Six Whole Months

We have another milestone in our house this weekend! Lexi Grae turns six months old tomorrow!! Can you believe it?

(This also means it's been six months since I received the nasty dog bite on my hand. That happened 2 days before she was born! Though I still can't use that part of my hand to clap or do anything else that requires pressure, the bite is healed up, and I have a beautiful scar to show for it!) 

Lexi has grown so much since the first day we held her in our little hands. Here's a reminder of how it started, the day we met her!

And then the day we brought her home!

And now she is SO BIG!!

Here are some updates on our girl!

* We have a lot of people ask us how big she'll get. When she had her vet appointment, he said a healthy weight for her frame will be about 35 pounds, full grown. She's currently at 18, so she's about halfway there.

* Her breed still mystifies almost everyone who meets her. People ALWAYS guess that she has Australian Shepherd in her, mostly because of her coloring. When we tell them she's a mini Bernedoodle, most of them don't even know what that is. Many haven't even heard of a Bernese Mountain Dog. So we explain that one a lot. But here was the interesting part to us. We worked with a trainer, and she asked us about her breed and seemed dumbfounded that she didn't have any Australian Shepherd in her - not because of her coloring, but because of her temperament. I'm still not sure she believed there really isn't any shepherd in her. 

* Everyone's favorite part of her is her one blue eye. We miss seeing it. She is SO SHAGGY that we can't see her eye! She's actually going to the groomer today! (They had a long wait list.) We have hopes of being able to do some grooming on her at home, but she's still too wiggly right now, and we don't want her to have a bad first grade haircut, so we're getting some professional help. :) I'm excited to see how she looks with her cute haircut!

* The trainer told us that Lexi is a super, super, super smart dog. While that is wonderful news, because what parent doesn't want a smart child, right?...it's also exhausting. She is so smart that she knows, understands, and uses manipulation. The trainer assured us that if we put in the hard work and long hours now, her smarts and stubbornness will actually become a wonderful asset that will make her a fabulous and loyal dog. (You know - the same thing you tell parents of toddlers during the "NO!" years?) So we are slogging through the hard work of being consistent in our expectations. It's not easy. Ryan is much better at it than I am. The trainer told us our current lives would be much easier if we had a dumb dog. LOL!!! 

* Lexi lovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvves people. She adores walking the neighborhood and personally greeting everyone she sees. She gets straight up offended if people don't want to stop and talk to her. (Which, of course, some don't because not everyone likes dogs and some people are actually on a mission - like running - when we see them.) But when they do stop, ohhhhh, the joy in her heart. So many hugs and kisses and whines of delight. There is one couple that has gotten to know her and they always bring out treats for her. Besties for life, I'm pretty sure. 

* Speaking of walking, since going to training, her leash game has improved significantly. We still battle distractions at times, but overall, she's fantastic about walking like she should. (You know the helicopter seeds in trees? Those are on the ground now, and that has been our biggest distraction so far. She wants to eat them all. We don't let her, but she wants to.) 

* Also since going to training, her interaction with other dogs of all sizes has gotten SO fabulous. She's always liked other dogs, but big ones really scared her. She would try so hard to be brave, but she was terrified. Now she meets them all (big and small) with equal calm. There's a 92 pound German Shepherd one street over from us. He's in agility training and is so majestic to watch. They've met and she did a great job even though he massively towered over her.

* Outside is her favorite place to be, and we look forward to one day having a yard (with grass) for her to play in. She actually got to play in a grassy yard for the first time recently and she thought it was pretty much the best. 

* Much like her mama, she loves eating, and she knows every single sound in our house that could possibly signal a snack. We're working with her to wait in front of her meal until we say GO! (It would be as hard for me as it is for her. The struggle is real. I get it.) She's getting better at it!

* Speaking of waiting, Lexi waits with all her might. Watching her wait is so funny. It's a full-body experience for her. She trembles from head to toe and stares unceasingly at whatever she's waiting to enjoy. 

* She has the worst case ever of FOMO. If there is a possibility that we could be doing ANYTHING without her, including going to the bathroom, she is beside herself with dismay. The other night, Ryan tried to sneak out to the back porch to sit with his coffee, but she knows the lock sound and shot straight out from the living room to catch him. She slid sideways on the floor, legs akimbo, but she got there before it was too late! (She also has her own chair on the porch. Don't you dare try to sit in it.) 

* When her energy finally calms down, she really is the best snuggler. She's learning to just sit with us, and that's been sweet. She also gives fabulous hugs. And those eyes! I can't even. 

Happy six months, Lexi Grae! We love you so!