A Growing Puppy and Memorial Day Weekend.

Wrigley is growing into quite the neighborhood attraction. My parents, Matt's mom and friend Cheryl as well as friends from near and far have come to play and meet her. Her personality seems to grow daily. Here are a few updates on her growing personality:
1. Wrigley is no longer afraid of the hardwood floors so she follows us everywhere. 2. She is able to walk to the back door and use the steps without us carrying her into the backyard.
3. She loves to bite toes and chases after your feet when playing tag
4. She absolutely loves her dog bed. She often falls asleep, goes into convulsions from dreams and rolls off the bed fast asleep. She will abruptly wake up and move back onto the couch and fall fast asleep again.
5. Wrigley does not understand the word "No"; she is starting to understand sit and stay when given treats.
6. She loves to sun her belly in the afternoon sun and chew on her toe
7. She inconsistently sleeps through the night but her morning wake up call is around 5 AM; Matt does not like this at all.
8. Fireworks don't scare her
9. She loves to give kisses
10. She loves to chew on sticks, plants and dried leaves; she is also learning how ti dig...there goes my gardens!
11. Wrigley's little body fits through the picket fence; she loves to visit the neighbors

She is doing alot better with the crate training and house training. She only has accidents when she gets nervous or Matt and I are not paying attention to her. I just have to remember she is only 8 1/2 weeks old. I was determined to keep her off the couch but as you can see, its hard not to snuggle up with her on the couch. She really is growing by leaps and bounds. I can't wait to take her back to the vet this week to see how much she's grown. I wish I could keep her in this puppy stage forever, kinda like a baby.

We left her overnight for the first time on Friday with my Aunt Sally and cousins, Kelly and Shannon. My cousin Michael was getting married on Saturday so instead of overwhelming my ailing family dog, Nike, we decided babysitters would be a better option. Leaving her was quite difficult since I've gotten used to holding and carrying her around the house (is this a sign of motherly instinct?) It was a little disturbing going to sleep on Friday night without hearing any type of whining or crying or telling Wrigley; go nite nites...yes, I speak baby now too!

However, before going to sleep on Friday night I was able to FINALLY catch up with Kristin to see her new rock and officially congratulate her on her upcoming nupitals in April 2009. My parents came along to Kristin's parents house, which turned into a few glasses of pinot, a brownie and alot of laughs! Before we knew it, it was after midnight and definitely way past my bed time!

Kristin's father is extremely excited and obsessed that Matt and I got a German Short Haired Pointer; he grew up with one and when Kristin and her brother Robby were young, they had one. He was not happy that she didn't make her first trip to LI, but we now know we have a permanent babysitter when needed if "Grandma and Grandpa" are busy! Awesome!

Saturday morning, my cousin Michael married his girlfriend Joana in Northport with the reception @ the Riverview in Oakdale. The wedding was bittersweet; Joana is applying for dual citizenship for the US and the Philipinees and arrived in American about 2 weeks ago. The visa she was issued with a fiance visa which meant she had to be married within 90 days of being in the country. Her visa was approved; however her parents were denied on 3 separate occasions. Her sister, who lives in China, was her maid of honor and she is fortunate to have family that lives in Valley Stream there; her aunt and uncle walked her down the aisle. If my parents were alive and not in this country for my wedding, I have no idea how I could keep a smile on my face all day but she did. She was a trooper!

And so was Table #1. That was our assigned seats, along with my parents, Sarah (my sister) her friend Lisa and my Aunt Phyllis. Needless to say, Table #1 rocked the wedding. We were basically the only people on the dance floor for the short time the DJ played music. I really hate being at weddings were you sit the entire time and neither can my mother or sister. So we stared to party. It didn't turn into a crowded dance floor but we definitely kept ourselves entertained. The video will show it.

We drove back to CT following the reception to find Wrigley upstairs in our room crying. My aunt and cousins had left her blocked into the kitchen after she had fallen asleep. We assume her woke up to no one in the house, got herself very scared, scaled the baby gate, ran upstairs looking for us (by the way, she has never go up our stairs) and was too afraid to go down so she went into her crate. I felt horrible! She was shaking and had accidents all over the hallway and 2nd bedroom. We had no idea how long she had been up there but I think she found some shelter in her crate. Thank god she didn't get into the closet or I'd have no clothes today.

Sunday, we hosted a mid afternoon BBQ with some friends from SHU. I cooked up some BBQ chicken, a lovely green salad and a chickpea mandarian orange salad (new recipe), which was awesome! Always a good time and lots of laughs. Sue and Erik, friends from SHU and also newly engaged as well as neighbors, hung out until about midnight. I have to say, its soooooo nice to lounge outside with a drink in sweats. I just need a firepit for the backyard and I'm set!

Today, "Grandma" and "Grandpa" aka, my parents, came to visit. My mom was in St. Martin last week when my dad came (don't cry for her...she's tan) Again, I was an excellent host with grilling up some lemon rosemary chicken, baked potatoes, steamed broccoli and some leftover salads as well as angel food cake with strawberries and cool whip! YUMMY!!!!! Wrigley did alot of running around, showing us how much she loves to chew leaves and plants. She actually hit full stride at one point, which was amazing to see.

Now I'm finally getting a little bit of R & R, watching the Cubbies and snuggling with my little girl!

PS...I think Matt is getting jealous : )