Category Archives: Kara and Kyle

Meet Campbell!

Posted in Kara and Kyle, Pets by

So, last week I may have mentioned in brief that Kyle and I got a new dog. And then on Wednesday I posted a photo of my two dogs.

Well, since our foster-to-adopt period is over today, I’m excited to finally introduce you all to Campbell!

Isn’t he adorable? Now, for his story …

Campbell is a 7-month old pit bull. Kyle and I adopted him through HugABull, a pit bull advocacy and rescue group based out of Vancouver. We had originally contacted HugABull back in January in regards to another dog, but unfortunately we were unable to adopt him because he had an altercation with another dog (which was the other dog’s fault), and they didn’t think that he would be a good match for us in the end. We were sad, but okay with it, and they let us know that if any dogs came to them that were a match for Kyle and I, they’d let us know!

A few weeks ago we got an email from HugABull telling us about a 7-month old male that just entered into their 1-month foster program. (All dogs are fostered and assessed for one month before being eligible for adoption). After seeing pictures, Kyle and I both fell in love with his cute face and immediately said “Yes please!”

So, two weeks ago Kyle and I drove out to Kelowna (with Daphne in tow!) to meet Mr. C! The “meet & greet” went really well, and after a walk to get to know each other, Kyle and I brought Campbell home with us for the two week foster-to-adopt program! Basically, if all goes well during his two week stay with us, he’s ours if we’d still like to have him!

It was a marginal adjustment for us considering we haven’t had a puppy in the house for almost 8 years (how is Daphne already almost 8, BTW?), but we can’t imagine him with anyone else! Despite a couple on bathroom accidents in the house, Campbell has settled in quite nicely and he’s learning more every day! Even Daphne has warmed up to him and lets him clean her face. I think she even likes having a playmate, although he has WAY more energy than she knows what to do with!

Most people’s reaction to us adopting a teenaged dog has been, “You’re nuts.” Maybe so, but we’ve been wanting to get another dog for a loooong time. With Campbell being older, but still young enough to mold into a well-behaved citizen that suits our lifestyle, he’s the perfect match. Really, we don’t think that having a baby and another dog is going to be all that challenging. Campbell is an amazing listener already too; we’re still working on “Come”, but he already knows “Wait” and “Leave it”, which is HUGE since he’s a hungry little guy who LOVES food. We’re also crating him while I’m at work and at night, so that’s a big help. He’s already putting himself to bed at night when he’s had enough of us!

And I know what a lot of you are thinking – “Why on earth would you want a pit bull? They’re mean!” Well, no, they’re not. When you train them correctly, they can be the nicest, calmest, and most loyal family dogs around. We want Campbell to be an ambassador for his breed, and if things keep going the way they are, he’s definitely going to be! He loves people, loves other dogs and is just a pleasure to be around. He’s melted my heart. I hate the stigma behind the breed, because the way I see it, any dog has the potential to be vicious. It’s all in how you raise and train your dog. (And for the record, we do have Campbell is doggy training lessons)

So – I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend! Tomorrow we are FINALLY getting the baby’s room painted, and I can’t wait to share photos with you!

What are your weekend plans?
What are your thoughts/options on breed-specific stigmas?

V-Day Cynic

Posted in Holidays, Kara and Kyle, Love by

I will have to say, I’m not really all for Valentine’s Day. I’m not against it, but I didn’t get all upset or depressed when Kyle and I decided not to do anything special.

So, when “V-Day” rolled around yesterday, I was happy just to wake up next to my husband, have him kiss me on the cheek and wish me a Happy Valentine’s Day. I was happy with the two of us going to my doctor’s appointment together and hearing Baby I’s heartbeat. (Which is good and strong, btw!)

I don’t know if it’s because I spent 5 years working in customer service where I watched frantic men buying over-priced cards, flowers ($30 for a dozen roses!), and chocolates for their loved ones, but I’ve always thought it was hilarious and marginally pathetic when they came into the store right before closing time only to find a beaten-up bunch of carnations.

I’m not one for public displays of affection, mostly because I embarrass easily, sweat and turn an awful shade of red when all eyes are on me. Flowers delivered to work are my biggest fear.

I think I got nauseous every time I seen someone write “I have the best husband/boyfriend/fiance in the world!” on Facebook/Twitter yesterday. Yeah, you and 1,000,000 other women in the world!

Yes, you can safely say that I was quite the Valentine’s Day cynic yesterday. I was 100% okay with Kyle and I just enjoying our evening together making dinner and cookies. I was looking forward to it!

And then? Then I came home from work and Kyle told me to go look in a drawer because he said he bought cool new headphones for his iPod. Because it’s ridiculously easy for him to fool me, I believed him, only to find this:

His excuse? He couldn’t go through our first Valentine’s Day married together and not do something nice for me. I cried.

So I guess that makes me a cynical hypocrite, because I can’t wait to go for my massage.

It still doesn’t make me a sucker for Valentine’s Day though ;)

How did you celebrate, if you did?

Alone at Midnight

Posted in Holidays, Kara and Kyle by

Via Pinterest

For the first time since we started dating, Kyle and I will be spending New Year’s Eve apart.

With his 4×4 shift work, NYE is his first night shift, so while he’s working away to bring home the bacon, I’ll be celebrating with friends at a dinner/dance party here in town. I know I won’t be alone alone, but there’s something about not having your significant other with you at midnight that just makes me feel a little down inside.

Everyone else I’ll be with will have their boy or girlfriend with them, so midnight is the time of night I’m not particularly looking forward to. The traditional “midnight” kiss will be full of awkwardness as everyone around me makes out. Making it even more awkward will be the fact that I’ll also be stone-cold sober for the first NYE for as long as I can remember as well. Nope, I can’t even drink away the awkwardness.

I even think the guy who I bought my ticket from over the phone felt bad for me. When he told me the final price for a paid of tickets I had to correct him and let him know I was only buying one ticket. The response to that was a long pause and, “Ooooh …. okay.” Thanks buddy.

Of course – there are some perks to being alone, pregnant and sober on NYE. For one – it will be a hell of a lot cheaper! No booze = No ridiculous bar tab, and I won’t have to pay for a cab ride home. It will also give me a great excuse to just sit and people watch for parts of the evening instead of killing my legs and feet dancing all night (“Not feeling well, the baby didn’t seem to like dinner too much!”).

In the end though – I really don’t mind being the only sober and alone one out of the bunch. I’ll get to come home shortly after midnight to my own house and be greeted by my lovable dog and Kyle will be home in a matter of a few hours. Really, being apart from my husband during holidays and events like NYE will make me love and appreciate him more. He sacrifices holidays so we can live comfortably. After all – we have a lifetime of NYE’s ahead of us.

Have you been apart from your significant other during the holidays? How did you deal?
What are you NYE plans? Having a low-key night or are you going out with friends?