Hooray for Lollipop

Lollipop made the window at Loose Pooch Social Club this month. Here she is all dressed up like a reindeer for Christmas:

A few important things to note about Lollipop:

#1 She has STOPPED barking

When we first got Lollipop she never barked. The very day we brought Samantha home, things changed. She adored Samantha from the start however she took on the role of protector and anyone or anything that made noise set her off into a barking tangent. And then to make matters worse, she began to bark at Todd and I for both attention and food. Since I didn't want her to wake up the baby, I would give in and feed her thus rewarding her bad behavior. I resorted to a collar that made a high pitch beep when she barked. I used it once and it cured her barking.

#2 She has lost weight

Without bribing her with food to stop barking, she has dropped a few pounds. At her highest weight, she tipped the scales at 13 lbs which I wouldn't say is morbidly obese but definitely overweight for an Italian Greyhound. She began to look a little basset houndish from behind. Family and friends were commenting on her weight gain which I guess is socially acceptable when it's an animal.....

At her last vet visit she weighed in at a svelte 11 lbs. Our goal is to get her down to 10 lbs and we are thinking with the new yard she will meet this goal.

Our next obstacle to deal with - Begging!! But we are taking it one day at a time.

Hooray for Lollipop!

Christmas 2008

We had hoped to be in the new house for Christmas but we ran into a little snafu with the floors - nothing Super Todd can't fix but it is delaying us a bit. We are already anticipating next year doing it up big with the tree, lights and holiday decor.

We did have a nice Christmas morning with just our family. We opened a few gifts (Samantha mostly ate wrapping paper and tangled herself in bows) and then went to Dancing Grandma and Grandpa's house in Thousand Oaks where Samantha was spoiled. Later in the evening we went to the Stones for a lovely dinner.

Here are some photos:

A pony from Grandma and Papa Robinson

A fairy scooter from The Thompson's

Lollipop got a yellow squeaky seahorse from Santa. This was to replace the blue seahorse that was wounded in a Zuki/Lollipop battle. However, later that evening the yellow seahorse lost it's squeak some how?!

A new sweater for Todd

A new book

to read on my new couch that will be delivered in 4 to 6 weeks :) (thanks Todd!!!)


Grandma's pretty tree

Samantha mistaking her new outfit from Grandma for a phone

A cute Tennis outfit from Uncle Drew and Auntie Justine

Samantha loved going up and down the steps at Grandma's house

I wish I got a picture of Grandpa Ward and Samantha together because they were dressed very similar.

Lollipop dressed to impress Zuki


Samantha and Connor in their Christmas PJ's

Trip to Colorado

Party!!

We had our first annual holiday company party. What company you might ask? It's the company that Sarah, Marina, Laurie and I work at. It's called Reese, Isabella, Connor and Samantha Inc. We left the little one's at home and enjoyed a great evening at Opal Restaurant.

We started the night off by having our babysitter take a photo of us - it felt very prom-like....

Ronda and Todd
Sarah and Mike
Dr. Phil and Marina
Laurie and Chris

This years work party coincided with Sarah's birthday!!!

A toast to the New Year, Sarah's Birthday and a successful year at "work"



Looking forward to the next company party!

Live Animal

Musician

Maybe the Yellowbird music classes are paying off??

Passed Out

Apparently my rendition of "Oh, What Busy Days" is lacking because Samantha fell asleep in the middle of story time tonight.

House Pics

Here are some photos of the kitchen today. We will be painting the cabinets white and the counter tops will be black granite. And of course, the appliances and sink still need to be installed.

Kitchen

We are getting there - will post more pictures this week after the cabinets are completed.  Notice Mini Me in the window supervising. 

Punky Power

So I was at Trader Joe's today in the produce section and an older man asked if I worked there. I told him sorry that I didn't and continued on my way. I knew him from somewhere but couldn't put my finger on it. Finally at the checkout area I realized it was Henry, Punky's dad, from Punky Brewster. That was my FAVORITE show when I was little. I purposely walked slow with my cart out to the parking lot because I knew he would be behind me. I am not really sure what I thought I was going to say to him..... "Hi, just wanted to say that I LOVED Punky Brewster" or worse I could have exclaimed "Punky Power!!!!!!" I refrained from saying anything lame and got in my car and went home. But now I am wishing I had said something because it is seriously 5 hours later and I am still thinking about it.

Children of the 80's know what I am talking about, right???

Little Sprout

I managed to sneak some ponytails in Samantha's hair without her knowing.

Problem Solved

Samantha is not a big fan of me trying to brush her teeth before bed so I found a new solution and she has become a dentist's dream.

Cookie Monster

Guess who ate way too many cookies at the Yellowbird Holiday party?

Guess who didn't eat their dinner tonight because she filled up on cookies?

Santa Paws Dogfest

It was a beautiful day today in Santa Barbara. Todd was working at the new house so the girls and I went to the Santa Paws Dogfest sponsored by the Shiva's Center at Ellings Park. The festival included lots of demonstrations, such as Animal Communication, Agility and Flyball Courses and Doggie CPR.

Lollipop had her picture taken with Santa Paws. I tried to get Samantha to be in the picture but she was a little freaked out by Santa. I don't blame her, he looked more like a bank robber than Santa.

1 Year Stats

Height: 29 1/2 inches (73%)

Weight: 21 lbs (50%)

Favorite Foods: Scrambled eggs, Mandarin oranges, blueberries, grapes, chicken, pizza, & burritos

Favorite Activities: Going grocery shopping, playdates with friends, Yellowbird Music Class, tug-of -war with Lollipop and reading books

Favorite Shows: Sesame Street and Little Einsteins

Words: Mama, Dada, Hi, Yummy Yummy, No, Uh Oh, Eyes and Thank you

Strengths: Dancing (see video below)

Happy Birthday Samantha

Samantha Delilah was born this day last year at 12:10 AM weighing 7 lbs 8 oz and 20 1/2 inches long

Samantha had a great birthday and was spoiled by family and friends.

Here she is putting together her new wagon with Daddy (notice she is trying to get Dad to use the instructions):

Samantha is starting to say more words

And Elmo is teaching her how to dance!

Happy Birthday Samantha!