I haven't forgotten about the pupper, she's just taken a backseat to all the new things happening. Baby nearly crawling, eating food. Me working a new job. Dave going back to work for another school year. Garden flourishing. Irene is always there, patiently waiting for her time to get some attention from us.
She's had some big changes in her life too. After reading this book, Dave decided to switch her food to Sojos. It's a little more complicated than a scoop of kibble in the morning - now we're mixing food and browning meat for her. So far, she loves it. I'm hoping it will help her be a healthier, happier dog. It's silly, but Dave and I care so much about what we eat (and what little Gus will eat), that we decided we could no longer feed our animals ground up byproducts. In fact all of the ingredients in Sojos are things we would eat ourselves (except the meat, of course). So she's a lucky pupper, who gets fresh cooked ground turkey, beef, and sometimes tuna. I guess she's not forgotten after all.
She curls up next to him for nap time, always keeping a safe distance. The family dog has suffered, it's true - but I think she likes the baby just as much as we do. Irene can adapt, she just does so reluctantly.
I apologize for the delay in pupper of the week postings. Things have been a little off schedule here, and I just haven't found the time. Irene has continued to weather this storm with us, and so far, she's holding up well. She'd like to have a little more sleep, but then - wouldn't we all?
One question a lot of people ask is "how will Irene do when the baby arrives?" It's a silly question, because we clearly have no idea. I will say this - Irene loves children. Loves. She can't get enough of babies or toddlers or older children. She likes to chase them, lick them, and spin in circles for their entertainment. She doesn't mind being chased or poked, and generally finds a lot to like about kids.
I know that our schedule will change, but my hope is that within a month of the birth, both Irene and I will be taking regular walks to the library, to the park, just outdoors in general. Once the snow finally bids us goodbye, we'll be spending a lot of time outdoors, and that makes Irene generally happy. Dave will be in the garden daily, and that means Irene gets to just hang out in sunbeams, sniff whatever she wants, and be mostly a free puppy. The baby will change her sleeping schedule, yes, and it will change the amount of attention we pay to her, but it won't change the core of what makes her happy - smells, sun, and visitors.
There will be plenty of visitors, and while they will be there to see the kid, Irene won't really know that they're not there to see her. Besides, only one person can hold the baby at a time, so that means Irene can lean up against the legs of whoever is not occupied, looking longingly at their lap.
I think it'll be a tough transition, but it will accompanied by my being home all the time, followed by garden season. Nothing can beat that, as far as the dog is concerned. So yes - she'll have a hard time, her life will change. But I'm not worried about it at all.
I have an 8x10 print of this on my wall at work. I think this photo is adorable. I love the way the dog is looking at Dave, as if she wants to help with whatever is making him put his face on his hand. The great thing about the dog is that usually, she can help. Just by virtue of being the pupper.
I had an intense dream about my mom's old house last night, so I thought the pupper should be shown enjoying herself there. It's funny how even though you can hardly see the background of the room here, I immediately know exactly where it is. The house you grew up in stays with you that way. At least, it has so far.
I love this video. It's only 4 seconds long, but the end of it is Irene knocking me over into the snow. She may hate the cold, but every now and again she shows enthusiasm for the snow.
There may not be room on my lap, but if I lay on my side, the pupper can sit up on the couch with me. Right on top of the baby. She's been getting way too much couch time lately, what with both Dave and I being under the weather and with no one really caring enough to enforce the no-dog-on-furniture rule. I keep telling her she's just keeping the spot warm and in a few weeks there will be a baby on the couch and a dog on the floor, but she doesn't seem to mind. She's just excited about all the baby toes she's going to get to lick.
I am still very much under the weather. I stayed home from work yesterday, and will be staying home for most of this morning. Work cannot be ignored though, and I know I can't stay home tomorrow. I always have the best intentions, telling myself that I'll work from home and I won't miss anything. Lies, all lies. When I'm sick, the only thing I want to do is lay on the couch, read, and watch movies. I make up excuses about why I can't get any work done - I don't have the right computer, don't have the right documents with me - the truth is that I don't feel good and I don't want to work. I want to nap and drink lots of orange juice. I get sick so rarely that I feel totally justified in my slackery. Justified until I have to go back to work, that is, and then I feel guilty that other people have been working their butts off and I've been doing nothing but dozing on the couch in my pjs. I can't wait for my maternity leave. 12 whole weeks where there's no guilt for the work I'm not doing. All I have to think about is me, Dave, and the baby. It's going to be sweet.
This is Irene the first week we had her. Dave kept this photo in his wallet for years, hence the reason it's all beat up. We have only a few film photos of Irene from her puppy hood days. When she was really little, her ears flopped over and she looked like a piglet.
I blocked the shawl last night - I think the name "Huge Triangle Shawl" is apt. It's 88 inches across, 30 inches tall. I'm attaching the fringe today. Finished photos soon!
Irene has begun to go a little grey around the edges. Nothing serious, just her white parts spreading into her black parts a little bit. I like to joke that in two years, the baby will have given her grey eyebrows like this ol' pup. Personally I think that would be adorable.
It may be a little blurry, but it was hard to get her to keep the hat on her head. Her noble companion in Scooby, sporting a bow from one of the Christmas packages. He was way cooler about the bow that Irene was with the hat.
This is one of my favorite photos of the dog. I had come downstairs for breakfast (Dave gets up early in the summer. And in the winter.) and Irene was sitting beneath this sign, staring out into the backyard. She had been misbehaving while I had been sleeping in, and Dave wanted to be sure that I didn't come down and let her back out into the yard. It was so adorable the way she sat right beneath the sign, watching Dave in the garden.
I haven't forgotten about the pupper, she's just taken a backseat to all the new things happening. Baby nearly crawling, eating food. Me working a new job. Dave going back to work for another school year. Garden flourishing. Irene is always there, patiently waiting for her time to get some attention from us. 
