Easiest Dog Jacket Ever

Ashton is a little guy of only ten pounds, and he gets cold kind of easily. And, it rains here in Western Washington. Ashton is actually from Eastern Washington and is not yet used to this crazy wet weather! Thank goodness, he does still go potty in the rain. Usually. In spite of his wariness of it all.

I have been thinking of getting him a rain jacket, but since I didn’t have one, I wasn’t sure what to do today, at the height of toddler craziness and cabin fever for all. I decided to look through my son’s baby things real quick to see if there was anything I could find, though I didn’t entirely expect to see anything workable, as all his teeny baby clothes are from our life in Los Angeles!

But then, I had an idea. I took a diaper from the top of my pile of cloth diapers we haven’t been using due to the elastic becoming completely worn out (a Fuzzibunz size Large pocket-diaper, without any inserts inside), and asked myself… would this really work?

While it was folded up, I cut a half-circle hole in the crotch of the diaper, the way you’d cut a Valentine’s heart out of a folded piece of paper. I did end up needing to cut a little more from where it would hit on the back of his neck. But it was easy enough to take off, trim off some more, and try again…

Here it is unfolded…

Then I slid doggy’s head through (with the help of a tasty treat), and buttoned him in. Voila! Dog Jacket!!!

He seemed pretty cozy, and his body didn’t get wet, AND when he peed, he did not get any pee on the diaper-jacket!! Total success!!!

Now I just need to fashion him some kind of hood for his head and we’ll really be set for walking on these rainy days!

If you try this for your dog, please let me know! 🙂

Project 365 – Week 12

Yet another week has flown by! I’m glad I’m actually ahead of the game on the photo taking this time. It was a good week. Spring is here, which means the grey and cloudy mornings turn into sunny late mornings and afternoons. At least, that’s what it has meant this week! I’m always excited when the sun comes out.

We’re doing well as new dog owners, too! I got a clicker and have started working on the basics with our sweet Ashton. He’s doing pretty well. A few poop accidents, and a few stolen food items and chewed up socks, but hey, that’s life with a puppy, right? I love this little guy. We’re really enjoying him a lot! And now, our week in pictures……..

Day 80 | March 21, Fri – Joe had an eye exam and got new glasses! Homer wanted to try them on, too…

Day 81 | March 22, Sat – Group baby shower for one of the moms’ groups I’m part of and help organize. It went really well! Lots of beautiful food out, lovely decorations, and lots of happy new moms and moms-to-be.

Day 82 | March 23, Sun – This is the sunset from the dog park that I took Ashton to for the first time. Sadly, that night is also now known in my memory as “the night my son adamantly insisted he didn’t want to go with me, then cried a lot for me once I’d actually left.” 😦 Poor guy! Since I didn’t know that until I got home, I actually had a great time being out with Ashton and loved the way the trees were silhouetted from the setting sun. Ashton did not love the dog park, but maybe he will one day. Or not. Time will tell. It was fun being out with him at least.

Day 83 | March 24, Mon – Look out, Seattle, there is a crazy driver on the road and he’s only three years old!! 😉 It was really fun taking the Mario Kart out with Homer today. He had a blast! He drove it all over the place for an hour, and was still sad when we had to put it away! I’m so happy he likes it so much!

This is from the same day, but it’s so cute, I just had to include it!

Day 84 | March 25, Tues – Look at these two!! Getting along! Lying down side by side. AMAZING!!

Day 85 | March 26, Wed – All right, I know this is basically the same picture, but it happened again!! I think this is a new trend. One I’m very excited about!! Of course, this is usually the precursor to chasing each other all over the house, but I think they’re *playing.* I thought it would take weeks and weeks for this sort of thing to happen. I’m very happily surprised they’re getting along sooner than anticipated!!!

Day 86 | March 27, Thurs – I love the way rain drops look all beaded up on the greenery. This was taken in the forest area right outside my apartment.

That’s all for now! Thanks for stopping by! Hope you all had a great week!

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Project 365 – Week 11

Okay, I’m only a little behind in posting my Project 365 entries now, and I’m really glad. It’s nice to be caught up! It’s been a busy time, but lots of fun too. Here’s a peek into our week…

Day 72 | March 13 – I actually forgot to take a picture until late at night, at bed time. So I snapped this one of Homer in his room. He wanted to wear his snow boots so he could pretend it was snowing inside his room. This kid loves snow! So cute.

Day 73 | March 14 – I’d been looking at this little guy, and these pictures A LOT over the past few weeks. I hadn’t said anything on here, because communications with the rescue were a little crazy, and I wasn’t sure what was happening. But I admit, knowing that the red “adoption pending” on their site meant us was pretty exciting!

Day 74 | March 15 – Snuggling my sweet Tails, knowing it was potentially the last night it would be just him as our only pet, as our potential doggie was being driven to us the very next day.

Day 75 | March 16 – I spent the morning feeling so anxious. What if it didn’t work out somehow?? But then this happened…

And he was all ours! This sight was especially sweet to see because my husband has been afraid of dogs his whole life. That he was willing to try this out, adopting a small dog for our family, absolutely means the world to me. And so far, everyone is getting along great! Well, Tails has been adjusting, but he is coming around to the idea that maybe this little guy isn’t so bad after all.

Day 76 | March 17 – Ashton says Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!!

And happy 12 year anniversary to my sweet hubby!!

Day 77 | March 18 – We took Ashton to meet his cousin, Tank, today! Then Sarah and Marcus invited us over for lunch, so we got to see them too. Sadly, the visit with Tank was not captured in photos, because we were pretty busy puppy wrangling! And this shot was the best one we managed at Sarah’s house. Animals and kids are hard enough to photograph separately, much less together!!

Day 78 | March 19 – Twelve years ago, I got married, and my friend, Angela, gave me a few gifts, including this leash. She always knew how much I loved dogs, and that Joe is afraid of them, but always hoped for me (as did I) that somehow, maybe one day, we actually would get a dog. I finally pulled out this leash and was able to use it on my very own dog, after keeping it for 12 years.

Day 79 | March 20 – Here’s Ashton and me. OMG I have a puppy, you guys!!! (He’s 8 months old, btw.)

And here he is in a t-shirt. It’s a Gerber toddler shirt (18 months). I thought it might help with his shivering. It did a little, but then he peed in the house, and he peed on this in the process, so it didn’t last long. Maybe he was telling me how he really felt about the shirt? 😉

One last bonus picture, a collage:

I’m so happy things are going so well with Ashton. He’s such a sweet, mellow little lap dog. We love him and are so happy he’s part of our family now!

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you all had a great week!

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Project 365 – Week 10

Day 65 | March 6 – A fun Friday, relaxing at our friends’ house, eating spaghetti. Sarah suggested putting this art smock on Homer while he ate, which worked out great!

Day 66 | March 7 – Joe built this tonight. Homer’s birthday present! Now we just need a dry, sunny day so he can actually drive it around. Yay for Mario Kart!!

Day 67 | March 8 – Sunday morning pancakes! Homer was so cute with wanting to help. I really like it a lot when he joins me for cooking!

Day 68 | March 9 – We went to the craft store today and bought some fun stuff. Homer really wanted this hat, so we got it, though he hasn’t worn it much since that day. It’s a shame too, because I think he looks so cute in it!

Day 69 | March 10 – Beautiful sunny day! And the cherry blossoms are blooming now, which makes me super happy. I love these trees!

Day 70 | March 11 – It was a really nice day so we took a walk to the park.

Day 71 | March 12 – Little Marcus at his house; a fun day to just hanging out with our friends

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you all had a great week!

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A Day In the Life – 7.11.2011

I LOVE Day in the Life Projects!!! I just completed one for yesterday in March 2014. And I just thought it’d be fun to post the last DITL sets I did, too. All writing and photos are from July 2011. Homer was only 5 months old, and we’d only lived in our Thousand Oaks rental condo for a couple weeks…. (VERY picture intensive, so may take some time to load!)

Written July 2011:
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A lot of times when you do a DITL project, you want the day to be fun and interesting. Well, life with a baby is unpredictable and demanding in very repetitive ways. This day did not turn out at all like I’d planned! Anyway, here’s a glimpse into a day in my life these days…

I didn’t take pics of me waking or Homer’s first diaper change, because he was super fussy and upset. The day starts with…

Nursing session #1

Or Nursing Session #3, technically. He had a late night, didn’t go to bed until 2am! This app tracks his feedings. I time how long he eats and on which side, and record it.

Uh oh, the last of the cat food.

And now it’s gone.

Time for Patches’ insulin shot!

Apparently this is what I’m wearing. I look crazy today! haha!

Homer! I had just put Homer down for a minute in his bassinet.

This is his changing table.

Ah, new diaper, yay! Diaper change #2 of the day.

Daddy saying bye to us. Not pictured: him kissing me bye for the day.

Have a good day at work, baby!

This is the view leaving Joe’s work. Very different from the much more urban area we used to live in! We didn’t even move all that far from there, just like 40 miles away, but there’s a super different feel to everything here.

Time check!

Homer is not amused by being awoken. He always falls asleep in the car!

Got him all perfectly snuggled into the Moby. Time to donate some books!

New local library

And… it’s closed. *sigh* All right, fine. Everyone back in the car.

Next stop, let’s use the stroller this time.

Homer gets to stay asleep and his carseat goes right into the stroller.

It’s Vons!

Got just a few things. Cereal, bananas, and cat food!

Coming back home

Baby’s still sleeping

The tree right outside my home. So pretty!

And this is my new deck!!!

Looking good, pantry!

Probably not going to keep napping, huh?

Hi kitties!

Our bedroom, where Homer’s “napping” in his bassinet

The kitchen, still needs unpacking

Time for breakfast, so I heat up some egg and sausage Lean Pockets

Feeding kitties #2

Only a few minutes have gone by, so I check again and… yeah, he’s definitely not napping! haha!

So I put him in his high chair for a little bit while I eat, and we hang out in the living room.

Baby Moustachio says, “Time for a time-a check-a!” (This is a screen cap from my phone, this is my usual wallpaper, and how I check the time regularly)

Nursing session #2

Diaper leakage means diaper change (#3) AND wardrobe change!

Ah, there we go. Froggy shirt!

The instant I sat him up, he spat up all over me, so I changed his clothes again. Tails watched.

Here’s his new outfit.

And here’s mine!

Chatted on my phone a bit with friends.

My pretty computer

Time to take care of some business and pay my student loan

Homer’s chilling out on the couch right next to me, with Sofie the Giraffe

Time check brought to you by Patches

Time for Homer’s medicine

He is so good!

Get that Sofie!

Uhoh, cranky baby

Time for a change of scenery, so we went to the bedroom

For some stories

Mmmm, stories…

And some nursing (#3)

Omg he’s finally napping, so I’m going to, too!!

Woke up on my own a couple hours later, time check by Baby Moustachio!

He’s still sleeping, awww

Time for lunch! Made a peanut butter and banana sandwich mmmm. But didn’t eat it yet. Waiting until I nurse Homer!

And time for a little home improvement project too. Drawer, before.

Drawer after. Much better.

Perfect!

Fed cats again. Cat feed #3!

The gross dishwasher

Let’s run it with detergent and see if it helps!

Okay, he’s not awake, but I’m starving. I’m eating!!!

Let’s see if I can fix these cabinets now.

Before.

Also, before. Ugh.

Okay you kitties are NOT HELPING.

Muuuch better!

He’s finally beginning to stir.

Time check! He slept a while!

A very sleepy diaper change. (#4)

This is what the baby’s room currently looks like. We’re still unpacking.

Nursing! (#4)

Petting Tails

Wardrobe change! (#3) I got milk all over my shirt while nursing.

After! Okay, that doesn’t look any better actually. I’ll fix that later..

Time to wash the syringe

Diaper change #5

This is the walkway outside of my place

There’s the pool! That’s just across the street from my building.

We’re getting the mail!

And now it’s time to go get Daddy!

So pretty on the way.

This is me, stylin’ while I wait for my hubby. Joe always calls me “Kanye” when I wear these, haha!

My view from the car

Time check

Homer’s ready for Daddy!

Actually, Homer’s ready to eat some more. (#5)

We got out of the car to wait at the picnic table

He is so serious.

Yay!! Here comes Joe!

Happy face!

Serious faces.

Kisses!

Getting Homer back into the carseat

Dinner

Half-watching a little “Eureka” while talking to and smiling at Homer

Homer in his high chair watching us (I’d rather he watch us than the tv, so I make goofy faces at him the whole time and try to get him smiling)

Obviously we got Frosties, too. Can’t go to Wendy’s and not get Frosties! 😉

Tails chilling in Joe’s arms during dinner

And Homer chilling in mine. And eating. (#6)

Time check!

Petting Patches

Patches says WTF! Poor Patches. We’re trying to teach him to be gentle, but he’s so little!

Playing with the burp towel. He loves towels!

Snuggle with Mommy

“…Sup?”

Baby mauling

Baby smiles

Baby kisses?

He wanted to nurse again. (#7)

Diaper change #6

Daddy’s working

Cat feeding #4

Once again, time for Patches’s insulin

I record her dosages here

Nursing (#8)

Putting him down. Maybe now it’s time for sleep.

Tails loves resting in the baby’s stuff, chair, crib etc.

Patches prefers the rocking chair.

Oops nope he’s awake. Okay diaper change #7

Got pee on his clothes!

Wardrobe change #4.. ? I’m losing count!

More work on the drawers

Looking much nicer!

Time check

Nursing (#9)

Chew time in the high chair with Sofie the giraffe

While Mommy and Daddy watch Warehouse 13 and smile and play with Homer

Time check

Nursing (#10)

Time check

Okay. I think he’s really going to sleep this time.

You really can’t tell, but I swear this kitchen had some work done. I unpacked a whole box!

Time to get into pajamas. Wardrobe change #3. 4? I dunno.

Time for some Cheerios

And getting back to work, writing an article

Watching a little Law & Order, too. Finally turn off the tv and JUST write for a while.

All right! Done writing for the night!

Brushing teeth!

Time check

My view to the right – my little boy still sleeping soundly in his bassinet next to my side of the bed

My view to the left, my sweet hubby (wearing his CPAP machine) right next to me.

Time for me to sleep too! And that was a day in my life. Hope you enjoyed it! Goodnight!!

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Well there you have it! A day in my life in 2011. Now we’re in a new city, new state, our sweet Patches is no longer with us, and Homer is practically a different person he’s changed so much! Though he still makes the same faces and we still love him to an impossible degree. That will never change. I’m kind of relieved that these days, there aren’t so many diaper or outfit changes though. 😉

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