Ellie Mae

I simply cannot believe that I am writing the post. I really truly can't. However, I sit here writing it. So...where do I begin?

I guess with the fact that it's been 10 1/2 months since we said goodbye to Sadie Jane. I wasn't planning on getting another dog....never, ever. I loved Sadie dearly, but I was getting used to not having a dog. Getting used to not having to scoop poop, not having to remember to feed yet another mouth in our home, pay vet bills, worry about how she was doing when we were at the lake in the summer, worry if my house smelled "like dog", and on and on. I loved Sadie, after all, I had her since I was 19 (I bought her when Darren and I were dating...she soothed my broken heart after a particularly rough, but short-lived break up before we got married), but I just never wanted another dog once she was gone. I am NOT a dog lover (in fact I am scared of most dogs), but Sadie was a one of a kind. She was the sweetest girl I've ever known (I'm crying my eyes out just remembering her) and no dog could ever be her, let alone replace her. I didn't even want to try to ever love another one. Yet, here I sit tonight with a precious lab pup in my lap. Her name is Ellie and while she'll never replace my Sadie Jane, I must admit that she is a sweetheart. See for yourself...

Now, here's how she came into my life....On Thursday night Darren told me had to run an errand and would be back in a hour. He asked Connor if he wanted to go with him (Coby and Cale had homework so they couldn't go). Connor wasn't sure if he wanted to go and Darren was being very secretive about where he was heading (which is very rare around here). Honestly, I thought Darren was going to get me some flowers or something, but then he told Connor that he'd be sad if he didn't go. I thought that was weird because why would Connor care if he didn't get to help pick out my flowers? Within a few minutes and a million questions from me, Darren and Connor headed out. I hate surprises...I really do, so once Darren left I was just racking my brain trying to think of what he could be up to. Then it hit me. Could he possibly be going to pick up a dog? After all, he had abruptly left once he got off the phone with a buddy of his and when I asked if his "errand" had anything to do with the phone call he just smiled and said, "maybe."

So, I grabbed that phone and called him immediately. {Poor guy, I am the worst person to try to surprise...I always figure out what he's up to because I hate surprises so much that I will not rest until I figure out what he's up to just so that I won't be surprised.} I told him if he was trying to surprise me with a dog that I didn't want it. I remember saying I don't want a dog to him about 100 times. "Is that what you're up to?", I asked him. He just laughed and said why don't you want a dog? That when I knew for sure what he was up to. Panic set in and I told him to just come home. I didn't want one. He told me that I'd really want this one. I didn't want to hear it. Not at all. Finally he told me that if I told him to come home he would. He'd call his friend and let him know he wasn't coming after all. I forced him to tell me what kind of dog it was (because that does matter after all!). He told me she was a lab. I told him I'd think about it (which is code for I need to call my mom and talk it out ;)) and I'd call him back in five minutes. Mom was no help AT ALL so I called Darren back. I didn't want to rain on his parade. After all, he was so excited and I think this dog he was going to pick up was more for him than me or the kids, whether he wanted to admit it or not. I told him that I wanted to tell him to turn around and come back home, but just couldn't...NOT that I was convinced that I wanted a pup, but more that, I just couldn't say with conviction that I didn't. He told me that we'd give it a few days and if I didn't want to keep her, he'd find a home for her. So, with that said, I agreed to give it a try.

This is Ellie on her first night home laying on Darren who was absolutely smitten with her from the get go. Who can resist this face? I couldn't. Which is why she's still here, sitting in my lap!

I will be honest...I do not handle new situations well. I am prone to anxiety and new situations just exasperate it. So, a new dog in the house has definitely freaked me out....like, A LOT. Thankfully after nearly 15 years of marriage Darren knows this about me so he took 2 nights off work to take care of "Miss Thing" (as he lovingly calls Ellie...so cute!) so that I wouldn't panic and send her packing. In fact, he went back to work tonight (an hour and half ago and he already called to check in and make sure that all is well...he doesn't want me to get overwhelmed...he knows me SO well). I am lucky that Darren will be coming home during the night (while he is working) to let her out for those middle of the night potty breaks. Either I'm really blessed with an amazing husband OR he's just really worried that Miss Ellie is going to send me over the edge. :) Either way, I'm OK with it as long as I can have uninterrupted sleep (which I should have since D was sure to get her a crate today and told me to be sure and put it in the laundry room so she won't keep me up! heehee) I'll just let him keep on thinking that I'm still up in the air about keeping her so that he'll keep handling the long nights until Ellie can make it all night without having to be taken out. It'll be our secret, OK? {wink, wink}

Oh, in case you're wondering, the boys love her. See?

I think they are as smitten as their daddy. They're just hoping mommy will let her stay...we'll see. She probably can as long as they're all helpful {wink, wink!}.

Did I mention that she's a mess? She is. It's a good things she's cute.

Stats: 8 1/2 weeks, 12.8 lbs at the vet on 2/10. Everyone we meet just LOVES her and they all say that she's going to be a big girl (like 60-75#). We'll see...