Freckle Belly

 Well…. I guess there’s one more heart that Daddy melts when he comes home from work in the evenings!

We had a rough day here at the house, yesterday.  No sleep the night before - makes everybody cranky.  Zucker decided to be a spineless furby.  He got to go hide on our bed and catch up on his sleep.  For whatever reason - Carlie decided to break the sound barrier  - after the second night in her crate - then after one night in the jet tub in our master bathroom - until - she won.

And boy - did she win.  She whooped my butt - badly.  And anyone that knows me well enough - and knows what I become when I’ve had no sleep - trust me.  They know it was bad.  Dwayne even woke up and jumped into making his own lunch - and gettin’ the hell out the door as fast as he could.

It was bad.  Ohhhh, I was soooo - bad.

Carlie’s been waking up around 11pm - needing to be taken outside.  Stepping outside around 11pm - half asleep - into pitch-black darkness.  It’s already been a race - just trying to get the coat - hat - find my garden clogs and get those on - find the leash - turn the light on - slide the blinds back - open the door - get the deck gate open - get down the steps and set her down on the grass.  All that - before this puppy pees everywhere!

Well - we have a possible snowstorm coming - and they’re telling us this one could be really nasty.  So - we made a change in the game plan last night - and it worked!  ( ‘Cuz I am NOT steppin’ foot out in that crap - just to let her spill a few tablespoons! )

I put three potty pads down in our main bathroom with her bed and a couple of her toys.  Turned on the night light - set her on one of the potty pads - VOILA!

Gave her some ’ quiet ’ praise - walked out and closed the door behind me.

Best sleep I’ve had in almost a week!

I swear - it’s just like having a baby around this house right now!  Potty pads all over the place.  Toys strewn everywhere.  And don’t let her whine, anymore!  Zucker comes digging his claws into me - wanting me to come check on her!  I have not created a ‘ Big Brother ‘ for Carlie.  I have created a monster.  That’s what I earn for getting down on the floor this morning and teaching Zucker how to play with her.  Now - that was interesting.  There is such a difference in dogs that start out from a litter and go directly to their new family - versus puppies yanked off their mother’s teat and carried to pet shops.

Zucker has been alone for too long.  He had no clue about how to play with another dog.  But he’s such a sweetheart!  He listens so intently - and minds so well - if you only remember to let him know he‘s doing something right.  And it only takes two words - “ Good Boy!. ”

Dwayne brought home a real life-saver after work!  He made a trip over to Target during lunch - yesterday - and picked up a gate to use on the doorway of the main bathroom.  Thank God.  Girlie is getting totally rambunctious - already!  And she’s even beginning to get a little brave.  Nobody chews on my furniture in my house.  I even whip Dwayne for that!

Being able to set her up in the bathroom - and know that she and all our belongings are safe - long enough to get something done around here - really helps!  It keeps her away from the water bowl for a while, too!  Let me tell you - that little tank can fill up with some water!  She puts Zucker to shame - absolutely!

 Just look at this little freckle belly!  Too funny!  Oh, she’s a mess!  So is this rug.  Can't wait until I find another one!  And she is just so funny!  She started finding her ‘ Bark ‘ today!  That even startled Zucker so much that he barked back - which caused a few minutes of back ‘n forth barking.  And that just made me laugh even more!  Like I said - it’s just like having a baby around here!  Awww.... and Daddy missed one of those ‘ firsts. ‘

 Gosh… just wait until that 50 lb. package comes in!  I hope we can tame her by then.