Here's the problem

As you may or may not have heard, we're getting a puppy in two weeks.  It was one of those things that Mark and I have talked about for years now (ever since we were dating, really) and we were always waiting for the 'right time.'  Well, you know how it is... it's never the "perfect" time, but an opportunity presented itself a couple of weeks ago, and after some "should we's?" and "What are we thinking's?" we decided to go ahead with it.  So here's the newest addition to the DeLuca household:

Isn't she sweet??  I have to say, after my initial reservations about getting a puppy, I'm really excited.  As in, really excited.  As in, I want to hop in the car and go get her right now.  And I've spent the last few days doing research and creating lists.  Ahem. She's currently in Indiana and under the ward of an awesome organization called Lucky Lab Rescue. Our cousins Tom and Jen adopted their dog Bella from them and speak very highly about this organization and the adoption process. And, of course, their Bella is the sweetest little thing. It kind of made the decision a no-brainer for us. But back to our little sweetie, she's currently 7 1/2 weeks old.  Her mom is Lab/Border Collie and her dad is purebred Lab.  We're still thinking about names (her name right now is Stella, but with Tom and Jen's Bella and my brother Mike's chocolate Lab Bella, two Bellas and a Stella may a little too confusing).  So far, we're really feeling drawn to the name "Bailey."

Anyway, we explained to the kids about the puppy and what it'll mean, including that she's just a baby and we'll need to be patient and gentle with her and not leave our toys on the floor, because she doesn't know any better.  And we're a little worried about how Sadie (our almost 8 year old cat) will react - although, I must say, since we switched to a different cat food she's a lot calmer and less neurotic, so she may surprise us.

But what really cracked me up this evening was peeking into Matt's room as I was getting the kids ready for bed and over-hearing him giving a pep-talk to Sadie, who was sitting on the floor next to his bed:

"Now Sadie, here's the problem. We're getting a new puppy in two weeks.  And she might want to chase you because dogs chase cats sometimes.  But I'll make a new rule: No dogs under the bed.  So if the puppy starts to chase you, you can run under my bed and the puppy won't get you.  Okay?"

Matt had no idea that I was standing there listening to this conversation as it was taking place.  If you could have seen the grave expression on his face and the equally bored look on Sadie's face... well, it was priceless.