Rayna turns NINE!

Happy 9^th Birthday to my sweet Rayna! I cannot believe this is your last year being in the single digits. Time sure is flying and there is not a day that goes by that you do not make me laugh or smile. You are such a fun kid to be around and I feel so lucky that you are mine. This past year you have really grown up and it is definitely bittersweet. Not many baby teeth left, making time to put on a little makeup before school, taking your skincare very seriously, always making sure to wear the perfect accessories, extremely independent, and knowing more than you probably should know at the age of nine. Your favorite things include Taylor Swift, shopping, makeup, gymnastics, and spending time with friends/family. Love our swiftie jam sessions at home & in the car, cuddles before bed, hearing the third grade gossip, and all the extra help we get from you. I am so proud of how well you have done this school year. You are rocking third grade and really thriving with amazing teachers. This year you have kept your friend circle small unlike the previous years but quality over quantity is always better. Your sister & cousins still remain your best friends and I love the close relationship y’all continue to share. You have found your happy place once again back in gymnastics and have learned so many new skills, have become super strong, and continue to push yourself to the limits to see what you can achieve. I swear you are upside down more than you are right side up! I admire your strong willed personality, brutal honesty, and confidence. I love how fearless & adventurous you are, how effortlessly funny & witty you can be, and how stubborn & persistent you have always been. All of these qualities might give me grey hairs now but will take you far in the future. I wish time would slow down with each birthday you have but I love watching you grow into such a beautiful little girl inside and out. You might be too cool to hold my hand in public, say “I love you” when I drop you off at school as the door opens, or give me a big hug at school pickup but you will forever be a momma’s girl. I love you and our special bond!

Love,

Mommy

Happy Birthday to Rayna!!! Started the morning with a visit from her elf (she has been counting down the days), french toast from Daddy, gifts, shopping trip, Starbucks, visit from her cousins, birthday cake, dinner of her choice (Cookshack) & family ping pong, and ended with froyo & a sister sleepover!

Party day with all her friends at Buff City Soap :) Made bath bombs, played games, & had cupcakes.! It was the perfect weekend celebrating our special girl!

 

Charli

 Meet Charli :) She is a mini golden and cousin to Rosie! She was the hardest secret we have ever had to keep but totally worth it. We surprised the girls after school and they were completely shocked and sooo happy! Lots of tears, thank yous, and hugs. Charli is the perfect addition to our family and is already so loved. Welcome home sweet girl. We are going to love you forever and always!

8 weeks old

6 lbs

First picture on our drive home. She slept the entire way :)

First picture with Mommy & Daddy

Loving her new big yard :)

First picture with her big sisters :)

Sooo loved

First night in her crate and she did sooo good!

Lots of cuddles :)

Her favorite spot to nap outside :)

First vet appointment and Charli did great! Got round of shots (didn't even notice), treats, and extra love. Sweet girl is growing quickly and is already 8 lbs! The vet said that she was the first ever mini-golden they have seen. They just kept saying how pretty she was :)

Her big outing wiped her out! Ruff life...

9 weeks old and one whole week at her new home :) 

Charli is so sweet and fun. She is getting much more comfortable and seeing what she can get away with. She likes to chew on shoe laces, my kitchen rug, pinecones, sticks, mulch, kitchen table legs, and the girls jumprope. Other things she likes include naps (floor, couch with me), outside by the brick wall, under the kitchen table. She loves treats, breakfast & dinner time, belly rubs, her lamb toy, her chew bone, chasing her own tail, following Mommy around everywhere, sitting at the bottom of the stairs waiting on the girls to come down, car rides (she usually falls asleep), her cousin Rosie, cuddles with her family, and her crate (thankfully). 

She is already sleeping through the night and when she is tired at bedtime she walks right in to go to sleep. She has learned how to sit on command, lay down on command, and has started ringing the bell hanging on the door to go potty outside. Only a couple accidents in the house and doing really well going potty outside (always being rewarded with treats - she is VERY food driven). 

The few things she does not seem to like are vacuums, big dog barks, and loud sudden sounds.

Lots of love from her sisters <3

Charli's favorite sleeping spot outside. Since day one she has loved laying next to the brick.

Where's Charli?? ;)

First bath. Not a fan.

Charli's FAVORITE toy :)

Loves waiting on the bottom of the stairs for her sisters

Left our sweet girl for ten days while we were on a family vacation and I can't believe how much she grew! Missed her like crazy and thankfully she remembered us. All smiles back together <3

Charli hanging with Uncle Westin while we were away :)

12 weeks old and 14 lbs - Charli is a growing girl! She can now jump on the couch by herself and commands she knows are: sit, down, shake. She has gotten much better at using the bell on the door to go potty outside and still loves her crate and sleeps like a champ! She currently loves chasing bugs, sharing popsicles, empty water bottles, people & dog watching, playing with her big cousin Rosie, watching squirrels (very curious), and standing on dishwasher to lick whatever she can find.

Loves napping on the couch

Very curious about squirrels. Starring contest!

First ever swim :) Was a little hesitant but got in and played. Looking forward to more swims!

Poor Charli scratched her cornea pretty bad so she is in a cone and on medicine plus eye drops for an entire week. Cones on dogs are so sad!

While we were on summer vacation these two had lots of playdates :)

Home sweet home & reunited with our sweet Charli <3 She is growing fast!

16 week appointment and officially vaccinated

Charli now weighs 22 lbs - she's a growing girl  :)

She can now ring the bell on her own when needing to go potty outside, sleeps from 9pm-6am, loves her zebra & lamby toy, has been introduced to bully sticks (loves), loves playing with her cousin Rosie, she is a great swimmer, chases all bugs, and is a major momma's girl (my little shadow ALL the time). Sweetest pup and we are so in love with this crazy cutie <3

Charli's favorite spot - hiding under my chair in our bedroom

These cousins are besties! :)

20 weeks: 26 lbs

Charli is the sweetest and most lovable puppy. She has been completely potty trained since beginning of July (the bell worked like a charm) and still loves sleeping in her crate all night. She was growing fast but has recently slowed wayyyy down. I am hoping she stays small in size. Charli LOVES chasing squirrels and lizards, riding in the car any chance she gets, going on walks (twice a day), swimming, her cousin Rosie, playing chase, lamb squeaky toy, bully sticks, playing with the door stoppers, stealing shoes & socks, and greeting her sisters when they get home from school. She is still a momma's girl and my little shadow. She recently has become obsessed with my bedroom. She enjoys hiding under my chair, napping under the chair, and also jumping on my bed to say good morning or just to hang out :) Things she does not like include vacuums, being locked up during the day, seeing herself in the mirror (she barks thinking it is another dog looking at her lol), and her gentle leader (she always looks so sad when I put it on her).

LOVES our morning & evening walks :)

6 months old: 28 lbs

She is my little shadow, loves being in our bedroom, sometimes sleeps in our bed if she wakes up in the middle of the nights, stated carrying sticks on our walk (she gets so proud), loves being outside (walks, swimming, playing), enjoys riding with me everyday to bring the girls to school, and still loves her favorite lamby toy. She is such a sweet, smart, energetic, pretty girl! We LOVE our Char Char <3

Charli got spayed and microchipped this month. She will sadly be sporting the cone of shame for the next fourteen days. She is doing better and happiest when outside. Our girl is growing up!

Charli's first Halloween

8 months old and Charli's first Thanksgiving 

When daddy is away Charli likes to sleep with me :)

9 months old and Charli's first Christmas <3

Charli's first artwork - Christmas tree paw print :)

Charli's first Christmas -  Even though she was partly naughty this year she got a stocking full of treats & new toys that she managed to destroy in the same day. Love this puppy!

Sleepover and Charli cannot miss out on the fun! She has majoy FOMO :)

Poor Charli got into rat poison and had to be rushed to the animal hospital. Thankfully she was fine but has to be on a strict no play with other dogs and 30 day medication to prevent bruising & internal bleeding. We are counting our blessings that Rylee found the poison and told us in time.

Happy New Year & Happy Birthday to Daddy!

Naps with big sister

Charli's first freeze! She loved eating the ice and running like crazy in the cold :)

Charli's favorite spot to hang waiting on her sisters :)

First beach trip and she LOVED it! Big fan of seagulls, sand, and water :)

 

Happy 1st Birthday to our sweet Charli girl! We celebrated with a walk, new toys, new treats, a ride in the car with the windows rolled down, a trip to the pet store, and a pup cup. It was a good day :)