I know I haven't been very good at keeping this blog updated. I am going to try harder. Last week was more busy than usual, so I wasn't able to update any of my blogs. There will be plenty next week though.

Mico is almost six months old now. I think he is just about done growing. He is almost as big as his brother Max. He still has one ear that does not stand up, but we are hopeful it will. His ears have so much fur on them I think it is just top heavy. I keep telling the kids I bought a Papillon that would have two standing ears and we may have to return him!

Mico loves to be around us. He is such a people dog. He no longer spends his nights in his kennel, he much prefers sleeping with us or Cody. He is very good about staying in one place all night and does not get up until one of his peoples do.

We have put a doggy door up (thanks Aunt Judy) and he has become used to that and has not had an accident in the house in weeks. I am SO grateful for that!

Mico will NOT settle down until everyone is in bed and settled for the night. One night he came in and got in bed with me. Cody was still up watching his new favorite show The Alaskan Experiment and Mico kept getting up to check on him and then would come back to bed but would not fall asleep. Finally, when Cody went to bed, he was able to relax and sleep.



The other day Casey and I went to the park for a playgroup date. We took Mico along. He loves to go, go, go and makes it difficult for us to go anywhere without him. He races us to the door and gives us those, well, puppy dog eyes. He makes it really difficult to close the door and say good bye.


The park we go to is a pretty good sized dog friendly park. Since our group was the only one there I let go of Micos leash and let him wander around and dig. I did keep a close eye on him because he still tries to eat things he shouldn't. Puppies!
The little girls at the playgroup kept thinking he was getting away from me so they would pick up his leash and had fun walking him around and returning him to me.

He enjoyed the park and took a nice long nap on the couch when we got home. You know it was a good day when you can wear out the energizer puppy!

walk

Mico loves to go for walks. We normally take him on two walks a day. Morning and then again later in the evening. His morning walk is usually when I walk the boys to school. He knows that when the boys put on their backpacks it is time for him to go stand by the door. He also seems to know that on the way to school we have to hurry along and don't have time to stop and sniff. On the way home he gets his chance to mark his territory.

If for some reason I can't take him he makes it difficult for me to get past the door. The he stands and whines and scratches at the door after I leave.

We also take frequent mid morning walks to the mail box or around the block. He really enjoys those too. We are trying to teach him to heal and walk with us and not ahead of us. It is an on going process and learning experience.

He is getting very good at knowing that when we stop he is to sit and wait. We still have to tell him on occasion to sit, especially when there is a lot of people around and he is excited. But most of the time he will just sit on his own.

When we get home Mico usually gets a big drink of water and takes a nap. We probably shouldn't let him get on the furniture, the dog whisperer frowns on such behaviour, but look how happy and comfy he is.

We can really tell a difference in Mico's personality when he isn't getting the exercises he needs. The walks keep him healthy and happy.

brotherly love

We took Mico for a playdate with his older brother Max. They were SO glad to see each other and played almost nonstop. Mico was unhappy about having to come home, and he is exhausted.

finding his place

Mico is a little over four months old now. I am thinking he is about the age of a three year old. Not quite a baby anymore but not really a big boy.

He doesn't spend the night in his kennel any longer. He sleeps with the kids or us now. He doesn't wander the house at night and will whine if he needs to go out.

He seems to be having trouble finding his own place in the house. He has a bed and will sleep in it sometimes. He likes to stretch out on the couch or on the floor. But he always seems to be looking for something, somewhere to just be.

During the day he stays in the front of the house, preferring the living room, kitchen and backyard to anywhere else.

Cortney has been sick and staying in her bed or my bed most of the day these last few days. I tried to get Mico to stay with her but he bolts for the front of the house when he gets the chance.

Yesterday Mico was tired. We had walked a long walk and he had played quite a bit. He was beat. He walked around the house whining and laying down in different spots just for a few seconds before looking for another place to lay. I finally put him in his kennel and shut the door and he gave me an almost relieved look. He instantly laid down and went into a sound sleep.

Saturday night one of the sick kids threw up all over the bed (and me). E had to take all the bedding to the Laundromat. When he got home with the still warm comforters I yelled for him to come help me with a vomiting baby. He dropped everything by the door and rushed to the bathroom to help me. Mico's warm sensors kicked right in and he buried himself in the warmth of the fresh, clean and ultra warmth of the snugly comforters.

We didn't have the heart to disturb him so we left everything there until he decided to move. Yea, he is getting more and more spoiled everyday.

growing

I finally got a cable for my camera. I was looking back at pictures of Mico from the last month or so and I can't believe how much he has grown!

Easter was fun for Mico. He loved the Easter eggs. He thought they were lopsided balls, much easier to chase down and catch since they didn't roll away from him.

Mico loves to dig. He has three rather large holes in the backyard. Every once in a while we fill them in so he can redig them. He does try to dig in the front yard from time to time but we keep his holes contained to the backyard. Or at least we try. He stands and watches me pull up weeds and thinks that I am just starting holes for him.

Cortney thinks it is fun to dress him. Here she has put a purple sweater on him. He doesn't look very happy about it. But look how big he is. The white spot on his head is starting to shrink.

Kicking back in the backyard laying in the sun. One of his favorite past times.

Mico's week away

We left Mico with Max's family for a week while we took a trip to Utah. I was not worried about him at all. Max's parents spoil Max just as much as we spoil Mico so I knew he was in good hands.

What I was worried about was if he would remember us or even want to come home with us. He seemed happy to see us when we got there but went off to play with Max after a few minutes. Max turned 1 on the 25th so Max's mom had a little party for him. Yes, we are nerds. But it was a good excuse to spend some time together and have brownies and ice cream. Don't worry, the dogs had treats from the local dog bakery, they did not have brownies and ice cream.

Then it was time to come home. We took the dogs out front and they played a little more. We got to the car and put Mico in the front seat. He sat down and seemed happy to be going with us. I was afraid he would try to jump out or whine for Max. As we drove off he got in my lap and laid down and went to sleep. He was happy to be going home with us after all.

Max will be spending the next holiday weekend with us while his parents go camping. This arrangement is working out nicely for all of us.

I can't share pictures because Mico chewed up the cable that connects the computer to the camera. I am have a very difficult time finding a replacement.

update

I have neglected this blob, mostly because I am not able to share pictures at this time, and I love to share pictures.

Mico i four months old and he is growing and learning more and more daily. He seems to be out of the piranha stage, thank goodness! He is loving and sweet and loves to play, eat, sleep and lounge in the sun. He is also spoiled rotten. Housebreaking has finally seemed to click with him, thank goodness! I didn't know what I was going to with him for a while.

His older brother Max came and spent a week with us last week while his parents were on a ski trip. They LOVED each other. It was so much fun to watch them interact and play. We miss Max terribly. I do believe Mico went into a depression stage for a day or so after Max left. Next week Mico is going to spend a week with Max's family while we are on vacation. It is a great arrangement for all involved.