Baby bore emerges

OVER the past few days, I've become what I always said I wouldn't.... a baby bore.

Only this time, it's not over my two boys. I've gone ga-ga over a new addition to the family. Not one of my own I must add. And no, I haven't gone all Angelina Jolie-esqe... we've just taken the plunge and bought a 9 week old puppy. A furniture-chewing-ankle-biting-furry-bearlike puppy.

Getting a dog is not a decision we've taken lightly. Before we moved out here, this was one of the two things on the children's promise list. The other is a pool but seeing as though that's going to be a wee while off, a puppy seemed to be the obvious compromise. And over past weeks, I've sat on the laptop doing tentative research into what life would be like with a new addition to the family.

We all had criteria to comply with. I wanted one that didn't moult. The boys wanted one that'd be playful and loving and husband's only request was that it didn't poo all over the place. Although the former two were relatively easy to get under our belt, the latter, however, wasn't.

But with a majority vote, we decided to opt for a Labradoodle. Not wanting to state the obvious, he's a cross between a labrador and a poodle and his name is Matlan. He was always Matlan. Even before we had him, he was always going to be Matlan.
It's a combination of the names of the boys' best friends they left behind in UK back in February and they concocted the name between them months ago. I was thrilled when they came up with this name, it's testament to the friendships that we find ourselves enjoying throughout our lives.

Friends and family have asked for the odd photograph of pup but I'm finding that a challenge in itself as I clamber down to his level and get my zoom lens ready. Only for it to be pounced on, licked and then chewed in a grapple-like bear-hug. I finally managed to grab a shot of him just before he settled down for a nap and sent it to a few friends. Some replied asking if I'd knitted him myself and another said he was like an extra from Planet of the Apes!

As I tap this out, he's lying on my feet and as I log off and re-start my housework, he'll be there with me every step of the way. Sweeping the floor suddenly got harder and we can't wait until he's all jabbed up and out walking the streets with us.
His 'freedom' will co-incide with the return of warmer weather so we're looking forward to getting him on the beach and in the sea. Not looking forward to the sand he'll trap in his woolly coat that'll deposit itself all over the house but I have to take the rough with the smooth after all...