choo

No we haven't lost our minds by adding a four legged crew member to this floating circus. We're just dog sitting. Meet Choo-Choo, the sweetest, cuddliest, mellowest little rat terrier ever. He belongs to some long time friends who are now living in Texas and due to a tangle of circumstances ended up needing us to watch him as they traveled northeast. My boy is in heaven. He was old enough when our beloved Schooner died to remember what life with a dog is like, and he's loving every minute of it.

Choo sleeps with Zach. However he doesn't just lay at the foot of the bed, he burrows under the covers and snuggles in the crook of his legs and stays buried in there all night long. For a boy who still doesn't like to sleep alone, this is nirvana.

I have to admit that Doug and I are tickled to death having the pitter patter of little paws up on deck and seeing the familiar guard dog ears perk up as people walk up and down the dock. We really have to repeat to ourselves over and over, "This is just temporary. Dogs and travel do not mix. This is just temporary."

Naia adores Choo as well, but in that scary over bearing toddler way. She screeches his name in uncontrollable delight, she hugs him perhaps a little too tightly (and he takes it like a champ), and of course she is fascinated with his dog food. I mean what's not to like? It's little bit sized pieces, they're crunchy, they have a strong smell, and of course it's all right there at her level. How's a girl to resist?

"I cookin' for you Choo Choo," she declares as he passively observes her mixing kibble with water and offering it to him.

(and then the whole thing became a hat, water and kibble and all. of course.)

(am I a bad mom for snapping photos of her gnawing on his bone before taking the filthy thing out of her mouth? oh well.)

She flips out when Zach takes him off for a walk to to his business. "Where Choo Choo go? I want Choo Chooo again, pwease mama!!" Cue the tears. So it's going to have to be a very delicate maneuver when his owners show up and drive him back home to Texas later this week. We'll miss the Choo.