Cookie 3.0

It seems there are a few Cookie doppelgangers around these days. My friend, Robert, is a very crafty guy. When we first adopted Cookie, he created this felted wool replica of my baby for me as a surprise. I cherish this very special piece of art because it was given to me by such a good friend and is so unique! I keep it at my desk so that I can see my Cooks whenever I want. Want a Robert original of your own? Well, you are in luck. Robert has his own line of “artful toys and other curiosities” at www.urchincircus.com. Tell him Cookie sent you!

Pretty Girl

Today we had not one, but two dress fittings. As you can see, I put the finishing touches on Cookie’s duds, and then decided to make a tutu for her mini doppelganger that will be part of our cake-topper settings. The resemblance is striking. Cookie looks very pretty and feels quite confident in her “flower girl/ring bear” ensemble. We can’t wait to see her prancing down the aisle on April 18th!

16 Weeks and Counting

There are only 16 weeks left until Tim and I are married. Cookie told me she is excited to be the “ring bear.” Tonight I put the finishing touches on our cake toppers, which are, of course, bulldog salt-and-pepper shakers. As illustrated above, a ceramic figurine representing Cookie will be added to the second tier of the cake with a diamond ring replica. Stay tuned for updates on Cookie’s second dress fitting. The tutu complements her hourglass figure perfectly so I don’t think we will need to do many alterations. I just hope she doesn’t outshine the bride!

Happy Christmas!

This was the very best year of my life. It seems like only yesterday that Tim woke me up in the middle of the night to speak the words that would foreshadow our excellent year: “I think we should apply for Cookie.” I remember that it was 3 AM and I jumped out of bed and did a jig to express my happiness. I’m still dancin’.

Cookie had the best Christmas this year. We awoke early in our Dog Pile Den (which is something we do about once a month). We pile all our pillows and blankets and a feather bed in the living room and sleep on the floor in front of the fire with Cookie. We don’t allow her to sleep in our bed, but she allows us to sleep in hers. Hence, the living room transformation. As you can see, Cookie donned her Santa hat to get into the spirit and I placed all her presents in the middle of the room. I have never seen a more excited bulldog! She knew that the stocking was hers and promptly extracted a beautiful shiny red apple.

Pictured above is Cookie receiving a box of dog fortune cookies sent from her Gramma and Grampa who live in Michigan. Any gift that is food related is the best kind of gift for Our Girl. We spent the day lounging by the fire, chewing on Nylabones and snuggling in our new Old Navy fleece blanket. We listened to Christmas carols on the soft rock radio station and read some good magazines. All in all, it was a great day just hanging around together. Cookie hopes that everyone got to spend the day with their loved ones. Merry Christmas!

It’s a walrus, it’s a torpedo… it’s a bullrito!

When Cookie gets bundled up in her swaddling clothes we call her our little “Bullrito.”

It is very chilly outside today, but as you can see, comfy cozy are we!

It’s lovely weather for a sleigh ride together…

with Cookie! It has been unseasonably cold here in the Bay Area and we all have been donning more outerwear than usual, including Our Girl, pictured above. I snapped this picture as we were riding our “sleigh” into the city for work this week. While we didn’t get any snow, Cookie’s canine cousins, Lucy and Winston, had a field day playing in the snow up in Seattle.

Santa should recruit these well dressed bullies to guide his way tonight! All doggy couture provided by Old Navy Dog Supply.

It’s beginning to look a lot like bulldogs…

…everywhere you go! Last year my mom gave us each a calendar for Christmas with photographs of the family bulldogs, Winston and Lucy. Inscribed on the card, was that 2008 would be “the year of the bulldog”. Little did we know it really would be “the year of the bulldog” in the Fenderales household. Our greatest gift came early –  adopting our little Cookie on January 20th. I can’t believe we have known her almost a year. In celebration of our year with Cookie, I decorated our little Christmas tree in a bulldog theme accented with red and white ornaments (Cookie’s signature colors!).

Of course, all the presents under the tree are for our baby. I want her to have a great first Christmas with us so I’ve made her a personalized stocking as well. Santa might bring her an orange, an apple, a peanut butter bone and some other treats if she is nice and not naughty. Maybe a new fleece blanket and a super absorbent towel for the bath even!  She met Santa yesterday at PETCO where she got her photo taken after ingesting about ten treats. She always goes bonkers in PETCO, and this occasion was no exception. She totally trashed the “set” and I volunteered to re-tape the fake snow batting to the floor before we left.

We are looking forward to a festive holiday season. Already Cookie has been spreading cheer by sporting her Santa hat around town. People always smile when they see her, but this makes them giggle.  Cookie wishes everyone a happy, safe and healthy holiday season.