Friday, February 26, 2010

Wally

Meet the newest member of our family...Wally

I started working with one of the golden retriever rescues here once we moved Dallas to my mom's house and knew Dakota need a playmate. I saw Wally's picture online before I submitted our application. We got accepted into their program and then had to go through the steps of interviews and a home visit before we could meet any of the adoptable dogs. The first person I spoke with told me that Wally may not be there once we got through the process because it does take awhile to complete each step (but I still hoped that maybe we could meet him). Once we completed everything and we got our approval email, I jumped online and emailed them right away and said we wanted to meet Wally. All of their dogs are in foster homes and everything online that his foster home said about him fit with what we needed...good with kids, good with other dogs and had a great personality. Wally's foster mom called me the next morning and we talked on the phone and she said we could come meet him...I was so excited. So, on Sunday we loaded up Taylor and Dakota and drove to Monument (north Colorado Spring...for those of you that don't live in Co) to meet him. I loved him the minute I saw him come out wagging his tail at us. Taylor took to him too, but he loves any dog right now (gotta love it). Ben and Dakota weren't so sure. Dakota did not react like we thought, but we also put her in a new place with all new people. But we put the dogs out back to see if Dakota would do better not being in a small space. She started to play with him but was still a little stand offish. Wally's foster mom informed us that if we liked him, she liked us and thought we were a good match and we could take him home that night...wow. I couldn't believe we could take him home that soon. Ben turned to me and said I'm okay with it if you are...I already know you want him :)...(such a good husband). So, we brought Wally home!

He is doing very well and him and Dakota get better and better everyday with each other. They love playing outside and they now sleep next to each other at night. Wally and I have completely fallen for each other :) When I leave a room he comes to find me, wagging his tail...or actually his whole lil butt, it's so cute. He also sleeps on his bed which is next to my side of the bed against our window and in the morning he waits for me to wake up and when I do he sits up and wags his tail...I can't have a bad morning when you wake up to that :)

I took Wally for his first vet visit this week and they said he is healthy. When Wally first came to Colorado through the rescue, he was very sick, he had Parvo. He came from a shelter in Missouri that is not well kept up. He came with his 3 other litter mates and they all were sick. So, he was hospitalized, treated and released to his foster family, who nursed him back to heath. The rescue doesn't allow anyone to meet a dog if he is sick so it was all in God's timing I think because Wally was allowed to start meeting people right before our application was approved. Then the foster family called a few people but no one worked out...until us, it was meant to be I think! Our vet thinks Wally is a mix of golden retriever (mostly) and shepard and is 5 months old. He is already potty trained and sleeps through the night which is great! We have other training to start but I think the two hardest things he already master.

Wally is so great with Taylor, which we love and we think he is going to be a great addition to our family. Ben is excited to have a dog that will fetch a ball because huskies do not fetch anything.




Taylor brings him every toy possible.



On another note, Taylor loves to now sit at the table and color.

Basement

We are almost there, yeah! My mom and Ben got all the walls painted and the carpet has been installed. Now we are on to cleaning and putting things away. Ben is hoping the start the modeling this weekend and the doors for the storage area and bathroom have been ordered. Ben is planning on building a "special" door for his studio with the help of our neighbor.

Looking into Ben's studio (above)


Looking out of Ben's studio (above)

Looking from main room back to hallway and looking straight into the storage room, Ben's studio is on the right side of the hallway and our stairs going up are around the corner to the left.

Main Room


Little doorway to the kids fun room.

Kids Room (we went with fun bright colors). My poor mom had to sit inside the room to paint it.

Best Buddies

Since we moved Dallas to my mom's house, Dakota has been following Taylor and I around everywhere! They were great together before but now they are best buds. Taylor loves to give her hugs, lay on her, and try to give her kisses on her nose. Sometimes she doesn't want to be kissed on the nose and she'll hide her nose and Taylor gets so upset. Its adorable.


Aunt Pat from church gave all the lil kids valentine's suckers. This is Tay trying to chew on it. So funny and very sticky!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Snow Days

I bundled Taylor up and took him out in his sled for the first time since he got it for Christmas. He seemed to enjoy himself, although he was very serious as I pulled him around. I couldn't move very fast.



We have not been very good about taking pictures with this pregnancy, so I thought we should start. I am now 28 weeks.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Dallas

In the last week we have had to make a really tough decision to find Dallas a new home. He bit Taylor again last week and we realized after months of training that he is not good with kids and needs to be in a home that is better suited for him. We are having a very difficult time with this and it has been hard for Ben and I. We are really hoping we can find him a home soon or we will start the process of surrendering him to the husky rescue group so they can find him a home.

Dry Wall

Basement updated - the drywall is up, insulation has been blown into the walls and texture on walls has been completed. Below are images after the drywall went up.


Doorway to storage area (above)

Hallway and doorway to Ben's studio (above)

Ben's studio (above)

Looking back from main room to hallway to storage area (above)

Main room


Closet in main room and lil doorway to Taylor's room (above)

Inside Taylor's room