Our Other Kids

For those of you who didn't know, we have two other kids beside Edie and Eric. Their names are Bella and Beemer (or on occasion, Beeper). Here are recent pictures of them.

Beemer, looking ferocious, though anyone who's met him knows he definitely is not

Bella

These two mutts are litter-mates, and came to us from Melinda, a friend of Dave's who travels the country (and Canada) and rescue, rehabilitates and re-homes animals in need. One of the most giving and thoughtful people we know. Dave knew I had been wanting a dog for a while, and had told Melinda that we were looking for a little pal to come join our family. Melinda had recently rescued these two from a dire situation in West Virginia. Bella and Beemer are part Plott Hound, part Mountain Cur (at least that's what we are told, and I think Mountain Cur is really just another type of mutt anyway, so who knows what they really are). They were originally bred to be hunting dogs, but didn't perform so well and were badly abused and left for dead on the side of the road. They were found and were going to be taken to a pound, but an elderly woman (who was also a dog hoarder) took them in, instead. They didn't have a horrible life with her, but were confined to a small cage. That woman had a stroke and wasn't able to take care of the 50+ dogs she had, and her family called Melinda to come help. Long story short, they came to live with us.

Bella and Beemer were so skittish when we first got them in March 2008, and rightly so. But day by day, things got better and they became more trusting. While they both have "hunting" tendencies (for example, Beemer likes to chase birds, though hasn't done so in a while because he's so fat, and Bella will "stalk" us outside, then try to get us to chase her around the yard), they definitely want to be "couch" dogs. They are really great with the kids, too. Edie loves to lay on the dog beds with them and feed them. They didn't used to bark much, but have become very protective of us and the house. Now, when someone they don't know comes into the driveway or knocks on the door, it's all barking, for better or worse. But they haven't bit anyone, unless you count that one groomer who was a little too rough with Bella.

We love them so much and are grateful Melinda entrusted us with them. If you are considering adopting a dog, please please please turn to a local shelter first. Pound puppies are, without doubt, the best, and you are helping to give a deserving dog a second chance at life. They will be forever grateful.

Eric - Around 3 Weeks Old

Well finally, some pictures of Eric! Here's the little bugger when he was around 3 weeks old. He just turn 2 months old this week! The cutie outfit he's wearing was a gift from Grammie, and the playmat he's on was a gift to Edie from GG, but works perfect for Eric, too!

A little spit-up in his mouth- yucky!

Doesn't he look like a little man? So precious!

Grammie and Grampie Came to Visit

Back in April, Mom and Dad came out to spend the day with us. Well, make that came to spend the day with Edie. Since Eric isn't really "fun enough" yet (their words, not mine! I have plenty of fun with that little bugger), and Dave and I must be too boring or something, they really come out just to see Edie. Here are some pictures from that visit.

Grammie bought Edie some new Sesame Street-themed cars, and Edie though the best place to take them for a test drive would be Grampie's face

Looks like an Edie-Baron team-up

No, Dad doesn't always wear grubby clothes. He was getting ready to head outside with Dave and help take apart one of our barns that fell duing the big winter storm we had this year

Edie the Foreman

We recently remodeled our home office - well, I should say Dad and Timmy remodeled our home office. Mom, Dad, Dave and I all pitched in on painting duty, and I've been working on the finishing touched, like choosing and hanging artwork, sewing pillows and window dressings and re-upholstering office chairs. But Edie had the most important job of all - foreman. She's the one who kept the crew in line and inspected the quality of work.

Dad's best buddy, Tim, was incredibly generous and came out to help with the remodel. Thanks Timmy!! We are incredibly lucky and grateful that we have Dad (who can fix or build just about anything) and his friends to help with our zany projects. Edie certainly likes Timmy, and I had to snap some pictures of the two of them; however, I couldn't get any where both of them had their eyes open.

Edie and Timmy

Taking a well-deserved break with Grampie and Baron (my parents Jack Russell)

Examining the quality of Dad and Timmy's work

"Yup, looks good."

I'll have more pictures of the office "after" over on the Silly Goose Farm website shortly.

Easter 2010

We actually celebrated Easter the weekend before actual Easter this year, considering Mom and Dad were already going to be at the house. This was the weekend before Eric was born. We decided Edie was big enough this year to try dying Easter eggs. Not sure how much she enjoyed it, but at least we gave it a try.

Edie's wearing the cutest apron she received for her birthday from my very good friend from college, Jenn - thanks Benny!

That's my dad, Grampie, holding Edie

I think this might have been the point when Edie stuck one of the color tablets in her mouth - she had an orange mouth for a day or two.

My mom, Grammie, stirring up the cups of color. I think dying eggs was really more for her and I.

Edie really, really loves brushing her teeth. Not a bad thing, I suppose.

Again, with the teeth. And a better shot of her apron.

Grammie showing Edie how to dye the eggs. Check out that purple unionsuit! It's from Aunt Angela and has her name on the butt-flap!

Usually, I'm the one taking the photos, but sometimes the lens is turned on me! As you can tell from this photo, I was about ready to pop anyway, so it's no surprise Eric came early. BTW - I think we've finally gotten Edie off the bottle. Now she's a full-time sippy-cup gal.

 

Come on, Grampie! No bunny ears!

What a Helper

She just came back from the park - hence the "tennis" outfit

"Here Momma, I got this for you!"

The thing about Edie is that she's usually up to no-good. But when you catch her in the act, she tries to fool you into thinking that she's helping you somehow. Case in point - she is forever getting into this cabinet, and when you sneak-up on her, she pretends that she was getting something for you, not causing total mayhem.

Let's Backtrack a Little, Shall We?

Now that we're finally in more of a routine around here (haha - yeah right), I'm hoping I can post pictures soon after I take them. But for now, let's play a little catch-up.

The day after we brought Eric home from the hospital, my Aunt Terri and grandma (GG) came out to pay the little bugger a visit. It was really sweet of them, considering it was a bit of a drive (about 2 hours) and my cousin, Lynnette, had a baby girl (Kaylee) just a few days before we had Eric. Here's a picture of Aunt Terri holding Eric. Look how jaundiced he was, poor baby!

Mom and Edie also came out earlier that same day (I have more pictures of the two of them somewhere - I'll post them as soon as I find them). It was so nice to have mom around to help take care of things while Dave and I adjusted to having two kids. Especially because Edie and Eric are so close together. Sometimes it's like having twins.

Edie immediately took to her little brother. I think she's really enjoyed playing the "big sister" role. Sometimes she steals his bottle away, sticks it in her mouth, and realizes, "Whoops, that's not mine!"

For the most part, she's been really good to him. Sometimes she tries to tickle his feet or give him a slap, but 95% percent of the time, she's incredibly sweet towards Eric.