Pet-Sitting Reward

Brian dropped Max off around 9 AM and mentioned that Max was really tired since they had gone for a walk. He wasn't kidding!

When he wasn't napping, he was lazily sprawled out like this for most of the time. Except for the one time he snuck into the bedroom and almost chomped on my lamb stuffed animal. I had strategically placed all of my stuffed animals in the middle of my bed but left Lamb Chops on my chair. He thought I wasn't watching him so he got on his hind legs and was about to chomp down when I caught him in the act. It must be so hard for him to resist the temptations. He LOVES stuffed animals...especially the ones that squeak. The dog goes bonkers with squeakers.

Yesterday, Max didn't take any naps, which was unusual. I think it was b/c he probably slept through most of the hot morning until I picked him up around 1:30 PM so he was all energized while he was with Hubby and me.

He must have had sympathy pains for me today. I only got about 3 hours of unrestful sleep last night thanks to some poor decision-making -- I had caffeine late in the day, had an intense and long workout late in the day, and going to bed hungry (even though I ate a late dinner). So I got up around 3 AM, tossed and turned for a while, ate a snack (which is reminiscent of my Dad! He used to do this mid-night snacking all the time!), and started reading The Verbal Behavior Approach by Mary Lynch Barbera. By 6:30 AM, I was halfway through! I was so proud of myself! I don't know what it is, but I just don't read books. I joke that I have undiagnosed ADD, but truthfully, I'd rather surf the internet than read a book. I also meant to read this book before I start work next week so high five to myself because it looks like it's going to happen!

Anywho, there were two best parts of pet-sitting Max today. First, I got to nap with Max for the first time! Hubby let me take a nap with Max on our sofa. :) He's the perfect size, not too big and not too little. He had his head resting on the pillow, too, while I held him and we napped for half an hour.

The other best part? FBIL came to pick Max up earlier than I expected, and he had a huge box of ridonkulously delicious treats from Angel Maid Bakery for us!


I felt like I was back in Rome when I was double-fisting the cookie and ice-cream cone. After dinner, I walked out of the kitchen with a cream puff in one hand and the tiramisu in the other hand. MmMMmMmMMMMm! Thanks Brian!

Love the Hello Kitty cookie! I'll probably save it for last because it's almost too cute to eat!

Max meets Rose, Mango, and 2 sea otters

As Bro soaks up the rays under the sweet Hawaiian sun with Dr. Cousin and Attorney Cousin, I started pet-sitting Max today.

Unfortunately, I picked him up a little late today. Thankfully, he didn't experience heat-stroke or anything. I brought him back to our place and this time, he didn't take any naps (that was a first). With every visit, he gets more and more comfortable.

Today, he crept into our bedroom several times. Unfortunately, our bedroom door doesn't stay tightly shut so with a little nudge from a moist nose, he can mosey on in. Earlier, I caught him staring at my Hello Kitty for like 2 minutes before I broke his focus. Another time, he got within a few inches of my sea turtle, Mango, before I caught him. The last time, he got to the other side of our bed and was about to pounce on my sea otters!

I guess it doesn't help that our mattress is on the floor right now so my stuffed animals are within his eye-level...(Note: I'm planning to buy a platform bed frame for our new mattress when I get my first paycheck in a few weeks!)

Before he left, he sat in my lap while I sat in a dining chair, and he stared at my turtle for practically 5 minutes. He was so intent on figuring out what she was that a few times, he almost fell out of my lap. My turtle was asleep so she didn't move at all. A few moments later, I got up so he was on the floor. Lil F started moving in her tank and Max kept getting on his hindlegs and scratching the tank stand to catch a glimpse of my 3-pound green mass.

We'll see what adventures he gets into tomorrow...!

Visiting Max

Hubby keeps teasing me, saying that I don't have to make excuses to go to my brother's to see Max. Brother is now onto me, too. On Saturday, Bro said, "You can stop by tomorrow to see Max." I said, "Gosh, I don't only come over just to see Max. What if I just want to see you?" He said, "Liar!"

=X

Today, I had a very legitimate excuse. I had to drop off some Filipino spaghetti that Hubby made and pick-up half of a J.J.'s Bakery neapolitan cake. :)

Not that an excuse was needed. Brother left to go camping yesterday, and since Max would be alone all day with FBIL working long hours, I stopped by after work to check on him. I managed to catch a few candid shots of the pound puppy.



I <3 Max!

Dog Walker

I called my bro up around lunch time to see how he was doing. Unfortunately, he's been really sick since yesterday so I asked if he needed anything since I was stopping by the market. He asked me to pick up some stuff...and to come by to play with Max since he hasn't been able to all day.

When I got to my bro's, Max and Ella, their downstair neighbor's adorable doggy, greeted me in the backyard. All 3 of us when upstairs to find my bro sprawled on the couch in his PJs. Poor guy! He was so sick so I just made sparse conversation, played with Maxwell, and then washed their dishes despite my brother telling me like 5 times that I don't need to. (For some reason, a sinkful of dishes drive me nuts. I think it's largely due to my Gramma's upbringing.) By the time I finished, my bro had fallen asleep again so I took Maxwell on my first walk alone with him. We didn't get too far b/c I started getting paranoid (since I was heading south on Hauser instead of north, towards the "safer" area). We got about halfway down the long block when Max did his business. Good thing I had brought two baggies...and folks, there we have it -- my first pooper scooper experience. To top it off, Max does this kicking thing after he pees and poops so he started kicking his poop everywhere! I had to jump to get out of the way! Gross!

Aside from that incident, Max is so cute. Hubby bought Max a mallard doggy toy that he can't wait to get his paws on. (Bro didn't want me to give it to him today b/c he has "too many" toys...like two.) I love Max.

Max's Turtle

So here's Max "posing." Bro says that every time he knows his picture is being taken, he instantaneously goes from happy to sad, "puppy eyes." Since he's not very photogenic, I tried to trick him by using my iPhone camera instead. Didn't quite work...


Here's Max with his new toy turtle. I got an e-mail today from bro that said, "Yesterday, he kept looking for a place to bury his turtle...I think he loves it so much he wants to hide it. He took it outside and dug a hole and put it in it. I had to hurry and get it out and wash it. chrrr."

:)

I love Max updates!

Pampered Max

Maxwell is getting quite comfortable in his new home. Bro's been getting him situated nicely, including finding the right bed for him. This is actually his second bed, which seems to be the one. Max goes through a routine of "fluffing" his bed for a minute or two (i.e., scratching the entire area that he will flop down on) before kerplunking down. On Tuesday, Max went to Petco to get a $75 haircut + conditioning. I almost went to pick him up because I was so anxious to see his new do. He is so handsome and cute!


Maxwell has also really taken to his new toy that I got him. Of course I got him a turtle stuffed animal! When I gave it to him, he seriously had it in his mouth for a really long time and didn't want to let it go (maybe almost 10 minutes?). Bro noticed that he's really gentle with the turtle...as opposed to that pink thing (see above picture).


Max is actually really camera shy, so this is a great head shot. :)

Welcome Home, Max!

On Monday, Bro and FBIL brought home a new addition to the family. Introducing Maxwell/Maximilian Benjamin Liang-Navarro!

"Hi! I'm Max!"

Well, we call him Max for short. Mr. Handsome Max went to a grooming appointment earlier today so he will look a lot different the next time I post pictures. I hear that the groomers got rid of his nappy fur...They wanted to shave him down to 1/8 of an inch but Bro said, absolutely not! So they left it at 1/2 an inch. I was hoping to pet-sit tonight, but plans didn't follow through.

We don't quite know Max's history/story, but my bro and FBIL picked him up from an animal shelter on Overland and Venice on Monday afternoon. I met him Monday night and saw how he instantly fell in love with his new parents and home. He was recently named Benjamin but we decided that Maxwell was a more fitting name (although I'm kinda liking Maximilian). Poor baby is a bit emaciated, but in good time, he will be healthy and well.

Yay, Max! Welcome home!