Countdown!

Nick and I have started the countdown to puppy time (and a much more messy house)! Gus will be coming home with us on December 23rd, just in time for Christmas. We're very excited and I thought I'd share a couple of the photos Diana (his mommy/breeder) has sent us.

This is one of Gus at about 5 weeks. This was on one of the really cold nights we had about a week ago when they brought the puppies in and did individual photos for all the future owners.

And this one is Gus this weekend at 6 weeks. They had a very successful trip to the vet in which all the babies were healthy and growing at a great pace. The vet was apparently very impressed with their temperament and attitudes. They are very gentle and sweet as a whole litter. Now Gus weighed in at 8.6 pounds, which was right in the middle. Most of the babies were between 7 and 9.5 pounds, however, one little porker, a female named Paisley, came in at a whopping 11.6 pounds. She's a bit of a butterball, but also so cute!

We are really looking forward to adding to our little family. With Nick gone at night, it gets a little lonely around here sometimes and I know that Gus is going to keep me very busy. Nick and I were over at my parents a couple days ago and Mom produced a huge bag of puppy toys she's already bought for Gus. I know this is going to be one spoiled dog, and it makes me think about babies and how ridiculously spoiled they will be too! Gus is just practice.

For anyone who isn't an animal lover, my posts about our new "baby" Gus may seem over the top. However, in my family animals are family, so seeing him as a member of the Pritchetts isn't strange to us. My parents' first "child" was a springer spaniel named Tucker and he was a uniting force for them in hard times. I truly believe that receiving the undying and unconditional love of a pet makes it easier and more rewarding to love others in return. Nick and I love our Budda cat and are really excited for another being to love in this house. Babies to come soon too, but not too soon!

Furniture and poop

I think we've found it. We've only spent the last three days shopping for the perfect couch, loveseat, and bedroom set, so we better be ready to buy by tomorrow! There is one more sale we want to check out tomorrow morning, but if that doesn't pan out, we'll be heading to a store in Tacoma for our new furniture. I'll post photos when we are sure of what we're getting, but the sets we've picked out are gorgeous! I'm so excited to actually have a dresser so I can stop diving into the giant clothes boxes that have been housing my tees, undies, and socks. The other day I had Nick dump one of the boxes out on the floor so I could find one stupid brown tee. I was just going to leave the pile on the floor for easier access, but then Nick pointed out that the pile of clothes looked exactly like the nest of blankets that Budda is so fond of on the couch. I can just imagine coming home and finding orange and white cat hair all over an entire pile of clean clothes. I feel the temper tantrum coming on as I write this . . .

And speaking of Budda . . . So, many of our friends know that Budda has an issue with pooping outside his litter box. It's like he's unaware that his little butt is hanging out of the box because his front feet are in when he does this (usually), but he is pooping on the floor right in front of the box. It's not an every day thing, but he will also do this when he's mad. Like if I haven't fed him yet or if his box is too dirty. He has an attitude, what can I say? Well, the other day Nick and I kicked him out of the room so we could have some "alone time," and apparently Budda didn't appreciate that. He's used to having run of the house and considers our bedroom his, especially if we are in it. I knew he'd be mad, so after the stuff *ahem* I went downstairs to find him and bring him back in the room. I walked into the utility room and there he was pooping in the middle of the floor. He had food and I had just cleaned his box an hour or two before. He did it because he was pissed that we kicked him out of the room (apparently he's a bit of a voyeur). Nick was so mad! I thought it was pretty funny, especially after we rock, paper, scissored to figure out who had to clean it up and Nick lost. Hehe.

And to change the subject completely--some good news: We're hoping to go see Gus either tomorrow or Sunday. He's five weeks old now! I'm so excited for our new baby!