INTRODUCING...

Miss Molly Cookie-Thomas Selter

That's right....we got a dog. Not only a dog, a puppy. Molly is a mutt, adopted Friday night from the AZ Humane Society. It is unknown just how big she will get someday. I keep guessing on the lower end, for Eric's sanity. But when he took her to the vet today, they guesstimated that if she really is only two months, she could grow up to 100 POUNDS!!! Oops. Too late now. Noah is in love. It has been such a lesson in responsibility for him. He is turning down offers to go to friends' houses to exercise his dog, even shoveling poop the instant it hits the ground. We'll see how long that lasts! No better feeling as a mom than seeing pure joy on your son's face. Caleb on the other hand can not make up his mind. It is sort of a love-hate relationship. My favorite moment so far was when Molly was sleeping on her blanket, Caleb pounces in her face screaming at the top of his lungs, and she paws at him. He immediately starts fake-crying and sadly says, "Mom, she thinks I'm a toy." Ten minutes later he was crying because he wants 2 dogs. Later he was found eating dog biscuits by himself in the kitchen. Awesome.

The name game.

What should we name her? Let's throw out some suggestions and we'll vote. It went something like this...

Noah, "I think we should name her Bella."

Caleb, "Uuuhhhhhhh, COOKIE-THOMAS!'

Eric, " I'm sticking with D-O-G."

Me, "I like Bella. We need more options."

Noah, "Bella is good aaannnd......"

Me, "How about Molly?"

Eric, "What about Yao?"

Caleb, "She is Cookie-Thomas!"

Noah, "I like what you like, Mom."

Eric, "Molly is good."

Noah, "I say what Mom says."

Caleb, "COOKIE-THOMAS!"

Mom, "Everyone agrees. Hands in. It's Molly Cookie-Thomas."

Everyone puts their hands in. We agree on Molly Cookie-Thomas (with a hyphen).

The first night.

All four people start in mom and dad's bed. Molly in her crate, next to the bed. Five minutes later, Dad is on the floor cuddling with Molly. In the morning, they were snuggling together on the couch. If you know my husband. It takes A LOT to get him out of his own bed, especially when I am in it. Dad is smitten.

The second night.

Dad AND Noah sleep on the couch with Molly.

The third night.

The boys are back in their own beds. Molly actually sleeps in her crate. Mom and Dad get their bed back. We put her in the crate, she cries, she whines. Mom and Dad ignore her. Pretend you are sleeping. It's just like having a newborn all over again. Been there, done that. Twice. Dad took her out at 2:20. Mom woke up with her at 5:30.

Overall.

She is a doll. I LOVE her. I love the way she wobbles when she runs, the way she moans when you pet her, and the way she snores in her sleep. I love the thought of a big dog growing with my family, playing fetch at the park, and running and hiking with us in years to come. But most of all, I love the smile on Noah's face when she chases her toys around the yard and I love the giggles from Caleb when she does basically anything. :)

Not quite the Molly I had imagined in my dreams, but she is fitting in quite nicely. Good girl, Molly.