Happy 6th Birthday, Adler!

Six years ago, our dear Bernese Mountain Dog, Adler, was born. I think that day ranks right up there with the day that our kids were born.

A month before she was born, our breeder was expecting another litter. We thought that one of those pups from that litter would be ours but they only had two girls in that litter and those girls were already spoken for by the breeder and another family. We really wanted a girl, but the breeder said not to worry, one of her other pups was due with another litter a month later.

So on November, 27, 2005, four girls and two boys were born and one of them was our Adler (known then as "Pink" - the one on the right in the above picture). I remember feeling so elated that we finally got our pup after hours of interviews with Berner breeders. These people (us now) really love their dogs and made sure they weren't giving them to just anyone. Despite how Tom and I looked on paper, the biggest challenge we had was getting a breeder to be okay with giving a Berner to someone who lives in the city. We lived on the third floor then and we had to carry Adler for the first six months of her life up and down the steps until she grew too heavy. That was to protect her hips for as long as possible as the breed is prone to hip dysplasia. We also didn't/still don't have a backyard but we spun it as our dog would get walked twice daily and that would be better than letting her out in the yard by herself.

Who knew that on this day six years ago, our lives would change forever. Those who know me well, know how much I love this dog. I lay on the floor regularly with her and make sure she's getting enough attention, especially after the kids are in bed. And, for those who said she wouldn't be as much a part of our lives as before we had kids, I say you were wrong. I actually love her more now when I see her with our kids.

So today we celebrate Adler..today she got some new toys, some new treats and vanilla ice cream with a candle (that Austen blew out). Happy birthday girl! My wish for you today is many, many more happy birthdays!

A Little Bit OCD

So Friday I came home to find my house in disarray. Friday is our day for our cleaning ladies to come. Usually I come home and my house smells like lemon Pledge and a few things are out of place that I have to rearrange. Not so on Friday. My house still smelled lemony but as I walked in and scanned the place, I noticed that the majority of items on my kitchen counter were out of place. They were all precariously balancing on Peyton's highchair! In addition, our furniture was set up off kilter and needed rearranging. After about 15 minutes spent putting the kitchen/living room back together, I went to pick up the kids.

When we got home, Austen noticed that his room was not the way that he left it either. Here's his little tirade about how the cleaning ladies rearranged his room. What is even stranger is how they remade his bed. I guess they didn't like the way I made it!

Peyton's First Word

Peyton has just learned to wave hello and bye bye. I think now it's her favorite thing to do. Along with learning to wave, Peyton now says the word "hi." I didn't think that would be her first word. But then again, I didn't think that "down" would be Austen's first word either!

I guess it makes sense. Today, we were out and about in the city and Peyton was smiling at all the strangers that came into the elevator and waving at them. I was amazed at how social she was being in such a close space considering that she doesn't like a lot of people too close to her all at once.

She has also started to squeal with delight when seeing Adler. Today, she played by herself for about 40 minutes with her toys and cruised around using the furniture as her crutch. She approached Adler and was "talking" to her and then took off up our two little steps (which she can do on her own) and off she went into Austen's room where he was taking a nap. She didn't care. She went right in and used his stool to climb up on his bed! She actually woke him up (okay, so I let her since he had been asleep for awhile).

At almost 11 months, Peyton has a mind of her own already and exhibits signs of independence - good traits to have in a little girl!

Austen's Antics and Peyton Growing Up

At 10 1/2 months, Peyton is growing up quick. She has been pulling to a stand for at least a month and now she is getting more adventurous by holding on to a chair with one arm while standing. She's attempting to balance on her own and moving from one piece of furniture to another. She has mastered clapping her hands and can do it on demand. She also just learned how to wave. Her personality is definitely coming through more too and if she doesn't like something boy will she let you know it. She's definitely not a quiet kid!

Austen is all boy. He has been getting into mishievous when he's supposed to be asleep. Tom and I found him working at our desk one night - he was drawing with a pen (on paper, thank goodness!) and had taken all the post it notes and put them all over the desk (see picture below). He has also been rough housing with the boys at school and the older boys have taught the younger ones how to pee on each other. I'm so thrilled about that. I guess that comes with having a boy. But for the most part, he's a good kid and is enjoying basketball and swimming as his extracurricular activities this fall. Anything to tire him out!