Day 12: A Lazy Dog Dangling Day

We needed a lazy afternoon.

After pushing ourselves through a 5k, a well earned break seemed due. So we called up some friends and got ourselves down to the beach to build, was was hopefully going to be, the biggest sand castle we have ever attempted. Apparently, a few other thousand Connecticutahenians wanted to go out and enjoy the beach day with all the perfect weather, too.  Since we did not wake up at 7AM (since why the deuce do you need to rush so that you can relax on the beach?), we were unable to find a plot of sand that would work for our ambitious undertaking.  So we thought of plan B.

We mentioned that Mini has been a pretty amazing pooch.  She has acted as nurse for us on numerous occasions, is there to snuggle with on cold or rainy days, makes for a great running partner (although Ellaine wouldn't know), and she was incredibly intuitive about our loss. Before we knew we were pregnant, she was already acting odd. She was extra snuggly and presented a much calmer demeanor around Ellaine. She was loving and caring and just generally sweet, probably just taking after me.

When we came home from the hospital though, she was completely different. She knew we were completely different. I don't know that she knew what changed, but her demeanor changed with ours. She would walk over and lay her head in our lap or jump on the couch just so that she could lean against us and let us know that it would all get better. She didn't push to go outside and just took on each day at whatever pace we wanted to approach it with. She is, in short, our best friend other than each other.

No better way to beat the heat.

So, plan B was all about doing something special for Mini so that we would all do a first together. Together with the shovel, cooler, and beach umbrella, we shoved the largest kiddie pool that we could find into the back of Vivi to truck home from the beach. We also picked up some bully sticks and even a pig ear.

Once home, we took a quick minute to fill the pool and the results were excellent. She ran out the back door and sprang into the pool like a little gazelle. After hopping around the edge at least four times, she started "digging" into the water and threw the contents of the pool over the whole back yard.

She rolled in the pool.  She jumped out, just to jump back in. She was having the time of her life. By the time we got to the pig ear, she was thoroughly fatigued and slightly wary of the treat in front of her. But eventually, she really enjoyed that as well.

As much fun as we have been having with our own new and different firsts, it has really been a treat to share these firsts with others and see their reactions as well.... even if the individuals we are sharing firsts with are a touch hairier than we are.