We got a dog! COCOA!

Never in our wildest dreams did we think we would get a dog, especially in the foreign service!  Bri and I promised the kids that we would get a cat, a hypoallergenic cat for the sake of Bri, me, and Rhea and our allergies.  However, over the last year, we haven't been able to find one except the hairless kind that we all agree are too ugly to even look at.  ;)  

Cocoa came out of the blue.  Our friend and coworker Crystal has been fostering Cocoa for the last few months and has loved having her companionship.  She asked three girls in our apartment complex if she could hire them as dog walkers, so Rhea has been walking her on Mondays and Fridays.  In our interactions with "Wiggles," (her previous name), I may have said to her that we would think about adopting her if Crystal couldn't.  Crystal wasn't sure how the fostering was going to go and if she would be able to give her the attention and stimulation she needed, and she expressed that concern to me.  So my natural reaction was that we could possibly adopt her.  Cocoa was the sweetest, well-trained, well tempered dog that we had known in a long time.  So when Crystal approached me the day before Thanksgiving to say that she didn't think she could foster or adopt anymore, and asked if we would be willing to adopt her, my instant response was yes, but that I would need to talk to my husband and he would want to meet Cocoa.  So within hours, we met with Crystal and the dog, agreed that we wanted to adopt her, and we asked if Crystal could wait until Christmas so we could surprise our kids.  She thought that was a great idea, but then the next day in texting more with her, she asked if we could do it sooner because she didn't think she could give her up if she waited any longer.  Being a four day weekend for Briant and I, we decided to surprise the kids by picking her up and having her in our apartment to surprise the kids when they got home from school.  So while Crystal was at work, we went and got her and a few things that Crystal gave to us like her walking leash and left over food and bed. We still need to work out the adoption papers with the shelter where she came from, but it's a done deal for all intents and purposes!  We've had her for one week now and are loving her!

Isn't she beautiful?!?!  We can't get enough of her beautiful coloring.  We all decided that Wiggles wasn't a good long term name, and that she deserved a more appropriate name.  Yes, she's wiggly, but she needs a name.  I would have wanted to name her "Rolo" if I could because when I look at her, I think of a chocolate layer on the outside and caramel on the inside.  But it didn't seem to be as cute a name as Cocoa.  And we all, except Savannah who was hesitant to agree, loved the name.  So dad in his authoritative voice declared Cocoa to be her name from henceforth and forever.  :)

It's funny because we've actually had to train her that she could jump up on to the couch because she seemed hesitant to be on the furniture, including our beds.  She seems to be adjusting and enjoying it when she's in the mood.

Poor dog went from an owner that was gone all day, to having the attention of 5 people who are gone most of the day with school and work, but smother her with love and hugs the rest of the time.  No lack of attention or stimulation here!  It's been fun to see each of the kids, and Bri and I, establish a relationship with her in our own ways, and we are so excited to see how our relationships with her continue to develop.  Thomas and Savannah have come home from school after exams in the morning, so they've been home a lot more than they would be otherwise.  A good way to get Cocoa used to our home and adjust to her new home.  For now, we are loving this extra sweet spirit in our home and the joy she brings with her wiggles.  :)

We love how excited Cocoa gets when we get home from school or work!  I think that's where she got the name "Wiggles" from!  So much love wrapped up in that little body!

Today we had to give her two baths because she went outside and played with another dog named Bing Bing that has been her friend here at Kingstone.  They wrestled and ran around for more than a half hour and got totally dirty in the morning. 

We had church, and then Rhea took her out again for a walk in the afternoon and I guess they found Bing Bing again, and replayed the messy fun.  So in the tub she went again!