June 2015!

The joyful announcement day has arrived; Team Kemp is growing to a family of four in June 2015. Yes, Prince, the dog, will forever be our first child albeit he's not of the human- kind. So fittingly, he took center-stage in the announcement for this year's Christmas card.

I too think it's safe to say, that he took center-stage in the Christmas card from 2013. 

Don't you agree?

 We are not too certain how Prince will adjust with sharing the limelight, but buddy doesn't have a choice. It will be nice that he'll be two-years old when the baby arrives, so hopefully he'll adjust well. Yeah, I know, we treat him like a child. Ha, he is so darn spoiled. If I could be reincarnated it would be as him. He rules the house, and he knows it.

But, back to Baby Kemp's arrival which is very exciting for both sides of our family. It will be the first grandchild for my parents and technically only; I'm an only child.

Jason's immediate older brother is pregnant with their third, due the beginning of January 2015. They currently have two boys and Kemp #3 is a surprise!

Coach Kemp and I will be learning the sex of this child at my 18 week appointment, around late January. My mother was actually surprised that I'd want to know; I was astonished by her assumption! Uhm, this lady right here is a planner. How anyone goes 9+ months willingly unknowing the sex of their child is beyond me. Though I might consider this for Baby Kemp #2, if we are so blessed. Ok, let me deliver and raise Baby Kemp #1 before anyone starts mentioning #2. I, on the other hand, can do this willingly; I'm the incubator aren't I?

Obviously the verdict is weighing heavily that Baby Kemp is a boy given the Kemp history. Jason is one of three boys, and his older brother has two boys and one TBD. My father is praying to the heavens for a healthy baby first, or so he tells me. But I know he's secretly praying to every god for a boy. I too believe Coach Kemp is in that camp with him. My mother is certain, without a shadow of a doubt, that it's a boy and my in-laws are praying for pink. My mother in law recently sent me a note with "Think Pink" scribbled in one of the pink bows, lol.

BBB followers, get ready for weekly bump updates every Wednesday!!

Michelyn

Happy Birth Day Prince Finn Kemp

Today is my little pup's first birthday! I sound like a human mom, lol, reflecting on pictures from the day we adopted him to today. I can't believe you have grown from 3lbs to 15lbs!

August 31, 2013

Unlike many things that I do in my life, we adopted Prince on a whim! Sure, Coach Kemp and I had discussed buying a dog in the coming months after our arrival to Toledo, but my internet search on a Thursday afternoon resulted in me finding your picture on the Toledo Animal Shelter website. And then he was taken home on Saturday morning, August 31st, to dog-parents who had not done much research on Pomeranians, puppies, or anything in between!

Sure I grew up with a dog, but that is not the same as raising one in your own home! Potty training for a stubborn dog, aka Prince, was not the easiest feat to be had. Luckily, we have that mastered! And, we made it through teething, although a few things did get destroyed. But all in all, I would not trade your cute little face for anything.

I often get asked about how we chose the name Prince. I had a few names in mind - Dutch (if the dog was female), Duke, and Prince. Coach Kemp detested all of those names. So once I set eyes on him, I figured Baer would be a cute name. I know many dogs his frame get that name, but I desired to spell it differently so figured that would set him apart from the rest of the pack.

While shopping, frantically, prior to picking him up, Coach Kemp stopped me in "mid-throw it in the bag" action and simply stated that he could not handle the name Baer even if we spelled it differently than Bear. See, Coach Kemp is a huge Green Bay Packers fan and could not fathom having a pet with a name anywhere similar to the Chicago Bears! So, he agreed with Prince. We later decided that was more fitting since we adopted him from a shelter, so he was the Fresh Prince of Toledo. Got to love being a kid from the 90s!!

Cheers little guy for year #1 in the books. I pray and hope for many, many more!

June 2, 2014

Michelyn

Our Newest Edition

It's been awhile... I know. Like I said, I most likely will be receiving the Worst Blogger Award for 2013. I have multiple excuses: starting a new job, painting two rooms in our house, my computer crashing, but most importantly, we got a PUPPY! Without further ado, please let me introduce you to Prince F. Kemp

The picture above is from the morning in which we rescued him from the Toledo Animal Shelter Association (TASA)! For those of you who know me, I will simply confess that the decision to get a dog did not come to fruition in typical Michelyn form. You know, months of planning, the reading of books, researching the web. Rather, on a Thursday before I began working I was pursuing the web, particularly petfinder.com, and came across a few cute puppies. I saw Finn, now Prince, as well as his two siblings posted and sent the picture to Jason while he was at work. His response was very simple: "Yes, please!" I was a little astonished. Yes, please as in you want to get the dog or what? You see, when Jason and I were first dating he was completely opposed to getting a dog. I, on the other hand, was truly longing for a dog since I had grown-up with a lhapso apso and missed that companionship and affection that small dogs can show. So, with the go ahead, I contacted the TASA and inquired into the status of the three puppies. In the meantime, I learned that we could come visit the dogs. Well, long story short, we went to TASA on Thursday once Jason got home from work, completed the application while there and were approved to rescue a dog. The catch came when we learned that there was another couple interested in Finn (now Prince) and that they would be given a deadline to complete their application. (What type of deadline, was the only thing on my mind. Uhm, I need specifics and was left with nothing!) So Friday came along and I was somewhat depressed and anxious. Were we going to get the dog? Should I begin purchasing supplies? I even went out and began price checking some essential items! Coach Kemp though I was absurd, and clearly told me to NOT purchase anything. Well, on Saturday morning we received a phone call at 9am that we could come and pick-up our puppy! See, I should have bought the pet supplies! Yikes, so we scrambled out of bed, yes it was 9am and we hadn't moved, rushed to Target and TJMaxx to buy some things and then made it to TASA by 10:15am to complete the rescue process!

Here is out little guy napping on his first doggy bed. Yea, that one was purchased from Target for only $9.99 but since has been destroyed!

That's my boy sound asleep! Yes folks, he sleeps on his back. Isn't it the cutest! LoL

But, do not let this cute face fool you! We have been to the veterinarian twice for his puppy vaccines and he is a complete drama king. Ok, I think he gets that quality from his momma! And, he despises being left alone and is quite the momma's boy like his father, Coach Kemp. I keep telling him that he's got it good since I work from home and am here 75% of the time. What would he do if I worked a 9am-5pm?

Quick Facts:

Name: Prince F. Kemp
Age: 3 months
Date of Rescue: August 31, 2012 (Ally and Kalsow's wedding day!)
Breed: Pomeranian Mix (1/2 Pomeranian, 1/4 Maltese, 1/4 Shih Tzu)
Current Weight: 5.2lbs (as of 9/13/2013 vet visit)

Michelyn