WHAAAT?!

You guys I can not even believe I am writing this right now. But I am pretty dang excited to announce to my blog friends (do I have any blog friends?) That Chris and I are expecting our first little Okland in January!! Holy Cow that is crazy and thrilling all at the same time.

This is how we told our families:

Poor guy hated this little shirt. I think it was made of short fat puppies not tall skinny ones! hehe

So we put this shirt on him and went to my parents first (i'm sure no one cares but I want to have this all written down somewhere so that someday I can reread it) 

We went to my parents house and told them to come see our new trailer, when we got outside they ignored Ralph and couldn't stop talking about our cool new trailer. Then finally my mom says: 

"are you guys getting a puppy" My thought, are you crazy woman!!! 

Chris says "Lauren might be having a puppy" Hugs, kisses, etc.

My dad is still staring at the trailer cause he can't hear what is going on. 

Finally my sister wrangles him up and says "dad, this is not about the dam trailer, look at the dog"

My dad has a bewildered look. 

My sister mumbles to me "oh my hell" says to him "they are having a baby!!!" 

Immediate tears flow from his sweet little eyes. Softest guy ever! I love him. 

It was pretty fun!

We told Chris's parents on a friday night because they wanted to go to dinner and I was so sick. Instead of them thinking their daughter-in-law was the crankiest person ever, we thought we better tell them. 

They were really excited! But when Sandra (Chris's mom) saw Ralph she said 

"Is Ralph in his pajamas?" Hilarious! 

Then she read the shirt and everyone was happy!

On Monday, Sandra and Randy were nice enough to help us get everyone together so we could tell them. They told everyone to come swim and eat homemade ice cream. 

So we were all sitting around hanging out and waiting for everyone to arrive and Sandra kind of winked at us. like "its time" so we put the shirt on Ralph and let him wander. It was pretty hot so he just laid under the table where no one could see him. So Sandra started calling him and kind of walking him around pointing at him, I think she was done waiting for people to notice. Finally Chris's sister read it out loud and Chris's Sister-in-law screamed!

 it was funny but kind of scared the crap out me at the same time. 

Sandra brought out ice cream with little babies on top! She had gone all out and we all just thought we were having ice cream. So nice of her. 

Anyway, that is the story of telling everyone.

We are really excited to meet Ralph Jr. (as Chris calls him/her) on January 4th. We are 11 weeks along and so excited this first trimester is almost over! ;) 

Strange feeling its a boy but I'm sure I'm wrong. 

Sweet Ralphy Boy!

Ralphy, where do I possibly begin with this little guy? He is the MOST unique dog ever! When I married Chris, I knew he and Ralph were a package deal and I love dogs but I have to admit that I was a little apprehensive about being a full-time mama to this guy. He has some unfortunate habits that make him...difficult at times. (that is a very nice way of putting it). This poor dog has more anxiety than me, my little brother, my mom combined, that is a LOT of anxiety. He can whine for 5 hours straight on a road trip because he is so excited to be going somewhere. He will have a utter meltdown when someone walks to the door because he loves people sooo much. If you hold him back from something he wants, you will get clawed and possibly bit. People always tell me how crazy Ralph is, they think he is nuts because they only see him in high anxiety moments. My mom tells me on a daily basis that Ralph has mental problems, she thinks that is a nice way of say he is psychotic. 

However psychotic Ralph gets he has somehow managed to claw, bite ( literally I have scars) bark, scratch, jump his way into my heart. He is seriously the hardest dog I have ever had. That being said, Ralph has some of the sweetest and funniest habits. He will slow motion walk towards you with a toy in his mouth until you clap your hands and he knows you're ready to play, then he runs full speed directly at you. If he does something he knows is naughty ( he always knows when he is naughty) and he gets caught, he immediately runs and puts himself in timeout. He is scared of EVERYTHING. I sneezed so loudly this morning and he ran under the bed. If I make any noise that is somewhat loud or somewhat foreign to him, he freaks out and hides. I came home with balloons that other day....PETRIFIED! He spent the next hour under the trailer in the back yard. 

This dog is a sleeper. If he doesn't get lots, I mean LOTS of naps during the day he is a different dog. In the morning he gets up with Chris and comes back to bed with me, then when I get up he follows me to see what I'm doing then goes back to bed. When I leave for work at 10:45 he is usually asleep under the bed. He is the biggest snuggler! He has to have his rump right against you, if you move he moves until he has the whole bed. His favorite thing is to get in Chris's warm spot in the morning and put his head right on Chris's pillow. He also has to be tucked in every night in his blanket on his bed. 

Got too excited and got too many burs in his fur

Captain Ralph loves to have his picture taken

fresh haircut

trying to tell me there are too many pillows on his bed.

all tucked in and ready for bed

so tired. 

doggie xanax, didn't do a thing for him. 

LOVES to go for a ride. 

not sure about this baby thing. 

testing out our new floor pillows, that are not for him. 

always in my grill in the car. 

laying at his look out spot. 

This dog is so much work but he is the best. I'm not going to say we don't often think of sending him somewhere far away but at the end of the day when he has us pinned against the edge of the bed, we love this little dude more than anything. I love to pal around with him on my days of and watch him run with sheer glee at the park. People at the park always tell us "he is having so much fun"! He is the craziest/sweetest dog you will ever meet. Happy 4th Birthday Ralphy Boy!!