Meet our puppy.

Okay, we haven't met her yet, either, but we've found her--our red, smooth, miniature dachshund. She's lives with her mother and six littermates in Garrettsville, Ohio, which is more or less on our way to Beavercreek, our new home. We're going to pick her up on our way there, when she is 11 weeks old. Right now she is 2 weeks old. This photo of our pup and one of her sisters was taken when she was 5 days old.

Here's also a photo of her mother, Chloe (the light red in the grass), and her father, Elliot. The breeder is a lovely person, she breeds just a few dogs very responsibly, she also rescues animals and is just generally very good to her dogs. Chloe whelped in her living room and lives there now with her pups, where she can keep an eye on them.

It's been a journey to find a breeder I like. One who doesn't have so many dogs that they couldn't possibly be really cared for, nor a "show breeder," who keeps puppies for six months, and then if one doesn't seem to be just perfect for the show ring, she'll sell it for $1000 or more. I wanted someone who breeds pets, but well and responsibly, and happened to have a red smooth available this summer. We finally found her. It feels perfect.

I can hardly wait to get my hands on that little ball of fur.

Her name? Maybe it is Betsy, named after the wonderful, inventive, creative, and daring heroine living an ideal childhood in the Betsy-Tacy series of books. The kids and I are completely sold on this name, and Justin is perhaps warming up to it. Stay tuned.