Nieces, Nephews, and Lost Teeth, Oh My!

These last two weeks have been hectic, but Marlee has enjoyed all the attention.  We're still growing like a weed.  In the last month she has grown another 2 inches.  And we are also getting ready for some big adventures this coming week.  Marlee graduates from her first puppy school, and we also will start our next puppy school at the local kennel club.  For graduation, she has to perform a trick.  Marlee is really smart, and so she has already learned a lot of tricks, but I think we are going to focus on turning in a circle for our trick for class.  And, I am looking forward to the next puppy class because I think she will get more instruction in terms of some obedience.  Also this week, we go to the vet to get Marlee spayed.  I'm a little nervous...this will be the first time that she will be boarded at the vet's office...but considering how much they dote on Marlee at the vet's office, I'm sure she will be like a pig in mud with all the attention.  But let's get back to the last two weeks.....

Marlee, 4 months, 23 inches

My nieces and nephews were visiting from El Paso, TX, and they were staying at my house.  When I say "they" I mean five of them...ages 12, 10, 7, 4, and 3.  Needless to say, that was a lot of excitement for Marlee.  I was a little worried she might be in a bit of a panic with all that extra attention, but she absolutely loved it!  The 10 year old was especially good with her, and she loved seeing what all the kids were up to everytime they came to see her at the gate or play in the yard.  When they left, she was so sad.  She kept going to the gate looking for them.  Awwww.  She acted like she never gets any attention...

Marlee, watching my nephew Monroe play with Legos

 

During the time my nieces and nephews were here, Marlee lost a tooth!  At first, I didn't know what was going on because we were playing with a toy and when I got it out of her mouth, it was bloody.  My sister Mary helped me calm her down and open her mouth--I was afraid she had a splinter or something--and that is when we saw her little hole from her lost tooth.  Don't worry, the puppy tooth fairy came and brought her a new toy :)  And I have to say, I think she has lost a lot of her baby teeth already because she is not chewing or nipping nearly as much as before.

 

Marlee loses a tooth!

The other excitement came when I got her a crate pillow.  The hope was that she would lay on it, and eventually I could move her out of the crate and she would use that as her bed.  And 90% of the time, this works.  But the other 10% of the time, she either folds it in half to use it as a pillow, or she crawls completely under it like it is a blanket.  It's kind of adorable actually, but I think it defeats the purpose of using it as her bed.  We'll give her a little time though :)  Everyday is something new, so we will just keep welcoming all the new challenges!

Where's Marlee? Oh, there she is, under the "blanket."