Emmy's getting bigger!

You compare! Above is Emmy on her first day home, and below is her today. And no, Bill didn't shrink!

So many people have been commenting on how big Emmy is getting and I guess I haven't realized it as much as I see her everyday. Yesterday, we took Emmy for her monthly check-up and shots. She weighed in at 26.1 lbs! Yep, she's getting a lot bigger, considering she weighed 11.5 when she arrived at PAWS on Nov. 26th! She is doing very well and the vet gave her a very clean bill of health!

Thursday, Bill returned home from his trip to Israel and Emmy and I went to meet him at Grand Rapids airport. This was Emmy's first trip to the airport and she did really well. There were a LOT of people at the airport, but she stayed pretty focused on me. She definitely was a main attraction though. I think just about every child in the airport started shouting at their parents, "LOOK A PUPPY!!!"...and many adults went "awwwww...look at the puppy!". Emmy the superstar didn't seem to mind. She stayed pretty focused on me the whole time...so much so that Bill was able to come up right behind her before she ever picked him out of the crowd! I was very impressed at her calm nature, as this was probably the adventure that put her around the most amount of people...with lots of bustling activity.

She certainly seems happy to have Bill home, but I can already see how the time with just the two of us was helpful in establishing me as another alpha in the family. Before Bill left, she would rarely come to me when called, if Bill was around. Now she can easily decern the difference between us and responds to be as consitantly as she does to Bill. YAY! Now we're just trying to get back into a normal routine as a family.

Happy 3 Months "E" puppies

Today was the "E" litter's 3 month birthday! Boy how big they are getting! Today Emmy and I celebrated with just the two of us. She of course got some birthday presents, mainly to help make her mouth feel better as she continues to cut teeth. She got a Chilly Bone that is basically a reusable canvas bone that freezes (basically replicates the effects of an ice cube). She also got a treat capsule, that looks like a big rubber pill- but has holes on one end that treats come out of every once in a while...with streamers and bumps on the other end. Boy does she love that!

Bring your...dog...to work day?

This afternoon, Emmy accompanied me to work. This was the first time she had been there in cape for the full time and in "work" mode plus this was the longest she had been there (4 hours). Her other visits had been shorter and at times when she could just wander around my office. But today we gave this a try instead and Emmy was WONDERFUL! She actually seemed to take her cape wearing duties quite seriously. She was very good about staying down by my feet while I was sitting at my desk, and was very willing to stay by my side as I walked around the office building for various things. She made quite the impression! I'm excited that this went well and look forward to being able to bring Emmy to work in that capacity much more in the future! Plus, it's even better because she's pretty tired tonight because of it! YAY!!!

Other than that, the two of us are doing pretty well. Emmy has been a trooper about having to be in her crate more being I am I work and Bill isn't here to take her out more frequently. I think we're both excited that it's the weekend and we'll be able to relax together for the next few days. Then we're in the home stretch until Bill comes home Thursday night. As of right now we're planning on meeting him at the airport, so that will be a fun new socialization event for Emmy too!

(P.S.- Sorry we don't have any pictures right now. Bill has the family camera in Israel with him!)

Just us girls!

This afternoon Emmy and I saw Bill off at the seminary for his eleven day trip to Israel for a seminary trip. We had a fun time walking the 2 blocks to the seminary but Emmy managed to get totally muddy on the way so we had another mini bath when we got back just to clean up her belly and legs! Before doing that she looked like a chocolate lab on her lower half!

Emmy and I are doing pretty well together, but as I'm writing this I'm struggling to keep her from chewing on a box here in the office! Anyway...please keep Bill in your prayers for a safe trip and return home on the 17th!

Emmy's first bath

Getting Ready for the Bath

All done!!!

Tonight Emmy had her first bath and first experience with a substantial amount of water. She did pretty well...not sure if she really enjoyed it however. Here are some cute pictures and videos though...

We're going home!

Where to next?

Well, our journey/road trip has come to an end. The holidays are over and its time to go back home to Holland, MI and get back in our routine. As you can see, Emmy has done so well on this trip and she well exceeded what we were expecting from her. Way to go Emmy! Today, we packed our bags and headed home. Emmy has grown to love visiting the Flavin's in Chicago and I think was sad to leave...either that or she thought we were packing up and heading to a new place. Boy was she shocked when we arrived home in only two and a half hours instead of twelve!

Now we're home and getting settled in again. Emmy has very easily gotten back into her routine and actually we are excited at how much progress we seem to be making.

The next adventure you ask? Well, Bill will be leaving us for 10 days when he heads to Israel for a seminary trip on Sunday. Where's the adventure? Well, that is going to leave Emmy and Amy to their own devices! To see how we girls survive...keep tuned in!

P.S.- Thanks to all of you for your encouraging comments. We truly appreciate everyone staying so in tuned to our adventures with Emmy!

Ringing In 2008

Emmy waking in time to count down to 2008

A not too awake Emmy in the wee hours of 2008


Bill's birthday party

Playing with Uncle Tom at the party

EXHAUSTED!

Emmy's last few days in Chicago didn't prove to be any less exciting. For New Year's we celebrated at Bill's parents house. Emmy struggled to stay awake until midnight but woke up in time to celebrate the coming of the new year (probably not by choice though...more by default being there were lots of fireworks and noisemakers throughout the neighborhood).

Then, on the 1st we celebrated Bill's birthday. Emmy got to see a good chunk of the family again but did even better this time about not being overly flustered by all the people. But, by the end of the party, Emmy was wiped out. It had been a long day and she literally took a sigh of relief and fell asleep on Amy's lap as the last guests walked out the door!