Bye Buddy!

This is kind of a hard subject to talk about. We have had Buddy since he was a puppy (he's 5 yrs. old now). For years we have talked about giving Buddy to another home. We love him but with our growing family and lifestyle I always feel guilty that he's outside all the time. I didn't like that I couldn't just let my kids out in the backyard with him (with out my supervision). He's very sweet but HUGE. And he doesn't really know his own strength. So I felt like I had to constantly watch him around the kids to make sure he didn't accidentally knock them over or step on them. So this last week we just happened to meet someone very interested in adopting Buddy. It happened really fast. Tuesday, March 15th (yes the day I went into labor with Callie) they came to pick him up.

When we first told Mason that Buddy was going to a new home he had a total melt down crying and saying, "I don't want Buddy to go away! He's my dog. I love him. Look mom Buddy's sad he wants to stay here." Noah never seemed too upset with our conversations about Buddy moving to California and living on a big farm.
Tuesday at 6:30am they came to get Buddy. I made sure the boys got some play time with Buddy before they came. Mason was a little sad but by now I think he'd accepted the fact that Buddy was going away. Noah was just swinging on his swing as usual. When the new owners started to put the leash on Buddy this was Noah's response:
I was shocked. He full on broke down and was crying, "No! That's my dog. I don't want Buddy to go!" It was really sad. I was surprised because even though I know that Noah has always loved Buddy it was usually from a distance or through the sliding glass door. Mason on the other hand was very quiet as the new owners took Buddy out to their car. Once Buddy was in the back of the car we told Mason to say his last good bye and at this point he said "bye Buddy" with a soft voice choked up trying to hold back his tears. It was very sad to see Buddy go but I think it's for the best. Especially for Buddy's sake. He's going to a home with owners who have more time and resources for him.

He looked so sad and confused in the back of their vehicle.

Good-bye Buddy. We're going to miss you!

Some of Buddy's good qualities:

He was very good with other dogs. Very friendly. At the dog park he would "hang out" with the great danes. Probably because he was practically their size.

He also almost NEVER barks! Definitely a great quality. Even on walks when other dogs would go crazy and bark at us Buddy was always calm and never bark back.

Even though he was a high energy dog he was very good around kids. Or as good as a dog his size could be. (You just had to watch out for his tail, feet or any sudden turns!)

I HATE this picture of me but it shows just how sweet and gentle he could be. He was a very loving and protective dog. When I was pregnant with Mason we would take Buddy to the dog park and he was always very protective of me making sure other dogs did not come around me. He always had to be between me and any other dog that came close and if they came too close he would snarl at them. He didn't always do that, just when I was pregnant. I loved taking him on my jogs (he'd jog up to 5 or 6 miles with me). I felt very safe no matter what time of day it was. Who was going to mess with me when Buddy was around?!

Some of his "imperfections":

He was always getting into something. I couldn't keep ANY food out on the counter. So, I guess it was a good thing cuz I had to have a clean kitchen.

He was very playful but as he grew this became something to watch out for. He would often jump on you to play... not too fun when you're pregnant or just in general.

The new owners sent us this picture. I guess they left their car door open and Buddy just climbed right in! Ha if you knew Buddy you'd be shocked at this. I love all 120lbs. of him but... the dumb dog NEVER got into the car on his own. You always had to lift him up into the car. For a dog of his size and capability you'd thinking getting in and out of a vehicle would be pretty easy. Even my little hyundai accent he wouldn't just step in.

More Callie!

My mom is so sweet and always willing to come help me out. She is an expert at bathing new borns and loves to (I hate working around the yucky belly button). So Callie's first bath at home was done by Grandma Faler! Callie did pretty good, but was definitely happy when it was all over!

Callie's first "Photoshoot"!

My sister Corinne makes these adorable onsies. She adds ruffles on the bum and a matching embroidery to embellish on the front. Super cute! When I dressed Callie in it I just had to take some pictures! I love it!

3 days old!

Ok! When I dressed Callie up in this I admit I did go a little nuts! Ron said "Enough already!" Later he asked me if I was allowed to play with Barbie's when I was younger. I answered, "Yes. I had a Barbie McDonald's, and Corvette... etc. Why?" He replied "Oh. I thought you were just trying to make up for lack of "Barbie dress-up time" when you were young. And now just taking that out on Callie."

5 days old!

Baby Callie has arrived!!

Callie Michelle Huber

March 15th, 2011

11:33pm

7 lbs. 10 oz.

20.5 inches long

We are so happy to announce our first baby girl! Guess I'll have to change my Blog title "All My Boys". Hmmmmm...
Labor:

My labor this time around was very similar to Mason's labor and delivery. My water broke around 3:20pm on Tuesday March 15th. (Thankfully this time I wasn't at work when it broke.) By the time Ron got home, we got all packed up and had dropped the boys off at Grandma and Grandpa's it was about 8:30pm when we arrived at the hospital. By now I was having pretty good contractions about every 5-7 mins. When they checked me in triage I was disappointed to discover I was only dilated 3 cm. BLAH. Oh-well I decided to get an epidural (which happened about 9:30pm). Around 11pm they checked me again and discovered I was fully dilated and my Baby girl was coming soon! Callie came out with only 2 pushes at 11:33pm. So glad I got the epidural. It definitely helped me relax and let nature take it's course!

I have ALWAYS wanted to name my first baby girl Callie. But when it actually comes down to it... it is really hard to pick a name out for your child. Mason thought we should name her Jesus at first then lately he changed his name to Rapunzel. (We recently went to the movie Tangled) He was pretty adamant too. "No! Her name is Rapunzel!"

Ron really wanted to name her Megan. I like that name I just didn't feel it! We even considered the name Sadie, which I love but in the end Callie won!

Proud Grandparents:

Noah was unable to come to the hospital because he was sick.

Luckily my Dad was able to bring Mason to meet Callie.

He was sure infatuated with her (and also all the buttons and gadgets in the hospital room!)

When we brought Callie home on Thursday both boys just loved to sit by her and pet her head and give her kisses. At one point she started crying and they both ran over to her and started reading books to her to help her stop crying. It was very sweet to watch! (For some reason I only got pics of Mason reading to her. Noah did too! I got a cute video clip of them both reading to her but it wouldn't download.)

That night at bedtime Mason asked if Callie was going to sleep in his room. We of course told him no. He responded, "But I want baby Callie to sleep with me. I will take good care of her." It was really sweet.

The newest addition to our Family!

No I didn't have my baby yet! But we did recently get this:

Not sure why we didn't get it sooner. Our boys LOVE it and want to LIVE outside! And of course I love that!!

Poor Buddy. Noah won't go outside to play unless Buddy is tied up. Fortunately Buddy is a good sport about being tied up... he's just happy to have the boys out there with him. And Mason is so good with Buddy and can tie him up all by himself, and that is saying something considering Buddy weighs well over 100lbs. Of course that means he can untie him too! When he does let Buddy loose he tells me "But mom! Buddy didn't want to be tied up!" Buddy is a really nice friendly dog but sometimes he's too friendly and Noah isn't a fan of being licked in the face! Noah won't go outside if Buddy isn't on his leash but once he is out there playing he is fine if Mason lets Buddy loose.

Mason of course is all over the place and loves EVERY square inch of this play ground set.

Noah for the most part just hangs out on the swings like this. He has a little rash/scratches on his stomach from swinging like this for hours on end!