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Dallin Newsletter #4 May 7, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Daily Life, Little Man Dallin, My Former Dog Children, Saba , 5comments

This little guy smells like strawberries and brown sugar.

All the time.

In fact, I’m pretty sure your monitor is going to smell like strawberries just by looking at this face.

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Our little Dallin boy is 10 months old this week:

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He is very bashful, but after he warms up he will slobber your cheek with wet kisses.

Come with clean cheeks, leave with dirty ones.

That’s the way he rolls.

Moderating the Bunny Population May 4, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Daily Life, Family, Kansas, My Former Dog Children, Texas , 4comments

When we lived in Texas, we had a large fenced backyard.  This was the best playground for our dogs to chase balls, chase each other, and find the smelliest spot in the grass to roll in.

More than once, Paris came into the house with blood all over her mouth, wagging her tail.

She likes to chase bunnies.  She likes to KILL bunnies.  She’s a murderer I say.

But, we’re bad parents because we praise and encourage this behavior.

Good news for Paris: bunnies run all over our backyard in Kansas.

Bad news for the cotton tails: Paris is a 35 MPH couch potato on your tail.  She will hunt you down and snap your neck.

The trails by our house are overflowing with cute little bunnies.  Paris sees one now.

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Do you see the perked ears?  This means she is TOTALLY paying attention.  Too bad this bunny took off before Paris was off leash.  So moving on to the next bunny . . .

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David sees one, but Paris is totally oblivious.  Sometimes, my presence is very distracting.  (What can I say?  I am the center of her world!)  Notice how Paris is staring RIGHT AT ME and not the bunny.

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Paris only cares if it moves, so sometimes we have to show her where her prey is.

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Isn’t this bunny cute?  What he doesn’t know is that he is about to run for his life.

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Paris is trotting, not sure what to chase because she hasn’t seen the bunny move yet . . .

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But, now the bunny is on the move and Paris is flying after him.

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The thrill of the chase is just as fun as the kill.  Paris won’t be disappointed if she comes back empty handed.

I wish I had this attitude toward shopping.  I don’t think it’s just as fun to window shop and I feel like a failure if I come back empty handed.

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In the end, the bunny’s life was preserved for one more day.  And Paris settled for eating grass.

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And smelling another dog’s butt.

If only life were this simple for us.

Why You Need a Dog April 28, 2009

Posted by Emily in : My Former Dog Children, My Handsome Husband , 2comments

Are you married?  Do you have kids?  Do you have a dog?  Better yet, are you a first-time dog owner?

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If you answered yes to all these questions, then . . .

YOU MUST SEE THE MOVIE MARLEY AND ME.

Must!

David and I curled up on the couch with Paris (our dog for those of you who don’t know) and watched this.  It made us laugh, cry, (okay, so I think I’m the only one that cried, but I cried enough for the both of us) and think about how much we love Paris and our late dog Kyaha.

All the rotten things Marley does in the movie, Paris has done (which is why we call Paris a “stinker-dog”):

But after all the rotten things she’s done, we still love her.  Maybe even more than if she was just obedient all the time.  It’s her curiosity, and love for life that makes it so easy to forgive.

Rent or buy the movie.

Get a dog (preferably a Whippet).

You’ll thank me later.

“Chalking” April 13, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Daily Life, Family, Little Man Dallin, My Former Dog Children, Princess Hannah , 5comments

If you have a toddler, you need sidewalk chalk.  The two go hand in hand, like diapers and newborns.  Really, you can’t have one without the other.

Or, better said, you really shouldn’t have one without the other.

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This is sidewalk chalk.  It promises hours of entertainment and learning.  It won’t disappoint.

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After careful consideration, Hannah selects just the right color to kick off the “chalking” fun.

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This is how I get her to practice her penmanship.  It’s lots of fun. See?

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This is her favorite letter.  Obviously, “H” is for “Hannah.”  But don’t be too impressed just yet, this is the only letter she writes.

Ever.

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“Hop Scotch” is also a must when “chalking.”  This is her new favorite game.  It’s right up there with hide and seek, running around the house screaming, and watching “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.”

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She loves it so much, she talks about “Hop Scotch” almost as much as she talks about “Dora The Explore-Her.”

So you know it’s a lot.

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And look, if you have a dog, (preferably a stinker-dog, but any dog will do the trick) they too will be completely entertained by this invigorating activity.

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No promises on the baby though.  I think Dallin wanted to drill a hole in his head . . . being strapped in the stroller, bored out of his brains.

Who’s Smarter? April 6, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Daily Life, Little Man Dallin, My Former Dog Children, Princess Hannah , 4comments

I’m not sure what the magical age is when your child understands more than your dog.  All I know, is that when Hannah tackles Paris and she whines for her life, I reason with Hannah.  Tell her to stop squeezing the daylights out of our dog and walk away.

When Dallin decides to attack Paris with his little pincer fingers (which have a very strong death grip), I reason with Paris.  Because she understands, listens, and obeys.

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So as of today, I’m not sure who understands more English, Dallin or Paris.

The jury is still out.

Protected: Welcome to Our House! March 25, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Daily Life, Family, Kansas, Little Man Dallin, Medical School, My Former Dog Children, My Handsome Husband, Photography, Princess Hannah, Projects, Thoughts , Enter your password to view comments.

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If You Can Ride Out the Storm . . . March 11, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Daily Life, Kansas, Little Man Dallin, My Former Dog Children, Princess Hannah , 6comments

Wanna come visit?  I was planing to announce, “We’re ready to take visitors!”  until . . .

I heard a very loud unfamiliar sound . . .

It wasn’t coming from the dishwasher (which, thankfully, is washing the dishes for me!  I love it so much!)

It wasn’t coming from the dryer . . .

So I took a break from writing this entry to see what all the commotion was about.

As I stepped outside, I knew exactly what that sound was.  You don’t have to be from the Midwest to recognize the noise of a blaring siren which is really saying, “run for cover!”

I am now in the basement with the kids until the warning is over.

Lucky us.

I know, you’re wishing your city was as exciting as ours.

I know.  :)

However, when the sirens are silent and our house needs a little excitement , we’d love for you to visit!  I can’t say I know what Kansas City has to offer (remember how I’ve only been here a couple of weeks?) but I do know my neighborhood.

Like this for example:

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This trail starts at the end of our street.  It swerves around through trees, flat open spaces, and over streams.  It’s a beautiful walk and the kids love the park nestled in it.

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Check out Dallin, you can’t tell in this picture, but this swing makes him very happy.  He likes to watch other kids swing just as much as he likes doing it.

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Hannah takes swinging on the “big girl swing” very seriously.

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Even our stinker-dog, Paris, likes it.  Really, she’s just so happy to get out of the house, she’d take a walk anywhere.  Her favorite part is being able to whine at everything that moves and peeing and pooping on every corner.

Which, of course, is my least favorite part.

Come see us!  You can give me a break and pick up the doggie doo doo for me!  Just kidding . . . but no, really. ;)

Loving Our Main Man December 17, 2008

Posted by Emily in : Family, Little Man Dallin, Medical School, My Former Dog Children, My Handsome Husband, Princess Hannah , 6comments

Did I mention my husband came home?  Because he did!

Hannah is pleasantly surprised every morning when she sees her daddy.  She often greets him with the phrase, “My daddy came home!” or “I LOVE MY DADDY!” which happens to be David’s favorite sentence.

Dallin was positive he had never seen David in his life and all the lovin’ David tried to give him was received with a quivering lip from a very loyal-to-his-mother-five-month-old.  They’re friends now, but I’m still Dallin’s favorite person and best friend. :)   (That’s what happens when you are your child’s food source, comforter, and sleeping buddy.)

We’ve wasted no time since his return.  Yesterday, we started potty training Hannah (she’s been running around the house in Dora the “Explore Her” panties) and sleep training Dallin (because I need my life back).  Ambitious?  Probably.  But we truly know our lives will be a thousand percent easier when these things happen.  David also found time to make a sweet potato pie, attend a Christmas party, set up a pediatric rotation, and buy fleece for our dog Paris.  (Paris desperately needs a coat and because of the way Whippets are shaped, all coats have to be custom made.  When I was looking at a site to order her a coat, David saw the design and decided he would rather save the money and make it himself.  David has mad sewing and pattern making skills which I am NOT allowed to talk about.  Just know that Paris will be stylin’ and warm in her new coat.)

David noted some changes since his return:

Hannah talks in paragraphs.  She will say any word you give her (including medical terminology like Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium) and says very funny phrases.

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Dallin no longer cries like he used to.  He is big, tough, and strong.  The kid starts out every morning with 50 push ups.  He gives smiles away for free, giggles, and CRAWLS.  Yes, you read that right.  David was very surprised to see his five months and five day old son, CRAWL away from him.  He moves at a tortoise pace, but he moves.

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David noticed my jeans fitting a little looser and commented on my minor weight loss.  The diet plan I used was called “very-stressed-out-single-parenting-of-two-very-sick-kids.”  Paris is also a little thinner.  Since Kyaha died, she doesn’t have another food bowl to sneak food from.  Before we know it, Paris might look like an actual race Whippet again!

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The one thing that hasn’t changed is how much we love our main man.  He swore he would never leave again for that long.  I’m holding him to it.

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Enjoying the Journey November 30, 2008

Posted by Emily in : Church, Daily Life, Family, Little Man Dallin, My Former Dog Children, My Handsome Husband, Princess Hannah, Thanksgiving , 5comments

Today, my heart grew three sizes.  (This is the only thing the Grinch and I have in common.)

One perfect day down.  Lots more to go.

Envying a Dog’s Life November 24, 2008

Posted by Emily in : Daily Life, My Former Dog Children, Princess Hannah , 3comments

Sometimes, I’m jealous of my dog.  She gets to do what she loves all day long.

Her eight years of life have been pretty posh as our family pet.  She has been able to sun bathe in Arizona, Texas, and the Caribbean.

She is spoiled.

Her only little friend since Kyaha passed away is Hannah.  Unfortunately, Paris is scared of Hannah.  She spends most of their time together hiding from her under the table.

Even still, there are days that I envy her very simple, uncomplicated life.  Bad breath and all.