Hello from Riley.

Hello-

Since I'm still new to the family I wanted everyone to get to know me. My mom often calls me Prince Riley but simply Your Highness will do.

I Am - Riley Bullock.

My nicknames-bad dog, no.

My age-1 year old.

I Want - love, food, sleep and someone to play with me.

I Have - an older brother, Corky.

I Wish - my parents could stay home and play with me all day long.

I Hate - that stupid baby gate. It always gets in my way...and hello?! I'm not a baby. I also hate brushing my teeth...that toothpaste tastes nothing like chicken!

I Fear - strangers.

I Hear - the train, Rosie squeaking and mom and dad talking to me.

I Search - for anything to chew.

I Eat- poop.

I Wonder - why people always tell me no.

I Regret - peeing on the carpet.

I Love - my family and aunt Elizabeth.

I Ache - for love and attention.

I Always - give kisses to express my love.

I Usually - am a handful.

I Am Not - a night owl.

I Dance - around when mom gets home.

I Sing - the batman song in my head.

I Never - sleep past 7am.

I Rarely - leave food in my bowl.

I Cry - when mom and dad put the baby gate up and go where I can't see them....or when they get in the shower and I can't see them.

I Am Not Always - calm. I love jumping, biting, chewing, barking, kissing, peeing, eating, walks and being held. I am fascinated by bath water and can stare at it for hours.

I Lose - my mind sometimes and run all around at high speeds.

I'm Confused - When people don't realize how handsome and fantastic I am.

I Need - to be the center of attention.

I Should - pee outside.

I Dream - of playing with cats and rabbits.

Introducing Rosie

My birthday was great as was Valentine's Day. Spending time with my friends and family was the best part about it. The worst part about it was that I was really sick. Last Monday and Tuesday I was sick in bed instead of at work. I made it to work the rest of the week but it was hard when I felt so horribly. The doctor said that I had an upper respiratory infection and gave me medicine to help with the cough. He felt that if I could get the coughing under control then I would stop throwing up. That medicine didn't do anything for me but I'm getting better anyway.

Corky and Riley got new toys this week. Corky shredded his green clover and Riley is so attached to his pink bunny...so attached we named her Rosie. Corky doesn't like the squeakers so he shreds the toy to get the squeaker out of it. Riley, on the other hand, loves the squeaker and has been squeaking Rosie constantly...annoying Corky to no avail. Since giving Rosie to Riley, he can't be without her. He sleeps with her, carries her around the house and growls at Corky when he tries to take her away. Once, he couldn't find her and started crying and running all over the house, frantically looking for her. He is such a cutie.

Ben got an email from Front Range this past week that really seemed to encourage him. They emailed him to ask why he wasn't pursuing his degree when he is so close. Apparently he has less than 12 credits to complete before he has his AA. We didn't know that he was so terribly close to achieving it...and was beaming when he told me this. That's the first time I've seen Ben so excited about anything having to do with education.

Update

Adjusting to a family of four has been chaotic. I know I talk about my dogs as though they are kids, but sometimes I feel that they are just as much work. I do feel lucky though not having to change diapers or get up in the middle of the night :) Riley is so cute but so crazy. It feels like a zoo in here sometimes because he has to be the center of attention and will do whatever it takes to get that attention...then I try to not leave Corky out and Riley bumps him out of the way while I'm petting Corky...and it goes on and on.

As most of you know, Ben was informed of a 2% pay cut last week. That's a significant amount of money for us during these tough times. I recognize that it's better than getting laid off but it still sucks. On the plus side, I still have a job. For a while, I wasn't sure what I was going to do or if I would still be employed as our census has decreased dramatically. The schools are implementing new programs to keep kids from having to attend treatment centers unless they really need to. While that can be a good thing for kids and their families, it has been concerning for us. I have faith that things will work out as they should, it's just the waiting that is hard.

I haven't really been feeling like myself lately, hence minimal blogs. However, I think this about covers the 411 in our world.


XOXO