.

We wanted a lab,

I wanted a white lab

Jason wanted a black lab.

Jason wanted a dog he could:

run with

and

hike with

and

hunt with.

I wanted a dog because:

I want my kids to grow up with an animal friend.

I really need the security if Jason has to get deployed again.

If we go camping, she can keep us safe from bears.

***

Just another quick story:

We were going to name the puppy

Iggy,

but after calling her that for a day

it just didn't stick.

Abby was a name that Jason mentioned

and Carter really liked it.

I personally wasn't too fond of it

but after I gave in,

I called her to me and gave her a big love

and called her Abby Cadabby.

I forgot about this darling

Sesame Street character.

So now that I have this cute mental

picture of Abby, I love the name.

{Here's to hoping we make it through the week

with all of our limbs in tact!}