We pay so much attention to Millie Janalee.  I know it's hard for you to believe, but poor Farley gets the shaft quite often.  He's still our "firstborn," and we can't imagine life without him.  However, we don't "oooh" and "ahhh" over him as much as we used to.  He always seems to be in the background these days. 

Do you see him?

 Millie Janalee does something new every day it seems, and we try so hard to capture it all.  It's impossible to capture every first!  But I'm thinking we've done an okay job judging by the number of pictures on my computer.  [I'm embarrassed to disclose that information.]  She started trying to pull up when she's reclined a week or so ago, so tonight I sat her on the ottoman to see what she could do.  And, look at that girl!  Stop growing, Millie Janalee!  Please!

Such a big girl!

 Farley gets a little jealous from time to time of Millie Janalee's camera time.  He wants to make sure we still capture his best side too.  Ha!  It may be all the high pitch voices we use to get Millie Janalee's attention, but he loves to interrupt our photo shoots.  And sometimes that is just perfect!

Sibling love!

Millie Janalee, on the other hand, thought it was all about her.  "Ummmm.  Mama, I thought this was MY photo shoot."  Ha! Sometimes we have to share, sweet girl.  Sometimes.

"Excuse me, Bubba, but I was in the middle of a photo shoot here."

These are the days!

Guess Who's Back...

We are pretty happy around here these days!  Millie Janalee is so excited to welcome her big brother back home.  My parents have been kind enough to keep Farley since Millie Janalee was born.  Because we had so many visitors after she was born, I was afraid Farley would sneak out the door and I wouldn't be able to run after him with a baby in the apartment.  These are the moments I miss my back yard.  Our visitors have slowed, and Russ and I brought Farley home Sunday night.

Yesterday morning, I got Millie Janalee fed and ready to play with her favorite furry friend.  And...of course...we had a photo shoot too!  Ha!

I don't know if it was meeting Caroline or reuniting with Farley, but this sweet girl was having a ball yesterday morning!  Just look at these smiles!  I couldn't even catch the best ones on camera, but I did my best getting what I could.  How sweet is this face!?!?!

It's completely safe to say that I am beyond obsessed!  But, I will tell on the others too!  I sent out texts to our families.  The response was obvious obsession!  God is SOOOO good!  All the time!  He knew exactly what He was doing, and it was FAR better than anything I could have imagined!

I don't think I will ever tire of talking about His goodness throughout our journey to become parents.  It is the most amazing experience ever!  I can't imagine anything better!

Russ and I are so thankful for the man and woman who made such a responsible, mature, and sacrificial decision.  We are thankful for two birthparents who loved this baby girl enough to give her life...and unselfishly make a plan for her future.  We will forever be grateful.  There are so many nights we look at this literal bundle of JOY and talk about them.  We can't help it.  You see, we know the whole story.  You may never know it, but Millie Janalee will one day.  She will know where her eyes came from or her toes.  She will know about the love these two felt for her.  She will know how they cried and struggled as they left the hospital without her.  She will know that she was loved.  Not just by us...but by two people she may only hear about.  Russ and I are so blessed to be chosen as Millie Janalee's Mama and Daddy.  We thank God for this gift of life and ask His guidance as we parent her.  Our baby girl.

"I will praise the name of God with song, And shall magnify Him with thanksgiving."  Psalm 69:30

"I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds."  Psalm 9:1

Birfday Partay!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday dear Farley!

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Farley turned 7 years old today!  In dog years, that 49...such a little old man!  Last night, Russ and I took Farley to our hometown so he could be boarded today while we are on vacation.  When we arrived, Farley had a birthday gift waiting for him.

He was very excited as shown by his complete lack of interest in anything we tried to get him to do.  We did manage to snap a few pictures of him reading his birthday card.  Ha!

Farley's grandparents gave him a card and a wonderful gift!  A week of FREE room and board!  Yay!  I absolutely hate taking Farley to be boarded.  In fact, I've only done it once.  Never again!  When we went to Disney World a few years back, Russ wasn't able to get off work in time to drop Farley off...so I had to do it.  Let me just say that I barely made it out the door before I burst into hysterics.  I literally cried all the way from Jackson to Hattiesburg.  It was just so sad.  His little tail was tucked, and he was shaking.  Pitiful.  Having my parents board him for us takes that hard part away.  I'm so thankful!

This morning we all woke up telling Farley it was his birthday.  He was elated!  Don't believe me?  Take a look at this....

"Let's PARTAAAAAAAY!!!"

See?  I told you!  He was screaming with enthusiasm.  Hahaha!  We gave him treats all morning and made sure to pet him and hold him as much as possible.  We knew what his plans were.  He didn't.  We knew that soon he would be locked in a kennel at our local vet's office.  Probably whining and barking.  Brodie, his cousin, will be with him...so maybe that will help a little.  We are thankful that our vet takes very good care of sweet Farley, and we trust him completely.  While he is there, he will be groomed and have his teeth cleaned.  I'm looking forward to a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed puppy when we pick him up! 

Sweet baby boy!

I had a fun surprise today at work!  I heard the bell ring, and I looked to greet the customer when I saw Matt and Leah walking in.  Leah and I were block partners in college, and she became a precious friend!  I haven't seen them in forever!  Leah actually sent Baby J a package a while back.  You can see that here.  She and Matt have a 14 month old sweet little boy who I have yet to meet.  It's ridiculous really since they live in Tupelo, and it's not that far.  Totally my fault!  After this sweet surprise, I am motivated to make a better effort to visit my friends more often.  They also made sure to tell me to say "Happy Birthday to Farley!"  Ha!  They are animal people too.  SOOOOO great to see you two!

[Sigh.]

I hope Farley has had a wonderful seventh birthday, and I hope he has fun this week.  Maybe Brodie will teach him how to play "I Spy" or something to pass the time.

Farley Friday

As I was looking back through the blog, I realized that sweet little Farley Man has gotten the shaft.  So sad!  Farley is our first born, and I do not want him to feel that I have neglected him with blog appearances.  So...here he is!  Isn't he SWEET?!  In honor of this "Farley Friday," I figured I'd give you a few fun facts about our little boy.

1. Farley is full of energy...most of the time!  Lately, he cracks me up because he's not a little puppy anymore.  I usually get up around 7 or 7:30 in the morning.  I go into the living room, hula hoop (Don't make fun!), eat breakfast, and watch the Today show and Live with Kelly.  By the time I head back to the shower, I look over to the bed and Farley has not budged.  He is still fast asleep!  So funny.  And a little sad, because it's another reminder that he's getting to be a little old man.  But other than that morning laziness, Farley ALWAYS wants to play!  He barks and chases most any dog or child that walks past our apartment...and the child that stomps around upstairs!  He brings us his little monkey over and over and over again.  The goal is for us to play tug-o-war until we win...then to throw it so Farley can go get it and bring it back.  Then it starts again.  Full of energy!
2. Farley is very intuitive.  He knows the second Russ and/or I decide to go somewhere.  His tail tucks as he freezes and watches us intently.  Then, as we gather our belongings he starts to get real close in hopes of joining.  When we are packing the car for any kind of trip, Farley will literally jump as high as our waist trying to get us to pick him up.  He doesn't want to be left out of anything!  If I start crying, Farley is always the first to jump in my lap.  He knows.  When Russ pulls his car into the parking lot, somehow Farley senses he is here and starts barking or goes to the door until Russ comes in.  He used to do this at our house too.  I still haven't figured it out.  But, his ability to intuitively know when someone is coming to our apartment makes me feel a little safer at night!  Ha!
3. Farley has LOTS of tricks.  Except one.  We taught Farley at an early age to sit, lay down, shake, roll over, and turn around.  Somehow we failed to teach him how to "come here" when prompted.  Don't get me wrong...he comes running when he wants to.  However, any chance he ever had of roaming free outside of a fenced in area is long gone.  He will forever be on a leash when not in a fenced in yard.  Bless his heart!  All he had to do was come when called! 
4. Farley's birthday is June 1.  He will be SEVEN years old!  Oh my!  I can't even think about it!  Farley was born the same month we were married.  He has been with us nearly our entire married life, and I couldn't imagine how lonely we would be without his company, love, and fun.  He has endured 7 years of us dressing him up, talking baby talk, showing off his tricks, traveling everywhere we go, weekends and even weeks with his grandparents, and probably a little too much clingy-ness.  We are usually already at the beach for his birthday, while he is at the vet being boarded.  I feel so guilty.  Don't make me feel worse!  However, this year he will be with us.  We need to make him feel special.  We don't leave for the beach until the next day, so hopefully we will shower him with "Happy Birthday" songs and fun!
5. Farley will always be a blessing.  He was my companion and friend when Russ spent countless late nights and overnights at the library or hospital during med school and residency.  He was my cuddle buddy during our fertility struggles.  He kept us smiling and laughing even when we felt like crying.  He will always be our "first baby."  If you are not a dog person, you will never understand the bond between a dog and humans.  But, in my family, dogs are family.  Literally.  I truly believe that dogs are God's way of showing unconditional love.

So, enjoy your Friday!  I think I'll go rub Farley's belly and talk baby talk to him today.  Right now he is perched on his spot on top of the couch by the big window...with his little eyes looking at me.  I love it when he looks around and I get to see the whites of his eyes!  Ha!  He doesn't know it yet...but he is going to spend the weekend with his grandparents today.  My parents treat him as their own.  In fact, when we visit Russ says, "When we are at your parents' house, Farley is their dog."  Ha!  So there is no discipline from us.  We just let my dad take care of it all. 

Happy Friday!

The View From Here

Such a hard life...

There's No Place Like Home...

Farley says, "Mom, I have a feeling we're not in Jackson ...or Corinth anymore."

I have enjoyed spending my Spring Break at home this week. And by home, I mean sleeping in my bed with my hubby and my puppy every night. Not traveling back and forth. I've been lazy and productive. I've been home. Ahhh...there's no place like it!

Aloha

I've been preparing for my end of the year luau party at school. In the midst of selling a house, signing a contract, waiting on inspections, wedding festivities, MCT2, and other wild opportunities and information that fell into the same week as everything else. But, I've had a ball! I've been a few places and picked up things here and there. But, one thing I found...


Dollar Tree is my one stop luau shop!


Even Farley got something out of the deal! He looks very excited, doesn't he? Ha!

Spring has Sprung!

Yep. Spring has begun, the heat has set in, grass is greening, flowers are blooming, weeds are choking, and we've been playing. Well...and packing. As I looked in my backyard this afternoon to admire all the pretty blooms that Spring has brought, I realized that this was the last time I'd see those plants. I got a little sentimental and forced my sweet husband to take some pictures by the blooms. Seeing as how I got Russ off the couch after a long day of work to do this, you will understand why he would not have appreciated me asking to take his picture. So, it's just me and Farley.

But, just imagine Russ's sweet face next to ours with the beauty of these white fluffs behind us.

Farley says, "Why aren't you in the picture, Daddy?"

Then imagine him holding Farley with one arm around me in front of our gorgeous pink azaleas!

Yes, it's true.

Spring has sprung!

Wordless Wednesday

The sun is new each day. Soak it in!

Farley's Pawgress Report

While we were gone to Hernando, we left Farley with PetsMart's PetsHotel. We usually leave him at Wee Paws, a nice and very reputable boarding place. But with Spring Break and all, they were full. I was very hesitant to leave my baby in some commercial building off an interstate. However, he did very well according to his Pawgress Report. Yes, I did say pawgress report! Upon picking him up, I received an account of his behavior during his stay. Among the marks was one comment that made me laugh: "Party Animal!" Should I be worried?! Ha! The additional comment said, "Farley was a BIG hit in group play - He LOVED everyone big and small..." Such a socialite!

Maybe I should take him to Day Camp every once in a while to play with all his friends. Ha!

Show Us Your Life - PETS

I'm pretty sure you know that we have a dog named Farley. Farley is no doubt our baby. Russ and I were married just before Russ started his first year of medical school. It didn't take long for me to realize that I needed a friend at home while Russ spent all those hours in the library. After much MUCH begging and researching, I finally convinced him to give in. I had searched and searched for a Maltipoo. I just thought they were cute (from the pictures I found online! ha!). Anyway, I finally found some for sale near our hometown. I called the lady around 8:30 that night to ask about them. She only had one black puppy left. It didn't take long...approximately 45 minutes....for us to pack, buy doggie toys, and hit the road for a four hour drive! Crazy youngsters, I know! Ha! No one even knew we were coming. We broke into my parents' house, spent the night, and headed to Henderson, TN before anyone woke up. By the time everyone woke up, we were back with our little black ball of fur!

Farley is certainly treated like a human...which is probably why he THINKS he is one! I can honestly say that he is S-P-O-I-L-E-D!! Farley is known as the "grandpuppy." I'm pretty sure my parents are more excited to see Farley sometimes than me. Ha!

Farley meeting Granmomma for the first time

This is probably where Farley would be content to live!

Farley and my daddy are two peas in a pod. He is truly treated as a "grandpuppy" at the Smith house. Russ always says, "When we stay at your parents' house, Farley is YOUR DAD's dog. Not mine!" Ha! Farley also has an aunt who helps with the spoiled part. Does your dog receive gourmet Easter, Halloween, and Christmas treats? Mine does! Thanks to Aunt Kristin! You should also know that Kristin can not touch Farley or her eyes would turn inside out (literally) from allergies!

Farley's gourmet happy meal from Aunt Kristin

No matter how much his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins baby him...he is MY baby! I have literally treated him as such! From wrapping him in a baby blanket to letting him sleep between Russ and me. I've heard it said, "Your children are going to be awful!" Ha! This usually comes after I take up for Farley for something he did. It's just not his fault! Someone else was bothering him. Hence, the spoiled part! We have received a "handling" fee for Farley's behavior at the groomer. I, of course, am sure that they aren't being sweet enough to him, so he is fighting back. Do I sound like "that mother?" Ha! Don't answer that! I'm the mommy and I can think my baby is perfect if I want to!

Farley and his mommy

Without sounding too weird about my dog, Farley really has been a blessing. There's just nothing like man's best friend! Farley knows when we're mad, and he licks my face when I cry. He has kept me company and kept me laughing. Of course, he has driven me crazy in between all that! But, I wouldn't change a thing! He's part of our family.

The Johnson family

Tell me about your pet. Link on up to Kelly's Korner!

Trick or Treat

Dr. Farley says, "Happy Halloween!"


...and after he says that and gets as many treats as he can from all his neighbors and family members, he looks up at his loving parents and is not amused in the slightest...and says,

"Are you kidding me!?"