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Maddie's Memoirs

It is Time

Things have been busy at my house. And by busy, I mean crazy. And by crazy, I mean insane. The only logical place to start is where I left off last...over a year ago.

After the holidays last year, Mommy and Daddy started acting funny. Week after week, they would go out for long periods of time and return with a car full of stuff. They would unload all of that stuff and haul it upstairs to a room they never went in before. Before we knew it, Daddy was in there painting the walls, assembling furniture and putting up curtains. While Daddy was doing all of this, Mommy was getting quite the belly. I know it isn't nice to say that Mommy was getting fat, but, well, she was! Bailey was hanging around Mommy a lot more. So I decided that I needed to do that, too. But somehow, Mommy didn't appreciate my efforts quite as much. Something about "every time I turn around I'm tripping over the Mooster!" I didn't quite understand what she meant.

Summer came, and Mommy's belly was sticking out even more. She was always complaining about how hot it was, and then she would go and turn the air conditioning even lower. I mean, we have fur coats and all, but we were starting to freeze. Poor Daddy probably wanted to wear a heavy winter jacket around the house. They started doing crazy things like going to the neighborhood pool and taking walks without us dogs. Sad, yes. But I remember Mommy telling me that it isn't because they don't love us. It is just because Mommy can't help Daddy hold any of the leashes right now. Daddy still took us out quite often to play fetch, so we didn't mind.

Just before Labor Day (again, not really sure what that is), Mommy and Daddy left for two days. Daddy stopped by a few times during those two days, but Mommy did not. Our wonderful neighbor came over quite frequently to feed us, to let us out and to play with us. When Mommy and Daddy finally came home, um, they had something else with them. A really tiny human. We could tell it wasn't another puppy, because it was not furry and it only had two legs. Interesting. We still aren't really sure why Mommy and Daddy felt we needed another living thing in the house. I mean, we were getting pretty crowded as it was. But, I guess they thought this was a good idea.

Bailey and Kelsey decided that this would be a good time to start sleeping more. They were glued to their beds for like months after that. I, on the other hand, decided I needed to do a thorough examination of this new human. My studies went on for days. And really, they are still ongoing. But after a few months, I believed I had gathered enough information to understand the situation. This little human (who, by the way, grows -- I mean she isn't as little as she used to be), is cute. She laughs. She giggles. She makes Mommy and Daddy smile a lot. She can't be half bad, right? Sometimes she cries, but I have to say, that isn't all that often. All in all, I think she's OK. Mommy and Daddy can keep her. In fact, I kind of like having her around. She likes to pet me (OK, really, she grabs my fur by the handful, but I'm cool with it). She laughs when I play fetch with the football. And when she's in that really high chair, good things fall to the floor...and her hands are yummy to lick.

The results of my studies? I think I like her. Yep. She can stay. I think that one day soon she and I will make great playmates. I can't wait for that day to come.

Until next time...

Happy New Year!

I don't know about you, but the holidays at my house were really fun. Bailey, Kelsey and I got to open our own Christmas presents. We each got a new toy and treats. My new toy is an orange ball with horns on it and feet. Sort of silly when you think of it, but boy is it a lot of fun. Kelsey got a new rope toy, and Bailey got a stuffed wart hog. All in all, not too shabby. Mommy and Daddy say that Santa brought us all of these presents.

Mommy and Daddy got presents, too. But they didn't really want my help in opening them. So, I waited patiently for them to open their gifts, and then I stole the wrapping paper. That stuff is so much fun!! Shredding, chewing, sending it flying through the air. Hours and hours of entertainment.

We had a super nice walk and game of fetch on Christmas Day. Then, I slept the rest of the day away. I was so very tired. Kelsey, too. Bailey is always tired.

Happy New Year everyone!

The Holidays

This sure is an exciting time of year at my house. This is my first Christmas with my mommy, daddy and sisters. And boy are we having fun. Mommy and Daddy put up what they call a Christmas tree. It has pretty lights and these things called ornaments hanging from its branches. Bailey's tail has pretty much knocked all the lower ornaments off the tree, so Mommy and Daddy had to move them all higher...so the bottom of the tree looks silly. When Bailey's tail knocks ornaments off the tree, I like to pick them up. You have to be very careful when you do this, though. Some of them break under too much pressure. Twice now Mommy and Daddy have had to clean up broken ornaments from the floor. I don't think it makes them too happy. I'll have to practice the art of holding an ornament in my mouth so I don't break any more of them.

We've been going on longer walks than normal these days. Mommy and Daddy like to look at all the lights in our neighborhood. I particularly like to look at the lit reindeer, especially the ones that move! But, if I feel they are the least bit threatening, I will be forced to bark at them.

In other news, Bailey's tail is well on the mend. Her fur is even starting to grow back. She's feeling much better. My sore throat has gone away, which is good, because now I can bark at full volume when Kelsey steals all the favorite toys. And speaking of Kelsey, she's doing well. She has been treated with many long games of fetch recently...and boy does that make her one happy (and tired) pup!

That's all for now. I'll be sure to let you know what Santa brings me!