A few weeks ago, I brought home a puppy. Everyone I’ve told has been a real wise ass about it and asked if it’s because I felt my life was too simple and smooth. Which is a pretty legit question! Puppies are a lot of work! But my little pup is lovely. She’s chill, needs a couple of good romps a day, and otherwise just snuggles with me. I think she’s single-pawedly (she doesn’t have hands) lowered my stress level considerably. I named her Beatrix, because I’ve always loved that name (it was a contender for Eleanor), and because I grew up reading Beatrix Potter books, and loved her artwork. Also, I have a weakness for literal bees. Her middle name is Rothko, like the artist.

Here’s the only thing that matters: the pics. Click to see bigger.

She’s a rescue – there’s a woman a few hours from us who runs a rescue – she buys the Amish puppy mill puppies and retiring breeding parents and gets them to good homes. Bea’s a cavapoo, so half Cavalier King Charles, half poodle. She’s very smart, and is enjoying training. She likes to schnuffle the ground thoroughly when we’re outside, and has inhaled snow several times.

I wasn’t planning on getting a dog, but I did want to rescue a cavapoo if I ever did get one (“maybe when the kids are older”). But this rescue posted about the pups coming in and Bob was like “go get one” and then nearly simultaneously “don’t get one,” which was helpful. I decided to go up “to look.” The woman tried to talk me into taking two. The rescue wanted the dogs adopted that day – otherwise she needed to find foster homes or they’d need to stay in her horse barn, so the timing felt pretty tight.

Bob told the kids I was working late, and when I got home with Bea, they were scattered all over the house. I settled in the library with Bea, and then Bob called the kids in. Their faces. The gasps! They loved her immediately, though I am her first favorite. I’ve been away for work this week, and we facetimed. She found it confusing. Luckily, she also loves Eleanor! And Ele has been great about taking her outside for walks and potty breaks if I have my hands full. The cats haven’t really taken to her yet, and she’s scared of the cats, so we do have some integration work to do.

She’s just a little Bea, and will probably top out around 12-15 pounds. She’s only about 6 or 7 pounds right now, and is around 5 months old. She sleeps through the night like a champ in her crate, and hangs out with me while I work. She’s been making my days brighter, and I think the kids really enjoy having a dog join our three Ring circus – even though she’s not a big dog like the other dogs in the neighborhood. Stay tuned for more cute pics as I get her more outfits!