Carter Makes Three

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-22T18:58:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays to all of you blog readers!

Almost Done

2009-12-08T16:11:00.000-08:00

I finished wrapping all of the Christmas gifts that I have at this point. I will finish up buying the rest this weekend. All the while I had my furry little friend was chasing bows and pawing at the empty wrapping paper holder. I love Christmastime!

More of Carters's 1st Birthday

2009-11-29T16:51:00.001-08:00

He loved the party hat!

Christmas Trees, Oh Christmas trees!

2009-11-29T16:46:00.001-08:00

The "girly" tree in the foyer.

Adrian's Yankee/Cowboys tree in the Living Room. We are still working at collecting ornaments for this tree, so it is not as filled as the others.

The "family" tree.

I love Christmastime! I am even thinking about getting a 4th tree to flank the other side of the sliding glass door next year!

Before and After Photos...Finally

2009-11-29T16:43:00.000-08:00

So I finally found the charger for the digital camera and was able to upload several photos of the house. It's still a work in progress, but I am very happy with the way it has turned out thus far. After the Holidays the Master Bath is going to be completely redone. Enjoy!

Hallway Shots

2009-11-29T16:40:00.000-08:00

Living Room/Kitchen Before and Afters

2009-11-29T16:36:00.001-08:00

Finished Master Bedroom and Office/Spare Bedroom

2009-11-29T16:28:00.001-08:00

Before and After Master Bath and Half Bath

2009-11-29T16:22:00.001-08:00

Here are some pics of the half bath and master bath. Unfortunately, I didn't get a before picture of the half bath.

Wine Tasting

2009-11-28T21:04:00.000-08:00

Adrian and I went wine tasting today. We stopped at 3 of our favorites- Knapp, Goose Watch, and Cobblestone. Although the day was cold and dark we had a great time! Adrian found the "Montezuma" statue to be comical, and asked that I take a picture for his father. Hope none of you have ever suffered from Montezuma's Revenge! I attribute my tired look to the Black Friday shopping that I am still trying to recover from ( I was in line at 5:30 a.m.!)!! Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving...we did!

Lights on the Lake

2009-11-28T20:16:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, Adrian, Carter, and I went to the Annual Lights on the Lake Dog Walk. We had a great time walking near the lake viewing the show! Here is a picture from our trip!

Happy Birthday!

2009-11-23T19:43:00.000-08:00

Happy 30-something bday, Adrian! :)

My Boy

2009-11-19T19:08:00.000-08:00

Insanity

2009-11-15T19:07:00.001-08:00

Now you know why Adrian worries about me...and the dog! I tell him its practice for my 2nd child, one day. Ps- Carter loves them

A Day with Grandpa

2009-11-15T19:00:00.001-08:00

I knew that Fridays with grandpa included fun things like dump runs and yard work. I didn't know that they included browsing the Internet, watching the unsuspecting neighborhood, and a mid afternoon desk nap!

Halloween Pics

2009-11-15T18:48:00.000-08:00

Here are some pics from Carter's 1st Halloween. He seemed okay with his devil cape, but really didnt like his devil horns!

Finally Painted!

2009-11-14T18:00:00.000-08:00

Today the painter finished the last of the interior painting! YAY! I promise to post before and after pics, as soon as I find the charger for the camera. The joys of moving. :)

Congratulations, Nobles!

2009-11-06T16:54:00.000-08:00

Check out Carter's breeder's website...seen under "Guilty pleasures" on this page...2 of her puppy Papillons made the cover of a pet supply dog magazine! Congratulations!

Pink Eye!

2009-10-26T18:58:00.000-07:00

My little 4 legged friend has pink eye! Poor little Carter...I guess thats the price you pay for days at the park and Wednesdays at daycare. He's out of commission for 2 weeks--no park, no daycare, no obedience class. I have a feeling Im going to be out of my mind with a bored little fur ball. Wish me luck!

Happy (early) Halloween

2009-10-15T19:13:00.000-07:00

Here is Carter's Halloween picture taken at daycare. They had costumes there for the dogs to wear. Yes, he is actually in the costume. Why else would he have such an exasperated look on his face? We have a costume for him at home to wear on Halloween night..he is going to be a devil. It's perfect for him, trust me! We like to tease him by saying "trick or treat" he cocks his head a gets excited because he thinks a "treat" is coming his way. Anyways, another crazy moment for me involving the dog to document. I'll be ok, I promise!

FAMOUS!

2009-10-10T17:48:00.000-07:00

Check out Carter's pic on his daycare's website...
http://www.caninesunleashed.com
click on "our guests" on the left hand side
Carter's picture is #55.

Moonlighting for AAA?

2009-10-07T19:07:00.000-07:00

Tonight on my way home from my 2nd job to pick up Carter at my parent's house, I ran out of gas on the highway. Yup, that actually happens to people, and it's actually something that I have done twice now with this car! I guess it takes me a while to learn my lesson. Side note- if you have a Jeep and the gas light comes on, go get gas...don't wait it out to save a dime like I did! Its a little game I like to play- see how cheap I can find gas for. Anyways, of course I was literally like 1/4 of a mile from a gas station, but there was no way I was getting out and walking in the dark on the highway! So, I called my parents and they came, gas can in hand...as well as Carter. Poor little guy had been sleeping all evening after a long day at daycare and was then woken to rescue his mother on the side of the highway! Now we joke that he moonlights at AAA... and just in case you were wondering, I saved $1.50 in gas, due to the little jump start of gas I got from my dad!

Bed Hog

2009-10-04T18:59:00.000-07:00

How does a 10 lb pup take up the majority of the bed?

Brown Thumb

2009-10-04T14:42:00.000-07:00

Today my mom came over and helped transplant my peony bush to the back yard, and she also planted mums going up the walkway. It looks so good, I love it. I need to take some pictures, inside and outside of this place so I can post some before and after pictures! My mom definitely has a green thumb, I'm not so sure I do! Cross your fingers I keep everything alive!

Caring (or crushing?) for the Elderly

2009-09-17T13:27:00.000-07:00

Carter went to daycare yesterday and developed a crush on an older woman...a Bishon Frise. She apparently spends most of her time at daycare resting in a chair, to which Carter climbs up in and lays next to her in.

Please, no mouse in the house!

2009-09-14T18:28:00.000-07:00

So tonight as I was making dinner my neighbor, Meredith, knocked on my door and told me that when her parents' dog was peeing on a bush in my yard she noticed a small, dead mouse.
Let me clarify a few things-
1- Yes, my neighbor is also named Meredith, and she also happens to be a Guidance Counselor at the High School in the same district as me. She also has a 14 year old Schnauzer named Demi, that Carter about dies to get to.
2- Yes, I did say that her parents' dog was peeing on a bush in my lawn...thats the suburbs for ya- close living quarters!
3- I now have to shovel up this dead mouse with a snow shovel so little Carter doesn't eat it! Snow shovel you ask? Well, I am still working at building up my lawn gear so I gotta do what I gotta do! I've never shoveled a rodent before. I know youre all surprised by this.
4- Meredith also shared that she has had a few mice in her basement. This does not make me happy. I am not afraid of mice, but I certainly don't want to share my house with them. Nor do I want to kill them. Lets keep our fingers crossed that the little mice stay outside, ok?

Well, thats my homeowner update for today. I hope to have some "before and after" pics to post this weekend.

1 Week Down...

2009-09-13T17:52:00.000-07:00

Well, we made it through the 1st week of school. "We" meaning Carter and I. Carter is back to spending days in his crate while I am at work, and I am back to dealing with 506 K-5 students! The kids were excited to be back, and I was glad to see them. I got many hugs and lots of questions about my summer, my wardrobe, and Carter. It's very funny the things kids ask/are interested in. I was also glad to see my co-workers on Tuesday, our 1st day back as a staff.

Lots of fun, fall plans in the upcoming weeks. I love fall, when you get to wear jeans and blazers and cute boots! Enjoy!

Happy Anni!

2009-09-01T17:57:00.000-07:00

Happy 2nd Anniversary, Adrian!

Time Flies When You're....PAINTING!

2009-09-01T17:54:00.000-07:00

Yes, I realize it has been over a month since the last post. The closing on the house was August 6th and it has been non-stop since then! I will have some before and after pictures to post soon...I hope.

Had a housewarming/Carter's 1st bday party on Sunday...Thanks for all of the gifts not only for the house but for Carter too!

I will try to be better about posting...

VA yay yay yay!

2009-07-23T12:47:00.001-07:00

Off to VA for 5 days! :)

Moving...

2009-07-19T05:12:00.001-07:00

I hate packing!

Carla and Tom's Wedding

2009-07-12T19:51:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at Carla and Tom's wedding this weekend! I loved the whole day spent with the bridal party, most of whom were College friends. Such a laid back day, and Carla is probably the most photogenic person I have ever met! Her photographer was great, tons of fun, and was able to put up a slide show of the pics he took that day, during the reception. The rain held off (mostly) :) for the outdoor wedding, and Tom and Carla eventually managed to get some post downpour shots of them playing on the golf course. The DJ was great...we danced the night away and the Vodka shot and caviar station was a big hit! Not with Adrian or I, but most of the other guests! I also really enjoyed the day spent at the salon...hair and make-up makes any girl feel great! I miss Albany so much, I realize this each time I go back to visit.

Carter spent the weekend with my parents, and he had class tonight as well. Needless to say we are all tired from a busy weekend!

I received word that the apt complex is able to rent out the apt before our lease is up, so I will be spending tomorrow contacting movers and I am anticipating packing the rest of the week. I need to be out of the apt before we leave for vacation on 7/24, if I want to be able to break my lease early and save a little money before the first mortgage payment is due. The joys of moving, cant wait!

Albany!

2009-07-10T06:09:00.000-07:00

We are off to Albany for the weekend.d One of my best friends, Carla, is getting married this weekend, and I am in the wedding! Have a great weekend everyone!

July 4th already!

2009-07-04T18:15:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July! Hopefully wherever you are reading this you are enjoying warm weather, yummy food, and fireworks!

Bad Habit and some Randoms

2009-07-01T11:07:00.000-07:00

I have this awful habit of creating countdowns. For example, I am on summer vacation for 10 weeks. I have already started the countdown to September. Not in a "oh I cant wait to get back to work and see my 500 kids.." no, in a "oh my God, It is July 1st, I am out of town for a total of 9 days this month, I am taking 54 hours at the Teacher Center in July, I have groups and individual therapy almost every day this month, I am moving in August, the days will fly by, summer is over!" kind of way. I found myself doing this today for the first time, and I'm wondering if there are others out there that do that too?

On another note, I am a bit disappointed with the weather. The temps have barely reached 75 most days, and the rain continues to creep in each day. This leaves very little time for the pool! I need a tan, doesn't Mother Nature know this?

Today Carter and I went to Onondaga Lake Park and walked for 2 miles. Then we went over to the Good Dog Park. Carter was loving life, harassing all the other pups, when of course there was a mini- disaster. When Carter is involved, there is always an issue! All of the sudden while playing on one of the dog toys, Carter falls off onto his side and begins crying, more like squealing, non-stop. This of course disturbs the other dogs and they begin barking and jumping all over me as I am attempting to carry Carter to safety. He seems to be fine, I'm not sure if it hurt when he fell, or just scared him, probably a little bit of both. Although I will say he's pretty rough and tumbly, so when he was crying like that I was really worried. Adrian told me that happened when he took Carter there one time when I wasn't with them. I asked him why he never told me, and he said because I worry too much. A mother always needs to know when there has been an accident!

Anyway, just some random thoughts on this overcast Wednesday...sun- come out, come out wherever you are!

Bethany Kate and Shane's Wedding

2009-06-27T16:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was the Maid of Honor in my best friend, Beth's wedding. The ceremony was held at The Landmark Theatre in Downtown Syracuse www.landmarktheatre.org There were 5 Bridesmaids plus me, the MOH. Shane had 6 Groomsmen and his Best Man, as well as a flower girl and Shane's son as the Ring Bearer. He was too cute, carrying the rings down in a baseball glove. Too bad he's probably going to grow up a Red Sox fan! It was absolutely beautiful, with a bagpiper playing for the guests just before Beth and her dad walked down the aisle. The ceremony went well, with a few moments of laughter giving it some character. I was wearing Beth's engagement ring during the ceremony and was so nervous that I was going to loose it! I have no idea why, I guess just wedding jitters. The reception was the longest I've been to yet- 7pm-1am! It was held at the Genessee Grande Hotel in Syracuse, another gorgeous choice! www.geneseegrande.com
The food and drinks were plentiful, and as the evening wore on and the crazy bridal party let loose and changed into flip flops and their street clothes, we danced (and I mean danced!) the night away!
Here are my 10 top favorite things about Beth and Shane's day:
1- The marquee outside of The Landmark displaying their names
2- The Bagpiper
3- The excited look on Shane's face as he waited for Beth to come down the aisle.
4- The tears in Shane's Best Man's eyes.
5- The champagne that flowed in the hotel while we were getting ready, in the limo, and at the reception! :) Love champagne!
6- The fact that we had 2 stretch limos, just to make sure that everyone was comfortable...I mean, we did have some big boys on Shane's side.
7- Giving the speech and the compliments I received afterward...who knew?!?
8- DANCING WITH THE BRIDAL PARTY, and Jaime too!
9- Grabbing the mic and singing some totally inappropriate songs to the crowd with Beth
10- Beth's Grandma, Hilde, bustin a move at 12 a.m.!

Something I was not so fond of- the camera crew! I felt like I was on reality TV! Beth had a videographer with us the ENTIRE day! Everytime I turned around, there he was! YIKES! However, I know that he will put together a great video for the 2 of them to enjoy:) I had such a great time getting to know the other Bridesmaids and I can't wait to see them all again.

Thanks for the ride home Colby!
Jaime your text about the bra is still cracking me up! I paid good money for that so dont get any ideas on taking it for Suzie's wedding! :)

2 more weeks and I am off to Albany for my 2nd Bridesmaid duty this summer! Then, a nice wedding break, until August when another friend is married. I get to be a guest at that one though!

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T18:25:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day to my 2 favorite guys!
Love,
Carter

Get Well Soon!

2009-06-14T17:36:00.000-07:00

Unexpectedly, Adrian had his appendix removed this week...get well soon!

The New House

2009-06-09T18:45:00.000-07:00

Tonight was the home inspection on the house. To make a 2 hour long story short...the inspection went great! Here is a picture of the new place. Mine is the townhouse on the right, with my favorite flowers- peonies, in the front! My neighbor on the left is a guidance counselor in my district and her name is Meredith too! She also has a cute little dog so I'm hoping that her dog and Carter become fast friends.

Time to Breathe!

2009-06-02T18:22:00.000-07:00

Ok, so for anyone who has bought a home in the last year, or is in the process, you will appreciate this. Meaning- Allison, Tracy, Deb, Brian, etc etc...who isnt buying that is the question! I have officially locked into my mortgage contract. Why is this big news you ask? Well, the market has been at an all time low in regards to rates over the last several months (5% and under), and historically over the last 13 years. HOWEVER, OF COURSE, over the last week interest rates have increased ( and then decreased, increased, etc) which in turn affects EVERYTHING-monthly payment, cash needed to close, etc. Of course this is the week that I was looking to "lock in," leaving me with the decision to play it safe, or gamble a bit with the hopes that the rates go back down. So, the decision to gamble with the market was made late last week, and Im glad I did...I finally locked in my rate tonight! YAY...peace of mind! Although I still sit and wonder what could have been, I feel confident with my decision. Next step is the home inspection and obtaining home insurance quotes. Note- As I sit and type this I think "how boring, I cant believe that you are blogging about this." Thats what "grown-ups" do I guess. I tend to not blog about anything too personal and there will NEVER be a personal pic posted...I have a deep set paranoia from the school district I work for re: blogging without tenure! Also, as some of you may know I have a lovely little second job with some "interesting" clients, so while they should not be using the Internet to Google their therapist, one never knows. I mean, I drive and use the cell..oops.

Summer Vacation and a NEW HOUSE!

2009-05-31T07:54:00.000-07:00

Summer vacation is less than a month away! YAY! I don't go back to school until September 8th, which is another bonus, so this summer I will have a full 10 weeks off! Thank goodness, since much of August will be spent settling into the new house:)

So excited about that, by the way! It's a 2 bedroom 1 1/2 bath townhouse in Liverpool, fairly close to where we are living now. We have an attached garage, great basement, and a private driveway. A lot of times you have to share a double driveway with your neighbor when you live in a townhouse. The downstairs is all hardwood floors, nice white cabinets with stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, and custom windows/slider looking outside to the deck! Love the deck by the way...it overlooks a quiet wooded lot, and the current owner has this pretty awning-type structure that she is leaving. The upstairs has a large Master bedroom with a sitting area and a HUGE walk-in closet! The second bedroom will be used as the office. LOVE this place! It is move in ready, just need to paint the walls...good thing I have connections in the paint world! :)

Boredom!

2009-05-31T07:47:00.000-07:00

Carter has been sick with the stomach bug since early, and I mean early (!) Wednesday morning. We have been to the vet twice and I am crossing my fingers that the puking has stopped! Poor little guy has been dehydrated from getting sick, so each time he has gone to the vet they have given him a little water hump under his collar to get fluids into his system. I then spend my time telling anyone and everyone that sees him, "No, that's not a goiter or a tumor, he is dehydrated...." Most people probably don't even notice, but there I am explaining away! So, because of my boredom and staying in the house with this sick little pup all weekend, as you can see I have been playing around with our blog. When Myspace first came out, I was all over that. Changing my page, adding pictures non-stop, now I guess I don't care as much, well, and lets admit it, Im not as Blogger savvy as I was Myspace savvy! However, thanks for the compliments on the new page...I can't guarantee that it will change again anytime soon...I gotta get out of this house!:)

Puppy Pool Time Fun!

2009-05-30T18:21:00.000-07:00

Carter's first attempt at a pre-summer swim...

For Krista...

2009-05-30T18:15:00.001-07:00

Enjoying the flowers we planted on Memorial
Day weekend.

This is the first...and I'm sure the last!

Our little fur baby...he's almost 9 months old!

Home Owner!

2009-05-29T14:03:00.000-07:00

We have a new address effective August 5th! Buying a home is one of the most stressful and scariest experiences, ever!

Hats off to the Grad!

2009-05-11T18:06:00.000-07:00

Tonight was Carter's Puppy Class Graduation! He participated in the "Amazing Puppy Race," in which he had to walk, run, jump, sit, stay, etc...Carter won! He went through the entire course in 47 seconds...what a guy! For Mother's Day I got 2 new pair of flip flops (pink and yellow) b/c my little guy chewed up my first pink pair!

Family

2009-04-26T18:05:00.000-07:00

Check out our breeder's website to see a picture of Carter's full sister, "Ava." She remained with the breeder and will be shown soon. Her picture is under the "Up and Coming" section. I think she and Carter both have big, round eyes.

Also under the "For Sale" section is a picture of Carter's new brother, from Betsy's second litter. Too cute!

www.noblespapsandyorkies.com

One for Old Times Sake

2009-04-26T17:00:00.000-07:00

Today me, Adrian, Cousin Brian, Aunt Jo, Uncle Fred, Mom, Dad, and Aunt Bert went to Eddie's in Sylvan Beach! Looove Eddie's...not because the food is great, but more because it used to be a family tradition that we would all go to Eddie's for dinner when my grandparents were alive. My grandma would fight with my mom and aunts about who was going to pay for dinner. My cousin Brian likes to reminisce about how one time my grandma called my Aunt Jo a "horse's ass" while fighting over who would pay for the bill. It was Adrian's first time in Sylvan Beach. We took yummy dessert home, so were going to enjoy our cake and pie while watching the Yanks beat (cross your fingers, please!) the Sox!

SPCA 5K Walk

2009-04-19T10:33:00.000-07:00

Today Me, Carter, my Mom, and Cousin Kiera participated in the SPCA Fleet Feet 5K Walk. Carter did a great job, only needing to be picked up and carried for about 10 minutes total...he has little legs, come on! All of the proceeds went to benefit the SPCA, they raised $6,000! Right now Carter is passed out next to me! 5K and Doggie Day Care... my 2 favorite things!

Canine Unleashed!

2009-04-16T11:32:00.000-07:00

Today was Carter's first day at Doggie Day Care! He went for about 5 hours and had a great time! They even had a "Welcome Carter" sign outside in the foyer when we first arrived, and eventually added his picture for all of the other customers to see when I returned! So cute! Talk about reeling in customers...when I went back to pick Carter up they presented me with 9 photos of his first day. Im going to try to scan and upload the pics at my Aunt's house, so be on the look out! Currently, Carter is passed out! I love doggie day care! Check out their website--www.caninesunleashed.com

Sunshiny Day

2009-04-14T19:05:00.000-07:00

Here is Carter enjoying the view from our bedroom window. We had to bring his
steps in because he wasnt quite tall enough to reach the ledge on his own!

Resting on the couch after a long day of ANOTHER 2 mile walk..

Breeder

2009-04-14T18:48:00.000-07:00

Check out our breeder's website:

Carter's parents are "Betsy" and "Dillon." You can see them under the Yorkies section on the website. We think that Carter looks like his mama...he definitely has her coloring.

http://www.noblespapsandyorkies.com

Recent pics

2009-04-13T09:52:00.001-07:00

Enjoy!

After the bath

D.I.T. Dog In Training...5k walk/run to
benefit SPCA next weekend...We did 2.4 today!

Happy Easter!

Weekly Update

2009-04-05T11:09:00.000-07:00

Well it's been forever since I've posted, and I have got to tell you that I have some really funny pics of Carter, but cannot get them to load onto my blog! It's very frustrating!

Little man Carter is doing great since his surgery. He returns to puppy class tomorrow night which should prove interesting, as usual. I will let you know how he does for his 2nd class. Carter will also be starting doggie day care at the end of this month! He seems more affectionate since his surgery...his new favorite thing to do is run up and jump on our laps and give lots of kisses...no steps needed to get on the furniture either..such a big guy! Exciting times here in Bville!

On March 26th I went to the NKOTB concert with Beth and Emily. I had a blaaast...definitely the screaming fan (mostly just to poke fun) out of the 3 of us! So glad that I went, and was surprised at my keen NKOTB song memory!

I'm going to visit Brian in VA this weekend and Adrian is off to Westchester. Aunt Bert is going to babysit Carter, which he is very excited about because he loves the "country!"

Home Sweet Home

2009-03-25T17:51:00.000-07:00

Carter came home today from a successful surgery. He is currently enjoying a chewy treat on the edge of his steps (yes, the ones that help him get up and down from the furniture)...He has a collar a.k.a "cone" to wear so that he doesn't lick the incision..fun pics to follow!

Tomorrow is the NKOTB concert...YAY!

I had a great bday night! Adrian and I went to Pastabilities, one of our fave restaurants, and he got me a really nice gift! Thank you to everyone else for the cards, gifts, and phone calls...I feel very spoiled!
xoxo

THANK YOU!

2009-03-24T18:14:00.001-07:00

Thank you for all of the birthday wishes!

Surgery Update

2009-03-24T13:35:00.000-07:00

Carter's surgery was a success! Adrian spoke to Dr. Warmuth today. We can pick him up tomorrow afternoon!

Oh Dear!

2009-03-23T17:45:00.000-07:00

Tonight was our first puppy class...YIKES! If Carter was human he would have laryngitis because of his antics! Im keeping my fingers crossed that next week Carter will be a little more used to the class, and less inclined to cry, beg, pull, jump (you pick a verb) to get to the other dogs! I wonder what the other dog owners thought of me? There I was just like "Ok, yup, hes mine, hes excited, and Im ignoring..stop looking at me people!!!"

Tomorrow the little guy goes in to be neutered. :( Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well!

Celebrations!

2009-03-20T17:06:00.000-07:00

Donuts for Dudes was a success! We made the "Neighbors North" section of the paper, and there were lots of happy and hyped-up-on-sugar children that day at school!

HAPPY 30th, Emily!

4 days til my bday!

6 days til Donnie Wahlberg!

Enjoy the weekend!

Back to School!

2009-03-18T17:52:00.000-07:00

We got confirmation that Carter has been accepted as the 8th pup in the S.T.A.R. Puppy Program! YAY! We are supposed to start class on 3/23, for 8 weeks of training, and the 9th week is his graduation! hahahaha...He is like my child:) This is the first AKC recognized puppy class, and will help prepare him for his CGC, which I definitely want him to get. Keep your fingers crossed that Carter moves to the head of the class! He has been a happy pup lately b/c I have been home from work with bronchitis. Side note- for some reason our laptop and camera are not on the same wave length, so I have to be in the most patient of moods (HA) in order to upload photos...I will try again this weekend!

Tomorrow I am definitely going in to work, regardless of how I am feeling because we have our Annual "Donuts for Dudes" celebration in the a.m! "Donuts for Dudes" is my own play on "Donuts for Dads." My goal is to celebrate and encourage male involvement in students' academics and school community. Last year was our first celebration and we had over 500 people! We have local companies donate items for a free raffle, staff volunteer their time to help serve and take pictures, Dunkin donates donuts, Starbucks donates coffee and supplies us with a barrista (fancy, fancy!), and local grocers supply gift cards for us to get additional items (i.e. creamer, sugar, napkins). It is a crazy event to plan, but the kids love it! This year the media is supposed to come...I have already told my Principal that I do not wish to appear on TV! Ill let you know how that goes!

House plans are moving along nicely, Ill keep you posted on that too!
6 days until the Big 3-0!
8 days til NKOTB!
I have to be to work at 6:30 a.m., so...Good night!

Check Up/Update

2009-03-11T18:54:00.000-07:00

Dr. Warmuth (Liverpool Animal Health Center...love them, love her) called us today with the results of Carter's blood work. He is scheduled to get neutered on the 24th (yes, my bday!), so he had to have pre-surgical blood work completed to make sure that everything was ok. Everything came back great! No issues with his kidneys or liver. His glucose level was great, which is important with small dogs b/c they can go into diabetic shock, he is not anemic, and his platelet count is high. Apparently his phosphorus level was slightly elevated, but the Dr. isnt worried because this is normal with growing pups. I was happy to hear this, and happy to speak with the Dr. reagarding some other concerns about Carter...you know some of those new little habits I blogged about earlier?

The Dr confirmed that Carter is a very smart, spoiled, little "stinker," who is testing his limits in regards to eating, playing, etc...We are working on a new behavior plan at home (now I get to bring my work home, and Adrian gets to see how I spend my days--planned ignoring, providing prompts, etc)! :) We also found out from Carter's vet visit that he is quiet the little pork chop. He is now weighing in at 9.1 lbs! He's getting to be around cat size...no more "pocket rat," or "mobil guinea pig" here! The Dr. is not concerned about his weight...he is healthy and well exercised.

Sorry about the lack of pics lately. I will try to take some this weekend and post them. Currently, Carter is on the top of the back of the couch, wedged between the pillow back and actual couch, which would be a cute pic, but if Adrian or I move...down goes Carter!

In regards to Adrian and I-- we both are busy working. Adrian is working full time and I have picked up additional hours at my second job. It's a lot, but worth it when you are looking to buy a house in the upcoming months! I will be so excited when I can post that we are home owners!

We are figuring out what to do for my actual bday, we will most likely go to dinner that night. On the 26th I am going to the NKOTB (youre jealous, I know) concert with Em and Beth. And on the 28th it's time to party it up Cuse style!

My mom and I are going to the Outlet this weekend to do some shopping, which either proves as very productive (meaning lots of items purchased) or a total dud...usually a dud when you've actually got $$ to spend, unfortunately!

We are also gearing up for a trip to visit Brian in VA this April, as well as a trip downstate to visit Adrian's family. Spring Break is just around the corner, and yes, I have started the countdown to the end of the school year! :)

Thanks Cousin Kiera!

2009-03-08T16:57:00.001-07:00

For watching me today while my mom and dad went to look at houses! See you soon!

Catch That Dog!

2009-03-08T16:54:00.000-07:00

Forgot to mention this earlier...today Carter met our friends' Yorkie, Louie. He had so much fun playing with him (they live in our complex), that when I went to open the sliding glass door to shut the screen door, he darted and took off for Louies! After Adrian yelling for him to "Come back here," and then some "Dont you moves" when he finally stopped, we got him back in the house. Needless to say he was in time out for a few minutes!

One Spoiled Dog Lives Here

2009-03-08T16:48:00.000-07:00

Well, I've created a monster...okay you may ask how something that weighs 6 or so pounds is a monster....
Let me update you on our furry friend-
1. He's spoiled!!
2. He knows how to play me like a fiddle, but I AM TRYING NOT TO GIVE IN TO THE CUTENESS OF HIS FACE!
3. He knows that he CANNOT play his father (aka Adrian) like a fiddle!
4. He refuses to eat his food unless there are veggies a'top, and once he eats those off he cries and whines for more...
5. Speaking of crying- I used to think it was cute that Carter would "talk" to me, again--he knows how to play me, and lets just say that I am trying to spend less time responding /giving in to his "talking!"

Currently, the poor deprived pup, is crying for more veggies and taking out every Kong in the place in hopes for a little treat to fall out...

Thoughts? Suggestions?
By the way-- I love this dog like I birthed him myself...I didnt want anyone to think that I was a wire monkey!

UGG cleaning tip/secret

2009-02-24T15:25:00.000-08:00

For all of you addicted to your UGGs as much as I am (p.s. I dont care if they're "out," they are comfy and warm!)...here is a little cleaning secret straight from Mr. "J. Michael," of J. Michael's Shoes on the SU Hill...

No need to buy the $8 bottle of boot cleaner... Simply mix an equal amount of white vinegar and water ( I used 1/2 cup each and that was enough) and wipe UGGS with washcloth. Tried this and it really works! Good luck! Long live the UGG!

The Dog Park Really Takes Its Toll!

2009-02-23T15:55:00.000-08:00

Carter's new favorite place is the dog park. Here are some pics after a day of playing!

Peace!

2009-02-23T15:53:00.000-08:00

Carter got a new shirt this weekend from Aunt Bert! Spoiled much?

Harley Hound Dog

2009-02-23T15:50:00.000-08:00

Check out Carter's new Harley outfit....complete with a shirt, bandanna, and leash...Thanks Grandpa! When do you get the side car for me to ride in?

Ugh..Another bath, really?!?

2009-02-23T15:48:00.000-08:00

Thanks!

2009-02-17T19:15:00.001-08:00

Thanks for a fun day at the dog park, Cousin Kiera!

The Poor Neighbors!

2009-02-17T07:38:00.000-08:00

Carter has discovered his bark...you know the little yippy kid of bark that small dogs have? We thought for a minute that we got lucky and didn't get a terrier that barked...HA! Carter barks now most of the time he sees someone outside...lucky neighbors! Its really not bad at all, I'm exaggerating, but it's noticeable to us since it was rare that we heard him bark in the past. I'm working on trying to figure out how to stop this, although I do like the idea of him alerting me when someone is around. Any advice on how to train a dog to only bark at "bad guys?"

Busy!

2009-02-16T19:24:00.000-08:00

So even though I have the week off from school, the days are flying by! Adrian has been working 12 hour days, so I have been a "single mom," which in turn means that Carter is more spoiled by the day because he is getting non-stop attention from me!

We went to our second puppy class this weekend, where Carter fell in love with a Silky Terrier named Eva...it was quite cute:) Then we had an engagement party for my friend Suzie and her fiance Jeremy. Suzie and Jeremy's wedding is the 3rd wedding that I am in this upcoming summer! Yup IN, not invited to, IN! My BFF, Beth, is getting married 6/26, Im the MOH. Then my Pburgh Partner in Crime, Carla, is getting married on 7/11, in Albany! Suzie and Jeremy's wedding is at the end of August...phew a few weeks to breathe!

So, since Adrian and I spent our V-Day focused on everyone else we are planning to do something as soon as he gets a moment to breathe from work. I am thinking its time for a City run...I could go for some of the enchiladas from his dad's restaurant!

Today I took Carter to the Good Dog Park which is only like 10 mins from our apt. I love the location of our place, everything is so close, and it seems like each week I find out something new that the area has to offer. My co-workers are mostly "lifers" to the area, so I am always learning about new places to eat, shortcuts to the highway, etc...

Anyways, back to the Dog Park, Carter met a few more lady friends today...another Eva (Pug) and Casey (Jack Russel Terrier). He played for about 40 mins and I got to enjoy hours of a sleeping puppy!

I also found another tooth of Carter's tonight while I was making dinner. Its the second one that Ive found so far, although I think that most of his adult teeth are in. Lets hope so, thats one less expense when he gets neutered. If he has any baby teeth left they will extract them during his operation so that he only has to "go under" once. Would it be totally ridiculous if the puppy tooth fairy came?! KIDDING!

Tomorrow we are headed back to the park with Cousin Kiera, and then are having a private training session with an obedience trainer...I'll keep you posted on that one! I also have more pics to post but I have been pretty lazy about that.

Hope you all had a great V-Day!
xoxo

Baby Sling!

2009-02-08T14:27:00.001-08:00

Today I got an early b-day present...a sling to carry Carter around in! How perfect for when he wants to be right with me while I clean or cook...or for Spring days when we take a walk, and he gets tired! Adrian thinks I like the sling more than Carter, but I don't agree. :)

Some New Pics

2009-02-08T14:21:00.000-08:00

Carter in his new V-Day shirt from Aunt Bert!

Trying to figure out what he'll wear next Sat. for his Valentine!

Preppy Puppy...that's not a cigarette in his paw, thats a chewy!

Enjoying the fresh air

Playing with his new toy from Aunt Bert! She keeps
his toy basket full!

Update

2009-01-31T14:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I went to a Tastefully Simple party at my friend, Heather's house, with my other friend, Tracy. She lives right around the corner from the house that Adrian and I are interested in buying this spring...keep your fingers crossed it's still on the market then. Anyways we had a great time...lots of Red Cat and Bully Hill going around! Hope to see you girls again soon!

Today I picked up my dress for my friend, Beth's wedding. Im the MOH, and I absolutely LOVE the dress! YAY! 1 dress down, 2 more to go!

After the dress pick up we took Carter to the "Good Dog Park." This was our first time going there. I was pretty surprised how busy the park was, considering it was only 30 degrees today, although by CNY standards 30 in Jan is pretty good. We took our petite pup to the "small dog" side. 25 lbs and under, please. The "big dog" side was scary! Lots of labs, a pit, husky, and a beagle. Not that we were personally afraid, but Carter is much too little to run with the big dogs. He thinks he's a big dog, oh but not so much. Anyways, Carter had a blast. He made friends with Ricky, a Boston Terrier. Personally, I think Ricky was a little rough with our guy, but there was no injury and Carter was loving his life! We were there for about a half an hour before Adrian and I were freezing and decided to leave. So, Carter was stripped of his cute little sweater that was now covered in snow and was wrapped tight in a blanket to warm up...and we wonder why he is spoiled!

PS- NKOTB, here we come! SOOO excited:)

ANOTHER SNOW DAY!

2009-01-28T10:51:00.001-08:00

Gotta love CNY!

O-M-G

2009-01-26T16:38:00.000-08:00

NKOTB March 26th, War Memorial...can life get any better?!?! And 2 days after the Big 3-0! Now I know what to ask Adrian for! SO EXCITED! Saw them back in the day when they came to The Dome...also got Danny Wood's autograph...O-M-G...NKOTB!

Carter's New 'Do

2009-01-24T05:44:00.001-08:00

Carter playing on his new steps!

Don't mind the wet beard...he just had a drink!

We took Carter to the groomer last night and he got a full groom for the first time! He looks much older and smaller without all of that hair flying around!

Bad at Posting

2009-01-19T14:44:00.000-08:00

I have been bad a posting these last few days. There has been a lot going on...Adrian has been away visiting his mom in Westchester...we had a long weekend for MLK day...we have been looking at houses in the area to buy...Carter went to Aunt Jo and Uncle Fred's house today and learned some new commands (what a smart guy I have)...Em and D stopped over on Friday...Aunt Jo, Kiera, Jeannine, Mom and Aunt Bert on Sat...the list goes on! Nothing too exciting, but enough to keep me from documenting every step Carter takes!

Speaking of steps...Grandma bought Carter steps so that he can get up and down from the couch without our help. He is a little skeptical still about using them, but when tired enough or when hungry enough he will use them without issue. I will post pics of this cuteness soon!

Still trying to figure out whats up for the Big 3-0 in March...I will keep you all posted!

A Day In The Life of Carter

2009-01-11T06:06:00.000-08:00

Wait to go outside

Play

Look cute!

Teething!

2009-01-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

Carter has started to teeth, and as you can see has started to loose some of his baby teeth! He spends most of the time chewing on his favorite bone...and my ankles:)

Puppy Class Here We Come!

2009-01-06T19:20:00.000-08:00

Carter went to the vet today and received his final puppy shot, as well as a kennel cough vaccination. This means our boy can now start attending puppy class...YAY! The vet also began speaking to us about neutering him and possibly micro-chipping him. This will all take place around six mos, which means probably sometime in March. Sorry for the lack of new, fun pics...I've been busy after work and with group starting back up tomorrow I may take a few days to post new ones...Carter is as cute as ever though...he's currently watching me type and Adrian play Wii tennis,while suffering from those darn hiccups!

Pup-erazzi

2009-01-02T05:55:00.000-08:00

Im obsessed with the cuteness of this dog!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T05:47:00.000-08:00

Carter's new favorite spot--IN the toy basket with his Christmas bone.

I wish it was the shape of a cigar

Carter's new sweater from grandma and grandpa. I think he looks quit handsome!

Happy New Year to all! We rang in the New Year just the two of us over dinner! Next year maybe a big party at our house?!

The Baby in Burberry

2009-01-01T05:44:00.000-08:00

The Burberry was passed down from Bailey to Carter on Christmas. Aunt Jo gave Carter an authentic Burberry bandanna that she received from her jeweler when she got Bailey as a pup. As you can see the bandanna is a little big, but we don't care...we love labels!:)

Christmas with Carter

2009-01-01T05:24:00.001-08:00

It's been awhile since our last post. The Holidays take up a lot of time!
Carter's first Christmas was great, he got lots of doggy presents from Santa
and family.

Adrian and I celebrated Christmas (opening presents to one another)
on Christmas Eve, before we went out to my parent's house, and eventually
to my Aunt's house for the annual Christmas Eve party. I got a really pretty ring from Adrian- it's a right hand ring! Adrian got a lot of random things from me- cologne, DVDs, clothes. Nothing exciting like my ring! I will post a picture at some point.

Carter went to our family Christmas Eve party for about an hour, then he went up to Aunt Bert's house where he completed some "Nascar laps" around her dinning room table. Aunt Bert is a huge Nascar fan, so anytime she can use it for an example or to talk about, she does! Apparently Carter was running incredibly fast around her table, over and over again. I think he felt the
energy of all of the animals that came before him there and was feeding off of the excitement! Aunt Bert was left with 5 treats to give Carter. Lets just say that she likes to overindulge the animals in the family with treats. Now mind you, Carter was with Aunt Bert for 3 hours and he got all five treats. I know for a fact he did not go outside to potty 5 times, and he does not know that many tricks to earn all of those treats! Oh well, Carter and Aunt Bert were happy:)

On Christmas Eve we also FINALLY got the chance to meet Baby Emma, aka "Internet Baby." She is my cousin Dan and his wife Krista's new little baby girl. She is the cutest thing going, a total "Riggs!" Can't wait to see her again!

We spent the night at my parent's house on Christmas Eve. Christmas day Aunt Jo, Uncle Fred, Brian, Kiera, and Aunt Bert came over for the day. The presents were plentiful, as was the food. All in all it was a great day!

Here are some pics of Carter's first Christmas!

Carter's first introduction to his stocking. He was
afraid of the jingle bells on it.

Finally, he gets up the courage to pull out a present.
It never takes me that long!

Carter under our Christmas tree. It was difficult
to get him to pose.

Carter under the Christmas tree at my parent's house.
I wanted a picture of him in the new Uggs, but he wasn't
cooperating!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T06:36:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from Meredith, Adrian, and Carter too!

Dead Duck!

2008-12-24T06:34:00.000-08:00

The duck has finally bit the dust! Carter managed to decapitate the duck that his Auntie Carol gave him when he first came home. RIP, duck!

Snow Day!

2008-12-22T14:35:00.000-08:00

Today was a snow day from school. The weather has been pretty bad all day long...snowing and a lot of blowing wind. Here are some pictures of how we spent our day...

A view of our front door...poor Carter has to jump the snow banks
to go potty!

Digging for God only knows!

Snow Bunny! Come on, let me in!

Partay!

2008-12-22T14:32:00.000-08:00

The three of us went to a Christmas party at Jaime's house on Saturday. While we were there Jaime gave me my Christmas presents from Alex...a nice, fuzzy blanket; and Carter's first Christmas ornament! Thanks Alex (and Jaime!)
The party was fun, thanks for the invite!

New Pics

2008-12-20T06:27:00.000-08:00

Here are some pics of Carter after he was groomed...

Loved by All...What a Feeling!

2008-12-19T18:52:00.000-08:00

I took Carter into work on Thursday at the end of the day to say hi to everybody. Right away a TA saw him and said "Oh, this is what I needed right now, it's been such a rough day." It was nice to know that seeing our little furball made her feel better, even for a small moment. Then he got lots of love from his Auntie Melanie, the School Nurse! Carter then made his second trip to the Principal's Office, where he was greeted enthusiastically by his "Uncle Tony," thats a direct quote from the horse's mouth! "Uncle Tony" likes to swoop Carter up and take him to a mirror where they can look at one another and see how cute they are. To know Tony is to love Tony, and I am SO thankful that he is my Principal!

Later on that night Aunt Karen called to formally invite us to Christmas Eve at her house. Of course we're going, it's tradition! Then she asked if Carter could come too! So excited that Carter gets to be a part of the festivities. I told Aunt Karen we would bring him, but that Aunt Bert has already requested to babysit him that night, and if we back out totally she will be hearbroken! So Carter will be visting both Aunt's houses that night.

How lucky are we to have such an in-demand pup?! He's the best and every day we tell one another how much we love him....even when he snarling and biting our pant legs,asking to go outside in the middle of a snow storm, begging for food, and crying and whining! :) What a guy!

First Trip to the Groomer!

2008-12-19T18:48:00.000-08:00

Tonight we decided to brave the elements and take Carter for his first grooming! We went with the "puppy cut," so his face, paws, and legs got a little trim. His nails were also cut. Carter can actually see now! All that hair in front of his eyes is no longer...he looks like a different dog...so much older! The groomer said that he was a little nervous, but was friendly, and he of course got lots of love from all he came into contact with! He's a little charmer;) I'll post some pics soon, I haven't taken any yet because he's been sleeping.

Cross Your Fingers!

2008-12-10T04:45:00.000-08:00

Last night I wrapped almost all of our Christmas presents. It took me about 4 hours. Adrian helped with the tags, which was a pretty big help because I don't like to do the tags. Carter slept through most of it, with a few funny moments here and there. We also put down the tree skirt last night and piled the presents on, hoping that he would be afraid of the boxes and not notice the pretty sequins! So far so good!

This a.m. I had to print out some paperwork for my part-time counseling job that I do. This was Carter's first experience with the printer. Clearly he didn't like it because he spent the entire time crying and hiding behind the curtains or growling from a distance! This dog is crazy--he's afraid of a laser jet, but makes friends with a Great Dane during his last vet appt. Adrian always says "That's your son," I'm not sure what he means by that?!?

Anyways, here is a new picture from last night of the boys watching me wrap. Yes, Adrian is able to write tags while laying down--who knew?!?

Such a Big Guy

2008-12-07T18:50:00.001-08:00

Enjoying the heat from the floor registers at my parent's house.

Rough-housing with "dad."

Carter's new "I've been Naughty" shirt, which he wore today when he got his picture taken with Santa:)

Christmas ornament from my friend, Melanie, who is the school nurse in my building. She picked this up for us in Cocoa Beach, FLA.

One of Carter's favorite spots, especially when he's mad and pouting!

Carter has been spending a lot more time in his crate since Adrian and I have been on the go non-stop it seems like. Friday night we went to my work Holiday party...good times I might add! Saturday we did some Christmas shopping and then went to dinner at one of our faves- Pastabilities, in d'town Syracuse--I highly recommend it! He's getting so big and developing quit a personality! Today was another busy day of baths, pictures, and a trip to see his grandma and grandpa!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

2008-12-01T18:39:00.000-08:00

Living Room Tree

"Boy Tree"

"Girly Tree"

Adrian and I put up our Christmas trees (yes, plural) Sunday and Monday. We have three trees. The main Christmas tree is in our living room and it has a silver, blue, and clear ornament theme. One of the other trees has a "girly" theme, with ornaments of pigs in tutus, cupcakes, and high heels. Our third tree is the "boy tree," with a Yankee and Dallas Cowboys theme. This is the first year for the 4 foot trees, so they are a work in progress...check back next year!

We had fun decorating them and the rest of the apt. We put up our stockings--Carter's too, and Carter even got a "Happy Holidays" bone- shaped placement for his food and water bowl. Surprisingly Carter hasn't been too interested in the trees, although I have yet to put down the Christmas tree skirt because I can just envision Mr. with sequins dangling from his lips!

Spoiled

2008-12-01T18:32:00.000-08:00

The latest person to meet Carter was my Cousin, Brian, who lives in Leesburg, VA, about 45 minutes from D.C. Brian came with a gift for Mr. Mr. which he has thoroughly enjoyed! Who knew Carter was into marine life (it's a seahorse!). Also thanks to Brian for the framed print from St. Johns and the shot glass for Adrian and I!

Thanks to Aunt Bert for the Merry Christmas t-shirt!

Love my OZ girls!

2008-12-01T18:13:00.000-08:00

It was so great to see my girls this weekend! Going to Plattsburgh (aka PlattsVegas!)for my Undergrad was the best move I could have made. I met some of my best friends the first 5 minutes I was there, and met the other half shortly thereafter! Most all of us lived on the same floor in the dorms and then eventually moved off campus together into 2 apartments within the same house. Oh how I miss 88 Broad St., and our front porch! Flip cup anyone?

No matter the distance between us, the days and weeks that sometimes pass before we can find a moment to catch up, we always fall right back into place, picking up right where we left off. Syracuse, Albany, Connecticut, NYC, Westchester Co., Seattle, wherever, we're always just an "event" apart!

Here are some of the girls with their guys...its fun to see who your friends end up with!

Tracy and Curt (Destination 2010, right?!)

Stephy and Will

Carla and Tom (Im in the wedding, July '09!!)

Suzie and Jeremy (I'm in the wedding Aug. '09!!)

Love you guys!

Congratulations Katie and Matt!

2008-12-01T18:02:00.001-08:00

Here are some pics. from Katie and Matt's wedding. The wedding was a traditional Catholic ceremony is a really pretty church. I loved hearing the church bells ring outside once the ceremony began. It was the first time I have noticed that being a guest at a wedding. I'm not sure if that is a "Catholic thing?" Katie and Matt are tons of fun, and their reception and after party were equally pleasing...gotta love the Irish! :) We had a great time in Fishkill and can't wait to visit you guys in NYC! Thanks again for a great night, and CONGRATS!

For My Latest Trick...

2008-12-01T17:53:00.001-08:00

Carter has discovered all of the small, low spaces that our apartment/furniture has to offer! Tonight while I was hanging up clothes in my closet Carter was in our bedroom roaming around. Now I was kind of nervous about this because he finds ANYTHING to chew on and then often pukes it up, so I'm constantly watching his every move. However, we have been trying to allow Mr. some independence so that he learns that we trust him, and I personally don't make him neurotic. Anyways, in the whole 2 minutes it took me to hang up my clothes he managed to find the very narrow space between our dresser and the wall. I came out calling "Carter, Carter where are you?" And then I saw his furry little butt behind the dresser. At first it was kind of funny, but when he began to whine and cry because he was trying to get out and got stuck, I started to panic. I called to Adrian and he had to help me move the dresser so Mr. Mr. could get out, it was too heavy for me to do on my own. So needless to say, I think I will be watching him a little more closely...again:)