How My Little Has Grown So Big.

So it has been about a month and a half that little Ella has been in our lives, and boy has she grown. In the 6 weeks that she has been running around Beder manor she has piled on 6.5 kilograms. It took a little research and we figured out that our little is going to be a big. Bloodhound big. Her mommy is a basset hound. But it seems that her and her brothers have got her father's looks, or should I say bone structure and colouring. Her paws are massive, her ears are floppy. She is ball, rope, bone, couch, pillow, stick, actually anything she can chew, crazy. She is teething you see. A hand will do just fine too. In these past few weeks, she has taken to sleeping in her little bed like a champ, although her tummy works like clockwork at 4am. She then wakes up at 5am for cuddle time, and who could resist those droopy puppy eyes. She then crawls to the warmest spot in the bed, down to my legs. She is so sweet, like a portable hot water bottle with a heartbeat (that weighs 8kgs). She then emerges a few hours later, too warm, and wide awake, it's chew time. 


This little Ella has stolen my heart. Her love is unconditional towards me and mine towards her. I miss her when I am not around her. She makes me laugh and I am loving watching her grow. The last few weeks have been a real mommy test, as she is like a real baby. Up every few hours for toilet (read nappy) duty. I am really looking forward to seeing what she will look like as a big girl. She does not replace the space left in my heart left by my Sabrina, but she has carved out a new one. 


My boss has also adopted one of her brothers. Things turn out great sometimes. At least I know one of her little siblings has gone to a good home.  


Here are a few pictures of the little one in doing her thing. Hope they smiles to your face as they have to mine. Enjoy! 

Little Ella

Last week Friday, my family and I began our search for a new four-legged family member. We began on the Friday afternoon at a dog shelter in Woodmead by our home. We had heard about a litter of basset hound crosses, and two little staffie cross boys. Alas we were searching for a girl to add to our family. We kept that shelter in mind and then moved our search along to the Saturday and the greater areas of Johannesburg and it's "surrounds". I say "surrounds", as we traveled far and wide, from Krugersdorp to Roodepoort, Sandton to Booysens. We saw all the SPCA's, Animal Anti-Cruelty Leagues and other animal shelters we could fit in to the strict 9-12 time frame. It was a saddening process. We needed a girl, we wanted a puppy. We looked at those faces, we wanted them all. Love is not even an issue. We came home empty handed, our hearts a little sadder. I don't think I was ready for a new baby in the home, as the loss of my baby, Sabrina, was still so raw. So I left the choice of adoption up to my sister and my dad. I knew this was not about me, it was about Caesar. Our 10 year old Alsatian mix. He needed a companion and play partner.


On Saturday afternoon my dad told me that he had phoned the Woodmead shelter about fostering one of the basset puppies for the weekend. To see how they would fit in. The car came down the drive way.


She ran in.


She bumbled, she fumbled, she fitted in. From fostered to family in an hour.


Little Ella is a firm member of our family in just 8 days. She has put on 1kg in weight in a week. I am happy to say that she is a little princess with the jaws of a shark. I love her. I cannot wait to see the beauty she grows into. What a blessing. What a soul.

Ben and the Mama City

I touched down in Cape Town about 4 hours ago. The sun is shining, the weather is sweet, makes me wanna move... to Cape Town, but not during season that is. Everything sucks in Cape Town in season. Crowds, traffic, tourists, Johannesburgers, Cape Townians hating everyone who is not from Cape Town, escalated prices, oh and did I mention the crowds. But I love it here. It is my home away from home (pardon the cliche), but my entire extended family lives here. I have spent the last two hours with my new baby cousin Ben, a nine week old, Beagle puppy, too cute. He is fast asleep behind me. oh dear.

I am looking forward to taking in this beautiful city with my cousins and friends. I am also taking down old years with The Australians (Nathan and Jacob) in tow. Gonna be fun fun!

Catch up soon soon.