The Life

Miracle Baby!

2012-09-24T07:09:00.004-07:00

Today marks 37 weeks gestation for our growing baby! We are so excited and relieved that our girl is officially considered full term and is expected to be developed enough to safely be delivered any day now! Wondering if she would come a week early (or still may have a very chubby baby) was the extent of our pregnancy woes. While I managed to be an exceptionally moody gal over the past 8 months, that has been the biggest challenge for us, and we are so very thankful for that.

The realization of our good fortune was never more apparent than when we heard about the life threatening complications my big sister's growing baby had!

Last spring when my older sister, Kelly, called to reveal she too was expecting, we were all surprised and so excited! Her baby's due date is just 19 weeks after ours! How cool to be pregnant with your sister and to know your kiddos will have cousins so near in age?! The excitement quickly turned to concern when an ultrasound revealed that her baby boy was faced with some major complications, some that often lead to a self-terminating pregnancy. We all just prayed. And prayed. And prayed. The reality of what might happen to her baby was too much to bear. We just had to give our worries to God and pray that He would save this little guy and give us all a chance to get to know and love him. The specialists told her that she had never seen a baby overcome the complications. It would take a miracle.

Friday, a visit to the same specialist revealed that the little man was out of the woods!!! After weeks of prayer, somehow those issues had corrected themselves and suddenly the little guy was expected to be just fine! A miracle? We think so. There were so many people praying for my sister and her growing baby. I think it's undeniable. And we are all so overwhelmingly thankful.... so very very very thankful!

A little perspective goes a very long way in realizing the fragility of life and the power of prayer! We are looking so very forward to meeting our baby girl in the coming days/weeks and our miracle nephew who has already overcome the odds at just 18 weeks of gestational life!!

Pregnant Blogger Inspiration

2012-09-05T17:37:00.000-07:00

Since I have been pregnant, I have cut a lot of non-essential activities out of my life - blogging happens to be one of them. It's not that I wouldn't love to blog about each and every detail of my life and all the cute things our Sammie girl does each day, it's more about having energy to do much more than work, pee, eat, pee, shower, pee, and sleep. By the end of the day, it's all I can do to brush my teeth and stumble to bed.

Fortunately, our friend Jen (photosbyshew.wordpress.com) has given me a reason to get off my lazy buns and write a new blog post. She took a few photos of the three of us (Kory, baby, and me). This was not your normal, everyday photo shoot. Here's why... Jen drove from Maryland, met us at 6:30 in the morning to get the best lighting possible, was chased & charged by our crazy dog, was shocked by an electric livestock fence, and did this ALL because she loves us and is a rockin' awesome friend.

While I have become increasingly self conscious of my ever expanding body (if it were just the baby belly growing, it'd be another story), but I couldn't resist but sharing my very favorite photo that Jen captured...

Approx 7:00 am on a foggy Saturday morning in rural Pennsylvania, 32 weeks pregnant

I don't know how she does it. What I do know is that we are so blessed to have her in our lives and so thankful she so generously shares her gift of photography with us by capturing some of the most significant events in our lives! (All of our favorite wedding photos came from Jen's collection.)
Thank you Jen!!

3 to 1

2012-06-25T09:45:00.001-07:00

We recently found out that our growing baby is a girl! It's a girl! I don't know how many times I will have to think it, say it, or read it before I actually believe it. I am still in disbelief that it is a baby, let alone a baby girl. My "mother's intuition" failed me. I was completely certain that the wee occupant was a boy. I even continued to dream about the her being a 'he' after we found out she is a she. (Too many Dr. Seuss riddles in my brain.)

You know what this means? My lucky hubby will continue to be outnumbered, 3:1. Having grown up with three big sisters, he is no stranger to having to battle the estrogen. In this case, we're counting our sweet Sammie girl, the dog... so hopefully he'll be able to ease into his more amplified role of 'man of the house.'

Now for the 'Daddy's Girl' bootcamp and lessons on all things little girl! Something tells me we're all in for a wild ride! :)

A Cause Close to Home

2012-04-26T11:09:00.002-07:00

Every year my sister in law, Kelly, hosts an amazing event in honor or her daughter, Lexi. She coordinates a 5k run / 1 mile walk to raise money to cure a disease that struck her family several years back: Diabetes. This year the annual event will be on June 2nd in Punxsutawney.

Kory had the honor of writing up a little article about the disease, the event, and the little girl that inspired it all - which was published in Punxsutawney's HomeTown Magazine.

It's an amazing cause! If you'd like to join Kelly, Lexi, and hundreds of supporters in their quest to find a cure for Diabetes, you can find the registration forms here.

A LOT on His Plate

2012-04-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

Before I found out I was pregnant, I noticed my moods fluctuating like a tire swing in a tornado. I even blogged about it. Looking back, it cracks me up that I thought my moodiness was 'blog-worthy', but then again, I should probably reconsider several of the topics I choose to blog about. I am glad I chose to over share because there was a lot more to that story and as it unfolded and the plot thickened, it all made sense! Those darn pregnancy hormones really do a number on a girl's mental state!

Since we enthusiastically bid farewell to the first trimester along with the show stopping morning sickness and unpredictable moods, I've started to feel human again! Wahoo! Still over-the-top emotional, but human. Unfortunately for the old hubby, my energy levels are still crazy low. He has been left to do almost all of the cooking, cleaning and errands, while juggling the demands of a doctoral progam... AND with a mandatory smile on his face in order to keep his emotional other half from melting into a ball of tears. Oh, and in his free time, he manages to make time to read books about parenting! Amazing. If ever there were a hero that rose to the occasion it is my 'do it all', master juggler husband! The best part, I don't know if the guy has complained once.

All of my pregnancy books have suggested that the exhaustion I'm feeling is preparing me for what is to come with the arrival of a high maintenance mini person. I am beginning to think the same is true for poor Kory. I hope for both of our sakes that I have a little bit more of a bounce in my step and ability to be a better contributing part of our growing family after the delivery of Baby Blose! In any event, it is so wonderful to know that when I need a shoulder to lean on, I've found the perfect partner to help me through. :)

(This happens to be my favorite photo of my handsome hubby... seemed appropriate to post it. Note: The mandatory smile is much more convincing than the semi smirk you see here. hehe)

A Life Altering Surprise

2012-04-17T18:54:00.000-07:00

This post has been a long time in coming. Most of the hesitation has been due to a combination of disbelief, fear, and shock. I had always speculated about the day I would uncover this news, but it felt nothing like I had imagined. No amount of thinking or discussing could have ever prepared me for what I found out on February 6th.

The Monday after the Superbowl, we found out that we had 8 months to prepare for parenthood! That's right, we were blindsided with the news that we are going to have a baby. After the unexpected call from my doctor and the multiple home test results which confirmed my doctor's suspicions, I sat in complete disbelief for hours.

That disbelief lasted for months. It was not until our last ultrasound, where we saw this little tiny human kicking and squirming on the ultrasound screen, that it all finally started to feel real. Now that we have ALL survived the first trimester, we are relaxing a bit and starting to really get excited about the fact this October our lives are going to change forever!

25 weeks until we meet our kidlet!

Photo: Sammie in the Sunshine

2012-03-22T11:29:00.000-07:00

When it's sunny, there is one place you will find our girl...

She's certainly gotten to bask in the sunshine more this winter than ever before!

Home Project Overload

2012-03-21T11:19:00.001-07:00

We have been busy beyond belief! Somehow, we ALWAYS have more projects going on than I can even begin to manage. I must admit, I kind of like it that way. I grew up in a home that was always changing and improving. I guess it just feels natural to me.

In the midst of my husband and dad updating and upgrading our entire basement which includes adding a full bath, I thought it was a good idea to take it upon myself to give our old 60's upstairs bathroom a little update. It seemed logical... the bathroom we use most should not be neglected. :)

And while the basement is being demolished and rebuilt and the upstairs bathroom is getting a face lift, I thought we ought to start ripping out the cement on the side of our house in preparation for our big springtime project: a french drain. With all of this in the works, I've started getting quotes on (finally!!) getting our driveway refinished, considering how we can perk up our front yard with some colorful landscaping, and considering the possibility of installing a ground level deck in the back yard.

I overwhelm myself thinking about all the things I want to do and have done. I'm guessing my husband finds my lengthy list a bit staggering & unrealistic.

Most of the time we are able to force ourselves to keep pushing forward with a smile on our faces. For those of you who know us, you may recognize the strain that is peaking through Kory's smile. Maybe it's time for a vacation...

An Opportunity

2012-03-10T11:28:00.001-08:00

Crash!!

2012-02-15T22:36:00.000-08:00

I love to write. So I use this blog as an outlet of expression through writing. It is unfortunate that this little blog thing requires a computer, because mine crashed. And crashed bad!

A lot has happened in the last 12 days, since I last posted (that hideous photo of myself)!

More on that later. I've got to figure out how to work this new computer and find all my old files. Hopefully I can find a picture that won't make you cover your eyes in fear!

(10 minutes later... )

Ok, I found one. Prepare yourself. It's not ugly, but kind of sad, particularly if you are an animal lover.

This is Kory and a sweet little guy that desperately needs a home. "For fun," my "thoughtful" husband took me to an animal shelter just to "look." See all those " "s? By the time we got through the maze of cages filled with sad eyes & desperate pleas to "pick me!", I was practically in tears and Kory was wondering how he'd thought this would be an enjoyable experience. We did, however, get to hang out with a couple super sweet little dogs, all of which were pit bulls. Oh to have the space, patience, and training skills to take in one of these awesome animals. I never felt more selfish than I did that day, walking out of there empty handed.

Happier posts to come... I promise.

Borrowed Ideas

2012-02-03T03:00:00.000-08:00

I am always on the hunt for tricks & tips to help me get organized and stay that way efficiently. My husband has started calling me neurotic (?!?!) because of my new found obsession with trying to stay super organized. If you ask me, it's nice to know where things are when you need them. :)

You decide... does this look like the face of a crazy girl?

Ok... maybe a little. :)
(I've reached a new low... adding captions to the most terrifying photos of myself. What else is there to do with them? )

Anyway, I found this clever blog post to be... well... clever! There are some fantastically creative ideas on how to do things just a little bit differently:

Borrowed Ideas

Groundhog Town

2012-02-02T01:30:00.000-08:00

Groundhog [ˈgraʊndˌhɒg] n.
reddish brown North American marmot

Groundhog Day n.
February 2, on which according to popular legend the groundhog emerges from its burrow, prompting the prediction of an early spring if it does not see its shadow or six more weeks of winter if it does.

source

So now that you know a little bit about Groundhog Day, here's a little something about the little town where all these traditions got their start, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Punxsutawney Article

I'm not originally from Punxsy, but I have come to know it as "home" having spent my high school years there. Afterall, my parents are there, my husband and his entire family are from there... we spend a lot of time in the town whose claim to fame is a holiday I always 'rolled my eyes' at.

This article made me think of that little town and "annoying" day a little differently. It warmed my heart and made me especially proud to have lived in a place that reflects such values.

My favorite part was the last paragraph (go figure!)

The message of Groundhog's Day is that America is a cup half-full and that life is predictable. Whether or not Phil sees his shadow, we know that Spring will come. But the other message of Punxsutawney -- that the values will make the cup overflow -- can transform our country. I hope that, when America wakes up again on February 3rd, that's the new message we all remember

I never expected that conclusion when I opened the link for the article. How cool, right?

I hope you have a wonderful February 2nd and think of Groundhog Day in a new light...

Happy Groundhog Day!

Sleepy Sammie: A Time of Transition

2012-01-31T06:00:00.000-08:00

What started as the purchase of a few new dressers turned into our bedroom being completely revamped. Somewhere during our 'master bedroom makeover' we decided that after the redo, Miss Sammie would be given the boot and we would regain control of our bed & sleep. We even built her a dog bed which coordinates with our new design.

We knew that getting our little cuddle bug to sleep by herself would be a challenge since, after all, she has spent most of her life in her favorite queen sized, pillow top mattress bed. Fortunately for me, Kory is more stubborn than our dog, because I don't think I am. I've proven to be particularly weak when it comes to furry friends that just want to cuddle in the middle of the night.

When we got out of bed yesterday, Sam was still snoozing in her bed. After returning to the bedroom following breakfast, I found this...

We've come to realize that her desire to sleep in our bed has everything to do with the bed and especially the pillows, and very little to do with us.

One Day

2012-01-29T21:19:00.000-08:00

We have lost a lot of people we love recently. With each loss, I am reminded of how incredibly delicate life is. Without any warning or preparation, we can lose those that mean the absolute most to us. Within every great loss, there must be a life lesson... there has to be!

I saw this somewhere and it just resonated with me. It just feels especially relevant right now...

A Line Worth Standing In

2012-01-28T01:00:00.000-08:00

The drive from Pittsburgh to Happy Valley seemed like nothing compared to the line we faced when we arrived. We headed to Penn State for the opportunity to show our respects and say goodbye at Joe Paterno's viewing.
Those who spent some time at Penn State likely recognize the map below. It is a snip-it from a campus map. The red line shows a distance approximately 1/2 mile from beginning to end. We stood in this line. The final destination was Pasquerilla Spiritual Center which was the location of Joe Paterno's casket, the place where over 100,000 admirers would say their final goodbye to the legend.

We expected to stand in line for hours. Fortunately it was less than an hour from beginning to end. Standing in the line gave us a little bit of time to reflect on how much of an impact Penn State has had on our lives and how much cherish the time we spent there... and most of all, how much we miss it. Without a doubt, some of the greatest days of our lives were spent attending that university and we remain close friends with some of those people we met there.

My husband and father in law, in line to say goodbye to their hero. Two of the biggest Joe Paterno fans I have ever met.

As we walked silently back to our car, we passed beautiful Old Main, framed by the Pennsylvania state flag hanging at half staff in memory of Joe Paterno.

I am thankful to have attended an awesome university and to have had the opportunity to watch an incredible man coach a team that he put on the map. Joe Paterno makes me extra proud to be a Penn State Alum! What a beautiful example of the impact a single person can have on this world...

WE ARE... PENN STATE!

In Baby News...

2012-01-27T20:04:00.000-08:00

How ~~funny~~ terrible would it be if we announced to our friends and family that we were having a kid via our blog? When I typed the title "Baby News," I couldn't help but chuckle over the fact the someone might think this our big announcement.

It is not us. No bun in this oven. It is, however, going to be one of "ours"! My sister-in-law, Kassy, is 'with child', and I am ridiculously excited. I've never lived close enough to share in any of the frenzy that comes with a new baby in the family. Of course, I am always bursting at the seams with joy for the proud parents but it was hard not to think about how much we would miss out on living thousands of miles away. Not this time!

To add to the crazy excitement, Kassy's doctor has not ruled out twins! We suggested that in the case that there are two buns in the oven, they appropriately be named Tory and Tara after their obnoxiously happy aunt and uncle and coordinating with the first 'T,' big brother Trevin.

Kas & Trevin: Baby Mama and Big Brother

JoePa

2012-01-22T13:00:00.000-08:00

It's a sad day at our house. Joe Paterno died today. Anyone who knows anything about Penn State knows about Joe Paterno. He is a legend.

My husband, sister, and I all graduated from Penn State. We all fell in love with Happy Valley and our university. I've never felt a greater sense of pride or unity than I did as a student at the Penn State football games. I went to those games because my husband dragged me... he went because he loved the team, mostly because he loved Joe Paterno.

source

Through all of the drama and media attention around the Jerry Sandusky fiasco, my husband has remained a loyal admirer and supporter. I didn't really understand his undying affection until I read this...
Letter to Joe

That is my husband's letter to Joe Paterno. Now, maybe you understand why it's such a sad day here. For those of us, Penn State Alum, it's sad. For those life long Joe Paterno admirers, this loss is devastating.

A Bubbly Angel

2012-01-19T16:36:00.000-08:00

Did you ever have the honor of meeting Alice? Or maybe you knew her as "Bubbles." If you met her, you would remember.
If you knew her as "Bubbles," you understood how/why she earned that nickname.
She was pretty much the sweetest person. If you were having a bad day, you'd hope to run into Bubbles. Your day would be brightened and your perspective changed. She would greet you with the most genuine smile, give you a tight squeeze and remind you just how special you were to her. It never failed, "you are special to me" would leave her lips and lift my heavy heart unlike anything else could. This woman was incredible. In-credible! She would write us little reminders about how much we meant to her. There was never a question.

It breaks my heart that she is no longer with us. Bubbles, that sneaky gal, was secretly fighting a battle with cancer that would eventually take her life. (Have I mentioned how much I abhor cancer?)

I can't help but imagine her shaking her head at me, telling me not to be sad, that she is in a better place. Glowing. Beautiful. Happy. But saddened that her passing has caused such pain. With faith that could move mountains, I have no doubt that Bubbles is an angel... but words cannot describe how much that awesome woman is going to be missed.

She has left behind an equally amazing husband, Tom. They were married for over 60 years! Please keep Tom in your thoughts and prayers. I'm not sure if I could get through what he is going through. Losing the love of your life has to be the hardest thing in the world. :(

This is a picture of our dearest Bubbles & Tom at our wedding. Beautiful, wasn't she?

He Married an Ax Murderer

2012-01-18T17:00:00.000-08:00

I've been in the worst funk lately. Unusually crabby, demanding, emotional, unpredictable... some days I can hardly stand myself. On these especially irritable days, I am so thankful for the ridiculously patient and loving man that I married. No one else lifts my spirits or makes me laugh like this man does.

Have you seen this sign? A few little tweaks and this would sum up my feelings for my awesome hubby...scratch the bacon. :P

source

DIY Date - Dog Bed

2012-01-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

While Kory and I were working on our Christmas make-a-gifts, we had so much fun! We enjoyed working together, helping one another, and exchanging ideas. We decided that we were going to start a new monthly "tradition" of sorts. We would make something together every month.

This month's idea came from a selfish place. We want our bed back.
For the last four years, it has been ruled by our favorite furry friend. While we adore her to pieces, our quality of rest has taken a major turn for the worse since we started this nightly cuddle party. It would be one thing if she were a moderate sized dog, but the girl is massive. And she has no trouble pushing us out of the way, or even sleeping on top of us if that is what she finds most comfy.

We unanimously decided that it is time to regain control and rest. So... we built our little princess her own bed. To minimize transition time, we built it to sit at approximately the same height as our bed, and of course made it coordinate with our freshly painted & revamped bedroom.

It turned out WAY better than I expected! And bigger than I'd imagined.

Now if we could convince her to sleep in it!

Photo: Envy?

2012-01-16T18:53:00.000-08:00

Our cat watches reality TV. He is especially interested when the stars are big cats. In this case he needed to get a closer look...

Pup Art

2012-01-14T18:44:00.000-08:00

Pin It

I love pop art. I LOVE my dog. I love custom gifts that are geared toward the things you love most. My hubby got me an AWESOME Christmas gift! It is a kind of pop-artish picture of our Sammie girl on canvas! Ahhhh! It is an understatement to say, I LOVE IT! My favorite things to decorate our home with are those that remind us of people (and pets) we love most... whether it's something made by that individual or in this case, of that individual... :)

Now to find the perfect spot on the wall for our "pup art". :)

Review: Our December 25th Activities

2012-01-07T20:02:00.000-08:00

Christmas was wonderful. Isn't it always? I think that is why I love it.
We went "home" to Punxsutawney for nearly a week. As soon as we mentioned the words "go" or "ready," Sam parked herself in front of the door to ensure she would not be left behind. We are convinced that she believes every car ride destination is going to end at granny's for a run and lots of attention.

We began our day by waking up at my parents' house. We opened our stockings then our gifts. We continued the tradition of making gifts for each other. Each year it gets better and better. I'm not sure if the skills get better or if it is more about confidence, or maybe even pressure. Whatever it is, it's working. My parents had Kory and I. They really out did themselves. We got matching stained glass lamp shades that match our living room, perfectly! They're beautiful! And my favorite part is that we have something especially made for us, by them... that we can cherish forever! That is the coolest part about make-a-gifts!
Justin, my brother in law, made Jazzie a cutting board and apron.
Jazzie made Justin cookies and a cup.
Kelly made Mikey a beautiful quilt.
Kory made Mama Rose a sweet birdhouse.
Mikey made Kelly soap and cookies.
And I made Papa Rose a jar of dehydrated goodies and a funny sign.

Santa brought Sammie girl a toy that she could not put down, and AMAZINGLY did not destroy! Good work Santa!

After we opened our presents, Kory and I rushed around to get ready and head to his dad's family gathering. I LOVE that I married a guy with a massive family! It's so much fun! There is always a lot of people to talk to, A LOT! And they're all super friendly. I just love it. I might even look forward to this part of the day more than Kory. Is that weird? :)

After lunch with the extended family of in-laws, we headed to my sister-in-law Kelly's house for a more intimate gathering where we exchanged gifts with Kory's dad and later with his mom. This year we exchanged make-a-gifts with Kory's family too! It was pretty awesome! Everyone did an awesome job. I have to admit, I didn't keep track of all the presents that were exchanged. I know there were cookies, backpacks, paintings, scrapbooks, t-shirts, etc. I'm still waiting to hear what the rest of the family thought about making gifts. Hopefully we'll do it again next year! wink wink.

Our family Christmas get together was highlighted with a musical! Aunt Kassy played the piano and lead the kiddos through several Christmas classics. It was so adorable!

We wrapped up our day with dinner at my parents' house. We ate so much, all day! So very much! It was a day full of fun, family, and FOOD! It was an awesomely filling day! We're so thankful for our amazing families and the memories that we make with every encounter.

Year of the Puppy, Part 1

2012-01-03T21:21:00.000-08:00

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I don't know what's in the water lately, but there are lots of people expanding their families with both furbabies and the human babies. I have a lot to learn about both, but having had a dog or two, I would say I know a little more about our furry friends than the other kind. My friends desperately searching for answers to how to manage puppyhood must think I know a thing or two because my inbox has been filling up with questions on how we managed to survive Sammie's puppy years.

Here's what I know....

A tired puppy/dog is a good dog. Long walks and stimulating games will keep your shoes & walls intact.
Consistency, repetition & patience are key.
The first 9 months of Sam's life kept me on my toes and tested my patience more than any other time in my life.
Puppies need lots of chances. They're slow learners. After all, they are literally new to the world.
Reminding yourself that your puppy is really a baby dog helps get through the times when you want to kick her to the curb. She's not intentionally staining your carpet, she's just doing what her body is telling her to do.
Hitting a puppy is like hitting an infant, it is traumatic, counter productive, and scary for your puppy.
Consistency, repetition & patience are key.
Rubbing your dogs nose in "it" does not help. In fact, it is traumatic, counter productive, and scary for your puppy.
Do not allow your puppy to do things that you do not intend to allow them to do for the rest of their lives. ie. Sleep in your bed, chew on your fingers, etc.
Socialize your puppy as much and as often as possible - with other dogs and people! We have a shy fearful dog because we failed to do this. :(
Reminding yourself that you are EVERYTHING to your puppy (with the exception of a squeek toy) may help you get through a moment of puppy insanity.
Consistency, repetition & patience are key.
Your destructive puppy will become your dearest friend.
Coming home is so much sweeter when you are welcomed by the enthusiasm of a joyful pup.
When a dog gets bored, they get destructive. Make sure to have fun & challenging toys in abundance.
Vet bills can get really expensive. If we could do things differently, we would have gotten pet insurance after the first sign of major health trouble. $10 per month is much more manageable than $4,000 here and there.
Consistency, repetition & patience are key.
Find out what treat your dog will do anything for... when they are loose in the neighborhood, this will be your key to getting a swift return if your dog is overwhelmed by the freedom and "Come" just doesn't cut it.
Caesar Millan (aka the Dog Whisperer) is a genius.
Puppy training classes are popular for a reason. Sign up at your Petsmart or Petco. Even if your dog never graduates (like our drop out), you get to meet lots of people and learn some great tricks!

So if you couldn't tell, we are big believers in consistency, repetition and patience. Have you ever had to teach someone to do anything? Teach your kid to tie his shoe? Your mom to navigate a computer? You don't expect them to just "get it" and if they do, you think they're super smart! Personally, I have found that trying to be consistent & patient is obviously always helpful, but when trying to train a person or a pet to do something it is a must! You can't expect people or puppies to understand after one demonstration.   In some cases, puppies just don't get it because their brain isn't developed enough to put the puzzle together.

TREATS
The best way we have found to help the learning along is to give them an incentive. As we like rewards and recognition in the form of money and a "Good job!", dogs like a yummy treat, an energetic & high pitched "Good dog!" followed by a scratch to the head. If you do this every single time your dog does what you want, she will quickly learn what you want her to do. Why? Because you were consistent! Eventually you won't need the treats, your praise is enough. But at first, when trying to emphasize the awesomeness of pooping on grass instead of your carpet, when your puppy doesn't really understand, a little chunk of baked chicken will help you get your point across. Stock up.

PUPPY POOPY
Potty training our Sammie was so much easier than I ever imagined possible. We just gave her the ability to communicate "Gotta go!!!" and low and behold, the accidents slowly became a thing of the past.   The key to our potty training success was a cluster of jingle bells hung at dog nose level from our door (exit). And of course lots of patience and repetition.
Here's the scenario:
1. 8 week old Sammie is sniffy around to find the perfect spot to squat and relieve herself. (Sniffing is your cue)
2. Hyper alert Kory sweeps Sammie off her feet and heads to the front door where the jingle bells were hung.
3. Before heading outside, Kory jingles the bells by touching Sam's nose to the bells.
4. On a leash, Kory takes Sam to the same exact spot in the grass that he wants her to poop/pee.
5. Kory gives the same command "Go potty!" with enthusiasm while keeping the dog in the same general area.
6. Kory repeats the command occasionally until Sammie finally does her thing.
7. Enthusiastically Kory says. "Good Sammie to Go Potty!!!" as he gives her a treat, and rubs her head.
8. Kory happily brings his happy puppy back inside.
REPEAT EVERY 2 - 3 HOURS

The initial day or two can be stressful because it is your job to know when to take your pup out. You have to watch for the "sniff", watch for movement towards the exit, pay attention to a waking puppy, or a puppy who has recently eaten. We actually set a "pee timer" Every 2 hours, we took Sam out to pee. It was the last thing we did before bed and the first thing we did in the morning. We rewarded an attempt to go potty with a treat. You will learn to keep treats accessible.

After a couple of days, Sam was walking to the door and often ringing the bell when she needed out.   Until our girl was around 6 months old, we still made sure to take her out frequently even when she didn't indicate she needed out. As your furbaby grows, so does her bladder and the length of time she can hold it. To this day, we still take Sam out for a puppy poop about 20 minutes after a meal. It's like clockwork!

In short, the most important keys to potty training are watch for the cues, always ring the bell or help your pup ring the bell, put your furbaby on a potty schedule. Make sure she gets out every couple of hours until you are 110% sure she will not slip up and opt for the plush carpet.

Our girl and our secrets to what others apparently perceive as "success.

Sam wearing herself out at the dog park while racing around like a maniac (remember, a tired dog is a good dog)

Sam wearing herself out trying to figure out how to get the goodie out of her red bone.

Sam and her bell, 4 years after they were first introduced... our secret to puppy potty training.

My brain is tired. I will write another post to dump the rest of my dog related knowledge. Digest this and practice it with your sweet little ball of puppy love! More to come: Crate training, obedience, food, treats, dog/cat interactions

Some sources that helped us...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0OLTZ4IwN8
http://www.drilldog.com/drilldog-articles/cesar-milan-dog-whisperer.htm
http://www.drilldog.com/drilldog-articles/potty-train-puppy.htm
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/housebreaking.htm
We also purchased several seasons of the Dog Whisperer and tried our hardest to implement Mr. Caesar Millan's awesomeness.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T22:27:00.000-08:00

2011 was a great year, however, beyond the fear of becoming another year older, I am pretty darn excited for what 2012 has in store for my life.

Here's to an awesome year! According to the cashier at Trader Joes (and many others), it's going to be our last, so let's make it a great one and live it as though we believe it's going to be our last!

Happy New Year!

This is a peak into the excitement that we experienced on New Year's Eve...

My dad and sister around 10 pm... Needless to say, we didn't make midnight.

Even Sammie was exhausted from all the adventures of 2011.

Kory claims that he woke me up to watch the ball drop and for the anticipated first kiss of the new year, but I have no recollection. Shortly after I snapped these pics, I snuggled in for the last snooze of 2011. :)