And Diva Makes 5

Meet Diva Nilla Tyler- Mike never had animals growing up. Never. Not so much as a frog. Or a cat. Or a dog. His family are not animal people.

Growing up there was never a time when we didn't have pets. Pets in the plural. Dogs, cats, horses, birds, a turtle, fish etc. My family is very much animal people.

However, I am not an animal person. I can co-exist with animals as long as I don't have to touch them- yep, I wasn't the one taking care of them, or cleaning up after them. So when Mike said, long before we even got married, that we'd never have pets I didn't even try and negotiate. That really was fine by me.

Then we had children. Grace specifically - how can two people who really don't like animals have a child who is so obsessed with them? Grace has asked and pleaded for a dog for as long as I can remember. For the last 3 Christmas's it's crossed my mind just because she wants one so badly. She loves to go to my moms and play with her dogs, she loves to go to her Aunt Liz's and play with her dog,and to Mike's Grandpas and play with their dog, and then she talks about it for weeks.

When we take walks she knows the dogs in the neighborhood and always stops to play. One neighbor told her she can come over and play with Piper and Lil (Scotties) anytime she wants. In fact its Piper and Lil's house.

Look at these two- they are crazy about each other. (Yes it's August and 90 degrees outside and my child's in long pants and a long sleeve shirt, it's so Diva doesn't scratch her while they are playing.)

I mentioned in a previous post that we got Diva from my sister - they called her Nilla because she was the color of a Nilla Wafer - but when she gave us the puppy she told us she's a total Diva. She won't go down stairs by herself and will cry until someone lifts her down. Well Diva stuck- My vote was for Lucy, but since Mike caved he got to name her.

Grace is working very hard to train her to shake, dance and obey.

She won't walk on a leash. In fact Mike said she'd rather be strangled than walk on the leash. I hope this is a learned thing because I really want a walking dog!

Diva's learned to go down the stairs, and loves to play outside. She's so good about leaving her kennel and going straight to the door and won't go in the bedrooms. However anything left in the living room is fair game, so she's ruined two of the kids plastic toys.

And, I've had to bath her once - she threw up in her kennel one day. I didn't even gag, I was so proud of myself. And cleaning up after her isn't too bad. Yet.

But the biggest change at our home has to be our Girl. Most of my readers know about Olivia. Olivia is the horse, turned unicorn, who grew wings, who changes colors, who I can't see because I'm mean, who happens to turn up every where we go that is Grace's best friend. Yes, my child's imaginary friend is a horse. (She started out as a real horse who lives near my mother-in-laws but kept changing and growing and moving.)

Not once since we've had the puppy have I heard about Olivia. She hasn't been flying outside the car, outside the window or shown up at our dinner table. Look what Diva solved! No need for imaginary animal friends anymore!

Did I mention she snores? We can hear her three rooms away, it's kind of cute. And so is she. Who would have thought we'd learn to love a puppy. I'm not sure we're puppy in family picture people yet - but I did run home on my lunch hour to check on her - so anything's possible.