Julie

10/22/08
Dear Ann,

I just wanted to report to you that Julie and I are doing just great. This sweet little thing will not leave my side.
But, the best is how she loves to cuddle at night on the couch. This goes on for HOURS! Then, off to bed we trot
and snuggle a little more. She will, literally, sleep with her head on my chest or shoulder as long as I will let her.

Today, she is starting to get a little personality back. She has easily been prompted to play and, this evening,
decided that she needed to show off for me on a romp around the coffee table, through the kitchen - demostrating how she
knows the whole herding game. (What a delight!)

Yesterday, she stayed safely in the confines of the kitchen and didn't seem to attempt to break the
"barriers" I set for her. Today, however, she showed a little more confidence and desire for exploring. I
came home at lunch and found that she had "moved" the largest box I positioned, but no evidence of an
exploration. This evening, she decided to test it again and decided that the bathroom garbage was very interesting.
But, she tore up nothing. (I'm gonna have to get more creative tomorrow, as I see her confidence growing.) She
doesn't seem to exhibit any anxiety about my leaving for work, but I can see her personality is gaining spirit. I
guess adoption day is just a hard and tiring day :)

As I write you, she is laying quietly by my feet...sometimes when I'm at the computer, she decides
to venture onto one of the big reading chairs, carefully navigating without hurting anything.

I'm absolutely in love with her already!!

She's very obedient about going outside and pretty quickly coming back. If I think she's lingered to long,
"treat" certainly does the trick!

Tonight, we've been learning how to play ball. She kind of knows, but gets confused about how to keep it going.
She likes to play, however, and I think she's catching on to how she must bring it back. She absolutely adores praise.

Ann, we're having so much fun . Oh, and she loves bed! After we go out in the morning, she returns upstairs with me
and lays in bed as I get ready for work. (Gosh, it's hard to get ready because I just want to pet her for being
so well-behaved.)

She will still not let us take her picture...something about it makes her very worried and negative. I will send
pics as soon as we "overcome" this issue. I think she's already started trusting me.

Gotta run now, don't like wasting time in the evening since it's my best time with her.

Love ya and God bless for picking such a little angel for me. I think she's pretty happy...and I know I am already.

Ava