11 Things To Do Before You Get a New Puppy

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11 Things To Do Before You Get a New Puppy

Deciding to get a new puppy is a HUGE decision. I would like to preface this guide by saying to make sure you are REALLY ready to take care of a living creature that most resembles a human (i.e. this is not like taking care of a house plant or a goldfish). Craig and I contemplated getting a puppy for years (before Craig finally caved!!). We were traveling a lot, had full time jobs, and had no idea how to raise an 8-week old animal.

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Reece Turns 6 Months Old!

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Happy Half Birthday to this little Princess!!!! 6 glorious months!! We love you so much Reece Elisabeth Moore!!! Best 6 months of our lives! Our sweet 6 month old baby! Reece is so much fun, she is very active and loves to play! She now imitates us by smacking her lips when we talk, is very vocal and sings with us when we sing to her. She loves sucking her thumb, especially when she is tired or hungry, which we think is the sweetest thing! She is still obsessed with her doggie, music class, and bath time! 💜

Reece Turns 5 Months Old!

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Today Reece is 5 months old!!! Time flies at lightning speed when you have a baby, it's unreal! She has 2 teeth now and puts everything in her mouth- she literally will take your hand and pull it to her mouth so she can eat it! Her new tricks include blowing raspberries in the air until spit comes out and lounging on her side like a model at the beach! She belly laughs and she is a drama queen who pretends to cry or cough and she thinks she is funny! We have caught her on her elbows and knees and she is totally trying to crawl (or at least scoot)! She has a new playpen that she loves to hang and play in. Her favorite person is definitely her doggie Ravioli. She is still obsessed with bath time and splashing and kicking! What a wonderful 5 months it has been with this girl!

Reece Turns 4 Months Old!

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Reece Turned 4 months old today! She is learning lots of new things, she loves to roll over now and is even pulling and pushing herself towards things like a snake. We could have a crawler on our hands soon! She also have a tooth breaking through as she constantly is drooling and has her hands in her mouth. She is a happy baby and loves to do fun outings like music class, baby sign language and baby and me bare class! 

Reece loves to trying to put everything in her mouth, check out the below video, look mom no hands! 

Reece's First Christmas!

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Reece's 1st Christmas!!!

Today is Reece's first Christmas, we celebrated in San Diego with mormor, bapa and my sister Adrienne was here with her family. Ravioli came along for the day as well. We all had matching pajamas to make it more fun as a family.

First Gina, Ravioli and I woke up Reece for her first Christmas. She was all smiles and a diaper blow out is a nice gift for mom and dad on a first Christmas as a family. We cleaned up and loaded up the car and headed down to my parents to open presents.

The family get up Ravi and daddy weren't too thrilled to wear the family pajamas but mommy is all smiles as well as baby Reece who is always the cutest. Mormor made Reece her first Christmas stocking even with black hair just like Reece. We then opened lots of presents including a very special first gift for Reece from her Mom and Dad, a charm bracelet that she can fill as she grows we will add to it each year as she experiences new things and becomes the little girl she will be. First year our first charm was lucky ducky because Reece loves bath time and loves the water.

We dressed up Reece and she was a hit by far the best looking baby! Even as a little elf.

Alexander and Teddy got lots of great legos and toy trucks to play with. They had a blast so much so that Alexander even locked himself in Raviolis crate.

It was an exhausting morning Reece took a nice nap on mommy so much so daddy was jealous and she was so out I had to take some pictures of our sleeping Christmas angel. My two best gifts I could ever get. What I did do deserve these two I'll never know but I definitely won the life partner jackpot!

Daddy then accompanied Rick to get a gaming system the classic NES that was very hard to find this Christmas. We met Kim in the 7/11 parking lot and the exchange went smoothly. Rick could play his childhood games he was giddy as the first day he received them I'm sure of it.

We then had a very nice prime rib roast dinner, it was delicious. Reece had a turn at the head of the table with bapa.

Ravioli even got some gifts he enjoyed all day! He is such a character.

All and all it was a great first Christmas for Reece just they way it should be full of family, food, fun, and lots of gifts.

My Birthday Week!

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Its my birthday this week and what an amazing year to reflect upon. I start everyday with a walk or run with Ravioli. Today was no different I woke up and took Ravioli for a walk it was very cold out there and there was frost everywhere on the grass. Ravioli loved it and couldn't be bothered by it; daddy on the other had needed to get bundled up. 

When I got home from my walk Gina and I woke up Reece together to see her morning smiles. They truly are the best smiles ever. We got her dressed and played for a short while then it was nap time. I miss her so much during the week I don't want to put her down for her naps on the weekend, so I like to hold her in my arms and watch her sleep so peacefully. 

Also today we celebrated my 33rd birthday. Gina was so nice and had all our friends meet us at the Crack Shack for fried chicken and some beers. There were so many babies and little kids it's interesting to see how the focus shifts to the kids for birthdays. Reece was so cute in her outfit just look at that face and the hair! 

I loved the get together and feel so lucky to have such great friends and the most amazing gift was having a daughter to wish me a happy birthday for the first time ever. I just felt loved and blessed, I didn't need presents get together or anything except my sweet girls and my hairy best friend Ravioli. This happy family all matched for the celebration. 

My Birthday!

Today was my 33rd birthday and it was a very special day. Not only is it my first birthday as a father to Reece and Ravioli. It was the first Birthday I woke up and didn't selfishly think about myself or the gifts I would get. I woke up and couldn't wait to take Ravioli for a long walk because I know it makes him happy. Well the walk went perfectly then we all woke up Reece only to be surprised that she had a diaper blowout inside her sleepsuit. But you know what, that made the day special in its own right. Reece then needed a bath in the morning while daddy did the laundry. Reece loves the bath so much it wouldn't surprise me if she did it just so she could take that extra bath.

Then the facebook messages began to roll in and I got a very special text from my dad.

"Happy birthday my one and only son. The day you were born was very special, and I will never forget it. You have brought me great happiness and pride. Having you as my son has made my life all worthwhile. I will always love and respect you...Enjoy this day and all the days that are to come. Love, Dad"

It made me smile and think about the day Reece was born. It's amazing being a father and knowing that you have a person to mold into an amazing person to contribute to the world and to carry on your legacy.

I then went to work and worked half a day so I could spend time with the family. I got home to my smiling Reece, my beautiful wife and loyal dog. Those are the only gifts I could ever ask for. We then loaded up the car and went to my parents house where the whole family was there. My sister with her boys, watching them grow from the small babies to boys now who can hold a conversation makes me look forward to seeing Reece grow but also noticing how fast she will grow up and wanting her to just slow down a little and be the sweet baby she is just a while longer.

Gina made a special spaghetti and meatball dinner my favorite all from scratch. She is the most amazing partner and goes so far out of her way to make me feel special on my birthday.

My mom made me a cake complete with 33 candles and everyone sang including baby Reece and the boys who all helped me blow out the candles.

Once we got home I went for a run and had sometime to reflect on the day and I was just so amazed at how being a father and providing for my family was the focus of my thoughts it was the first time that happened to me on a day that is supposed to be all about me I still thought about all those around me and how blessed I am. I can't wait to see how Reece grows this year and how our little family continues to come into its own.

Our New Normal

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Life changed when we added our bundle of joy to our family! Reece has made our family so much more special. But life changed for sure a weekend outing has become mostly morning family walks with the dog to get coffee and talk to strangers about Reece's hair or Ravioli, I would say its about 50/50 baby or dog! haha. 

Today we went for an early morning walk in Solana Beach on Cedars Avenue. But first both Gina and I woke up Reece and the smiles she gives us in the morning show us the joy a new day brings her. She sees our faces and lights up to start a day full of family fun.

So cute! Gina and I can't help ourselves in thinking how blessed we are to have such a sweet baby.  She is so stinking cute, so much hair, its truly an amazing indescribable feeling. 

It was a cold morning so we all got bundled up and went for coffee at lofty coffee. 

Yummy Reece wants coffee!!!

Reece was so cute in her bunny. The whole crew Ravioli included went for a walk, we were early as all the shops were closed so we walked and found a nice bench to sit on. A nurse approached us and said, "well look at your perfect family I just had to stop and say that." She said "baby, wife, husband and this dog on this beautiful day." And she was right we are so lucky to all have each other. Lucky to have a healthy beautiful baby girl like Reece, lucky to have a beautiful well behaved dog like Ravioli, and most of all lucky to have each other, teammates from day one. We then went to Gina's favorite store Solo where we ran into celebrity chef Richard Blaze we seem to always run into him yet we never really say hi and we think he recognizes us from how many times we have been to his restaurants.

Another older lady stopped us to comment on our beautiful dog and all the hair on baby Reece's head we love it and welcome the conversation with strangers even if it's focused on our hairy children 🤣. Oh yeah and we also stopped for Ravioli at Mutropolis for some free treats, he is always a hit there. We then stopped for sandwiches at Board and Brew on the way home and enjoyed the rest of the day as a family at home together being thankful for each other and our new normal. 

Reece Turns 3 Months Old!

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Everyday she amazes us at how much she loves life and everyone around her. She loves mom & dad and ravioli too. When dad has a bad day or work is difficult she is there to brighten it.

She is "talking" now with lots of new noises she loves sucking on her fingers and she gives mommy and daddy the biggest smiles in the morning.

Mommy Goes to Ellen!

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Today mommy got tickets to go Ellen's TV show and it was a bonus day for 12 days of giveaways. She got lots of lego stuff and some nice gift certificates. We passed the kindness along and regifted all of the legos and the Legoland passes to a family that could have more use for them. 

It was a big day because it was the first time Reece ate from a bottle all day. Daddy was lucky to have some help from Mormor and Bapa. Reece was so good all day and ate from the bottle like a champ. Daddy did a great job of keeping you milk drunk all day. Reece slept so good for daddy. But she missed mommy lots. Today she rolled over for the first time with a little help from daddy. Daddy suddenly realized how fast she is growing up. We love her so much and we can't wait to see her grow.

 

Reece Visits Santa

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Today Reece and Gina visited me during a busy day. I was able to step away from work so we could go to the mall and visit Santa.

Santa said to us that the most fussy one should get in the picture last he was thinking that would be our sweet baby girl. I assured him I was the most fussy. I mean could this picture be any cuter? Dad even made this his wallpaper on his phone for all of December showing off this cuteness every chance he could. 

We all had to join Reece in the picture for a family shot, Including Ravioli. We needed to make sure we all are going to get what we wanted as we were all so good all year long. 

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Reece Turns 2 Months Old!

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Today Reece is 2 months old! Reece is 11 lbs and 24 inches! She loves eating her hands, bath time, smiling, talking to her toys, and bottles with daddy!

Reece Goes to the Pumpkin Patch!

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Today we took Reece to the pumpkin Patch. We didn't actually even buy a pumpkin but that didn't stop us from taking lots of photos, of our little pumpkin! The only costume we had for Reece was this cute little pumpkin outfit. By far the cutest pumpkin in the patch! We also went to a great Halloween party, check out Reece and her pals aren't their coustumes great! 

Reece Turns 1 Month Old!

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Today Reece turns 1 month old! Reece weighs 9 lbs, 7oz! She loves milkies, cuddling, being in the Solly, biggggg stretching, bath time, making eye contact and looking all around! 

Welcome Reece Elisabeth Moore

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On Septemer 15th 2016 at 9:41AM we welcomed Reece Elisabeth Moore to the world. We couldn't wait to meet this girl and watching her grow over the last 4 months has been amazing. We couldn't have a website about our family without documenting one of the most amazing days in our whole lives. 

We anxiously a waited her arrival as we did not know her gender and we highly recommend that others do the same. It made those first moments of her life so special, just Gina and I knew and the few nurses and midwife that delivered our sweet baby. Below is video of our birth, hopefully it gives you a peek into that most special day when we became 3.