Our Baby-Dog

On March 25, 2012 (our year and a half anniversary) we went to Petco to look at the animals up for adoption.  We had made a habit of going once a week for a mini date.  We were planning on getting a dog when our apartment was finished so, at the time, we were "just looking".  I really wanted a dog that had hair instead of fur so I had my blinders on.  The only dog with hair was "Freckles" a 13 year old, rough and tired looking dog.  He was sweet but I could sense that this little guy was towards the end of his rope. We were hoping for a "family dog" for when we have kids down the road, sweet little Freckles was not the dog for us.

I had gone on to look at the bunnies when I heard a life changing phrase.....

 "Manda, look this dog's name is Honey"

I looked down at the beautiful tannish-red dog curled up in a ball in front of me.  She barely even raised her head to look at us when we talked to her.  I thought she must be almost as old as Freckles until the lady from the Humane Society told us she was only 1 year and 5 months old!

What!?!

She is still a puppy?

The lady brought her out of the kennel and instantly Honey jumped up to give her a hug.  I could just feel the love and affection Honey was giving off.  "Every time I let her out of her kennel she jumps up to give me a hug, to thank me for letting her out"

SOLD

As I looked into her big brown eyes I felt like I could see her soul. I knew I couldn't leave the store without her.  Patrick took one look at my face and instantly called his parents. (We are living in their basement and they are the ones building an apartment for us)

Honestly, I was kinda freaked out.  We were about to add a new member to our family.  I am a total planner and I had planned on getting a dog in a few months.  I can only imagine how new parents feel because I was overwhelmed with being responsible for a dog.
The in-laws said it was ok to get her and our new little family was born.

Shaved belly from being "fixed" before adoption

I am so obsessed with my little girl! Some people have babies, I have my dog.  A large majority of the pictures on my phone are of this little one :)

"Honey" is actually something I call Patrick all of the time so our baby was renamed "Sadie" but is very often called Honey too. It was too confusing when I was commanding both of them without meaning to 

 I could not have asked for a better dog.  She loves her kennel, snuggling and car rides, when she has been naughty she puts herself in her kennel (I am hoping that our kids do that too) she is super smart (she watches me leave for school in the mornings and knows that when I text Patrick at the end of work it means she get to open the garage and greet me at my car) and the kicker...

She LOVES to give us hugs!  When we get home, HUG, after she is naughty and forgiven, HUG, when I leave for school, HUG  etc. etc.

She is also super patient and will put up with just about anything... here are some examples

Snuggling with Daddy

I looked down and she was just looking at me with her nose covered, I do not know how long she had it there before I saw it but I am pretty sure she was trying to show me how cute she looked!

Tinkerbell for Halloween

She slipped off the couch and was just hanging out there

On a car-ride!

Little Devil

A bow for Christmas

I told you I am obsessed!

Let's Start At The Very Beginning...

Looking Back
So, as none of you know, I actually started this blog back in 2010... almost 2 1/2 years ago.  There were many times when I though that I should finally write something and post it to Facebook (because that seems to be what young newlyweds are supposed to do these days)  but I always feel strange thinking that if I post about my life, people would want to read about it.  I decided that I really appreciate reading about friends I never get to see anymore and am hoping that someone feels the same way about my blog.  
Here we go.....

My dear husband Patrick and I met in October 2009, I instantly knew our souls had been separated for too long.  We got married on September 25, 2010 in the gorgeous Salt Lake Temple. 

The funny thing about our relationship was the timing... I was 18 and 3 months old when I met my sweet Patrick.  I never, ever wanted to be the cliche' LDS Utah girl who got married right out of high school, I actually had plans to avoid it.  I purposely did not go to BYU because everyone told me that if I went down there I would get married young.

Long story short, I met my soul mate when I was still very young and I decided that I was not going to let age be the reason I lost true love (I had to convince him that I am very mature for my age and he was able to look past the number, thank goodness!)

I told Patrick that I DID NOT want to be married when I was 18 years old.  So on my 19th birthday we became OFFICIALLY ENGAGED (we had been unofficially engaged for 5 months already)

Our wedding and reception were picture perfect and everything I could have ever wanted.  One theme of the reception was "Lovebirds" and I thought that was the perfect title for our blog.

 I know these are Doves and not Lovebirds but they matched the colors better and after the reception you can set them free and they fly back to the aviary, pretty cool.

Even though I had a plan for when I was going to get married etc. I cannot begin to express how happy I am with the timing of my life and the twists and turns it has taken.  I know that our Heavenly Father has a plan for us and I have learned to listen with my heart and go where life takes me  <3 I wouldn't trade my love for anything!