Yesterday was Puppy's first birthday. I cant believe he is already a year old! Time flies! These photos were taken the day I brought him home when he was 8 weeks old. I cant tell you how much this little guy means to me. He can truly brighten my day and bring me up when I am down. He is my cuddle buddy and the one thats always there for me. I am so happy to have him.

Dexter...
loves people. all people.
sleeps with atleast one part of him on atleast one part of me at all times.
adores anything outside.
will not come to save his life.
is one of the happiest pups I know.
will eat just about anything.
wont fetch.
can sit really really well.
is very good at leaping.
loves other dogs more than anything.
likes chewing on plastic hangers.
prefers christmas toys over regular toys.
digs in mud.
can curl up so tiny for such a big guy.
can hear a wrapper from a mile away.
gets filthy the first two minutes we enter a dog park.
is happy all the time.
tries to get to the people in a drive through, every time.
highly enjoys playing tug.
cant run on a leash with out having the leash in his mouth.
is my best bud:)

We spent the day yesterday snuggling on the couch for the morning. I felt i deserved some good down time and cuddles purely for the fact that i have kept him alive this long. Then we went out to one of the bigger dog parks and spent a good amount of time playing with TONS of other pups. Dexter repaid me by playing in a massive mud puddle. Like digging and jumping and trying to eat the splashes. Then he just laid in it. Awesome. At least he had a good time. All in all it was a great day. I just love him so much. And Im so glad that he is my pup.

Here he is in his puddle. Yes, as usual, he was the only one in it. The only dog that was covered head to tail in mud. He had a wonderful time.

(This pic doesnt even begin to show how dirty he got)

Snow Day!!!

Last week it SNOWED! It barely ever snows here in Portland. It didnt snow too much, but it was enough. Schools closed for a show day soooooo..... I had a snow day. I didnt have to work so the first order of business was to take Puppy to see his first snow! We went to a huge dog park and he got his play on. Then we came home and snuggled next to the heater all day. It was wonderful.

 A little unsure still.

 Mid ball toss.

 While it looks like they are killing each other they are actually playing!

They had so much fun together.

 Tired Puppy.

 Yes. My dog was the ONLY one to tumble through a mud puddle. Of course. 

 Happy Boy!

My love. My Dexter.

one weekend. one throw-away camera.

My weekend through a throw-away camera!

Girls Night Out with old & new friends!

Lunch @ Lucky Noodle! My favorite!

Time with the FAM!

big dog in a little bed 

(sung like, "fat guy in a little coat")

Headin Home

Such a fun fun weekend!

What did you do?

Just me and my dawg.

This photo was taken by my bestest friend this summer at the big coburg campout! 

Dex was about 4 months here and after 10:00 he was OUT.

It didnt matter that there were heaps of drunk people yelling and running about. 

He was perfectly content all curled up on my lap by the fire. 

I cannot tell you how much I love this little guy.

My life these days...

Sorry Ive been MIA these days.
Life has been pretty crazy lately. Good crazy for the most part.
Tomorrow is the big moving day! I am very very excited. Pretty stressed. And a little sad. While I love the new loft, love that I will be living with the boyfriend, love the new neighborhood and so many other things about the new place, I am very sad to leave my downtown apartment. I adore this apartment. It is the first place I lived after moving here to Portland. I love living in the middle of all the action. I love my balcony overlooking all the crazies this city is home to. I am going to miss my roommate (my good friend from middle school) and having my neighbor/friend Adumb always "Kramering" in all the time. Its a good thing though. A good move. Literally.

The real time-suck these days though...DEX. My wonderful little pup. I am so in love with him already its insane. I am consumed with fear that I am not taking all the right steps or teaching him the right things in the right ways. I am on my second book by the wonderful Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan.  Dexter is so great, he really is a good dog, so sweet and loving. But trust me he can be a baby devil. I am stressed to the max trying to give him everything he needs, while teaching him the rules of two households, and caring for him along side a toddler and a 4 year old all week. I know it will all pay off though. And snuggling with him every morning is worth every bit of trouble. Just look at that face!

My love.

A very sleepy check up!

So on Thursday, the boyfriend and I took Dexter on his first trip to the vet. He was a perfect little gentleman. After the first 5 minutes he simply passed out and stayed like that for the entire visit. The vet at one point had his little head in her hand and was lightly tossing it up and down, and he still didnt move. He did however open his eyes when he got his first shot, but only for a second, and went right back to sleep. It was the cutest thing. And I am happy to report, I have a very healthy, very sleepy little pup.

Today...

...I am restless. Uneasy. I cant put one foot in front of the other with any sort of confidence. What a difference two weeks can make. My focus has shifted. And even though, it has shifted to two major, important, and now unavoidable things, I cant help but feel that I am neglecting the things I was so driven on just two short weeks ago. I just hope that I can find my way back to that path with the same intense passion and drive I was overflowing with before.

...I am planning. My mind is racing with plans for the new loft. I cannot wait! I am really hoping this move will be a good opportunity for me to practice organization and moderation. In the next two weeks I will be throwing out a lot and bringing in a little. We are trying to find the few key pieces we will be willing to spend a little more on, hoping we will get more out of them. Good plan? I think so.

...I am in love. So in love with my little puppy. Dexter is the best little dog I could have hoped for. He has been so great. He has been sleeping through the night, though he likes to wake up a little earlier than I do. He loves to chew and run and sleep and growl. And he follows me where ever I go. And I love it. I love him.

I couldn't wait...

Meet Dexter.

My new best friend.