Happy Gotcha Day!

Soulful, kind eyes

It was 7 years ago today (!) that we brought Tyler home from the Vancouver Animal Shelter. Oh what a ride these past 7 years have been!

Tyler is an accomplished dog - he has made it into the Masters level in Agility and for the first time this year, he qualified for Nationals. He also teaches Rally Obedience with me and is a Rally super star. But best of all, he is a truly lovely dog. Agility and Rally are nice to do with him, and he loves the sports, but his best qualities are his kindness and his sense of humour. He is also in love with Loic, which really makes my heart melt to watch.

Who would have thought that the scared, totally neurotic, scared *#$less dog that we adopted 7 years ago would turn into the world's nicest family pet? Not me! I am so, so glad that we took a giant chance on him - it has been worth every moment. (Not to mention every $, I can't bring myself to think of the $ that we spent trying to help him overcome his demons. Still totally worth it though).

Here is to another 7 or more years Tyler - my trusty sidekick who is game for any activity but likes nothing more than to cuddle under the covers :) My big softy who quietly and gently kisses baby Loic and lets Loic hold onto him while he learns to walk. What would I do without this dog?! He gives meaning to the term "heart dog" for me and I treasure him, even when he is being naughty :)

E

Twice in one day!

Get your mind out of the gutter! :) Loic and went to the park twice today. We went this am because Rob was working on the house and we are a bit of a distraction and then this afternoon, we went back with Jess! I brought the camera this afternoon. Oh, and guess who is walking while only holding on with one hand? If you guess Rob you are wrong :)

Walking is sure hard work!

Cheeky little monkey on the swing

"Wheeeeeeeee!"

At the top of the slide with Jess

New teeth

Loic is teething again, poor little man. He is not taking this round of teething well, but is still full of good humour (for the most part). The fun twist this time is that he thinks that 4:30 am is time to get up! What happened to my baby who slept for 12 hours a night?! This will pass, but in the mean time, we are using baby advil to help him sleep without pain.

Loic has been with the nanny three days a week for the past two weeks and is doing quite well. This week he wasn't keen on napping, teething, but last week he napped at her house like a pro. I take my lunch break a little early so that I can go and change him into his pjs and nurse him and then put him down for his nap. I am so, so lucky to be able to keep nursing him during the day and to be able to keep putting him down for his naps.

Will post pics soon! We are going to go to the PNE on Sunday, the farm tomorrow and I have a rally demo practice too - plus much gardening to be done! It will be a busy weekend!!

E

I fell. Off a pitchfork

Today was not my best day.

While gardening, I managed to fall off of my pitchfork and slam, back and arm first, into my all-stone wall. Jess watched this all happen and while I fell to the ground screaming "I am hurt! I am hurt!" she thought that the terrible smacking sound was my head. Luckily it wasn't, it was just the rest of my body slamming into the wall.

When I managed to get up, I realized that I had hurt my arm, my hand and my back. Fun times. I am now *really really really* sore and to make matters worse, I think that I broke my toe stubbing it on a box. My toe is black and I can't move it.

I really scared myself and I can't quite figure out how I managed to fall in such a terrible way! I was digging with my pitchfork and both of my feet slipped, sending me backwards into the wall.

A big thank you to Jess, you helped a lot today!! Afterwards, we couldn't stop laughing because I think that I scared us both a lot and we were quite relieved that I didn't hit my head.

Off to have a hot bath, more advil and then bed. Who knew that gardening could be so dangerous?! My sod removal project is on hold until I am not longer sporting bruises on half of my body.

E

4 ladies, 5 dogs and 1 baby in Whistler

What a great day!!

Today, Loic and I joined three friends of mine and five dogs and headed up to Whistler for the day. We had a blast! We started out by having lunch on a patio - the dogs had to be tied up under a bush but they didn't seem to mind. We then walked up to a nice lake, swam, walked back, ate ice cream and headed home. Phew! A great time was had by all.

Toby and Ryan, waiting for us to finish lunch. What good boys!

Then we all hiked up to a very nice lake (can't remember the name of the lake) and went swimming! We had to set up at the dog beach, which didn't have a great spot to sit but that didn't matter because all we did was swim.

Loic LOVED the water

Sitting in the warm shallows with Toby and puppy Kepler

Swimming and laughing with Aunt Jody

Swimming and laughing with Aunt Jessica

Splashing and laughing with Momma

A miffed and wet Toby (I threw him in to cool him off :)) watching us from as far away from the water as he could get!

Tired and well behaved dogs waiting while we bought ice cream

While Tyler would have loved the dog beach, he would have been a nightmare during lunch and the ice cream stop so he stayed home with Rob today. Toby was a star, nothing phases that dog! And Loic could not have been happier or better behaved, even when we were stuck in traffic on the way home and he was tired and hungry. I sure have the world's nicest baby boy.

E

Loic's First Haircut

After much deliberation on my part, and an increasing number of people asking if Loic was a girl, we went today and had his baby hair cut. I felt like crying (where did my baby go?!) but Rob was a trooper. And so was Loic! While he didn't smile during his haircut, he also sat very still and didn't cry either. Good boy. He now looks like a little boy and not like a baby, which makes me sad, but I have to admit that he sure does look handsome!

Getting started, sitting on my lap :)

I can't handle the cuteness!

This look says it all!

We didn't get a good after shot, had to rush home for a nap, but we will take one later today and I will post it. He really looks like a little boy now and not like a baby! And I think he looks a lot like Rob now too :)

E

Aquarium Visit

This week Rob and Loic went to the aquarium with Rob's friend Nick and Nick's little girl, Isla. Isla is about 4 months older than Loic (we hope that they get married one day, but no pressure kids!). Auntie Jody met them and took them in to see the sea lions! A great time was had by all, except me, because I was at work. Oh well, someone has to pay the bills around here! :)

Loic and his future wife perhaps?!

Speaking of work, I don't think that I have forgotten how to do my job! This is good, because I was worried that I wouldn't have a clue what to do...

Rob is finished his two weeks of holidays at the end of the week and is going to miss hanging out with Lolo all day. Loic is spending a few mornings with the nanny this week and that is going well. When I got him at lunch she said "he really is busy, isn't he!" Ah Lolo, can't slow him down!

E

It is all good

Back to work went just fine this week; it helps that Rob is off for two weeks and has done a wonderful job at being a stay at home Dad! We even had roast beef for dinner one night this week!! Work is really busy, which is great because it keeps my occupied and doesn't let me worry (too much) about Lolo bean.

The following in a blurry iphone picture of Loic and his friend Morgan, who is two and a half. I think he might have a thing for older ladies...

How forward of you Loic!! :)