From Marley to Mud Bud

Well, the days of chasing Mia around trying to "rescue" items are slowing down.  I'm hoping that it is a new trend.  She is also starting to go to the door and come look at me when she needs to go outside.  (Praise the Lord!)  Now, if I can get her to quit trying to make a mess!  I'm not sure if you have ever seen any of the Buddies movies or not.  Most of the earlier ones are actually quite cute.  Anyways, in the movie, there is a boy dog, named Mud Bud.  Very appropriately named considering he always wants to be dirty.  He will find the mud puddles and roll around in them.  Now, Mia is no ways near this, thankfully..  However, tonight as I was working a puzzle and Cole watching the Duke game  (Yes, our home pulls for the Blue Devils); Mia kept coming and sitting at my feet.  I'm thinking, oh, how sweet.  Hmmph!  I looked down to rub her, and low and behold what do I see?!  A huge pile of dirt!  Ok, let me back up for just a moment.  She had just had a bath, not even an hour before this.  Now, she is sitting in a pile of dirt.  She had somehow gotten it from my plant.  I still cannot figure out how she was able to drag that across my dining room floor.  She had two nice piles of it, one of which was under my chair!  Not to mention what she had also drug into her crate.  Oh the joys of having a pet.  So, after a nice bath she decides to play in the dirt; hence the new name Mud Bud.  
     Well, now that she is "Mud Bud", I guess she decided that she didn't like that name.  When Cole and I had given her a bath, he pulled the plug to let out the water, I got her out and dried her off.  We didn't go back to check the tub.  Mia did.  So, after her "mess" she decided to take another bath all by herself.  I look in the bathroom, she is in the tub of water drinking it no less!  So, out to dry again.  Maybe my girl doesn't like to be as dirty as we thought.  There is still hope for a Rose Bud!  :)

A Week and Holding

We have officially made it a whole week!  whew!  lol  She still has some "Marley" tendencies in her, we are working on that.  She has a thing for socks, mine especially.  In less than 5 minutes she had chewed the entire toe out of a new sock!  Oh, Mia!  Guess I learned my lesson, sock should have been put away.  I probably learned more than she did.  Oh, well...  Guess I have lessons to learn too.  She has chewed the corner of a book off, and she still tries to get my flip flop.  The funny thing is, she knows that she isn't supposed to have it; I know this because of the way she tucks her ears and tail down when I call her on it.  But, she still takes off and tries her best to keep it.  Little stinker!  
     We have learned that she likes to hunt for fishing worms.  It's weird.  I was walking her and saw that she kept digging her nose in the ground.  I'm like, what in the world?  The next thing I know, she has a worm, pulling it out of the ground.  She has done this twice now.  Welp, the next time I wanna go fishn' I'm just gonna take ol Mia out and let her "hunt"!  lol  I have never known of a dog to do that before.  
     I think she also thinks that if she can keep chewing her leash, that maybe, just maybe she won't have to wear it.  FREEDOM!  Sorry, girl; it's here to stay.  
     On the bright side, she is learning to "sit".  In less than 3 minutes and on one treat, pinched up into smaller bits, she had it.  Well, somewhat anyways.  Basically she learned that to get the treat she had to sit.  We will keep working on that.  She has also figured out that Ashton is relentless, so when she comes after her, she might as well give in, because Ashton doesn't give up.  It appears that she has won Mia over.  She doesn't seem to mind Ashton treating her just like a baby, carrying her around and holding her.  Oh, and she likes to chase her tail!  What's even funnier is when she actually catches it!  She will still run around in circles with the end of it in her mouth!  I thought I was going to fall over laughing at her!  So much fun in such a little package!

The Race Is On

Well, let's see; we have had Mia now for 3 nights.  The first night, she did great.  We put her in her crate, and she hardly whined at all.  She slept all night and didn't potty in her crate.  Wow, was I amazed!  Once she was out, the race began!  I had to rescue 3 stuffed animals, my flip flop, computer cord, and a sock, twice.  All of this inside of a 45 minute period.  She thought it was a game.  I learned my lesson, close the bedroom doors!  The next night, she thought it would be good to go outside at 2:40 am and play when she came inside.  Umm....no!  Back to the crate, she wasn't too happy about that, but a girl's gotta get some sleep sometime.  Thankfully, last night, she slept all night.  It really feels like we have a baby in the house again.  If only you could stick a diaper on them so you didn't have to worry about your floors.  ;o)  She is actually doing really well, thankfully.  And, she is so cute, you can't help but love her.  Just like a baby I tell ya.  Now, if we can just get her to quit thinking that Ashton is one of her chew toys, we'll be doing good.  Until next time.  

Day One

Aaahhhh....  Well, our Mia is at home.  We picked her up from the shelter this afternoon.  She seemed to be SO excited to see us.  Did she remember us?  Ummm  I'm quite sure that is a no. However, she was so grateful to be out of her crate she loved on us relentlessly.  Which, of course, we loved.  :)  She is absolutely adorable!  We are just beginning to see just how much work she is going to be.  I am also starting to think that she may just be a "mini Marley".  Wow!  She has already tried to chew my flip flops, Ashton's boots, my computer cord, a basket, clothes, my purse, the carpet, and I'm sure a whole list of other things that I didn't catch.  But when she looks up at you with her cute puppy eyes, you just can't help but melt.  She did poop outside, thankfully; yet still managed to pee on my carpet once; even though I took her outside probably 7 times.  Cole is teaching her to fetch, which she is picking up very quickly!  My smart girl.  She does like to cuddle.  She snuggles up on your lap, giving you "the look" and steals our heart away.  Now that we have lost our hearts to her, let's just hope that we can keep our house in tact.

The Ups and Downs

So, we have been somewhat patiently waiting for our new puppy.  I have done all of the research, read some books...  purchased a crate, a towel that will serve as her bed, a pack of treats and dog food, that is supposedly good for her.  She is so small that we thought it would be best to wait until we actually pick her up to get the collar, to make sure it is small enough.  
     We decided it would be a good idea to go visit her, ( her name is Mia) on Sunday.  The kids were so excited, and truthfully, we were too.  We drive up to the pound, only to realize that they were CLOSED!  Now, I cannot even begin to describe the disappointment being expressed in our car.  There was no reason, they are always open on Sundays...  We left feeling a little like we were really missing something.  (This must be a sign; that she is going to be very loved here)  My husband says, oh, I hope that they didn't have a sickness outbreak or anything; which had me worried.   Today, I am on the phone with them; making sure our sweet Mia is ok.  She hasn't even arrived yet, and she is still making an impact on us!  
     I wanted to see if the kids and myself could come for a visit today or tomorrow.  After sitting on hold for what seemed like forever, waiting on her to find the paper work, they said that they had hired a new vet. So, all of the surgeries were pushed up.  Her surgery would happen today!  So, I asked the obvious question, so this means we get her sooner???  Yes!  We will get to pick up Mia tomorrow!!   This is all contingent on the surgery actually happening, though.  She was the last one on the list for today, so it could be tomorrow.  I'm thinking, hey that's still earlier than planned so we are good.  I hang up very excited about her coming home!  About an hour later, the phone rings and it is the shelter.  Mia's surgery is finished and  we can get her tomorrow!!!  Yeah!  Now, I'm trying to keep it from the kids.  I told them that we are going to go tomorrow to visit her, I just left out the little detail that she will get to come with us when we leave!  
It's fun hiding surprises!

The Beginning

Well, I am not a writer.  There I said it.  I want to be, I really do; it just seems that my thoughts do not go on paper, or er...computer the way that I wish they would; not to mention my lack of grammar in this setting.  So, if by chance that I do decide to "publish" so that others can read this..  please be gracious!  :)  
    I will be writing about a new chapter in our lives.  Currently, I am a stay-at-home mom; which by the way is wonderful, yet challenging!  I homeschool my two children; keeping me on my toes.  I have the BEST husband ever, and I truly couldn't ask for more.  
     We have decided to add another member to our already busy family.  I have mixed emotions about this.  I love animals, almost any kind.  (except reptiles)  So, this blog will be about our life with a puppy.  
     Yesterday, we went to the local animal shelter; telling our kids the whole way there that we were only looking.  Just for fun we said.  Well, needless to say, when we left; one child was in tears and one was skipping, my husband was all smiles and me...  Well, I was leaving with a smile, yet somehow I felt like I was was starting over.  My son was skipping, happy-go-lucky because we adopted a puppy.  My daughter was crying because we can't bring the puppy home until Feb. 10th.  She wanted to bring it home then.  They have to be spayed/neutered before they let you take them.  Hubby is happy because she is the most adorable miniature dachshund I have ever seen!  She is so tiny.  But, for me, I am happy because my family is happy and, well, she is cute.  My concern is I am starting over..  again.  My kids are potty trained.  Yes, they have peed, puked and pooped on the floor.  But, not daily.  Do I really want to do this?  I am the one who will primarily be doing it.  Oh, but I think she is worth it.  Not to mention all of the life lessons my children, as well as us, can learn from having a puppy around.  So, now we are off to search for the perfect doggie bed, leash, collar, etc...  And, we are on the hunt for the best dog food.  So many choices!  
     We shall see what happens!  Please pray that she is happy here and that we have much success with house training.