the year in review

I went back to work after giving birth to my littlest boy and to my surprise, loved it, I joined a gym and kept it up, we had visitors from England, we broke a fridge, we bought a new camera and took a million photographs, we edited our photos and backed them up responsibly, we realised we need a holiday but didn't have the time to take one, we escaped the floods but friends weren't so lucky, I baked a cheesecake and made a pavlova, both for the first time, we lost a baby and cried and cried, we learned our son is crazy for puzzles and our other son is a cheeky little devil with a naughty streak that is adorable, we watched movies, so many movies, I watched my husband become an actual architect, I used my KitchenAid way more than I thought I would, I Skyped my parents every week, sometimes twice, I missed them terribly, we didn't always try a new recipe every week but we always ate good food, I loved watching the royal wedding, missed England and her countryside, visited the GoMA at least twice, we still haven't managed to get out to dinner but we had an awesome party for Will's birthday, we decorated our garden with 800 fairy lights, we said goodbye to Sue, but hello to Emma and Clasein, I had the most awesome birthday week EVER and ate at my favourite restaurant with my favourite person, we visited a zoo, our house was a zoo, I discovered patience, then lost it again, I became a little more like my mum, we ate McDonalds for the first time in years and regretted it, I got to know my sister as my friend and lamented the years we spent apart but realised it's better late than never, our boys' birthday parties were awesome and it didn't rain, we didn't send Christmas cards this year, but I've been good at keeping in touch with those I love, we became really good at doing the kids' packed lunches in about 10 minutes, and kept on top of keeping house, I worried about how I'm doing at work but found out they think I'm ok, I playdoughed, painted, tidied, read to my sons, our boys started sharing a room together, we only broke a few baubles this year, I wished I had read more books and had more haircuts, we had Christmas at our house with my friend Kate, I learned the names of lots of vehicles, we repaired our lawn and now our garden looks fabulous, I got cross with my boys more often than I would have liked but always ended the day with kiss and a cuddle, I started and ended the year very tired.  But so happy.

Come on 2012.   I know you are going to be great.

deeks and his new haircut

The weather's getting hotter.  Poor long haired Deacon suffers in the summer so we usually get his fur clipped a couple of times, giving him some welcome relief from his normally gorgeous, long, shaded red coat.

Last Friday was his first clipping of the summer and these photographs were taken on the afternoon of his pampering.  Doesn't he look smart?  The blue bows lasted about an hour (well, they were compromising his machismo, somewhat), but the poor nervous soul, who doesn't enjoy being groomed hid under the chair in Max's room for a lot longer than that.  Aw Deeksie, you'll thank us come Christmas.

deeks is better again

Poor little Deacon's had a very rough weekend.  On Saturday, we got back from a fairly stressful couple of days at the coast with Will's family where Deeks mainly hid under the bed from everyone.  Amongst the chaos of the weekend and Deacon's natural tendency to keep himself to himself around strangers, we didn't realise the little guy wasn't feeling good.  We woke on Sunday morning to find the deck covered in poop and vomit and blood.  He needed emergency care at the UQ vet clinic where he stayed overnight and came home yesterday after being diagnosed and treated for HGE.  He's such a timid little thing, he would have been terrified about being taken away from what he knows best but he's had his medication and boy was he happy to see his best friend Lola!  Lola pretended she hadn't even noticed Deeks was gone, but they cuddled up together last night and I know she was secretly happy to see him back.

It's hard work looking after two babies and two dogs.  There was the bat incident earlier this year, when Lola attacked a bat that had flown onto our deck, resulting in us calling the RSPCA to come and rescue the bat.  Then there was the cane toad incident, when Lola got hold of a cane toad in our garden, licked it, got high and needed to have her mouth washed out and a visit to the emergency vet.  And then there was the time Lola survived but was a little fatter for eating an entire Camembert and a whole box of chocolates and an entire Christmas pudding.  Thankfully not all at the same time.  But she'd give it a shot.

sausage dogs

In the whirlwind of the last few weeks, two forgotten little souls are our beloved miniature dachshunds, Lola and Deacon.  With two babies to look after and in the sleep deprived, post new-baby fug, it's easy to be cross with them when they bark for no apparent reason, when they scrounge for Ollie's scraps and when they jump up on the furniture with muddy paws.

Lola is stubborn, single minded, food-seeker who loves to bask in the sun.  She has long eyelashes, grey whiskers, and a beautiful, silky, tan coat.  She has a grumpy bark but a fantastic happy howl that she brings out to welcome people into our home.  Deeks is a long haired softie, nervous of strangers and desperate for pats.  He has smelly breath and is loyal, shy and good natured.  I think he's the most handsome dog I've ever known.  They can be very naughty, but they are both beautiful little dogs and really, they have been so patient and forgiving of the lack of attention they have been receiving since the new addition to our family arrived.  It's fair to say they have grown accustomed to not being the focus of our attention since Ollie was born 18 months ago.  Thanks to Will, they still get to go out for walks, although they aren't as long or frequent as they were, they don't get groomed as often as they used to (I think they are thankful for that), but they do enjoy more treats, and while they might be a bit grubby at times, they seem happy and perhaps love each other even more than they did before our family grew so quickly.  They are terrific with the kids, very gentle and tolerant of Ollie's occasional rough and tumble.  I'd like to think that when the kids are in bed and they do get to clamber up on the couches, or on the now rare occasion that they get to sleep on our bed, that they are appreciative of the pats and cuddles.

So next time they bark at the postman and wake the boys up, I will try to remember how sweet they can be and that I love them dearly.  Even if they are a bit stinky.