Another Apple Christmas!

As my bio states, my husband has made it a habit the past few years to surprise me with the newest Apple electronic as a Christmas gift. It's sort of become a joke now. This year, with my heart not wanting (or needing) for another computer, iPad, or iPod, we got creative.

We've been talking very seriously about getting another dog as a brother or sister for Jackson and, on the drive up to Michigan for a holiday family visit, we picked up this year's Apple:

She's already a natural model. 

Though this year's Christmas gift wasn't a surprise out of the blue, my husband did give in to getting a very young puppy. The original plan was to find a bulldog who was closer to 6 months--maybe even older. But when we found this 3 month old little porker, I fell head over heels and so my husband selflessly gave in (I may have impatiently pushed him a bit).

To keep up the annual tradition, we simply had to name her Apple. 

 When I say "porker", I mean it...

She weighs almost 2x what she should!

The blubber makes her even more squirmy when you hold her. 

Jackson has been a very patient big brother...letting his bratty little sister try out all of the new toys first (yes, cute as she is, Apple is a bit aggressive and hasn't quite yet learned how to share). 

Daddy is a great multi-tasker. He makes sure both pups get the attention they need...and mediates when necessary. 

Mom and dad aren't exactly dog lovers, but they know how much animals mean to us, so they're pretty good sports when we go up to visit. Mom didn't have too much trouble cuddling up to Apple on Christmas Eve...I had to pry the puppy out of her arms to take her to bed!

(Nice bluff, mom! You're getting a dog next Christmas!)

Apple insisted on sharing a glass of champagne with Meggie & I to celebrate our first semi-annual "company meeting" (wink). 

Ikea has the cutest bulldog stuffed animals. 

Of course we bought one big and one small, so each of our "children" would have a matching bedtime pal.

No NOLA girl should go without a fabulous purple accessory. 

Having an older (and very well-behaved) dog in the house will make training a new puppy a bit easier.  Apple already knows how to sit! 

Yet another thing Monkey now has to share: his couch. Apple takes up only a small corner of what Jackson easily fills!

Just like human babies, puppies do sleep a lot. A snuggler on top of everything else, Apple has no problem sawing out a few Z's on long (LONG) car rides. 

Welcome to the family, baby girl!! You already fit right in!