Closing In On Two Years...

Okay, haven't been here in awhile but now have a moment to drop some photos by of the still scruffy Bonaparte! He's a little over eight pounds now and that seems to be his full adult weight. He listens well, loves walks and chasing anything that moves in our yard. He sleeps like a baby at night and entertains us during the waking hours. He's discovered that we tend to drop crumbs and other sorts of food during preparation time in the kitchen and loves to scarf up whatever he can find, except celery, or spinach. He loves carrots and almost anything crunchy. He's loving and fun and we adore every single day with him...

He'll sleep anywhere but loves it next to us best

New carrier so I can ride a bike with him or walk in crowded places

With our daughter and her fiance

Sleeping on the couch next to me

With my new goofy pjs

In the kitchen playing around with me and my new "piggy" pants. Pigs all over them!

In Blue Ridge, GA, with Boney's female look-alike! We couldn't believe it!

Bonaparte in all his glory

Do I have to get up now?

With Jim a great friend...

This is what I do while mom is working...

Oh joy you're home! And in a new car too!

What If...?

Dad look-alike

Okay, time for a puppy update, mainly because I found some photos online that show what our little bit might end up looking like. So this is a “What If?” scenario.

Mom look-alike

I found some photos of what his parents look like or resemble.
These are the ones that looked the closest to "Zeno" and “Bella."

In this photo the hair length is a possibility but not the color…

Maybe this one might come closer? I’m placing my bet that our little one might look similar to this, because the coloring is more like Boney's.

Yes, Boney seems to be the name that has stuck. Here is a look at our boy from this weekend at friends Rubin and Frank's house... That's Rubin distracting Boney while the photo is taken. I've known these Schnauzers for years and never thought of them as "big" but Boney puts a twist on that!

So, I'm excited and can’t wait to see if he actually ends up resembling any of these photos. I guess in a few months we’ll know because the puppy here is 8 months old and Boney will be 3 months old next week! I'll keep you posted. Ha ha, pun intended!

We're still working on the house breaking, and today was a good day! I hope tonight goes better than the last few....

Photos from:

 napervillehumanesociety.org

 animalku.com

 dogbehavioronline.com

maltesemaniac.com

The First Night... And Second...And New Name

 

Bonaparte, better known as Boney

The first night I slept in our guest bedroom starting with Little Bit in his bed right next to mine. That lasted oh about five minutes. He knew exactly where I was and so his not being there was unacceptable. Needless, I know, to say, he slept with me. I did manage to sleep some but was so concerned about waking him up if I moved that I woke up repeatedly. He, on the other paw, slept like a log. So tuckered out from his first day away from his family he had no strength against sleep, now that he was in the bed with me.

He had traveled very well on the long drive from Atlanta down to the Florida/Georgia border, in my lap or on the seat beside me all the way. No accidents, no whining, only shaking like a little leaf in a storm. I could tell when I looked into his little black eyes that he didn’t trust me yet and felt lost. By the time we arrived at our destination he was curious but didn’t want me out of his sight. By the time my husband came home a few hours later, Little Bit fell asleep in his lap within seconds. One of our best friends, who is “parent” to two schnauzers, came over to meet Little Bit and pronounced him cute as a button; funky looking but cute!

So passed the first day and night. Yesterday was wonderful. He likes me now. He trusts me a little. He is eating and, peeing and pooing on his pads like a pro! Knock on wood no accidents yet. I know they are coming, but for now he’s doing great. He doesn’t seem to like to “go” outside yet, but we are working on that.

While I work he plays in my office. I’ve had to get all paper products out of his reach, which is sad for me as I use parts of my floor as shelving space (I’m not joking. I need more real shelves.). He plays then lays down in his little bed beside me and sleeps. He seems happy. Last evening while we watched “Cheers” and ate our dinner Little Bit played and romped until he grew tired. We first tried him resting on my husband’s lap, but Little Bit had a different idea. He wanted my lap. So he got it.

Last night we tried him sleeping in our bedroom, not the guest room. He made it until four this morning, in bed with us of course. When he wouldn’t settle, I moved us back to the guest room so at least my husband could sleep. While he was finally settling down his true name came to me. He isn’t an Elvis (my husband’s comment was, “Hey, who wouldn’t want to spend a day with Elvis?”) Guess you can tell he’s a fan. But he’s also a fan of the person and name that came to me in the dead of night after dealing with a stubborn, needy (but adorable) puppy. Bonaparte. Yes, this is the name that will last until his dying day. Boney for short, but Bonaparte it is. My husband loves it and so do I because not only is it the name of one of my husband’s favorite historical figures, it is also the name of one of my favorite detectives, Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte of the “Bony Series” as they are referred to. It’s a series by Arthur W. Upfield set in Australia and written in the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s, with a “half caste abo/white detective who is simply amazing.  He would have to be with that name! So from here on out, our pup will be referred to as Boney or Bonaparte. He seems to agree as well that it’s a great name for a little guy. (wink wink!)

Info and photos from these sites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Upfield

http://www.naboflex.blogspot.com

http://www.myreadersblock.blogspot.com

Elvis the Mauxie

I’d like to introduce you to Elvis, our new “Mauxie”, who is such a strange mix of white (really long hair) Maltese and red (shorthair) Dachshund that we have no way of knowing what he’s going to end up looking like! (We're still "supposedly" working on his name, but this one is my husband's pick)

It took some time to make this decision and my husband has been very gracious about it as he really wasn’t ready for a new dog. Our beloved Laydi (a border collie/black lab mix) passed away in June of 2011 and we’ve grieved and missed her ever since. Therefore, we decided to wait to get a new dog.

A week or so ago, while talking to a dear friend whom we haven’t seen in about nine months, we were catching up on each others lives when she mentioned the three puppies they had and that only one was left to find a home for. I asked no questions beyond what kind of puppies they were, and found out I knew their sire very well as we’d been around when he had come into their home. He is the red dachshund. My friend had no idea that I basically sat on this information for a week mulling it over in my brain and heart. I say it in that order because I knew all the reasons we’d chosen to not get a new dog and none of those reasons had really changed except for Laydi’s death being a bit farther down the road.

So, over last weekend I talked with my husband about my desire to look into getting this puppy. He was so calm and generous about what I told him, that at first I couldn’t believe he was for real (he really does love me!). With heart pounding and insecurity about making the right decision hanging over me, I called our friend back and asked her to send me a few photos of the puppy they needed a home for. She was completely surprised by my interest. She knew the stance we’d taken on getting a new dog. So she sent the photos within the hour. Of course the little guy was adorable and I knew I had to “meet” him before being completely sure. Our friends live four hours from us in Georgia. I called on Sunday and asked if I could come up on Monday. She was thrilled, and so wonderful as to say that if it didn’t work out with the puppy, they wanted “rights of first refusal” to take the puppy back. She couldn’t have made it more attractive for me. So I headed up and spent the night. We caught up on all the family news, I saw one of their sons and their grandson, and, I met the mother of the puppies, who is not only adorable, but very loving as well. I also reacquainted myself with papa dachshund and enjoyed seeing the "parents" interact with the two puppies they had left.

The Three Puppy Brothers Livingston, Elvis and Winston

I took photos, held the little guy I was there to meet a few times, and thought through my decision. My husband had really left it up to me, and so, after a second restless night, I got up, packed up my little overnight bag and prepared to become a “mom” again. I would take “little bit” home. I would see how we “gelled” and make my final decision once I saw how he adapted to “chez nous” and whether or not he and my husband clicked.

Stay tuned for the next post: The First Night

To find out more about "Mauxie's/Moxies" and their great diversity, go to:

http://www.maltesemaniac.com/mauxie.html