December of Craziness

The Holidays were so fun. We were busy and it was grand.

(If you are friends with me on Facebook, you may have already seen some of these photos. But if you stick with me you'll get the narrated version straight from me!)

December 17-22: My bestie from high school, Robyn, visited. We had a trio reunion with Heather. I sure love my best friends.

Then Robyn and I walked TEN MILES one day touring all of DC. We saw Lincoln, Washington, WW II, Library of Congress, US Supreme Court, the Capitol, the Archives, Arlington Cemetery, and the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial. ALL IN ONE DAY. My poor pregnant body barely made it, but Robby was patient with me :)

It's a good thing she kept me so busy, because the next day was my ultrasound and we found out we're having a boy (less "found out," and more "our suspicions were confirmed").

Then the following day we went BACK to DC and hit up Jefferson Memorial, Holocaust Museum, History Museum, and Georgetown for Georgetown Cupcakes (HEAVEN!!!)

December 23: Dad, Sheri, and my brother flew out to Baltimore
December 24: Heavily medicate our dog, and the six of us are off on a 5  hour drive to Pennsylvania!
December 24-27: In Ulysses, PA with our great Aunt and Uncle, Nan and Claude.

Kaleo LOVED it there. He would just run around with his tongue stuck to the ground, lapping up the snow everywhere he went. He would sleep in front of the door so he could go outside anytime it was opened. He was definitely meant for a country life, this dog, and hopefully one day we can give it to him (even if it is when he is old and gray).

December 28-30: In Niagra Falls, Canada

Preggo Meggo! 21 weeks.

December 31: Palmyra, New York. One last night with Nan and Claude

Hill Cumorah

Smith Family Farm

I'm always on this side of Adam!

Sacred Grove.

On the way back to Nan and Claude's we made a detour at Watkins Glen State Park - so glad we did. It was gorgeous!

January 1: On our way back home!

It's been a busy last 6 weeks - Which has really made my pregnancy go by fast. I don't have quite as much to keep me busy the next four months, but here's my countdown list:
-Jan 10: Dad's birthday
-Feb 14: Valentine's
-Feb 22: Adam's 26th birthday
-March 6: My birthday!
-April 8: Easter
-April 25: Mom's birthday
-May 3-10: Possible due dates

Happy First Birthday, Kaleo!

Kaleo turned 1 on December 11th.

He's turning out to be a mighty fine dog.

We had our share of disappointments and battles with him,

and continue to do so, 

but we love him, and also have joy in our successes with him.

I taught Kaleo to sit, lay down, stay, and wait;

Adam taught him to shake (both paws), fetch, and roll-over

(the "cooler" tricks) -

though neither of us can get him to come to us if he doesn't want to.

And as much as I hate to admit it,

I'm pretty sure he loves Adam more

(and Adam knows it).

Our little guy at 5 months.

A graduate at 7 months!

One year!

We celebrated with this fancy-shmancy hat, a giant candy-cane-shaped bone, and this here photo.

What a lucky dog.

I love my boys :)

The truth about cats and dogs

As most of you know, we got a dog. I have always grown up with dogs in the house, and so I had been missing their company since I went away to college. I'd been asking Adam for a pup for awhile, and made him promise me we could get one once we moved out of our college apartments.  

Having Kaleo has been a joy, really -- I know sometimes I make it sound like we don't like him, but really, we do. We have just learned a LOT along the way.

You have to constantly watch them, or keep them in a crate. We got Kaleo when he was 5 months old, so he was already crate trained (but not quite house trained. There's a big difference). But still, there is so much work that goes into a dog. I've realized when you're getting a dog, and mom and dad aren't there to help you, it's pretty much like throwing a panting, shaggy two year old in your face. You have to teach them where and when to poo and pee, not to eat every single item that lands on the floor or chew on the floorboards, our clothes, or the carpet. 

They require a lot of exercise. And, when you get a dog, you're not just getting a living, breathing, pooping, drinking creature - you're getting a running partner. Even if you don't run - you better start. 

Of course, I started doing my research on dogs, Shelties, and dog training after we got Kaleo, when I realized I had no idea what I was doing. It was then that I learned dogs need like, an hour of exercise everyday! This means I have to get up early and walk him for a half hour before I leave the house, and another half hour when we get home. I honestly do enjoy this time with Kaleo and being outside - something I wouldn't normally do if it weren't for him, but if you're not anticipating walking or exercising with your dog, you better think twice before getting a puppy! A tired dog is a happy dog --- I can tell when I've been slacking in walking with him - we come home to plastic bags ripped up and all over the floor, a tomato plant completely eaten - with only dirt left to prove it once existed, and the corners of the cupboards gnawed off. But when I do walk him, he just sleeps during the day. A much better greeting when I get home.

Dogs are expensive. We pay an extra monthly fee to have him in our apartment, we buy big bags of dog food to keep him healthy, we payed for obedience classes so he would be a polite pooch, we shoved handfuls of cash into the vets face to get shots, we pay for anti-flea and tick stuff, as well as a once-a-month heartworm prevention. It's no wonder we just give him empty milk jugs and soda bottles for toys - there's no money left to buy him new ones!

Training them is a royal pain the butt. If you ever stop being consistent in your expectations of them - say you let them in the bedroom just once when you normally don't - from then on out, they will assume that bedroom is theirs for the strolling. If you say a command you have to mean it, and if you mean it, you must enforce it (yes I've been watching a bit too much Ceasar). Meh - we're also a bit stricter than other dog parents, I bet.

Being around other people's dogs gives you a more honest picture of your own dog. We thought we were being horrible trainers/owners, and that our dog was just a pyscho and would never learn and we were just in over our heads. Then we went to obedience class and met all these other, much more pyscho dogs, and then ours didn't look so bad afterall. And we realized we were just being really hard on ourselves, and expecting too much out of our 7 month old pup. He's still just a kid - we've cut him, and ourselves, some slack since then.

Here is Adam beginning the "4 Corners" competition.

We graduated from Beginner's class and won 2nd place in the competition!

This is Kaleo with his best bud Sam, our neighbor's dog. 

He stayed with us for 5 days, and it taught us one more lesson:

If you're gonna get one dog, 

you're better off getting two - 

they wear each other out and it actually lessens your own work load!

So the moral of the story?

We love our dog. 

He's a lot of work, but he's worth it.
He has added another dimension of love to our relationship

(I know, I know, just wait till we have kids...)

If you don't have the time and/or energy ---

get a cat.

They're just as cute, even more cuddly, and a whole heck of a lot easier.

I'm Kidding

(But only kind of)

Dear Kaleo,

On Saturday you turned 6 months old.

-You weigh 17 pounds. (He's in the 90th percentile! ....Kidding, I have no idea)

-You are still on stoner drugs from your surgery, so you are acting psychotic lately. But we still love you.

-You love to sit, lay down, and wait, but only for a treat.

-You cannot seem to wrap "Shake!" around your head, but we'll keep trying.

-You are doing better greeting strangers and children, but are still afraid of the maintenance men at our apartment complex.

-You still throw up within 10 minutes of being in the car, and probably even less now that you took a trip to the vet. You have no idea that we are going on a camping trip this weekend, and we are scared to tell you you're about to get back in the car.

-You are starting to live up to your name ("The Voice") and barking at every squeak in the house. Sometimes the only thing that will shut you up is a spray of water to the nose.

-Our favorite thing to say to you is, "Try it again, see what happens." And you're favorite thing to do is, try it again, and then run away real fast.

-You love Mommy's bras and socks. Especially when company's over. 

-You're very regular; what goes in always comes out. Good boy!

-You are starting obedience training next week! Yay!

-You always stop fetching right when we throw the ball the hardest and farthest. 

-You love when my nanny boys come over because they give you hotdogs and drop their food on the floor.

-You are teaching us lots of patience and how to take turns! This will come in handy in later years!

Mommy and Daddy love you, sweetie. Keep making us smile, and we'll keep feeding you. :)

Changes!

(It is significant to me that this post happens to be the 100th!)

Just call me Nanny McMeg!

This Wednesday I will be starting a full-time job as a nanny. 

I will be working more hours than Adam.

I will be spending my days with 2 boys: 18 months and 30 months.

I will be getting up at 5am.

5.A.M.

Is that clear? 

I need to be held accountable.

Why 5am when my job doesn't start until 7:30?

Because I need time to stretch, meditate, read scriptures, write.

But mostly because I have a puppy who needs lots of exercise before he can be left alone for the whole day.

I've been walking him for 30-60 mins in the mornings. And today, my walk somehow, unbeknown (I love that word) to me, slipped into a jog. 

And it felt so good. So good that I'm going to continue running in the mornings, dragging Kaleo behind me the whole way. And heck, I might even start looking for small races (like, 5k .... or less) to motivate me.

I realize this is much easier said than done.

We all know that Google has all the answers. So when I typed in

How to get up at 5am everyday

I actually got some good answers, ideas, and inspiration.

And I'm potentially excited for this new venture of mine.

Along with running, I also want to start writing again, but my creativity is pretty much shot.

So I was excited when I stumbled upon
this article on recovering my creativity; 

I plan on following its advice as well
 (morning pages and the artist date)

This is a big deal. 

That's why I'm telling you.

So you can be excited with me!