Last Friday I got off work early so John and I could take a mini road trip to Bakersfield, Calif., to pick up the newest addition to our family -- the cutest 13 1/2 week Boston Terrier you ever did see.
During the two hour drive we talked about whether we thought the pup would be as cute as her pictures and what her personality would be like. It's such a surreal experience going to pick up a dog you've never met in person! Whatever she looked like in person or whatever her personality, it didn't matter -- she was soon going to make our family a party of five (Winnie and Charlie cats had no idea!). After begging John for a dog for a year and almost adopting several different pups, it was hard to believe that Friday really was the big day! It was the end of the journey searching for a dog but the beginning of a crazy new adventure!
We finally made it to the random McDonalds' parking lot we were meeting up at and Karen, the breeder, was there waiting for us. We all got our of our cars and said hello and then Karen asked if we wanted to see our pup. As soon as Karen took the pup out of the car I started squealing and "awww-ing." John made similar, although much more manly, noises. I must have really been freaking out because jokingly, Karen asked John if I was OK. Ha. It was love at first sight!
After exchanging paperwork and the cash (Karen joked that it felt like a drug deal, haha), the pup was ours! I told you guys in a previous post that John and I were waiting to meet the pup to decide on her name and as soon as we saw her we knew her name was Abbie. Our little Abigail!
Abbie was way cuter and tinier in person than her pictures let on. So precious! I couldn't wait to hold her and then take her home with us! When I held her for the first time she instantly started licking my face! I always thought that was annoying or gross when other dogs did that to people but I thought Abbie was just so sweet. She is seriously such a love-bug and loves to give kisses.
Our very first family photo, right after Abbie officially became ours:
Johnny and the baby! Aww ... Abigail means "father's joy" or "gives joy." She has certainly brought a bunch of joy to our lives so far! Love that lil munchkin!
She was still a little nervous when she got in the car with us. Her ears were back and she was shaking. Poor baby!
She quickly perked up! Awww! Happy girl!
Oh my goodness, I just love that face of hers so much!
I brought along her puppy friend stuffed animal and this kept her amused on the drive home. Abbie was being the cutest ever ... making funny faces, sticking out her tongue, yawning, making little snorting sounds as she chewed on the stuffed animal.
When we got home we introduced Abbie to the cats (yeah... that is still a work in progress! Right now the cats are hiding out under the bed. Hopefully they come out soon before they turn into the grandparents from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"!) and then John and I spent the rest of the night chasing Abbie around the living room, playing fetch & tug-of-war! Sooo much fun! Although I obviously knew puppies can be super hyper I didn't think Abbie would have SO MUCH ENERGY! It's sooo funny how she prances around the house like a little gazelle! Totally cracks me up! And it's really great exercise for me to try and catch her! (It's nearly impossible. She is a squirming worm!) She's a pro at playing fetch! Although I may seem biased as her puppy-mommy, I am quite impressed with her mad skills!
Jimaie is already spoiling Miss Abbie! On Saturday she came over to meet the baby and bought her a pink fuzzy toy, the fabulous hot pink leopard print hoodie seen in this photo and cutie pie pajamas too! Thanks Auntie Maie! Abbie says Arf! Arf! (Well, besides the fact she doesn't really bark.)
Abbie is getting so good at posing for photos! She looks so serious here. She's such a noble little beast all dressed up in her tux! Quite the American Gentle(wo)man.
Snuggle bunnies! I wish she was already potty trained and could sleep in bed with us!
One day! For now she's only allowed to snuggle for a bit -- AFTER she's already gone potty. I learned this the hard way Saturday morning when I woke her up and brought her in bed with me ... and now our Anthropologie comforter as well as another blanket are at the dry cleaner's until next week. Oopsies! But that was all my fault ... but even if it wasn't, how could you ever stay mad at such a sweet lil pupadoodle?!
Having a puppy is way more fun than I thought it would be ... and also a bit easier so far! Both our "Boston Terriers for Dummies" book as well as friends warned us that we wouldn't get much sleep on Abbie's very first night. Our breeder warned us that the transition period from her old home to ours might take two weeks, meaning two weeks possibly filled with Abbie crying and whining, waking us up at night. Maybe I shouldn't be typing this because I don't want to jinx anything -- but Abbie is basically an angel. She slept through the entire night Friday might, as well as Saturday, Sunday and Monday night. Abbie hasn't woken us up with her cries once. Rather we wake her up after our alarms go off. (Cesar Millan, are you reading this? Are you totally proud of our pack leader behavior? huh huh?)
When it's bed time and we put Abbie in her play area (which is a baby-gated section of linoleum next to the front door, with her crate, food & water and potty pads) she'll whine and cry a little bit but then she'll just accept that it's bed time and crawl into her crate to go to sleep. Such a good girl!
And she's using her potty pads and she's just had a few accidents. She's really truly trying her best!
Although I wish Abbie could stay small forever, I can't wait to watch her grow and she what she's like at six months, one year, two years... I can't believe we've had Abbie less than five days! No way! I love learning more and more about her funny little personality each day.
Well, I'm falling asleep at the computer so that's means it's bedtime for bonzo! I need to catch some Zssss because I have to wake up early to play with Abbie before work! So, in conclusion, I adore this pooch!
Thanks for listening to Abbie's story! XOXO gnite.
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