Baby Due on June 29th. Sorry Bear.

Sorry Bear. In five months from today you'll be relegated to second-class status in the Hare-household. It's been a nice 4-year run for the Bear, but all good eras come to an end at some point. More actual baby stuff will follow along with ultrasounds, baby thoughts and hopefully some musings from the mother to be. However in the meantime, I give you my top 5 memories of our first child.

5. The day he was dropped off at our house (rescue dog). Obviously it was very exciting for us. However, because we didn't expect for him to be left with us, we had no dog stuff. The dude that dropped him off left a leash and collar so we could walk him, but no food, toys, etc. Jill went out to buy the essentials and I decided I'd take the new dog for a walk. We made it about 1/4 of a mile when he decided to lay down in the yard we were walking past. Wouldn't move. At all. I had to carry the dog home. Guess the poor guy was upset about being with the umpteenth family in a few short years.

4. Bear peed on me. Yep. We were away for the weekend with some friends at a house in North Georgia. There was a stream in back and we were throwing the ball in so the dogs could get some swimming in. Well, it was freezing out and bear was spooked. So the last time he got out of the water, he pulled up next to my leg and let loose. Thanks Bear.

3. Howling. This isn't as much a specific moment as much as it's my favorite trait. You may or may not know that our home just happens to be situated near of the most well-traveled rail-lines in the ATL. Well, there's a bit of hound in our fine animal and every time there's a train whistle, we get treated to a little solo from the dog. He's a soprano for those of the musical persuasion.

2. Canoeing with Bear and Lucy. The advent of Bear's life jacket. We "Shot the Hooch" with another couple and their yellow lab (Bear's girlfriend, Lucy). Probably the best time that bear has ever had. Took to the water like a duck and didn't get tired until that evening when he was out like a light. We've tried to recreate the experience with varied results (salt water and bear do not mix very well), but this was the most fun.

1. Bear's break-in. For a while there, about two years ago, we kept coming home to complete silence. A bit weird for us as typically we get home and the dog goes crazy with excitement. Whenever we'd get home and it was quiet, inevitably the dog would be in the guest bedroom behind a closed door. This happened for a while - he wouldn't do it every time, but enough to where it was annoying. We tried locking the doors, but that didn't stop him either. So, we did what any curious people would do - videotaped our dog when we left. The video is in real time, so we didn't cut anything out. This is really what he did the moment we left the house.



(The action is at the 2:00, 3:20 and 5:00 marks for the impatient.)