Bluebonnet is gross

I'm almost positive that this blog is changing direction and will be nothing but a Bluebonnet video blog now that I know how to upload the numerous videos I have of her. Today, I finally caught one of her burps on video. Normally, I would think this is gross behavior but in the case of my perfect little angel dog, it's just freakin' cute.

It's right at the 23 second mark and I wasn't as close as I wanted to be so you may have to turn the volume up.

It is impossible not to love this dog

Bluebonnet and Aunt Karen

Bluebonnet's godmother, Aunt Karen, came over for dinner last week and per usual brought Bluebonnet two containers of gourmet doggie treats. The excitement between animal and human at seeing each other is unsurpassed by any others. I always wanted Bluebonnet to use her cuteness for good and in this case she goes above and beyond - you see Aunt Karen has a Basset of her own, Walter, but he lives in Canada. So Blue helps Aunt Karen get through the pain of missing Walter.

always treats for Blue

always lot and lots of hugs and kisses for Blue

always lots and lots of hugs and kisses returned to Aunt Karen

sweet, little Bluebonnet giving Aunt Karen some hugs

always a chase scene after dinner

It's the Rocky & Blue Show

Yesterday, Blue's buddy Rocky came over for a play day. Rocky lives about 2 minutes away so I went and picked him up from his backyard at around 10 in the morning. Rocky's dad (Cody) and I were talking on our work IM and I said I wish I had a webcam to capture the Blue & Rocky Show - it's a cycle of wrestling, fighting over a toy, chasing each other and then crashing into power naps.


taking a pause before heading outside to chase each other


getting water together (and I think stealing kisses)


resting after a good chase


back to wrestling


more wrestling


power nap

Why I love my husband - Super Chicken edition

I love Kris because he brings home things like this for Bluebonnet. It's Super Chicken - you can grab his feet and gullet and shoot him across the room. When you do that he makes a sound like a rooster... I still can't figure that one out.

Cuddle time

Caring for Bluebonnet

Bluebonnet gets utterly excited about three things:

1. company coming over

2. anytime I pick up her leash

3. when I say the word "treat"

She also loves riding in the car. She's a very good passenger. But that wasn't always the case. Back when I first started taking to her puppy day care she was a little uneasy in the car. On one occasion, I hit a pot hole pretty hard and it scared her so much that she jumped under my legs making it difficult for me to push the pedals. I couldn't coax her out from under my legs and I actually made the situation worse when I started banging on my steering wheel and screaming "What are you doing?" Somehow I was able to make it to daycare without getting a wreck or driving us off the side of the road.

Today I took her nibs to the vet where she got two shots, her ears cleaned, her temperature checked and a fecal exam - oh, and we also discovered that she has taken off over 10 lbs (she once weighed 52 lbs and is now at a svelte 41.8 lbs). I must say that she handled it better than I would have - one guy restraining your torso and another putting foreign objects up your bum... so not my idea of a party. However, my girl was a trooper today, a real trooper. She was whisked away from the vet's office for her 10:30 appointment with the groomers. The pictures above where taken during her car rides today.

Now she's exhausted... but more importantly she's tri-colored again, her nails are short, about 5 lbs of fur is gone and she doesn't smell liked dried mud on the bottom of shoes. The second we got in the house, she ran outside, peed, pooped, came right back and passed out on a pile of decorative pillows - she's taking a well deserved rest. Even though she looks so peaceful and content right now, all I want to do is mess with her and poke her in the belly and pull her ears. Sometimes I can be annoying. I'd say that's a taste of her own medicine.

I want to be very clear

This IS NOT my Little Bluebonnet. And that is why it is so hilarious.

Bluebonnet is my baby girl

This little 50 lb., four-legged demon baby has caused me more frustration and aggrivation than anyone else - animal or human - that I have ever come into contact with in my entire life. She straight-up gives me a rash sometimes for all the irritation she causes me.

And yet for some damn reason sometimes all I want to do is go home in the middle of the day and kiss all over on her snoot.

Bluebonnet's Mailbag

Bluebonnet's Mailbag

Bluebonnet asks: How many nicknames can one dog have?


Blue, Bluezanov, Punky, Lil' Punkin, Punkers, Punksalot, Bluesy, Lil' Bluesy, Bluezanator, Shorty, Shortstuff, Sweetpea, Cutestuff, The Baby, The Princess, Muffin, Fatty, Lil' Fatty, Blueberry, Lil' Blueberry and The Blueberry

Bluebonnet & Friends

The unlikely best friends: Rocky & Bluebonnet

He's black and tan. She's tri-colored.

He's mixed. She's purebred.

He's 7 months old. She's 2 years old.

He's tall and slender. She's short and stubby.

He's a he and she's a she.

They are so very different yet they can't get enough of each other. Even after leaving them alone for hours to play together they still want to show off to the parents and demonstrate their new wrestlin' moves. They have the good life.

Bluebonnet's Mailbag

Baby girl Bluebonnet,

I have pretty much had all I can take from you. Last night you crossed the line sister. You have peed in MY AND YOUR FATHER'S bed for the last time. I am not sure why did this last night or the two times before but I wish I could understand. All I can say is that you are so lucky that we had that super thick mattress cover so your ridiculous amount of urine didn't penetrate all the way through the comforter, sheet or fitted sheet to the mattress cover. Because I'm not sure you wouldn't be homeless right now, walking the streets of Northwest Austin holding up a sign that reads Will Sit Pretty for Food if pee had touched the actual mattress.

The time has come to wean you from sleeping in the bed with us. It's going to be rough and there will be a lot of tears (mostly from you and daddy), but it has to be done. You are a big girl now and you need to find a spot for yourself one one of the 3 couches, 5 arm chairs and huge doggie bed available to you. And really, aren't you tired of getting kicked about the head, stomach and spine from my jimmy-legs?

In time, I hope you will realize that I am doing this for you because I love you.

Love,
Mommy

Bluebonnet's Mailbag

Bluebonnet's Atchafalya voyage

I know Bluebonnet can't swim and I have no intention of ever testing this, however she loves the water and over Easter she went on her first canoe trip on the canal my parents live on. Here are more pics from our little trip up and down the canal.

D Family Easter Road Trip

AKA ... going from A to B.

Nothing's packed yet. Leaving in 3 hours and 17 minutes. We are so not ready.

Six hours in the truck with my husband who likes to keep the truck cabin at a cool 45 degrees and a 52 lb Basset hound that likes to jump from the front seat to the back seat to the tempo of her own cries when she's not pacing the back bench seat.

Should be awesome.

Bluebonnet's Mailbag

Dear Bluebonnet,

You are the source of all of my non-human joy. We have a deep relationship. We have a shorthand. I believe you are my soulmate. And I don't even believe in soulmates. I love our starring contests even though you usually win. We have so much in common... tv shows, preferred walking route, time and distance, we like the same people and we both prefer junk food instead of the food we really should be eating. We love to cuddle on the couch with each other. All the love I give out to you is returned to me. I can't imagine ever loving another animal as much as I love you. And that is why you will remain an only child.

Love you,
Mommy

The concerns of a dog's mama

Yesterday Kris informed me that Bluebonnet told him that the time change has really screwed up her sleeping schedule. I wish I could articulate how sorry I am for this poor little dog that she can't get her regular 18 hours of sleep per day.

Me + My dog = Bliss

Here are two cell phone pictures of me that show the truly content Tobes. You will also notice that my dog is in very close proximity. Conincidence? Probably not.

The Clean Take-Down and the Pile Driver

My life is mostly about my dog. So what! I had more fun with these two dogs last night than I do with most humans (with the exception of Feelin' No Pain and Flux Capacitor).

I couldn't actually capture Rocky's patented Body Slam on Bluebonnet but I got these other gems:

Clean Take-Down
Pile DriverI really don't even know if these are the correct wrestling terms for the techniques pictured, but they sounded funny.