bailey luvs u

@ 3 years, 9 months: Bailey's Christmas haul

2012-01-02T17:07:00.000-06:00

Monkey? Check. Reindeer? Check. Blue lobster? Check.

@3 years, 8.5 months: evidence of bed-monstering

2011-12-07T22:22:00.000-06:00

I think maybe someone has been a bed-monster all day today:

Tilly-sitting gifts!

2011-11-17T20:17:00.000-06:00

Our friends returned from their around-the-world trip, and picked up their beloved Tilly. In exchange, they came bearing flowers, and an extremely thoughtful gift of a choice of a little weekend getaway (illustrated with three charming watercolor drawings). They even illustrated which of of the two options is Bailey-friendly. We've opted for the tent cabin in Big Sur Redwoods, sometime in the spring. Can't wait.

@3 years, 8 months: Bailey & Tilly bed time

2011-11-13T23:08:00.000-06:00

Bailey & Tilly enjoy some evening on-the-bed time.

Too much cuteness:

Tilly is actually going to go home soon. We'll miss you, Tilly!

@3 years, 7 months: Bailey and the weird face

2011-11-02T22:52:00.000-05:00

Sometimes Bailey makes this weird toothy face. Here it is for your enjoyment:

@3 years, 7 months: Bailey & Tilly at the dog park

2011-10-30T20:46:00.000-05:00

We decided to take the two buddies to a dog park this weekend. They thoroughly enjoyed their two correspondingly favorite activities: fetch, and wrestling with puppies.

Tilly finally gets in some un-interrupted fetch (unfortunately, fetch with Tilly in the house consists of Bailey suddenly taking an interest in fetching, muscling in, and taking over all the action):

A friendly terrier friend:

Tilly looking cute:

Bailey finds his wrestling partner for the day:

Tilly looking cute and doing some more fetch while the crazy boys go at it:

Tilly gets tired and takes a break:

Still going at it.

Wow...this photo looks a lot like this one from a previous post:

Still taking a break:

...and still going at it:

Tilly just waits out the craziness going on in the background:

Attempting to grab a not-too-blurry photo of our pal:

Someone came home very dusty and very sandy, and very, very happy:

Hanging with Tilly weekend #6: Tilly bath time!

2011-10-22T22:18:00.000-05:00

Tilly needed a bath. We haven't hooked up a sprayer-on-a-hose head for our shower, so we took her to a wash-it-yourself place. They have raised tubs, sprayers, towels, etc. Tilly loves going in water, but doesn't loves baths. She did alright though:

Cute in her bathrobe:

The husband thought that she looked more dignified without the bathrobe:

@ 3 years, 7 months: the leash coupler + hanging with Tilly weekend #5

2011-10-16T23:07:00.000-05:00

Our friends are hilarious—we joked about needing some kind of leash connector for walking the two dogs and this week, they bought and shipped to us this leash coupler:

These two don't quite realize that they're connected to each other:

Overall, the leash coupler works pretty great; makes it way easier for one person to walk both dogs (one of which likes to dawdle, sniff, lick, and pee on things, and the other of which likes to weave, and plow forward in constant pursuit of tastiness on the sidewalk/gutters/people's gardens/by trashcans/below picnic tables). Occasionally, one totally spins the other one around.

A stop for a little treat...one for you, and one for you...and then wait while everyone finishes chewing...

This is the typical situation: Tilly pulling ahead while Bailey sort of keeps up. Sometimes he wins and yanks her to a stop while he gets to investigate something.

Our friends also shipped us a big batch of Happy Hips! Perfect for treating, with glucosamine and chondroitin to keep Bailey's hips, well, happy.

Tilly & Bailey looking extra cute while we look for breakfast on a Sunday morning:

@ 3 years, 6.5 months: hanging with Tilly weekend #4

2011-10-09T23:47:00.000-05:00

We're clearly extremely boring creatures of habit. Yet again we're having breakfast at the same place on the weekend. Here's some Bailey and Tilly cuteness at breakfast.

Tilly Kitchen Watching Time: fennel-spiced salmon

2011-10-07T21:23:00.000-05:00

Bailey practices kitchen-watching for the big ticket items, like fennel-spiced, pan-seared salmon. (Ok yeah he doesn't care about the fennel spice; he just wants that intoxicating-smelling hunk of something I put into the pan.)

Tilly just looking adorable:

@ 3 years, 6.5 months: Bailey luvs ramen, Tilly luvs the top of the couch

2011-10-05T23:07:00.000-05:00

Tonight we ordered some take-out ramen. Yum. Bailey (and Tilly) were both intrigued. It was delicious. They'll just have to take our word for it. Because we didn't share any.

Tilly likes climbing and squashing out a nice seat for herself in the top of the couch cushions, then doing adorable things like nuzzling:

We're certain there are turf wars over the bed/cushy spots during the day because these two very rarely lay down next to each other. A rare moment of shared prime real estate:

Tilly Kitchen Watching Time: watching water boil

2011-10-03T22:48:00.000-05:00

Seriously, dog. There's no food of any kind in that pot you're looking at.

Tilly Kitchen Watching Time: San Marzano tomato sauce

2011-10-02T23:34:00.001-05:00

This time Tilly attracts another curious observer (whose head-tilt is so damn cute...).

@ 3 years, 6 months: hanging with Tilly weekend #3

2011-10-02T23:28:00.001-05:00

Didn't get many photos this weekend since we had a wedding on Saturday and people in town Sunday, but the pups enjoyed the park again:

I attempted to get some photos of us dressed up with the dogs, and sadly this was the best that I could do:

Tilly Kitchen Watching Time: Fruit Roll-Up

2011-10-01T23:31:00.000-05:00

Fruit Roll-Ups. Yes, they still make them. Yes, they are still delicious. No, Tilly, they do not have any meat in them. This is of no concern to the Tilly. This Fruit Roll-Up thing is happening in the kitchen, and so it must be watched.

Tilly Kitchen Watching Time: cereal

2011-09-30T23:17:00.000-05:00

This evening, we feature cereal. Tilly will also silently watch you eat the cereal. Why do you deny her the delectable cereal?

@ 3 years, 6 months, Bailey luvs walks with Tilly

2011-09-27T23:09:00.000-05:00

My two handsome guys:

Tilly and Bailey await treats:

Happy Bailey & Tilly on a beautiful, sunny day:

Just a photo to document the really beautiful day it was:

Two cuties:

The evening saw some running around in the park, where Tilly scored and dug into a small apple before we could stop her (of course I took a photo first):

Happy Tilly in the park, and on the walk:

Happy Bailey after the walk, where he reminds me of his brother Jay in this post:

@ 3 years, 6 months: hanging with Tilly weekend #2

2011-09-25T23:54:00.000-05:00

Kind of a low-key weekend. Tilly likes hanging out by me when I'm at my desk. Sometimes she likes hanging out under the desk:

Usually she lies down on the floor nearby:

Tilly often stands up on me to get my attention, which is rather cute. She did this one of her first nights, which I interpreted as a request to get me to go to bed:

Sometimes she brings a ball with her and chews on it on my leg, which is the international gesture for please-play-fetch:

Saturday movie night and we could no longer resist letting the cuddle-sized friend up on the couch. To be fair, we then had to let up the less-cuddle-sized friend as well:

Sunday breakfast and I can't get them to look at me, because they're fixated on the other one who goes into the cafe and comes back with delicious things. He is The Food Bringer:

Tilly is focused on The Food Bringer's mocha:

Bailey thinks his odds are good with me:

Food is still Tilly's priority, but Bailey spots something better...

...a puppy (you can catch a glimpse of puppy rump in the top right corner here):

Eventually, a table-ful of food is too hard to resist:

Tilly guest blogging: Tilly Kitchen Watching Time

2011-09-21T00:26:00.001-05:00

It's another episode of Tilly Kitchen Watching Time. Tonight, we feature tofu poppers in marinara sauce. I explained to her that there's not even any meat in it, but it doesn't matter; she's fixated:

@ 3 years, 6 months: the very latest in Bedding Designs By Bailey

2011-09-19T22:30:00.000-05:00

It's another rendition of the bed-blanket:

@ 3 years, 6 months: Tilly the house guest

2011-09-19T22:00:00.000-05:00

It's Tilly! (Here being tempted by a piece of cinnamon roll—purely for photography purposes.)

We'll actually be watching Tilly for 1–2 months for our friends who are on a round-the-world trip. We started off the first weekend with some al fresco breakfast. Here, Bailey and Tilly are fixated on a bacon-egg-cheese sandwich:

They're so engrossed, neither of them notices the second bacon-egg-cheese sandwich over here:

Sunday morning's walk took us to the nearby park. Tilly is a surprisingly strong puller:

She loves fetch, which is a nice change of pace, because Bailey often thinks fetch = keep-away. Today, she did a lot of fetching while Bailey did some laps around the park.

Tilly's tastiness-seeking nose occasionally reminds her that a tasty piece of dried chicken is on the sideboard. She whimpers at it, stares at it, and sometimes stands up like a circus dog to get a better whiff of it:

Buddies relaxing together:

@ 3 years, 5 months: Bailey luvs fusion taco trucks

2011-08-18T22:54:00.000-05:00

Husband had to work late today. I noticed the city was having one of its Thursday night summer events: they close down the main street, have a small farmer's market + various booths + kids activities, and on a side street near us, a few food trucks. One of the best things about these Thursday nights is that they allow dogs—all of the city's summer festivals, as well as the weekly farmer's market, do not.

I decided Bailey's walk tonight definitely needed to involve some food truck action. We ambled about in the crowds a bit, then he got to play with other dogs, and wait [not so patiently] while I got some food from the Asian fusion taco truck:

Two short rib, one pulled pork taco later, and I had a tasty dinner, and Bailey was rewarded with a couple nibbles.

@ 3 years, 3 months: Bailey luvs Mugsy

2011-05-12T21:37:00.000-05:00

We're remodeling our place and Bailey loves our architect's dog, Mugsy:

Today, the architect came out to take solar measurements on our roof and brought Mugsy along. I happened to be home with a cold, so I woke up from a nap to a lot of barking, and my dog inexplicably fixated on the sliding glass doors in the back. Turns out there was a pug on the other side. There was much chasing in the yard, and for some reason, a lot of trying to get into the house:

@ 3 years, .5 months: how to do the dishes

2011-04-09T22:00:00.000-05:00

How to get dishes done:

find sunny spot in kitchen
lie down within sunny spot in kitchen
doze in sunny spot while someone does the dishes
if necessary, move if sunny spot moves

@ 3 years, .5 months: Bailey so alseep

2011-04-09T15:18:00.000-05:00

@ 3 years, .5 months: Bailey luvs a sunny napping spot

2011-04-09T14:16:00.000-05:00

Morning light + the office and kitchen windows = perfect napping spots:

@ nearly 3 years: one can always dream...

2011-03-13T22:17:00.004-05:00

Someone has a birthday coming up soon. However, a score this big is definitely wishful thinking:

@ 2 years, 11 months: Bailey waits for u outside the bathroom

2011-03-07T13:58:00.000-06:00

Bailey tends to hang out on the rug outside the bathroom door whenever someone is showering:

@ 2 years, 11 months: Bailey + me

2011-03-02T23:30:00.000-06:00

I need to find a co-photographer; it's hard to take good pictures of yourself and a dog. But doesn't he look so handsome:

@ 2 years, 11 months: Bailey luvs gifts in the mail

2011-02-19T22:39:00.000-06:00

Today, Bailey received a gift in the mail (Christmas gift courtesy of my father-in-law). He likes it very much:

He likes holding and gnawing on it (on his Bailey-made moving-blanket-bed):

He likes waiting for it. Ok, not really.

He loves tug-of-war with it:

He sniffs it...

he grabs it...

and he disappears with it:

@ 2 years, 10.5 months: Bailey luvs his squeaky pink elephant

2011-02-08T22:23:00.011-06:00

Today I picked up some heartworm, and flea & tick medication for Bailey and the vet gave us a choice of a free toy. The pink elephant was clearly the frontrunner. It was almost too cute to give to Bailey. Almost.

My dog has killer instincts: the first move is to go in for the jugular. You have to subdue your prey.

He goes at it for a while then I decide we need another Kodak moment. Wait for it.....

Wait for it..... [I'm sure the elephant did not appreciate this tension very much. Its arms are constantly raised in submission, and yet there is no mercy.]

We unleash the beast.

A smart dog knows to turn his back on the photographer...have to keep the prop as far away as possible.

Looking cute with a mouthful of elephant:

Some reclining while thrashing:

I knew he would go for the tag. Bailey nibbles delicately:

He also digs in with gusto:

Yes, something cotton-candy-pink and fuzzy was exactly what our living room needed.

@ 2 years, 10.5 months: Bailey luvs windows with benchs

2011-02-05T13:41:00.000-06:00

The only space for a bench below a window is in the master bedroom, which doesn't have much of a view (it's covered by bushes), but Bailey loves it anyway.
He also looks quite sharp with a camo bandanna:

@ 2 years, 10 months: Bailey luvs natural light

2011-01-23T22:51:00.002-06:00

OK, I love natural light. I was documenting it, and Bailey followed me around, playing blurry interloper/treat beggar:

@ 2 years, 10 months: settling in at the new house

2011-01-23T22:44:00.004-06:00

We found a spot for Bailey's skull rug: in front of the wall heater, right outside the bathroom. While he doesn't really fit on it, he still lies down and waits on it while someone is in the shower.

@ 2 years, 10 months: moving is easy...sez Bailey

2011-01-20T21:35:00.001-06:00

For our cross-country move, we didn't bring Bailey back to the house after it was emptied. This time, we brought him to the mostly empty apartment, but he didn't seem fazed. He did want to sniff and lick everything though.

@ 2 years, 8 months: looking cute on the bed

2010-11-13T18:32:00.000-06:00

@ 2 years, 7 months: more Bedding Designs by Bailey

2010-11-03T22:21:00.002-05:00

@ 2 years, 7 months: Bailey luvs Halloween

2010-10-31T22:24:00.000-05:00

Bailey is curious about what we're doing on the balcony.

Investigating the pumpkin-cleaning.

He gets hot and lies down.

Posing for pictures involves treats, which can involve drooling/licking.

Looking handsome.

@ 2 years, 7 months: would you sell a house to these people, and their awesome dog?

2010-10-21T20:03:00.002-05:00

Bailey knows he would.
(Participating in the California real estate market may entail writing a letter to the seller detailing why you want to buy the property, along with a photo of yourself, ideally with a dog. Alas, Bailey's powers of cuteness have their limitations: we lost to a competing bid at least $60-$70K over asking price, all cash, with a 7-day contingency.)

@ 2 years, 7 months: Bedding Designs by Bailey

2010-10-11T21:33:00.000-05:00

This is how you use this, right?

@ 2.5 years: Bailey luvs familiar faces

2010-09-26T22:46:00.003-05:00

Bailey totally remembered my sister-in-law. He thought her visit was awesome and trotted out to the living room to bug her each morning. Bailey is decidedly a fan of overnight guests.

@ 2 years, 5 months: Bailey luvs u and waits 4 u

2010-08-29T16:52:00.000-05:00

@ 2 years, 5 months: Bailey is very serious about bed time

2010-08-13T22:30:00.000-05:00

@ 2 years, 4 months: a sprained ankle

2010-08-07T14:44:00.000-05:00

Someone started limping on his front leg; turns out it's a sprained joint (see slightly swollen tissue around the right ankle joint). Doctor's orders: at least 4 weeks of low activity.

@ 2 years, 4 months: Bailey luvs dog-friendly establishments

2010-07-31T18:40:00.001-05:00

A local bookstore allows dog-friends:

@ 2 years, 3.5 months: Crissy Field Beach & 4th of July

2010-07-05T15:36:00.003-05:00

My most favorite handsome guys:

Crissy Field, one of the many dog-friendly beaches in San Francisco:

Bailey walks the bulkhead:

Bailey managed to drink a lot of seawater while not getting wet at all. He proved pretty adept at avoiding all incoming waves. Later, he proceeded to vomit up all his breakfast along with all the seawater. In the car.

Tilly, however, enjoyed getting thoroughly soaked:

Bailey finds a doppelganger:

Bailey thinks he wants some sangria:

We departed to watch fireworks from another location. Unfortunately we discovered that Bailey's habit of barking and howling when we leave creates a vicious cycle when another dog joins in. See the progression from whining, to barking, to all-out head-pointed-at-the-sky-in-despair howling:

@ 2 years, 3 months: Dubious Black-and-white Dog in White Doorway

2010-06-29T20:42:00.001-05:00

The husband's workplace allows dog friends. This lucky guy gets to go to work for 2 days in a row. (Finally after a few trial days at the office, Bailey is behaving in an office situation. The first time was full of constant barking and escape attempts. It's gotten much better.)

@ 2 years, 3 months: best car service ever

2010-06-28T19:21:00.000-05:00

@ 2 years, 3 months: Bailey may or may not luv his first bike ride

2010-06-13T18:58:00.000-05:00

Looking happy in the trailer:

Bike rack assembly is boring:

Getting that itch:

On the road. We made one stop at a nearby park. Bailey wasn't in a hurry to get back into the trailer. We wonder if he didn't like the bumpiness of the ride. We didn't have time to go anywhere super fun this time. We'll see how he likes the trailer after we take him to a dog park.

Fully assembled:

@ 2 years, 3 months: Bailey looking handsome in Sunnyvale

2010-06-12T12:38:00.000-05:00

You have a friend below the neighboring chair:

@ 2 years, 3 months: Bailey meets the bike trailer

2010-06-11T20:35:00.001-05:00

In the suburbs, dog parks and playmates are harder to find, and it's a shame to drive a car 2 miles to a dog park. Hence, the purchase of a bike trailer.

Treats coaxed Bailey into the trailer (which was first stabilized on a box...a previous experiment with a wobbly trailer was wholly unsuccessful) where he found it cozy enough to lay down in:

Looking cute in the trailer:

And exit. Next step: hook this baby up to a bike.

@ 2 years, 2 months: Bailey luvs Noe

2010-06-06T19:10:00.001-05:00

At the Shoreline Dog Park, Bailey met a new girlfriend, a puppy (of course) named Noe (the tan and white one):

There was lots of wrestling:

And running (with a puggle friend who pursued them, barking all the while):

And more wrestling:

Some rest in the shade:

Maybe it's time for some more wrestling...

@ 2 years, 2 months: passed out

2010-05-31T17:16:00.000-05:00

@ 2 years, 2 months: Bailey wants to luv the Sunnyvale Farmers' Market

2010-05-22T14:27:00.005-05:00

It's a nice 1.2 mile-long walk to the Sunnyvale Farmers' Market from where we are. Happy dog on a walk:

Bailey's prancy walk in mid-stride:

Why smell flowers when you can smell tree trunks?

Are you still there?

At last we reach our destination:

So tragic:

@ 2 years, 2 months: Bailey luvs San Francisco

2010-05-15T21:17:00.002-05:00

Finally, after 4 months in California, we get a chance to take Bailey to San Francisco, which, guess what, is where Tilly's owner have moved! Bailey definitely remembered Tilly.

Bailey and Tilly at the Corona Heights dog park:

Bailey and Tilly as we walk to brunch; wonder what Bailey thinks is so delicious:

Maybe it's this lovely brunch of buckwheat pancakes, fruit, asparagus-shitake omelet, and bloody mary at Tangerine in the Mission:

A hungry Bailey monster in the shadows:

Fixated on a treat in Mission Dolores Park:

Rewarded with a treat:

Bailey going after the empty hot chocolate cup:

Someone was getting too enthusiastic about the empty hot chocolate cup and it had to be discarded. Bailey looks longingly after his favorite person who is throwing away the hot chocolate cup:

Bailey and Tilly think they should get to visit all the open-air seating restaurants:

Looking cute in the city:

Getting to hang out at a bar. San Francisco is cool like that.

Bailey had on his serious face today:

Serious face while sitting cute:

More seriousness:

Wondering what the other bar patrons are up to:

Wondering when we will get to do something more exciting:

Bailey meeting a brown dog:

Bailey meeting another brown dog just a few feet away. There are many dog friends to meet in San Francisco. Apparently this is Rowdy:

Bailey making sure you're still there:

Bailey and yet another dog friend:

Bailey in the Castro:

Bailey meeting two dog friends at the same time:

Happy trotting dog:

San Francisco sure is hilly:

Bailey attempted to enter almost every single residential door/entryway we passed. He must want to live in the city. We don't blame him.

@ 2 years, 1 month: more wedding favor treat torture

2010-05-02T11:32:00.000-05:00

There are more shapes! This is a dog house-shaped treat.

@ 2 years, 1 month: Bailey luvs wedding favors

2010-04-26T21:02:00.001-05:00

We recently attended my brother's wedding, where they had doggie treat favors (peanut butter biscuits and whole wheat gingersnaps). Of course the husband took like 4 bags.

Bailey asks, why do you torture me so? (It's in the name of art! And dog training!)

This is Bailey's coy look.

The reward at last (just the fire hydrant...the other two cookies were for the photo). I'm sure the fire hydrant, bone, and heart shapes make them taste even better.

More, please?

Okay, but waaaaaiiit.....

Now, free to gobble!

@ 2 years, 1 month: Bailey and the smoked gouda-tomato-avocado-alfalfa sandwich

2010-04-20T23:01:00.001-05:00

Bailey regards the sandwich:

The sandwich regards Bailey:

@ 2 years, 1 month: Bailey luvs baby showers, Roo, and maybe cats

2010-04-18T20:02:00.005-05:00

Why watch people open gifts when you can watch the picnic table?

This is Roo, our friends' very cool Italian greyhound:

Outside, food distracted Bailey and Roo so much they didn't play at all, but inside, it was wrestling time, and tug-of-war time:

Bailey espies the cat:

Bailey pursues the cat:

@ 2 years, 1 month: dead-tired at the park

2010-04-17T22:53:00.002-05:00

When Bailey gets really really really tired (e.g. after a tour of the Pooch Hotel + a romp around a dog park), he just collapses on the ground like this:

And here's a nice Kodak moment:

@ 2 years: under-pillow sleeping arrangement

2010-03-31T23:05:00.000-05:00

Sleeping under things you should be sleeping on top of never gets old. See this sleeping arrangement from his first year.

@ 2 years: hot dog

2010-03-28T14:20:00.000-05:00

Bailey likes lounging in sunny spots, and it's nice to be able to let him lounge outdoors in the enclosed patio.

But then he gets all hot and just sprawls there, panting heavily. It's definitely all that black fur that gets him so warm in the sun.

That's one hot, hot dog.

@ 2 years: sneaky sleepy time

2010-03-25T23:51:00.003-05:00

You have roused Bailey from his sleepy-time place.

Bailey is allowed only on top of the comforter and [more or less] knows he's not allowed to make nests out of the bedding. But he does look so very comfortable.

@ 2 years: Bailey and the lemon

2010-03-16T21:37:00.001-05:00

Bailey regards the lemon.

Bailey sniffs the lemon.

Bailey is bored and does not care for the lemon. But he is interested in what you are doing. Ideally whatever it is should end with him getting a treat of some sort.

@ 23 months: under covers

2010-02-13T23:30:00.000-06:00

For some reason, Bailey sometimes likes to nudge around under this comforter. Bedskirts also confuse/intrigue him, maybe because we don't use one.

@ 22 months: so asleep

2010-01-30T20:08:00.002-06:00

@ 22 months: Bailey luvs California dog parks too

2010-01-27T17:30:00.000-06:00

Bailey's first road trip: day 4

2010-01-26T17:00:00.000-06:00

Are we there yet?

Bailey enjoys the view. He seems to know that today is different.

The Bailey monster.

Bailey wants to move up front. Again.

Someone gets a snack on the road.

[Most of] all of us:

The Inspector checks over our final destination:

Gotta check over the patio wall:

Rawhide + dog bed makes any place feel like home:

Bailey's first road trip: day 3

2010-01-25T21:00:00.001-06:00

Bailey watches the desert go by:

Bailey the Investigator checks the room over in Tehachapi, California:

Bailey's first road trip: day 2

2010-01-24T23:30:00.000-06:00

At an Oklahoma rest stop:

Someone wants to sneak a snack:

Bailey luvs long indoor running spaces. He's settling into the routine of a new stop each night, although we wonder if he thinks we're homeless or on the lam.

Bailey waits [not quite as patiently as this looks] outside a convenience store.

Bailey's first road trip: day 1

2010-01-23T23:00:00.003-06:00

Bailey's digs in the car:

Bailey would like to join u in the front of the car please:

Bailey becomes dubious of the situation (he did spend a little while facing the back of the car):

Bailey investigates at a southern Illinois gas station:

A sleepy puppy in cargo:

While he seemed to enjoy sniffing everything in the lobby and under every single door, Bailey spent a good while whimpering and hanging by the room door. He might think we can go back out the door and go home.

Bedtime in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Finally, Bailey is appeased by the king-sized bed.

Bailey's first road trip: pre-trip

2010-01-21T21:00:00.000-06:00

Farewell, Chicago, we're headed to California. We're about to test just how much Bailey loves the car.

Bailey at the in-laws; little does he know what awaits him:

Bed-monstering at the in-laws:

The head of the bed is the best:

@ 21 months: Bailey luvs roof deck + snow

2009-12-26T21:33:00.000-06:00

Bailey says: Just five more minutes, I swear.

@ 21 months: Bailey is in the kitchen...for some reason...

2009-12-25T10:00:00.005-06:00

When Bailey comes back from a walk and goes straight to the kitchen with his leash still on, you know something tasty is going down. Perhaps it's eggs, and panettone French toast:

OK, to be honest, it was the bacon. Sadly, we have no photo of the delicious, worth-keeping-your-leash-on bacon.

@ 21 months: Bailey luvs carpeted headrests

2009-12-20T15:00:00.001-06:00

@ 20 months: Bailey the bed monster

2009-12-18T16:00:00.000-06:00

This is how it starts:

And this is how it ends:

So [not] innocent.

@ 21 months: action shots in the snow

2009-12-12T10:03:00.000-06:00

Bailey's hips were pretty good at this point, and some time ago, our contact at PAWS requested some action shots, so finally, here we go:

Bailey looks dubious about whether he'll fetch the ball this time. He's fickle on how he feels about fetching (wrestling or being chased are the preferred forms of exercise), but he took a liking to this old tennis ball we found in the park.

Take off:

On the return:

Launching into a turn:

Ball in mouth:

Sometimes we drop the ball a little early:

All feet in the air:

Running at full speed:

@ 20 months: Bailey would luv to munch on those rib bones, please

2009-12-04T10:00:00.002-06:00

A Bailey head nuzzling or resting on your leg = you have something tasty which he would like to partake in.

@ 19 months: Bailey is very happy to see you

2009-11-08T10:00:00.000-06:00

Bailey says: oh my god I thought you would never come back out of that coffee shop!

@ 19 months: Bailey luvs Chase

2009-11-07T14:00:00.000-06:00

This is Chase. He loves to run and bark at things. He is a lovely, soft, orange-red little thing who can run crazy fast.

Sadly there are no actions shots. Here's a brief reprieve between chasing each other around:

All tired out:

@ 19 months: Bailey & Pequito

2009-11-02T21:20:00.000-06:00

We found a small, shivering chihuahua all alone on a sidewalk the morning after Halloween. It was so cold outside that we took him in, and then tried to figure out what to do after that. He had no microchip (we checked at PAWS, one of Chicago's animal rescue groups—you can do this at your vet as well) and no tags, so we posted flyers all around the neighborhood. Luckily, the very next day, we saw his owner's ad on Craigslist, and she saw our flyers, so Pequito (as we temporarily named him) was reunited with his owner pretty quickly.

Here's a nice head shot of Pequito. Bailey definitely wanted to play with him, but Pequito was a textbook chihuahua: very attached to humans, particularly if he could snuggle in our laps. He wasn't a very good pal for Bailey, but we were glad we were able to return him to his owner.

Lessons learned: Craigslist is a good place to look/post if you find/lose a pet. And even if you have an indoor pet, chip them, and have them wear tags at all times.

@ 19 months: jack-o-lanterns are serious business

2009-10-31T09:33:00.000-05:00

@ 19 months: stairs make a good headrest

2009-10-26T17:00:00.000-05:00

This is where the head goes:

@ 19 months: snug as a bug on a staircase

2009-10-25T13:45:00.002-05:00

@ 19 months: Bailey luvs pumpkins and the dog park

2009-10-18T21:33:00.022-05:00

Bailey enjoys a good sniff around the pumpkin lot.

He can be good at sitting and staying now, however he looks rather disgruntled about having to pose with the pumpkins:

In fact, he is so miserable that he has to lie down:

Soooooo sad:

You wonder what would make him so sad. Maybe it's because he'd rather be on his way to...the dog park!

Bailey almost always picks one playmate who he hangs out with the whole time. Today, he had sort of a buffet of play: first he ran around and wrestled with a 4.5-month-old yellow lab mix (who was already a bit bigger than him), then he ran around with a whole bunch of dogs, and eventually he found this puppy and they wrestled and wrestled and wrestled:

A half-hour at the pumpkin lot, and an hour-and-a-half at the dog park. It was a good day.

@ 18 months: Bailey does not luv loud noises

2009-10-18T18:08:00.002-05:00

We were moving some wiring one evening. Bailey cowered in this corner of the living room to get away from the horrific drilling noises coming from the basement.

@ 18 months: Bailey luvs a good lookout point

2009-10-17T22:25:00.003-05:00

Now that Bailey's hips are better, he's taken to this lookout point on the stairs, since he can curl up and fit on the step. We're told his brother Jay has been doing this for a while.

@17 months: a Bailey head in the stairwell

2009-10-17T22:21:00.003-05:00

@ 17 months: Bailey luvs the Bucktown Arts Fest

2009-10-17T21:53:00.007-05:00

The Bucktown Arts Fest literally happens right in front of our house. This year, we found Bailey enjoys the view from the roof deck.

Bailey surveys the terrain:

Bailey needs a little bit of a boost:

Bailey happy in the sun (sort of...eventually he gets hot and takes shelter in the shade of the table):

Hello, lady-with-bag:

Hello, small-dog-in-jacket:

Bailey stalks the fest:

Happy on the midway:

On to the rest of Bailey's 1.5 mile walk. Notice his coat is coming in nicely.

Bailey likes this nice white dog. We do too. He is HUGE. And very friendly.

@ 16 months: looking cute in the hallway

2009-09-07T21:31:00.002-05:00

@ 15 months: tall enough for the water fountain

2009-09-07T21:10:00.003-05:00

Bailey can now reach the water fountain. About a year ago, he was close, but not quite there.

@ 15 months: the rope bone is done

2009-09-07T21:08:00.003-05:00

Once upon a time, this pile of string used to be a rope bone.

Bailey wants to know what you are doing on his bed

2009-08-07T01:06:00.003-05:00

What are you looking at?

2009-08-07T00:58:00.002-05:00

Bailey and a remnant of his green-and-white rope bone.

Bailey luvs his birthday

2009-04-27T00:11:00.007-05:00

These photos are almost a month old now, but better late than never:

Bailey celebrates turning 1 year old with a nice spoonful of peanut butter. We approximated Bailey's birthday to be March 20 or 21. We figured we'd go with March 20 since it's usually the first day of spring/the Vernal Equinox. And Bailey loves equinoxes (because he loves everything).

Bailey is 10 days out from his second surgery here, so he enjoys his birthday peanut butter, along with a rawhide twist, while reclining in his bed.

The humans enjoyed strawberries, Cool Whip, and angel food cake.

@ 11 months: Bailey luvs cushy surfaces everywhere

2009-03-12T22:51:00.002-05:00

Bailey believes in having a cushy backrest as well as a cushy seat. He will drag his cushion around and create these little lounge areas. We suspect he wants us to upholster the entire house.

Strange sleeping position #09: the mid-gallop

2009-03-12T22:44:00.004-05:00

This is something new. Bailey has had only curled-up-on-the-one-side-that-doesn't-hurt sleeping positions for the last few months. We kind of wonder if he'll be able to do the flying squirrel after his hips heal.

@ 11 months: two bad things that don't go great together

2009-03-12T22:38:00.003-05:00

This is how Bailey looked when he had to both wear the cone, and be confined to the crate:

But this looks more like how he felt (scary creepy eyes!):

Fortunately it didn't take long for Bailey to learn the lick stitches = get the cone connection and he didn't need to wear it outside of the first week.

@ 11 months: recovering after surgery #1

2009-02-22T20:44:00.004-06:00

Bailey is back from surgery! He was recovering so well, or at least, he was moving around so much that he was released a day early. He was super hyper upon seeing us again; you really couldn't tell he had had major surgery two days before. The collar is a nice fashion statement, no?

I was requested to take a more dignified portrait of Bailey. You can see two of his three incisions here.

When someone licks his stitches too much, he gets the cone.
Someone hates the cone.

We thought Bailey might feel a little cold on his shaved side, but he doesn't seem to care for blankets or towels so much and prefers to chew on them instead.

Overall, Bailey seems to be feeling well, perhaps better than he really is. Sometimes we suspect he has a high pain threshold; it certainly goes up when he sees another dog and thinks he'll get to play. Sadly for Bailey, doctor's orders are no walking/horseplay for at least two weeks.

@ 10.5 months - Tilly's back!

2009-02-14T18:11:00.008-06:00

[This is from two weekends ago.]

It's Tilly! Back for another weekend of dog-sitting. She's always on the go, and reminded us that our Bailey has pretty much zero economy of movement. While our guy lopes around in crazy clumsy circles and has the cutest prancing walk, Tilly zips between points in straight beelines and takes stairs as if they were flat open ground.

Tilly has a magic radar that immediately located every single toy Bailey had lost under our furniture. She whimpered and tried to burrow under every couch or table where she'd located a toy. Her rear end is blurry because that little tail wags nonstop whenever she's on the hunt.

They both still love the window. But Bailey is quite a bit bigger this time around. Compare to this photo from about 6 months ago.