DOG DAYS

It is not uncommon for Paul to come home from work and say something like "So-and-So had a baby and I said you'd bring a meal. What day is good for you?"

The kids like this arrangement because it means mom is going to cook. I like this arrangement because it means I get to shop for baby clothes (one cannot arrive without a gift, CAN ONE?) It also means I get to cuddle a new baby when we take the meal.

It's a win-win situation.

It is also not uncommon for Paul to come home from work and say "Since S0-and-So is from Zimbabwe (or Belize, or Columbia, or England) and they have no family in town, I said we'd watch their baby (or kids) for the night so they could go out."

This also is a win-win situation because it means I get to cuddle a baby (or play with a REALLY cute 6 year old or chase a REALLY busy 2-year-old) all evening, and our international friends get a night away from the kids.

This international babysitting experience has taught me a few things:

1) Newborn baby love is international. It is painfully sweet across the globe.

2) Roly Poly baby thighs are ridiculously cute in any language.

3) The Terrible Twos are not exclusive to these great United States.

This morning Paul volunteered my babysitting services yet again:

SIT! STAY! WHERE ARE YOU GOING? PAAAAUUUULLLLL!

Meet Cert - pronounced CHAYERT. Cert's "mom" is from the Czech Republic (in keeping with our international theme) and in Czech, his name means "Little devil; or imp."

Cert's name really does not suit him. Number one, he's not little. Number two, he really isn't a devil. He's actually quite sweet. He's a little Scooby Doo-ish.

RUH-ROH!

Cert's "Dad" works with Paul and since he is being transferred to Europe, they are having a Realtors' tea at their house this morning and needed a place for Cert to hang out.

"Heidi and Kayla can watch him. They won't mind a bit."

Um....well, okaaaaay. But since Kayla was playing softball until ten last night, Heidi is the only one up and around for this babysitting gig.

I actually got Cert to sit still for 4 minutes when he found one of Cookie's raw hide chewies. It was not at all pleasant to watch him eat this thing. Plus he was a little rude about it. He didn't even ask "uh...does this chewie belong to anybody?" He just grabbed it and started chomping. I'd like to think my dog had better manners than that when she was a guest in someone's home.

Then I insisted that I get a picture of the two dogs together before Paul left for work.

Okay, but you're not leaving for work until I get a picture of the two dogs. This is blog-worthy you know.

As you can see, the photo session went quite well:

Eboneee and IIIIIIvory live together in perfect haaar-mony. Side by side on my piano keyboard. Oooh-Oooh!! Why can't we.....

Cookie and Cert are old friends. Every time Cert walks by our house he makes an automatic turn up our drive so that he and Cookie can sniff each other's....well... you know what dogs do to greet each other.

But there's something about inviting him into the house that just hasn't sat right with Cookie. It's like inviting a new dog into the pack.

Oh, wait. That's exactly what we've done.

I think she's planning to file a complaint with PETA.

For the time being, though, it seems the two dogs have reached an understanding.

Cookie will guard the front door. And pout.




And Cert will keep watch at the back window.

And Paul will most certainly be bringing dinner home tonight.