I got a dog

So I have been thinking/rationalizing about getting a dog for a number of months now and this last week I went out and got me one! Because I've been asked so many times I figured I would put the basics here for anyone who is interested, but if you ask me in person I will surely tell you too because I love my little guy!

Where did you get him??? Sioux Falls Humane Society, he was a stray (meaning he was dropped off during the night or was found) so not much was known about him. I adopted him on 4/4 and he had been at the shelter since 3/24 I think.

What is his name??? Ernie--since he was a stray I don't know what his name was before. Ernie is the name they gave him at the Humane Society & if just seemed to fit. He is already pretty good with his name. I really like that all my pets' names start with a vowel, but this has proved to make things a little more difficult when I am calling one specific pet because Ernie will pretty much come either way.

How old is he??? The humane society had 2 years on all his papers, but the vet in Hartford said that he was likely in between 1 & 2. So his 2nd birthday I have decided will 7/4/2012 (which should be easy to remember since it's Independence Day and my sober birthday)

What kind of dog is he??? So initially I didn't know that "Dachshund" is pronounced "Doxen". I, with my 2 years of French class in high school, assumed it was pronounced "Duh-shawnd". I was on the phone with my mother at the time I made this blunder & I'm pretty sure she peed her pants laughing at me. So I may be college educated, but there was no dog breed pronunciation class in pharmacy school and we never had dogs growing up so I seriously had no clue. Do you need something to make fun of me for forever? Here you go. Anyways...

Ernie is a mini dachshund, black & tan, short hair bundle of joy.

What do the cats think??? Edie hissed when I first brought him in the house, but remarkably, the three of them have been getting along pretty darn good. Ernie likes to sleep in the cat beds, Arthur likes to sleep in Ernie's kennel, Ernie likes to sneak some cat food when he can & play with cat toys, Edie is totally the boss of the house, Arthur is OK as long as he gets some momma time & gets to drink out of the sink...I think it might take a little while, but one of these days I'm going to find them all 3 snuggling together. I took a nap this afternoon before work & had Ernie under the covers between my legs, Arthur leaned up against my right arm, & Edie leaned up against my left arm.

How has he been with you going back to work??? So I love the fact that every other week I get 7 days off...but that means that every other week I have to work 7 X 10 hr days. This is my 2nd day of my 7 on & Ernie has been in his kennel while I have been at work. It's not ideal (ideal would be having every day off from work) but he is doing really well. I still have taken him on a walk each day and play with him during the day before I go to work. He is not a morning dog (the first morning with him I was up at 6 am to let him out, he went outside, looked around & went back inside, then he crawled back up on to my bed & under the covers until I work up at 10:30) so he has been doing good sleeping when I sleep for the most part.

Ernie quirks:
- loves squeaky, stuffed toys
- does not like any kind of clothing even though I got him a cool "The Avengers" t-shirt
- farted on the couch the other day, and I had to think to myself if it was really him because I could have sworn it wasn't me
- 2 poops a day
- likes to poop inside establishments (Petsmart, my friend Linda's house)
- barked at his own reflection in some glass today, I actually laughed out loud

New addition to the Corbett clan-- Miss Kaylee Danielle!!

So a little over a week ago the planet Earth was lucky enough to gain the awesomeness that is my new baby niece.

The stats:
Birth date: Monday, March, 26th 2012
Time: 1910
Weight: 8 lb 6.2 oz
Length: 21 in
Gender: Female
Cuteness: infinity

I didn't get to see her the evening she was born (bummer I know, but I'm glad my bro & sister-in-law got some time to themselves with her before the madness erupted). Although I didn't get to see her that night, I did get hear her while talking on the phone with my bro.

I got to see her early on Tuesday morning, about 8 o'clock, which should tell you right there my level of excitement & dedication because I'm usually not up that early unless I'm having digestive issues. I got to hold her, and give her kisses, and tell her how beautiful she is, and stroke her full head of hair!, and just be the proudest aunt & sister ever. We got to go back later in the afternoon after my mom and I went a little wild at Target buying baby girl stuff. I was about ready to buy her a barbie car (the ones little kids can drive, with the phone, you know?) so I was getting just a tiny bit ahead of myself. We also got to skype with my other brother, sister-in-law, & nephew while at the hospital. Benson told my brother that he wanted to see the baby. I can't wait until May 6th when I can see both my nephew & niece together--it might cause some kind of natural disaster having that much cuteness in such close proximity.

When I found out my brother Jon & his wife Alicia were pregnant, I was so excited, but part of me was worried that by having another niece or nephew (we didn't find out the gender until she was born) it would make me love my nephew Benson less, or that I would love the baby less, basically I felt like I would have to pick one that I loved more because it wouldn't be possible to love them both as much as I loved Benson. As soon as I heard her little voice through the phone, before I even saw her, I understood that I had nothing to worry about. It's so hard to explain, but I don't even know this little girl yet and I already love her as much as I possibly can. I would do anything for her. And I still love my nephew in the exact same way. It's obviously a little different because I have a relationship with Benson. He is old enough to know who I am and we have already shared so many wonderful times together. With Kaylee, she is so little and brand new and I would just love to be able to hold her all the time.

Seriously though, I love those 2 kids more than I ever thought I would be capable of loving anything. I mentioned this a couple weeks ago to a friend, but it is so true. I would easily take a bullet, jump in front of a train, do whatever for those kids, it would honestly be one of the easiest decisions I would ever make. Considering it takes me 5 minutes to decide which loaf of bread to buy in the store, it helps put things into perspective.