It's a boy, part one.

Once the shock of Hagrid's passing let up a little bit, loneliness settled in. Hermione doesn't take up much space on the couch, and while she's probably the best snuggling dog ever - she throws herself into a perfect spoon - Saturday mornings just weren't the same without my Hagrid blanket.

After poking around the Leonberger Club of America website, clicking tons of links, scouring breeder sites, photographs, and pedigrees, I phoned Luanne Moede of BlueDrift Leonbergers. I think I got a half dozen words out before I burst into tears.

Luanne's girls, Rhumba and Junebug, were entertaining a handsome guest from Slovakia and love was in the air - along with a lot of dog hair. After some paperwork and nail-biting, we heard words that are music every expectant parent's ears: It's a Boy!!!

Actually, Rhumba had 6 boys and 2 girls, but one was all we needed to fill the tear-sodden hole in our lives. 10 weeks later Phil, Hermione, and I set out on a road trip to Wausau, Wisconsin to pick up our newest family member, BlueDrift's Bold Zweite Liebe, known to his friends as Fezzik.

The mighty lion leaves the safety of an aspen grove to stalk his camera...er, prey.
Or, Fezzik at 10 weeks old.

It took Hermione about 10 hours to go from less-than-thrilled to completely-in-love with her "little" brother, so by the time we got home from our road trip she was ready to introduce Baby Fezzik to the wonders of living in Nederland.

"This is where we bounce."

"This is how you play."

"I can do that!"

Since coming to live with us in October, Fezzik has learned so many important things, like "sit" gets you cookies and hugs, things that happen when you squat are probably best taken care of outside, don't chase cats into their hidey spots - the triple consequences being a.) cats have pointy parts that hurt when they get stuck in your nose, b.) the end that doesn't have pointy parts sprays something awful that makes Mommy give you a bath, and finally c.) growth spurts always happen when your head is stuck in a cat hidey spot. 

He's already devised his very own favorite game: Slow Motion Keep Away. It's a derivative of Slow Motion Escape. Leonbergers specialize in Slow Motion because it's pretty much their only forward gear.

Fezzik's greatest talent, however, is growing before your eyes.

Hermione is starting to catch on that he doesn't have to be treated like a china doll, at least not anymore. At 6 months old, he outweighs her by a good 30 pounds. I don't know if it's to her advantage or detriment that his skill at maneuvering his bulk is, oh, "lacking". Lacking is a good word. (See "Slow Motion Keep Away.")

And the chase is about to begin.

Come on, chase me.

Dammit, I said chase me.

Wait... Snow Snack.

Good. You're up. Chase me.

Woo-hoo!

All I can think of when Leonbergers run is the old Vonage commercials with the woo hoo woo hoo hoo music. 

So once again, our home is complete. We can resume our role as the people with "that dog."  And Saturday mornings can begin with a Fezzik blanket. Although Fezzik blankets lick a lot more than Hagrid blankets did.

This is what 6 months old looks like. 

Happy Half-Birthday, Baby Fezzik!! And Luanne, thank you. Thank you.

Time flies when you're having anxiety.

Certainly there's been no lack of activity about which to spew. The only thing lacking has been focus. There's been new life - including tiny pink feet and fuzzy soft pads. I've learned why claustrophobics might be wary of MRI machines, that "landing on your feet" doesn't always mean hitting the ground running, and, most importantly, being aware of what might happen in the future doesn't give you control over it.

And the only thing accomplished by worrying over tomorrow is a dangerous increase in blood pressure.

And the only thing accomplished by a dangerous increase in blood pressure might be an itty bitty teeny weeny spot on your right frontal lobe that might make the left side of your face go numb and your left arm go heavy and then you get to spend a night on the stroke floor of your local hospital waiting 10 hours for a speech therapist to okay your ability to eat and drink before you can have a graham cracker.

In a nutshell, since last we met I have a new puppy who thinks his name is "awwwww dammit" and a new grandson who has loose screws requiring repair.

This is nothing a plush drill couldn't fix.

and

I tried to add a banana for scale, but he ate it.

Ian doesn't really have a screw loose - and not just because Owen fixed it.

And the puppy's name isn't really "awwwwwww dammit." He's better known as "Bluedrift's Bold Zweite Liebe" or "Fezzik" to his friends.

And now that my head and heart are back in their assigned locations more posts will follow, rife with brow furrowing tales of Ian and his big brother Owen, and Fezzik the little brown soul-healing tank.