Nana's Graduation

This is Nana's mom, Cathy. I just wanted to announce the our Nana just graduated from her first doggie class! She's been going through a phase and needed some encouragement to meet new dogs and their owner and we think this is a BIG new step. She's been a bit scared to visit our local dog park for over a year but we made the trip up there this week and she enjoyed the park with her favorite dog in the world, Musashi. She enjoyed it so much she went twice!!!

Nana made many new friends and learn some new tricks and perfected some old ones. She will truly miss going to these classes!

Cathy

Nana's Florida Vacation

My first vacation was to Gatlinburg, TN. I don't know if I liked it too much b/c we were so high up in the mountain but the walk in the doggie trail in the Smokies were might nice.

My second vacation was Destin, FL. I never seen the beach before so I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to see. The drive up there was crazy! The car was so hot I thought I was going to get heatstroke. My auntie Mika was dying in the backseat with us. We got to Destin at night but my mommy & auntie Mika took me and Mumu to the beach. The smell was different...and what was that white stuff?! I had a hard time walking it but I LOVE IT!! Sniff sniff sniff sniff...woosh, woosh...what is this woosh woosh. I slowly walked towards the sound and what do I find? OMG its WATER!!!!!! I hate water...get me home, GET ME HOME! I pulled my mom to the condo...only been there onces but I knew that was the safe place!!

The next morning, I woke up to bright sun light. Wow...its really bright in our condo. My mom called me and she's like "let me know show you something cool." So I slowly walked towards her and she opens the door and what do I see? A balcony and on that balcony its the outside! OH MAN I love just watching out side but watching the outside OUTSIDE is even more awesome!! I sat there with Mumu while he sun bathed. It was humid but we were shielded by the shade so it was really nice...I LOVED.

I spent all week on that balcony. I never got use to the waves but walking on the sand was really fun! The day we had to leave was very sad that my mommy kept on telling me we have to go b/c we had a long drive home. I hope we go next year...maybe when I'm two year's old I will be brave enough to get near the water like my big bro, Mumu did. He said he was scared 2 years ago but it was fun the 2nd time around.

Auntie Mika, can we go to Destin again next year?

Love,

Nana

Nana's 1st Birthday

September 16, 2006 is my first birthday!! I'm not a little girl anymore. Mommy seems a little sad b/c I'm not a little puppy anymore but she says she still LOOOOOOOVES me anyway! Mommy told the doggie nurse and my doggie vet, Dr. Mueller, that it's my b-day (Yes, I can't believe she sent me to the vet on my b-day but I like Dr. Mueller and my doggie nurse). I think my mommy's proud!! Sundays are my day with Mumu and Jiro so Mommy said its going to be my b-day party!! Unfortunately, I had to be dressed up for this occasion, which I didn't appreciate very much. A bandana saying I'm the Birthday Dog....you think this was enough but they even put on a hat that says "Birthday" on it! UGH!! Mumu and Jiro express the same sentiments b/c Jiro wore it once and once my mommy took the picture to prove he wore the dorky hat he had to attack it. Mumu said he remembers this from his 1st b-day and he says it must be a ritual that's going to be passed down. You're next Jiro....Muhahahaha *evil laugh*

Auntie Mika made some appetizers for the party....ham, cheese, and egg rolls! OMG those were sooooo yummy!!! For my b-day cake, my mommy bought my favorites, pup tarts, from the 3 Dog Bakery! Mommy and Okasan put a candle on it and sang Happy B-day for me!! Those pup tarts are soooo good Jiro tried to eat mine too! Excuse me...I'm the birthday pup here!! Also my mommy bought some doggie cookies that look like orieos so I can't wait to have those! Mommy said I had too much to eat already so those are for tommorrow....boo hooo!!

As much as I hated the dorky bandana and hat, I had a FAB of a day!

I can't wait for next year!!

Love,

Nana

My new cousin, Jiro

My aunt Mika adopted a new puppy named Jiro. He's a shiba inu just like me but I wonder why he's not the same color as me. He's black and tan and not red like me and Mumu...interesting. Jiro is fully of energy!! He makes a good playmate b/c he doesn't like to lose just like me!! I guess this makes him the baby of the family and I'm the middle puppy...dunno how I like that. But I'm still the princess of the Bates household!

I wonder what kind of trouble we can get into together! I think we are going to wore Mumu and Oka-san out!!

Love,

Nana

Nana's First Christmas

Nana woke up earlier than usual Christmas morning. She jump on my face and even bite my nose going "wake up! wake up!!" She's a sensitive girl...I wonder is she knew it was Christmas or was it b/c she got to go over to Aunt Mika, Uncle Keith, and Mumu's house. Their house is so big!! They even have a yard...no leash...total freedom!! YUPPEEE! It was indeed a very busy day...O-kasan trying to get all the food coordinated. I had to get stuff packed up in the car...grandpa Larry wasn't around so Miss Nana must of felt neglected :'( She felt the bustle in the air but I'm sure she didn't like being ignored...*Nana sniff sniff around the Christmas tree* I'm thinking... "hmmm...pee or poop time?" Nana just went out pee recently...it's probably nothing..."OMG no Nana!!" *feel the carpet around the Christmas tree" *phew...sigh of relief* "No pee!! GOOD GIRL!!"

Nana couldn't wait to get to Mumu's house. Usually she sleeps but she didn't there...trying to get out of Okasan's lap...*huff* Nana puffs "Are we there yet?!" We get to Mumu's house and Nana is just totally excited that she just flips out "LET ME GO!! I must go inside!!" O-kasan just has no choice and has to let Nana goes...*ZOOM* through each room in the house...non-stop...of course until dinner. It wonder if this incident shows that dogs can coordinate b/c they just sat like little angels going around the table, waiting to be fed. Is this a good thing or what?

We all had a wonderful Christmas. Nana was so tired when she got home she just fell on her bed and slept. O-kasan and I thought "great! it's our breather!" I decided to check out the bag of gift that needs to be distributed later so I slide it towards me...*sniff sniff* "what is that smell?" and as I look down I see a brown streak..."OMG!!" I pick up the bag and what do I find...a special "don't ignore me...Merry Christmas!!" gift from Nana. Two turds...stuck on the bottom of the bag...harden not soft. I guess the lesson I learned that day is even for a little bit you have to give Nana some attention or else she may let you know with some action. Action IS louder than words.

Nana's first bath at the Bates household

Nana is going to her 2nd vet visit. Cathy & O-kasan thought Nana needs to look and smell her best to her 2nd vet visit so what to do but get a bath? Aunt Mika gave Nana a bath before she came to her permanet home at the Bates household and based on that information her experience wasn't that good :( Based on her few "accidents" in the crate and having to have the occasionaly psedo-baths in the kitchen sink Cathy thought "this won't be too bad! Nana will have a nice time." I pick Nana up and takes her into the kitchen. Even at this age she knows KITCHEN = FOOD so she was pretty excited that she got to go into the kitchen. She gets put into the sink and she's thinking "OK another butt cleaning" but nooo she sees lukewarm water all over her body so she screams bloody murder!! I remember having to give Mumu a bath and I just felt the nightmare flood back but I couldn't back down...one thing we can't have is a stinking dog...my baby has to smell good!! So I just bite my lip and just give her a bath. Luckily she quiets down but she's shivering like crazy. After the bath I didn't realize how fuzzy she was. I knew she was fuzzy but she was a huge fuzz ball in a little body. She was pretty quiet all day...I wish she'll evenutally like baths...I wish I knew how I can make her enjoy one. One bath down many more to go...sigh.