Puppy growing pains

My little dog is becoming a bigger dog.  Ah man.  I mean, I knew I was adopting a big dog into our little family, but he's becoming so grown up and independent.  It's like when my Mom used to pick out my clothes and then one day I said, "No Mom, I can do it myself."  And I did.

It hurts your heart.
This may or may not be a sign that I am going to hold my children captive in my arms, because that's what I would like to do to Mr. Oliver.  I would like to hold him captive and not let him grow up.

Don't worry.  It get's crazier.
On Thursday Ben and I had to make a weekend trip for work.  Thursday through Sunday.  No biggie right?  Wrong.

On Monday I realized I was going to have to leave Oliver behind.  On Tuesday I pushed it to the back of my mind and pretended it wasn't happening.  On Wednesday I held him captive in my arms.  On Thursday I rushed around the house trying to get everyone's stuff ready, pretending he was coming with us.  By late Thursday morning Ed was at our house ready to take Ben and I to the airport and Oliver home to the farm de Walunas to play for the weekend.  We loaded up the car and I fought back tears all the way to the airport.  When we pulled out our suitcases ready to say our goodbyes, I lost it.  Like big alligator tears filling my eyes and rolling down my cheeks, lost it.  {may I just insert here... what in the world?  Do you know me?  I am NOT like this.} I hugged Ed, told my sweet Oliver to be good and we walked away.  I cried for 3 hours.  Checking in our bags - crying.  Walking through security - crying.  Buying a Diet Coke at Wendy's because Ben said it would heal my heart - crying.  Boarding - crying.  Trying to sleep on the flight - crying.  Don't worry - I didn't draw TOO much attention, I wasn't hysterically crying.  Just little tears rolling down my cheeks.

I basically spent the whole plane ride wondering what was wrong with me.  I am really not a crier.  Poor Ben felt helpless and probably thought his wife had lost her mind.  I think he has actually seen my cry once - on our wedding - happy tears.  This was foreign.

I knew Oliver was going to be fine.  I knew Ed, Jody and Aunt Sue are much better dog owners that I.  He was in excellent hands and had 5 acres, Bodie and all the grandkids to play with.

I determined the problem was that he is growing and changing so much every day that even in just 4 days I was going to miss it.  We were going to come back and he was going to be all grown up.
Either that, or I really have lost my mind.

The only solution is to talk about all the little things that this sweet puppy does, so when he is all grown up I will still remember.

...Currently his toy of choice is either Frank the Bee - His Pee Wee pillow pet - or an old water bottle.  It's true, he has a billion toys that I haul around everywhere we go and he will choose the water bottle cause he likes the crinkling sound.

...When Oliver first came to our home we would throw his ball and he would look at us and wonder where it went.  In just a few short weeks he now knows exactly where his ball is and will stalk it down.  It's the cutest thing.  He will sneak up and pounce on it.  It makes me laugh every time.

...The stairs were a little intimidating to Ollie at first.  He wouldn't go up or down.  We had to carry him.  This worked well for me because while I was working during the day there was no chance he would wander downstairs.  It took a couple weeks, but now he is master of the stairs - although he has learned  not to go without us.  Before he braves the steep stairs he will bark at them.  Showing them who's boss.  Then he will scoot is way down.  Sometimes he misses a stair, loses his balance, or turns around to make sure you know how well he is doing and falls.  I will miss his puppy clumsiness.

...Oliver used to only go outside if you would go with him.  We had to show him how to jump out of the door and we would stay outside until he was done playing.  The day he decided he was okay playing outside alone I called Ben at work and said, "He is outside, ALONE!  He doesn't need us anymore."   He is so good at entertaining himself.  He will somersault all over the lawn chasing toys, his tail or just the air.  He doesn't stay alone for long though.  As soon as he is done he will sit nicely at the back door waiting for someone to rescue him.

...Mr. Oliver will lay at my feet every night as I make dinner.  I hope he will always do this.

...He has a few favorite sleeping spots.  On the bathroom tile, under my desk, on the air conditioning vent and on our clothes {we're not PERFECT! Sometimes we have clothes on the floor and suitcases that need to be unpacked.}

We just can't believe how much he is changing and growing in just a few short weeks.  SLOW DOWN Oliver!  I will now officially reign in the craziness.