[Stacy]

Hi guys, I only have a second but I wanted to let you all know that my mom and I got our labradoodles yesterday!! The girl (Frenchy)will live with mom and the boy (Coal) came home with me. They are perfect and GORGEOUS! I am so in love with this little guy!! I'll write more later. Check out his photos in F1B labradoodles!
Stacy
Darnit! I put one of his photos in the F1 album. Is there a way to take it out?

 

[Stacy]

Ok, well now I can write a little bit.....

My daughter was terribly ill the night before my mother and I were to fly to Kansas City to get the puppies - 104 degree fever that Tylenol wouldn't bring down, bad cough, sore throat....YUCK! Anyway, my hubby took her to the Dr while I was getting Coal and thankfully Taylor just has a virus but the Dr had given her cold medicine with codeine sooooo....she was basically zonked out on the couch when we got back home. I put a huge Christmas bow on Coal with a note that read, "I hope you enjoy Coal for Christmas - Love, Santa". I put Coal on the couch with her and she opened her eyes and at first looked very freaked out (her eyesight without glasses is pretty bad). Then she whispered "A puppy!" as she doesn't have much of a voice right now either. BUT, she was very surprised and she loves him to pieces. My son is just 2 1/2 and he was very excited as well. He kept calling Coal "little fellow" which was sweet cuz we call my son that sometimes. So, it all went well.

Last night was like having a newborn baby! I think I got up every 2 hours or so with Coal. He hasn't had an accident in the house yet but I am keeping a close eye on him and only letting him play in areas with vinyl flooring for a while! No crate accidents which is good! How long does it take before they sleep through the night? I hadn't gotten a full night's sleep in days before Coal came and the last two nights have been quiet difficult because now my husband has the cold too and he is absolutely no help. I have 2 sick kids, a sick husband and an 8 week old puppy and I haven't had more than 5 hours sleep a night for 4 nights now! Funny I don't feel more stressed out but I know this is all temporary. Coal is just adorable and I am so excited to have him grow up in this family.

Thanks for all of your comments about our new little baby!

Stacy
Coal's Mom

 

[Stacy]

Ok guys, I couldn't resist and I started my own album. I took a million pics of Coal today. I think this could become an addiction !!

He's doing great. When y'all were house breaking, where did your pups spend most of their day? It's nice here in Phoenix and so we could just spend loads of time outside but when we are inside, where should Coal be? I just bought a plastic gate -like pen thingie today and I was thinking about putting it in the kitchen. This way he's contained yet he has more space than in the crate and if (when?!) he has an accident, I can easily clean it up. What did you guys do???
Thanks,
Stacy
Coal's Mom

 

[Stacy]

Coal is 8 weeks old. I figure he will start to sleep for longer intervals but I hope it comes soon. Does anyone know how much sleep a puppy needs during the day? I see him resting and I think that if he sleeps too much during the day he won't sleep well at night. I guess though that they are just like human babies and need lots of naps. I suppose I will have this all figured out in a week or so. Right now I feel like I know nothing and I'm just trying to do the best I can. I've read books and the forum but for some reason it still seems foreign when you get that little puppy of your own!
Stacy

 

[Stacy]

Thanks you guys! You are all so sweet. Coal had a GREAT night last night. He went in his crate at 12AM and I didn't hear from him until 5AM! Whoohoo! I am taking him out on a leash to potty and then giving him a tiny treat when he has done his business. Well, he's pretty smart because he already knows that he is gonna get a treat and when he's done he looks at me like, "OK, I did it, where's the good stuff!". I am kind of feeling bad though because I have a million things I need to get done now and he is just having to hang out in this pen I put up in the kitchen. Normally this wouldn't be a problem because everyone else could be interacting with him but they are all sick. I think I will wrap Christmas gifts outside today so he can run and play in the yard! Yes, here in AZ we can sit outside at the end of December (usually in short sleeves) and do things like wrap Christmas presents. Kind of weird when you come from NJ and are used to white Christmas's but I am not complaining!
Stacy
Coal's Mom