Newest Addition!!

We would like to introduce the newest addition to our family...Bella, our new little white lab puppy!!! Yep, that's right, daddy finally gave in after lots of begging (and mommy finding exactly what she wanted so didn't really give him a choice and just told him we were getting puppy lol!) Brooklyn has been BEGGING for a dog...for FOREVER.  Ben is not a huge dog fan but the past few months has given in a little here and there and admitted it would be good for our kids..he was just concerned because we don't have a fence. After I heard that, I took it as a go and started my research.  From what I found out and read, labs are great dogs.  Hyper as puppies, yes, but what puppy isn't?  And mommy needs a running buddy at 5 am this winter, so I'm planning on running all of the hyper out of her!  We purchased her from a guy in Orem who was so super nice and gave us a great deal. Ben and I left the kids at home and thought we would just go "look" at the puppies...but as soon as I got out of the car and saw Bella, I FELL IN LOVE!! Oh my heck she was so dang cute and so cuddly. The guy saw how much I wanted her, saw how leery Ben was.(especially about the price...full bread white female labs can be pricey by the way!) So gave us a great deal, knowing we were going to give her a great home.  So it was a done deal!! As we drove a way I looked at Ben and this was his exact comment, " I literally feel sick.  I'm more scared to bring a puppy  home then a baby...I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO TAKE CARE OF A PUPPY!!!" So, off to Pet Smart we went.  Got all of the advice, necessities, and treats you can imagine...and then home to give the kids the biggest surprise of their little lives.  After I took the babysitter home I held Bella and walked to the front where the kids and Ben were just hanging out...oh my gosh, the look on Brooklyn's face was PRICELESS!! I will never forget that reaction for as long as I live.  That puppy has gotten more love and attention then you can imagine!! She gets carted around EVERYWHERE, played with if we are home AT ALL, and is loving the attention.  As of right now we are working on the following so if you have any advice pls feel free to help: not nipping at the kids. (I grab her snout and say NO! but she thinks we are just playing more and more when we do that and doesn't quite get it.  Going potty in the same area of the yard...not working so great ( I went and bought some bark because someone told me if I start taking her on the bark bed that she will do that..not working, she likes the grass to much) and just the simple little tricks.  She's got sit down, fetch, stay (kinda), etc..  

Ben is totally against letting her in the house...but we've managed to sneak her in here and there (she stays on her pillow the whole time so it's not a problem and we love to love on her) she is kennel trained already and doesn't make a peep at night..what a good girl.  She's definitely a smart little thing and we LOVE having another girl in the family ha ha!  To all of those dog lovers, this is our first so we kinda have no idea what we are doing, if there is are any hidden tricks..pls pls share!!  I will also have you know that I can't Ben ALL OF THE TIME checking on Bella, petting her, and when I can't find him in the house guess where he is???playing in the back with Bella!! LOL!  He loves her..he just won't admit it!  I think he came to terms that this is usually the time when we start thinking about having another baby and since that's not happening...a puppy was the next best thing to make the wife happy! haha Thanks babe, we love you!!!

 Just a couple hours after getting her home

Sleepy little thing she is...she's growing out of that now.  Crazy how fast they grow.  She was 6 weeks when we got her and is 8 now.  I kid you not she's so much bigger already.

My boys are still a little nervous around her but are getting way better.  They have learned to just stand up to her and to stop running if they don't want he to chase them.  That was hard to teach...um, of course you run away from the running dot mom!  They didn't get that you need to stop or they will chase you!  They love her now!