Nap time!

More hiking!

We've been doing quite a bit of hiking with the nice weather and all.  I think it might be Stella's favorite activity which works out well for us. :) 

Stone Mountain State Park, NC

Crowders Mountain, NC

just because it's that cute...

Grassy Ridge Bald hike

Took a trip into the mountains this weekend for leaf looking at Grassy Ridge Bald.  Beautiful!!

Looking back to make sure I'm keeping up. :)

On the way back home...a little pooped.

Road trip!  She puts her head on your shoulder while riding down the road.  Could she be any cuter??

My wake up calls

just pictures

Took a walk through the neighborhood today and did a little photo shoot with Stella.  She is very good at staying...even with golf carts driving by sometimes. :)   Here are the pictures:

The spay

On Tuesday, Stella goes in for her spay. I can't help but feel a little nervous...I still feel like she is so young!  I know that the folks at Harris Blvd Vet Clinic will take excellent care of her though.  I'm hoping that she won't have too much pain, but like it or not they will be cutting open her belly. :(

Here are a couple of recent pictures.  One is right after her bath and the other is of her and me hanging out.

Growth

I think she'll still lay here when only her butt fits!
It's a good way to see how much she's grown though...

Dunk your dog

Stella had some fun this past weekend at the 5th annual Dunk Your Dog event hosted by the Golden Retriever Rescue of Charlotte.  We were hoping that she would want to swim given that there were many other dogs there swimming, but no such luck.  The only saving grace was after the 3rd time that we picked her up and walked her in, she didn't immediately make a bee line for the shore.  oh well...hopefully if we keep introducing her to it she'll learn to like it.  Our previous Golden didn't like the water...did we seriously get the only other Golden Retriever that doesn't like water?  haha.

Here she is with her best "don't make me go back in Dad" look

After the dunk...."Oh hai"

We also hung out with our neighbors that night and she must have been tired because she just laid around mostly.  Our neighbor Kyle decided to use her as a pillow and luckily we had the camera out and got these shots

...so stinkin' cute!



ALSO...Stella completed her Intermediate training class at Petsmart last Wednesday.  They gave her a certificate and even made her wear a graduation hat for a picture.  Bryan asked "aren't you supposed to put the tassel on the other side after they graduate?".  I looked at him and said "are you serious??  I'm just happy we got a picture with the hat on period!".  haha.

*sniffle*  my girl is growing up!

Easter

This weekend we traveled to Norwood for Easter.  Gabby and Stella had fun as usual playing.  We even took Stella for a hike at Morrow Mountain.

Daycare

Stella had her first day of doggie daycare last week.  The lady at the daycare said that she had really good manners...more like a 1 year old.  yay! (though I would question that with some of her activity this week...oh dear).

Here is her pooped after her day at daycare

And here is her on the ride home....obviously we're gonna need one of those guards to keep her from hopping from the back to the back seat ASAP

I caught her in this position the other day.  Apparently this is comfortable to her because she lays like this a lot.  silly girl!

Sunning in the sunroom

Well...the sun WAS shining until right when I took this picture of course.

Love Subaru

Came home today to find this in the mail.  It's a Subaru bandanna.  How did they know I had a dog?  ...beats me!

Don't know why her mouth looks all weird.  I was lucky to get her to sit still for 2 seconds so I'll take it.

Wallering trying to get it off.  ha!

More wallering

Blocky head

Bryan mentioned that Stella's head is getting bigger.  whoohoo!  I love big blocky heads.  Here's an upclose picture to celebrate.

Puppy hair

So, I think Stella grew since I left this morning for work.  She is growing so quickly now I can't keep up!  She is beginning to blow out her puppy fur....so sad...it's so soft.  There is fur everywhere!!
Here are a few pictures to show how much she has grown:

Already getting her bloomers and feathering on her legs and tail.

2nd trip to the vet

We made our 2nd trip to the vet and Stella is 20 lbs now!  She did well and got her bordatella vaccine so she can start doggie daycare soon.  yay!
She took a car ride Thurs, Fri, and Sat of this week and will probably go on one today as well.  She is doing better....less whining and more sticking her head out the window.  Thursday we went on a hike at Reedy Creek.  We ran into a little friend (see below).

Going on a hike @ Reedy Creek (taken with my phone)

Our little friend enjoying the sun (taken with my phone)

trip to Norwood

This weekend we took a trip to Norwood to celebrate my brother's birthday.  Stella and Gabby played non-stop!  Gabby just wouldn't let up.  Then Chunk (yes that is his name) came to visit and I'm told that craziness ensued.

Pictures!!

She did really well on the trip there.  As long as she stays reliable for a few more trips, we'll let her ride without the crate. :)

CRAZY FACE!!!

Stella and her new friend Chunk...passed out.

Gabby on the other hand....still awake (though at least calm for once)

She's like the energizer bunny....

She really can be sweet and calm...sometimes.  :-P

Stella in her jacket that we donated to Gabby.  One of the girls at Bryan's work gave us this.

You can really see Stella's "wrinkle" on her nose in this picture.  I wonder if it will stay around once she's older.  I think it's adorable.