Bella is our sweet black lab. She is perfect...sometimes moody and doesn't like strangers...but, she is the perfect dog for our family. Here is Bella's story...
Brandon and I got married on October 23, 2004, Brandon started a new job at the University in September and then on November 5th, I also started a new job at the University. We moved to Ottawa in November and started our lives together there. We were stressed....newlyweds, new jobs, a new home....and although we were totally, blissfully in love and excited about our lives together, we were stressed (repeated). I wanted a dog so bad....Brandon kept saying that we didn't have the yard for a dog (we were renting a duplex, until we found the perfect home), or the time to train a dog.
But, being the new, sweet husband that he was (and still is), Brandon surprised me in early December with a little black lab. She came from a farm in Wellsville and was covered in fleas...but, oh, was she the sweetest little thing I'd ever seen! I walked in the door that night after work and there she was, with a big red ribbon on her neck, waiting to be loved and cared for. I was so happy and so excited about this new addition to our family! The months that followed were almost like having a baby- we'd alternate getting up in the bitter cold to take her out to potty in the middle of the night (we didn't have a fenced in yard at the time), we would come home from lunch and immediately after work to find her in her kennel, with her tail wagging, ready to run and play! She was our baby and such a sweet girl!!
We trained her, fed her, snuggled, and loved on her- she is our baby girl! We would come home from work and say, "Where's my Bella Girl," and she would get so excited and run around like a crazy woman! Bella learned how to ring a bell on the door when she needed to go outside, and eventually, we moved into our house (that we say we bought just for Bella), where she had her very own yard. She is a special dog...even today she completes our home and our family.
When Parker was born, Bella wasn't so sure about the new addition to our family. Every time he cried, Bella would leave the room and whimper, when Parker learned how to crawl (and could chase Bella) you could tell she was mad, but she let him do it anyways! As Parker has gotten older, Bella has become his best buddy- his girl, as Parker calls her. They lay together on the bed and watch cartoons, they play together in the basement, Parker gives her kisses (and Bella gives Parker kisses). Parker takes care of Bella and she loves on him...she even sleeps in his bed with him every night (even if he isn't here, she will sleep in his bed).
When Andrew joined our family, we weren't sure how Bella would react...but, Bella loves Andrew just as much as she loves Parker! When Andrew cries in the middle of the night, Bella is the first one down to his room and sometimes she even runs back up to our room to make sure we heard him! When I get up with Andrew in the middle of the night, she comes down with me and lays on the floor in his room (sometimes she even goes in to Parker's room to check on him). Bella has tried to kiss Andrew (she's gotten him a couple times) and when she does, Andrew loves it...he kicks his legs and smiles! Bella loves these boys and they love her!
I can't imagine our lives without our Bella Girl and I am so happy that my family has a dog that cares for us- she is OUR best friend! I love my kids and I love my husband, but there's just something about Bella that makes me feel warm and complete. Maybe it's because she joined our family when Brandon and I needed something fun and different to bring us closer together as a married couple, maybe it's because she's been with us through so many highlights in our lives, or maybe it's just because she is always there- quietly making sure that everyone in our family is safe and happy.
Yep, Bella Girl is our girl and I am so happy that Brandon brought her home that day in early December- what a difference she makes in our lives.
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