Why I Love Molly...

I may complain that my dog is expensive.

I may complain that we go to the vet at least every month.
I may complain that she barks at everything.
I may complain that she is CRAZY!

But then there are days like today.
When I am reminded while I absolutely LOVE our dog.
Today, she proved she is worth her weight in gold!

Karson was sitting on the floor playing.
Molly went and sat down next to him.
Karson stuck his hands out, and Molly started licking them.
Karson started the fully belly giggle.
Music to my ears!
Then Karson grabbed onto Molly's tongue.
He.would.not.let.go!
Molly just sat there calmly.
Until I came to her rescue.
Then she laid down next to him.
She put her head on his legs.
And went to sleep.
I could have cried.

I LOVE that I do not have to worry about Molly with Karson.
I LOVE that when I leave the room and come back, the two of them are next to each other playing.
I LOVE that Molly tolerates having her tongue yanked on by a 5 month old!

A Few of Karson's Favorite Things and a New Accomplishment

Karson loves his "Baby Popsicle."

I has been HOT lately and I hate using the AC.

I make all of Karson's baby food.

All it is, is a piece of frozen, pureed fruit.

Keeps him entertained forever!!

He usually cries when it is gone.

Karson HATED being on his tummy.

He would always shove his head into the carpet, and SCREAM!

It was not until he learned to roll both ways that he started enjoying Tummy Time.

He, for the most part, likes playing on his tummy now.

He also loves his sippy cup!

Which only ever has water in it.

I am determined to make him believe water is the only thing that can come out of a sippy cup.

Except for on a few occasions, he can have all natural, sugar free, 100% juice. :-)

Jump...jump...jump...

He would do it ALL DAY!

He love, love, loves his Jump-a-Roo!!

His little legs go 100 mph before I even get him in there.

Karson LOVES his bear!

He snuggles with it while Mommy rocks him to sleep.

It usually always calms him down.

I have invested in two more, so I can trick him when he is older.

Yes, I caved and gave my 5 month old ice cream.

Well actually, Grandma Nana is giving it to him.

He LOVES it!!!

Don't worry, he does not get that much.

Look what Karson can do now.....He got so strong over night!

He loves playing with his basket of toys..

...sitting up on his OWN!

My baby is getting so big!!

...notice the super cute blue cloth diaper booty...we are experimenting.

Tommy and Mandi's Visit

Tommy, Mandi, Jaelee, and Jax came to visit last week. We all had a blast! The first weekend they were here my Grandma, Aunt, Cousin and her family came into town. We enjoyed visiting, swimming, Jett's pizza, and my Mom's coffee cake (YUM!). They left sunday afternoon, and sunday even we had a "Welcome Home" bbq for Tommy and Mandi. Over 30 came to my parent's house for dinner. It was really good to see every one.

We spent the week shopping for the kids and even spent a few days camping at Holland State Park. Mandi and Jaelee had never been to the beach before. Michigan beaches are the best!

Molly

It is no secret that we love our dog! She is a typical one year old lab. She is crazy as can be, but the best snuggler. Our favorite thing about her is how well she does with Karson. I can leave the two of them in a room together and not worry. She brings toys to Karson, and sleeps next to him on the floor.

Molly's only downfall....she is so stinkin accident prone!! We have had her for over a year. We have never gone more than a month with out a visit to the vet. I am pretty sure we fund the place. She has turned into our little savings account.

A break down of Molly's health issues...

May 2009

Less than a week after we got her.
Bladder Infection.

She went back numerous times because we couldn't get rid of it.

June 2009

Shots

A routine visit.

July 2009

Shots

Again, a routine visit.

August 2009

Partially tore her ACL.

She was xrayed, casted, and seen 5 times in two weeks.

September 2009

Got the "Doggie Flu"

October 2009

Seen for her leg again.

Still was not healing right.

November 2009

Seen for her leg.

Still not healing right.

December 2009

The ear disappeared off her favorite stuffed bunny.

We woke up at 6am to a puking dog.

She ate the ear off her stuffed bunny.

It got "stuck."

She had to stay at the vet while she "passed" the ear.

P.S.

I was pregnant.

DJ was sick.

I woke up sick.

I could not stop coughing and throwing up.

We all ended up with doctor appointments that day.

It was a great day...

January 2010

Got spayed.

Got infected.

We almost lost her.

Went to the vet every day for 2 weeks.

Had many follow up appointments.

She had more shots of penicillin that I can count.

Pretty sure we were there every day in January...

February 2010

Re tore her ACL

Four weeks before Karson was due.

March 2010

Surgery to repair her ACL.

Went back every week for three weeks.

Mind you I had a 2 week old and a dog who could not move.

She was in so much pain she would hide and just whimper.

She was on three different pain killers.

It was very sad and heartbreaking!

April 2010

Molly took it upon her self to remove her cast.

She did not do a very good job.

I had to rush to the vet with a month old baby.

And Molly.

Who had only taken off half of her cast.

It had slid down her leg, below her paws.

It was very unsafe for her to walk on.

Plus, two more rechecks of her leg.

May 2010

She took five steps into the side yard.

The side yard had grub killer in it.

An hour later, she started throwing up.

She threw up for 3 days straight.

A vet visit.

Call to the company and ASPCA.

We finally got it undercontrol.

June 2010

Shots
A ROUTINE visit for Molly?!?

Unheard of!

July 2010

Eye infection.

While we had family in from out of state.

August 2010

Currently awaiting a call from the vet.

To find out why her "noncontagious eye condition" has passed to Maggie.

Five Months

I can't believe you are five months old already!!

At five months you are..

Eating fruits and veggies really well!

Your favorites are carrots and bananas.

I am trying really hard to get you to like avocados though!

Rolling from your back to your tummy, and back to your back again.

You always wake up on your tummy in the morning.

I love how you stick your head up and smile at me when I walk in the room!

Are so close to sitting on your own. (You are now sitting on your own!)

You LOVE Molly!

You reach for her whenever she walks by you.

Have started giggling.

Most of the time you giggle with Daddy, but I have gotten a few out of you too.

Your favorite thing to do is jump in your Jump-a-Roo.
You also love to lay on the floor with no clothes on.

Had your first (and last!) visit to Urgent Care.
Next time we promise to take you to Devos ER instead. :-)

We love watching you grow and learn more and more each day!!

Lake Michigan

Mommy and Daddy took me swimming in Lake Michigan when our whole family camped at Holland.

This time I actually got to swim, and not just put my toes in.

I LOVED it!

The water was really warm, and the waves were fun to splash in!

Mommy says she does not remember the last time Lake Michigan was this warm.

She did not get any good pictures of me swimming though.

EVERYONE was in the water swimming!

Family Pictures

While Tommy and Mandi were home from Colorado, we had Alycia take family pictures. They turned out really well!