Phone Dump.

I was going through my phone pictures and found some of Buddy that I thought would be fun to post. As you can see, he can pretty much lay anywhere, on anything. We love you Buddy! Sorry you don't get as much attention as you used to... :(

Second Fiddle.

People told me that Buddy would not get as much attention after we had a baby. I thought most people would not give their dogs the same attention after they had a baby, but not me. I wouldn't do that because Buddy is my baby and I love him more than a lot of people I know. That's horrible isn't it? This doesn't include family and close friends, I just want to be clear on that!

Fast forward a year or so....we would be lying if we said Buddy got close to the same attention that he used to get. Sure, we do walk him almost every day (we'll skip if its raining or we're REALLY tired but most days, he's walked) and we play with him everyday even if for a few minutes. I think Rob and I both try to give him as much attention as he was used to but its so hard when you're focus has changed to that of a human that needs you for everything.

So this is what its come to...now Buddy will tolerate any type of attention he receives from us.

Apparently No Kitchen Tool is Safe...

 These two are at it again. The kitchen gadget of choice this time is the strainer. Buddy won, again.

Buddy: 2

Charlie: 0

Toys.

When I was pregnant, Rob and I used to worry about Buddy taking Charlie's toys/stuffed animals and think they were his own. Buddy's favorite toys are the soft stuffed animal types that sometimes have squeaks in them. This is a common theme in baby toys so it was a valid concern. Luckily, this hasn't been a problem until Mimi bought Charlie a mixing bowl at the dollar store...

Buddy realized chewing on the hard plastic felt nice on his mouth - maybe he is teething too? Whenever Charlie gets a hold of the bowl, which is often, Buddy perks up and follows Charlie around until either 1.) Charlie drops the bowl or 2.) Buddy can wrap his teeth around it and run away with it.

Go ahead and take a minute to take in those lovely roll-licious thighs. Mmm, I want to kiss them.

Charlie, the little rascal, will sometimes taunt Buddy...

Up high

Down low

You're too slow!

Look at Buddy's little teeth, going in for the kill!

Final Score

Buddy: 1

Charlie: 0

Feeding the Dog.

We used to put Buddy's food here

Before we had one of these

It now must stay here until he demands to be fed (i.e. demands = barks at the kitchen table)

Oh the simpler times when dog food used to be able to be kept on the floor...

A Couple Firsts This Week.

I know you are probably thinking I'm going to post a couple firsts about Charlie. Sure, he is up on all fours doing the skoot skoot and getting ready to crawl but Buddy had a couple firsts this week that are worth mentioning.

First first was yesterday. It was the first time he got barfed on. I was holding Charlie and heard a splat (this usually means barf on the floor). I looked down and poor Buddy got it on his back - his tail down not knowing what just happened.

Then this morning my mom text'd me this picture:

I didn't get it - I knew he looked wet. She said she was outside with Charlie because he was a little fussy - I think this happened around 8:00 am. She heard a big splash, looked over and Buddy is in the pool. This is a first. She wasn't sure if he jumped in or fell. I'm guessing he fell. My mom quickly put Charlie on the floor inside and came back out to see if she would need to perform a doggy rescue. Luckily he found his way to the step and got out of the pool. He then ran into the house and shook off the water onto Charlie - maybe getting him back for yesterday's barf?

All this before 8:30 am. Poor Mimi!

Buddy's New Friend.

My sister and her family are moving up from Los Angeles (yeah!) because my brother in law, Jim, got transferred up here. He is currently here during the week staying with family (he stayed with my parents, now he's with us) and Ashley and the girls will move up when the school year is over.

Buddy loves just about anyone but he always cuddles with Jim on the couch, its really cute. I finally decided to take a picture of his cuteness (Buddy, not Jim). :) Ok, you're cute too...

My Happy Place

Cudding with a puppy and a baby.

Tummy Time - Buddy Style

Buddy's Blankies

In the last few weeks, Buddy ONLY sits on blankets on the couch. Some of these pictures were taken on the same day but most are from different days.

Flashback Friday

June 2007 - Buddy's Homecoming

Our friends Andre and Stephanie have a Shih Tzu named Chunk that both Rob and I loved. His personality was so cute and lovey, and he had the cutest face. Shih Tzu's also do not shed so that was a big bonus for us. We knew we wanted a Shih Tzu and we knew we wanted to rescue one. So I did some research online and found someone who did not have any Shih Tzu's but knew someone who did. They referred me to Loree at Toy Breed Rescue and we set a date to meet Buddy. Loree also works at a Vet Hospital in Campbell and they keep the rescue dogs there.

He was 7 months old and was given up by his owner for having some "issues" in the potty department. He was on the wrong diet and would be constipated for days. Sorry if that is TMI (Too Much Information). He was given to the humane society and then Toy Breed Rescue Group adopted him. They got him all up to date on his vaccines, put him on a diet that did not make him constipated and got him adoption ready.

We went to the vet office on a Saturday and were standing at the front desk waiting to meet Buddy. Someone walked over with this scrawny, not so cute dog and Rob and I both thought to ourselves "oh no...THIS is Buddy?". Well, it wasn't. A guy who worked there came out holding Buddy. He set him down on the ground and Buddy was very excited to see us. We took him out on his leash to the parking lot behind the vet office to spend some time with him. He would bark and put his paws on us like he wanted us to pick him up so we would pick him up, then he would try to jump out of our arms. I think he craved human attention and we were giving it to him.

We loved him but knew it was a big decision and needed to sleep on it. We called Loree Monday and told her we wanted Buddy. Her staff neutured him and a few days later we went to pick him up. She wasn't there the day we picked him up, but she had told us the diet he was on that made his potty issues go away.

When we picked him up, we took him outside and he had to go #2. He tried. Tried again. More trying. He was constipated! Poor guy. We went inside and cleaned him up a little bit and drove home with him. I think we jokingly were saying to each other "what did we get ourselves into?" We had NO idea! That night was one of the hardest nights. He proceeded to try to go #2 (in the house) and sometimes he was successful sometimes not, but always made a mess. Looking back I think he was stressed and scared.

I would say his potty issues act up once every 1-2 months but it only lasts a day or so and he now knows to go outside. Thank goodness! He will leave us a treat every now and then if I didn't let him out but that doesn't happen too often.

Here is Buddy on the first day we got him:





Buddy's first chin scratchies:



We love you Buddy!

100% Biodegradable Poop Pags

I'm totally getting these for Buddy. They are good for the environment and cheaper than the ones at Target, Petco and Petsmart.

Yes Rob, I'll use my allowance.

http://www.poopbags.com/PoopBags.html

Buddy & His Birthday Gift

We love you Buddy!

Happy Birthday

happy birthday to you
happy birthday to you
happy birthday dear BUDDY
happy birthday to you

XXX

I am working from home today which means in between answering emails and checking voicemail, I am throwing objects across the living room to entertain Buddy with a game of fetch. I'll usually sit on the floor working and playing with him and sometimes Buddy will run across my key board. I panic for a second to make sure he didn't somehow hit the right keys to send my CEO a random email with a subject of "dfadefdsa". It hasn't happened yet but its possible. Well he didn't send an email thank goodness, but he did somehow rip the "x" off my keyboard. I guess it could have been worse, it could have been an A, E, I, O, U or sometimes Y. I came to the decision that I will live without the x key. I can still create an x (obviously) but its a bit harder than usual. I mean, how often do you use the x key anyway? I'm sure it would not cost my IT department much to replace or add the x back onto the key board but I'm just too embarassed to go there as this isn't the first time I have broken a part of my laptop. Last time it was the F4 button and the time before that I had to get a whole new screen because, well, I stepped on it. Yes, you read that right. If you don't believe me, ask Rob.

Return of the Poo Bag

For all of you that want to know: Yes, the townhouse is still for sale.

I was at work yesterday and received a call at 11:15 from a realtor asking to see our house from 11:30-12:00 and to return her call if this is a problem. I received the message at 11:39 and called her back right away. I told her the place isn't ready and could they perhaps see it later this afternoon? (this is typical - a realtor calls, our house isn't ready,I drive home frome work, tidy up, take Buddy out while they are there, come back in and work from home the rest of the day). Well, this realtor would not have it. She insisted on seeing it and was actually already in our neighborhood. I swear I heard her heels clicking on pavement, probably right outside our door. She said he REALLY wants to see it and he is here from out of town, needs to get back to the office, blah blah blah. I warned her again its not ready and we have a dog. She said to not worry at all. Fine! So I told her to go ahead and cringing inside not remembering what was left on the bedroom floor. Did I leave my underwear on the floor? Did I pick up my ice cream wrapper from last night? I told our realtor not to bother following up with them because I am too embarassed to hear their feedback. You would think the house would look good because just one day prior another realtor brought their clients by. Well my friend, its amazing how much of a mess I can make in such little time.

So after work, I went home to inspect the damage:
1.) tax return on chair in living room
2.) coffee table pushed against wall, not centered (duh, so Buddy has room to run)
3.) blanket crumpled up on floor (for Buddy to sleep on)
4.) about 4 dog toys thrown around randomly
5.) jacket crumpled on stool in kitchen
6.) mail spread out on island
7.) receipts on desk
8.) pee pad upstairs (unpeed on though - so thats a plus right?)
9.) random clothes on dresser
10.) bed half made (made but decoration pillows by bed on floor)
11.) towel on floor in bathroom (for when we get out of the shower)
12.) mismatched towels
13.) dress laid out on guest bed for my friend Jen's shower on Saturday
14.) blow dryer and make up bag on bathroom counter
15.) shoes on guest bed (don't ask)
16.) and finally.....a doggie poo bag on the steps down to the garage

I'm totally expecting an offer coming through any day now...

The Pee Pad vs. Buddy

The pee pad really didn't have a chance...