Raising puppies, rearing people!

Having a puppy before having a baby was great practice! But, sometimes I wonder (and worry) that there are too many similarities in raising our boys. For example, we learned that when Jack did something he wasn't supposed to, you make a noise (ah-ah) and then distract him. Now that Gavin is more mobile, he gets into everything! When he reaches for the outlets or the fireplace, I make the same noise!!! I've tried to start saying "no-no" to Gavin and "ah-ah" to Jack, but I get them mixed up and reversed. On the other hand, when Jack is behaving well, we were taught to praise him and really make a fuss over him. So....you guessed it....when Gavin listens, gives kisses or high fives, or anything else, we follow it with an enthusiastic "good boy-you did it!!!"

They respond to similar things, too. They both get excited and run to the door when you say "outside" or "W-A-L-K". We play the same games with Gavin that we played with Jack when we first brought him home. Those include "hide and seek", "peek a boo" and a little game we play called "where's momma/daddy".

And, sometimes they act the same. They will both put anything in their mouths and try to eat it (leaves being a favorite), they both carry socks around in there mouths, and they both like to "fetch" balls, just to name a few things.

Some things are different. Jack is potty trained, Gavin is not. Gavin likes to take a bath. Jack licks his own butt.

I think Jack turned out really well...best dog we EVER had! So, if Gavin turns out like Jack, I think we'll be ok...unless Gavin starts to lick his butt. Then, we have a problem!

Golden Picnic 2009

Today was the 2nd annual (for us) Golden Picnic. It's a picnic sponsored by the GRRNT or Golden Retriever rescue of North Dallas. It's a great cause and an even greater excuse to bring Jack to Lake Grapevine to swim, play and frolic with his friends. The weather could NOT have been more perfect! Although, from all the rain this past week, the beach was flooded. There was no sand to walk or play on today...just grass. I guess that was good for us because Jack didn't get nearly as dirty as last year.

Jack fetched tennis balls out of the water for a while and then played Frisbee with Gary. Then, we went to play on the play ground. Jack made it up the slide with Gary and Gavin, which surprises me. Jack is normally afraid of heights and things that are high. But he got up there. We couldn't get him to slide down, though. It was a lot of fun, but we only stayed for a little while. The wee one was getting tired so we had to head home. It was a perfect day with my perfect little family! Well, almost perfect. There was that time today when I kneeled in poop, and Gary had to clean me off with a wet one. But other than that, it was pretty perfect! I wish I could bring my sweet Jack with us more places.

Random thought

I got angry today driving down the street. No, it wasn't road rage at the idiot that almost ran me off the road because he was texting or the guy going 20 mph in a 40 mph speed zone. I got angry because I saw a young girl sitting at the bus stop on a cold day, and I wanted to give her a ride to where she was going. But, ewwww! How creepy is that? "Hey little girl...do you want some candy???MUUUHAHAHAHA!!" Or, suppose I did give this girl a ride and she caused physical harm to me in some way? It's depressing that we live in a world where we can't trust each other. You can't genuinely help a stranger (or even an acquaintance or some family members) without fear that, at the very least, you'll be taken for granted and play the fool. Sure, I could join some organization, or send money to feed the starving kids in some third world country for the cost of a cup of coffee a day, but what about spontaneous random acts of kindness that give you the warm fuzzies? Gary told me the other day that Pete Carroll, USC's head coach, drives to the ghetto to talk to the young guys. He tells them to stay in school, asks them if they need anything, and gives them money...I admire that. But, am I going to do that...no. But, I will continue to be open to all opportunities that come my way. And, I will continue to celebrate all the beautiful things in my life...my wonderful husband, my sweet puppy and my son, the light of my life. I may even be open to joining an organization to fulfill my need to help in some way. Even if I have to give up my daily latte.

This weekend...

This weekend, Beth came to visit us! Gary went to New Orleans and Baton Rouge for a boys weekend to watch the LSU/Florida game. So...Beth came up here to hang out with us! She flew in Friday night, so we just hung out and caught up. On Saturday, Gavin saw Beth again for the first time since he was 6 weeks old (and quite colicky). I was worried how he would greet her because he's at this weird stranger anxiety stage. She woke up on Saturday morning and came and sat on the rug with us. He crawled right up to her and said hi! He wanted her to pick him up! How great is that?!?

We planned to go to the Arboretum to take some pumpkin patch pictures. We drove by and the entrance was blocked off. It was sooooo busy that they closed the parking lot, diverted would be visitors to an off site parking location, and offered a shuttle...not worth it. So, we drove to a local church who has a pumpkin patch. They were great!!!! And best of all, not busy! We got some great pictures...

I got a babysitter on Saturday night so Beth and I could go to a sports bar and watch the LSU game. It was so empty in there! We sent Christy there an hour early to get a table and that was horribly unnecessary! Was everyone else at the game?? Oh well. We had fun. I was drunk (and hungover) after 3 beers. What a light weight!!!

Jack had his "therapy dog test" (aka temperment test) on Sunday. Beth, Gavin and I took Jack for a long walk to try to get rid of some of his energy. He got a bath and a blow dry and was all ready to go! He did so great with all of the obedience stuff and tolerating noise and being poked and prodded. His biggest down fall...his energy and love for people! He was a nut case when anyone tried to touch him! He jumped and licked and acted more excited than I'd ever seen him! I knew he wasn't ready, but I had no idea he would be such a nut! Half way through the test, Linda says, "D, he's not ready". Duh. I tried not to cry. My boy failed. He was set up to fail by me and all the people encouraging me to test him. He's still just a puppy at 18 months old! He'll test again in February, maybe. I would love for him to be a therapy dog, but, if he's not, that's ok too! He's perfect for our family and so great with Gavin.

Gary came home Sunday and Beth left Monday. LSU lost, and it was rainy, but it was still a great weekend!

Big week...

It seems like Gavin is just growing up before my eyes! In just one week, he has started scooting all over the place! He started saying "dada" last Friday just in time for Gary to come home from work, and he got his first tooth! He also started to eat puffed cereal. I was hesitant at first. If it were up to me, he'd be on pureed food until he goes to college. I'm terrified of him choking, but he handled it like a champ. He had a lot of fun at story time at the mall on Monday. He laughed a lot...especially while singing the morbid "Ring around the Rosy" (a lovely song about the plague). His favorite part is: "ashes, ashes, we all fall down!" Go figure. I did realize that I get really choked up while singing "You are my sunshine" because it's so true. I tear up everytime. He started riding in a big boy stroller, too. I took the car seat attatchment out of the BOB. He has officially outgrown his Graco cart...tear.

Just in case you didn't know the lyrics:

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,
You make me happy, when skies are gray
You'll never know, dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away.

Love you, sweet boy!

Pow Wow...

My mom and sister came in town this weekend. I saw that there was a Pow Wow in Grand Prairie, and I know my mom loves that stuff! So...I decided to take my mom and sister to the Pow Wow on Saturday...in the pouring rain! It took us twice as long to get there because I drove like an old lady on Sunday going to Luby's after church! By the time we got there, it was almost over. But, we still saw some pretty impressive, er, Pow Wow'ing? Anyway, there was one young man (and I do mean young) that stood out in the crowd. Everyone wanted a picture with him, not excluding my mom and sister. Reminding them that he was jail bait, I took the picture.

I had some interesting food there, too. We got something called an Indian taco. It was basically fry bread (think giant, flat beignet) with pinto beans, ground meat, lettuce, tomato and cheese plopped on top. It was pretty good. They also had meat pies. I did not buy a meat pie because the lady making them was mean to me. I asked her if I could take a picture of her because...well, just because. She said "no" so I took a picture of her hands. She turned to the lady on her right and said, "Geez, I said no, these people!" I wonder if she gets asked for photos a lot. That would surprise me.

We finished up the day shopping for some stuff. I bought my mom a hair thingy and a choker and we called it a day...a pretty fun thing.

Poser...

I didn't realize that babies pose for pictures at such a young age. But now I realize that Gavin does pose for pictures, just not the way his two closes friends do. When Saylor and Ian see a camera, they turn to it and smile.

As you see, Gavin either ignores the camera, or does his best impression of Blue Steel (Zoolander reference). I once heard an interview with Shaquelle O'Neal about the commercials he does. He says his smiles reflect the amount of money he gets paid. A low paying job gets a smirk, no teeth showing. A high paying job gets the biggest, open mouth smile possible. I think Gavin has adopted this policy, too. When we try to take pictures by calling his name or making funny clicking noises, he phones it in. But, when we put the work in, by singing "Old McDonald" or making pigging noises, he really gives us all he's got!