Our new addition!

Derek and I gave the girls a black lab puppy for their Christmas present this year. The girls named him Sam and he is only 7 weeks old. He is so much fun and has actually been a very good puppy. He goes to the bathroom outside as long as we are on top of things and take him out to do his business. He doesn't bark much at all. He slept through the night the first night home, which I was not expecting. He is definitely a puppy though. He tries to bite the chairs in the kitchen so we put some of that dog repellent on them and I haven't seen him do it since. He has also learned, very quickly, who he can bully and who he can't. The girls aren't use to being around dogs and don't quite know how to tell him to back off when he nips and jumps up. We are continually "rescuing" Shannon and Morgan, but they are both getting much better at being around him. Right now the girls fight over who gets to walk him and I'm trying to enjoy this sense of responsibility they have now while it lasts. Erin has been very good at taking Sam out when he needs to go, and it's even been snowing and raining like crazy. But Sam is definitely Derek's dog. He loves Derek and follows him around everywhere. He even whimpers for him when he leaves the gated area or goes out of the room. We were out shoveling the snow tonight (not an easy job this time around) and Sam stayed right with Derek and tried to attack his shovel. If Derek calls him, he usually comes right away. If the girls or I call, it's a 50/50 chance he'll come. But a very cute addition.