Freedom!

I was released from Puppy Prison (as Bailey likes to call it) this morning...finally! It feels good to be home. I ran into the house and sniffed everything to make sure no funny business had happened while I was gone. There are a few extra toys for Lily lying around, but everything else seems to be the same. Anyway, I figured you all were worried about me. I just wanted to let you know that I survived and am home now. Hopefully I won't have to go back to that place for a while though. Now I'm going to settle in to take a nice, long nap. I'm exhausted!

Opossum!

There was an opossum in my yard tonight! My stupid people wouldn't open the door for me. I would've totally torn that dirty rodent to pieces.

Firsts

The other night Lily had just taken a bath and was ready for bed when the Pattonville Fire Department came through the neighborhood. An SUV, ambulance and pick-up pulling a flat bed trailer slowly came down the street with their lights and sirens on with someone on a bullhorn saying "Come out and see Santa!" We had forgotten they do this every year. It was perfect because Lily hadn't seen Santa yet. So, my people put her coat and hat on and took her outside. Instead of elves, firefighters assist Santa. Katie handed Lily over and the nice fireman set her on Santa's lap. Lily didn't cry at all, just stared at Greg and Katie with a look like "What are you doing to me?" Here's the picture. I think it's funny that Lily's in her pajamas. Of course, I watched all of this from inside the front door. Btw, is it just me or does Santa look like he can't be much older than 20?


Last weekend, we got our first big snow of the season. I'd say a good 6 or 7 inches fell. I had a lot of fun running in it. My people took Lily out to see what she would do. She just sat in it until her bottom got cold, then she cried. I bet she likes it better once she's walking...maybe the next snow storm that comes through.


And just for your viewing pleasure, here's a picture of me relaxing on the couch. This is as far as my people will let me get up. It seems pretty silly to me, they may as well let me get all the way up.


I don't know if you noticed the edging on the coffee table. My people just added that this past weekend. Something about protecting Lily while she learns how to walk...

Merry Christmas...Go Elf Yourself

I've been working a new routine with my family. Click on the Elf Dance below (I hope the link works). Enjoy!

Elf Dance

Putting Two and Two Together

Last night I heard my people talking about how they've made hotel reservations for their trip. They've also been discussing how they want to handle the drive to South and North Carolina after Christmas. A few weeks ago they mentioned having my reservations made at the kennel. I'm really not liking the sound of all this. I even heard Katie telling Greg that the kennel offers five different kinds of "suites", but only have "studio apartments" available the week after Christmas. I definitely don't like that sound of that! If they're going to put me in a kennel, they should at least have the decency to reserve the Penthouse Suite for me, don't you think?!

On another, more exciting note, Lily took her first steps this week! She's still not really walking, but I'm sure she'll be chasing me around the house in no time. I can't wait.

1 Year Check-Up

Here are Lily's 1 year stats:

Height: 28-1/2"--25th percentile
Weight: 16.11 lbs.--First percentile, barely hanging on to the charts on this one.
Head: 18"--70th percentile

I've been convinced that my new little friend is a genius. That head size confirms my beliefs. Here is a conversation from the movie "So I Married an Axe Murderer" that gets quoted in the house after Lily's doctor's appointments. Enjoy.

Stuart Mackenzie: Look at the size of that boy's heed.
Tony Giardino: Shhh!
Stuart Mackenzie: I'm not kidding, it's like an orange on a toothpick.
Tony Giardino: Shhh, you're going to give the boy a complex.
Stuart Mackenzie: Well, that's a huge noggin. That's a virtual planetoid.
Tony Giardino: Shh!
Stuart Mackenzie: Has it's own weather system.
Tony Giardino: Sh, sh, shh.
Stuart Mackenzie: HEAD! MOVE!

---

Stuart Mackenzie: I'm not kidding, that boy's head is like Sputnik; spherical but quite pointy at parts! Now that was offsides, wasn't it? He'll be crying himself to sleep tonight, on his huge pillow.

Happy Birthday

Lily's big bash was this past weekend. At least, I think it was. My people rudely locked me in the basement for the duration of the party. It was torture hearing all those people and kids talking, laughing and eating without me. I'll find a way to get them back. Anyway, I found these pictures on the computer.

It looks like she could have used some help with that cake.

Nevermind, she appears to have figured it out.

This is one of her more dangerous gifts. This lifelike lion makes all sorts of scary noises.