Am I part Basset Hound?

Alex has figured out that he isn't allowed to put his hand in the dogs' water bowl. He now crawls up to the bowl and takes a slurp out of it....mind you he didn't put his hand in it so everything should be ok, right?! The other day Gus got up close to his face and Alex stuck his tongue out and licked Gus's nose. I'm pretty sure Basset Hound is not in Alex's pedigree.

Sad Day

We learned this morning that my grandmother passed away in the night. My mom and dad took off to Arkansas this morning. I wasn't very close to my grandmother, but it is still sad. My dad said he couldn't see any since in me going because it would be very hectic, and I still have to have my labs done 3 times this week. My mom and I had already had a trip planned to visit family the middle of April once my testing was complete. Unfortunately, we were just a little too late with the planning, so my grandmother won't get to meet Alex :(. We are glad that she died peacefully.

Operation "VOLE"

What a nice morning! I can't believe by tomorrow morning we are supposed to have a foot of snow. I decided to let the sunshine spill into Alex's room. Shortly after doing so, I heard the dogs carrying on . I peered out the window and saw our neighbor shoveling a patch of snow in the yard next to us. There is no one living in that house currently. I thought it was a little strange that he would be doing that and then all of the sudden I saw creatures running and him raising his shovel and whacking them!!! I was horrified. Paul happened to be outside and it turns out he was on a mission to destroy voles. They ripped up much of his lawn so he was on a mission. I guess he told Paul that he had killed 40 in the last few days. While they were scurrying away from him, one go in to our yard. I guess Gracie and Maggie chased it, but Gus had a different plan. The voles are quite a pain, but I'm pretty sure I couldn't whack anything with a shovel. Happy hunting Jake! :)

Bubbles and Bubbles and Bubbles

We have been trying to get Alex to switch from his bottle to a cup. He absolutely hates sippy cups but doesn't mind drinking out of a cup like an adult. Mostly he just likes to feel the liquid run in and then out of his mouth. This method proved to be a huge mess with not much actually being swallowed. Alex's buddy, Katelynn, never used a sippy cup but went straight to a straw. I thought I'd give that a whirl. We tried playing nice by starting with the straw and then giving him his bottle. Of course, that didn't work, so I decided we'd cut him off cold turkey...except for his night bottle.

Let's just say that last two days have been trying. He loves to blow into the straw creating bubbles...lots of bubbles. In fact he has found that if he blows out and babbles at the same time, it makes really neat sounds. It reminds me of talking into a cardboard paper towel roll. He also finds closing his eyes, puffing out his cheeks and blowing full force is great.

Yesterday, I was on the verge of just giving in and letting him have his bottle. I decided I try one more time and to my suprise it worked. He still enjoys blowing bubbles but when he is thirsty he will drink properly.

Speaking of drinking....Alex thinks the dogs' water bowl is great. He started out splashing with his hand. After many "No's" and hand squeezes, he decided that he would crawl up and not put his hand in...but he would take a little sip! I was shocked as I marveled at how well he was responding to "No" until I heard, SLURP! I think we are in trouble. :)