What's In a Name

Bringing home a new puppy is very similar to a new baby, except that the baby doesn't run, chew things, and poop on your rug.  Both wake you up at night, luckily for me it's the hubby's turn to deal with midnight wake ups. Both tend to be most alert at the exact time you want to sleep or get something done.  Both are pretty cute. But I have to say, I like babies more.  While Brandon is completely in love with his little girl, I come and go. She's very cute, love how soft and snugly she is, but I seem to only get to spend time with her when she is at her most wild.  Right now, I thought we would snuggle on the couch together, maybe watch a show while I sipped my coffee and enjoyed an hour at home with no kids.  Instead, Elsie bit the computer, bit my pajamas (yes, I'm still not dressed), jumped off the couch, and is currently chewing a cardboard box to pieces.

As Brandon left he said he was sure she was ready for a nap. Not so much.  She will probably fall asleep right when I get up to start working on the house. Then she will curl up in the nice warm spot on the couch and sleep away. Oh well, if worse comes to worse I can put her in her crate. Can't do that with a baby.

A couple of people have asked about her name, particularly her middle two names. So here goes.  Ever since we decided to get a new puppy, which was probably 1 day after Nemo died, I started thinking of names. I am always obsessed with names and would do the same thing through each pregnancy. This time, thinking of a girl name, seemed so easy. I really wanted Mae, because that was what I would have named a daughter, but that just didn't seem to work for a dog. I suggested Elsie and Brandon loved it, but the boys were not so convinced. Jack even said it was too fancy of a name.

Of course, Jack's only suggestion was "Henry", because that is what we name everything.  I explained that we would probably have a girl, and that Henry wasn't a girl's name.  So we suggested Henrietta, but not as a first name, because that is too hard to say. Or yell.  Once we picked Henrietta, Jack once again suggested another name. Ice-cream, because everyone loves ice-cream. Okay.

The day we went to get Elsie all we talked about was what her name should be. By then we had three names on the table.

Elsie
Eva
Dory

Eva was suggested because the boys love Wall-E, but I could just see myself yelling, "Eeee-VAaaaaa" in my best Wall-E impersonation and I thought that might get old. Dory was offered to continue with the Pixar/Disney theme and name this new puppy the companion to Nemo's dad in the movie Finding Nemo. Both Brandon and I liked it, but the boys thought it was weird. So we took a vote. Several times, in fact. And, considering the only one who really understands voting is Jack, Elsie won with the most votes.

That is how this little puppy became Elsie Henrietta Ice-Cream Lonac.  

It's a .... GIRL!

Some of you may know that I have been having serious baby-lust lately.  When Finn turned 1, I thought that was the worst of it, but I was wrong. When he turned 2 and I realized we were leaving babyhood behind, I once again wanted another baby.

Crazy, I know.

Plus, living in a male dominated house, I really wanted a girl.  Change the ratio, just a smidge.  With each pregnancy I had prayed and prayed, not for a girl, but for the perfect addition to our family. And God provided. I would not change my family one bit. But that does not mean I do not long for a little pink here and there.

I have been told that puppies can help to fill in that space inside that always longs for a baby (you of course must like dogs).  I also know the only way to be 100% guaranteed of a girl was to adopt.

With that being said, meet the latest addition to our family:

Elsie Henrietta Ice-Cream Lonac

She is so tiny that she almost fits into her food dish.

We have already had a first bath, which was a little traumatic.  Elsie has pretty much been asleep since then.

The best part is how much the boys already love her. We had to say good-night to Elsie before we could go to bed tonight. Plus, hearing Finn say his version of her name is pretty adorable.

Now, I am off to fight Brandon for whose turn it is to hold her. He has claimed rights to Elsie, which I am good with as long as it involves taking her outside, feeding her, bathing her, and getting up with her at night. But when she is asleep and all snugly, then she is mine.