Oh Baby!

Jon says we don't need to have a baby because we already have one. She's on the hairy side.
I owe you all a thank you and an apology. I am so grateful to have heard several reports this week that our blog is being read, enjoyed, and appreciated, and I am so sorry that my posting has been so sparse. There's something pretty huge and fantastic and exciting that's been building in our life over the past few months, weeks, and now days, but unfortunately, it's not quite time to release the breaking news to the world wide web, so stay tuned. I know it's hard to believe, but it's true, there's bigger news than our adorable new puppy...
Is it just me or is Alley HUGE already!!???! You can even tell from pictures how big she's grown! I took her to the vet on Friday for her required second set of shots before our first day of school the next day (Is it just me, or is a puppy eerily like a child?) and she has gained 7 pounds in the last three weeks, weighing in at a whopping 30 lbs.

Here we are on our first day of Puppy Kindergarten...

I'm unsure about one dog, so you can imagine that an hour and a half in a room with 30 dogs was just a party for me. We sat around the edge of the room, and each dog was given a bone to preoccupy themselves with while the proud parents were loaded with a lecture, mostly focused on housebreaking. Praise Jesus that Alley hasn't had an accident in days. *crossing my fingers* The first lesson was a bit anti-climactic, but hopefully things will liven up in the weeks to come. We did learn what the absolute most important thing for a dog to know is; do you know? Guesses? It's their name. Alley almost always responds to me when I call her name, but unfortunately has gotten used to my high pitched tone, and doesn't seem to understand Jon as well. We learned a game to practice her name for homework. I must give Jon absolute props for being puppy Daddy of the year. He scoops the poop, and dutifully walks the dog every morning at 6am, usually after being out of bed once before at 4am to let her outside. What more could a newlywed wife ask for? Tonight he even walked Alley in the pouring rain! I missed a great picture of the dripping wet duo. Darn it! Another school assignment accomplished; get your dog used to the rain...check!

All is well on the West Coast at the VanderMeulen's. Alley is still a puppy, but has finally become "real" and not just what at first felt like a figment of my imagination, clumsily bounding around our house.

I promise to fill you in on our secret great joy very, very soon...hopefully within the next week. Peace and love...always!