While I haven’t previously formally announced it, we adopted a rescue pup the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
You might be wondering why we chose to do that. Yes, Jack is fine and still kickin’ it at 10.5 yrs old. But when you ask your husband a question like this:
“Are you SURE we are done having kids?”
You get an answer like this:
“Hell yes we’re done! If you want another baby, go get a dog instead.”
So then when you start searching local rescue groups and meet a few pups, you end up bringing one home.
And then you have to name said pup.
And you want to use a girl name you loved but could never use on a human child since it would be obnoxiously-rhymey when paired with your last name and cause collective eye rolls everywhere.
And then your husband goes and gets a truly girly idea and is surprised at the reaction.
- – - – - -
Craig: OK, so we need to come up with a different story about how we named Tessa Belle.
Me: We do?
Craig: Yes.
Me: Why? How could we need to change the story of how we named the dog?
Craig: Because every time I’ve told someone our new pup is named ‘Tessa Belle’, they say, “Awww! The girls chose a really cute name for her!”
Me: And that surprises you? No man would say we needed to change a dog’s name from “Tess” to “Tessa BELLE”.
Craig: But I figured this way you could fit her into your blog without changing its name. Cuz now you have 2 Belles, a Bean and a Chicago Dog.
Me: You seriously were thinking about my blog when you chose that name?
Craig: Yes.
Me: Wow. I just…wow.
{pause}
Me: That’s pretty cute of you.
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{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }
I LOVE HER! And I love her name. We kept Jacque’s name when we adopted him because he came from Louisiana, so we just declared him Cajun. Of course we are deep in the NH backwoods and everyone here pronounces his name “Shock”.
So…you have a furry Howard Stern? (Shock Jacque)
Oh Liz. you kill me.
I’m having the itch for a 3rd dog here. I’m a glutton for punishment because I keep going on Petfinder and making myself miserable. Is Tessa the name that was rhymey with your last name? I don’t think it would have been bad. Maybe just a lot of S’s.
Well, Tess. I really love that name for a girl, but couldn’t bear to name a child “Tess JosTES”.
Aw, that’s so sweet and cutesy and unexpected!!
He totally caught me off guard.
This is pretty cute. And so is your pup. I’m loving her ears!
Her ears give her so much personality!
What a great husband moment! That puppy is ridiculously cute. I’m sending this to my husband to reinforce my *hint* that I’d like to be surprised some day by a dog coming into my room in the morning when I least expect it. I’ve been saying it for about 7 years and I just really want to drive the point home.
That’s hilarious! He definitely gets blogging.
No dog here yet, but my boys have picked the girliest names like Cupcake and Sprinkles for this dog they assume is going to show up at any minute. I crack up thinking of my husband with such a girly dog.
It’s pretty funny to hear that 3 boys are choosing those types of names for a future dog!
Not dorky in the LEAST. AT least your husband cares that you have a blog
That’s incredibly, incredibly sweet.
You are incredibly kind. I’m surprised more people aren’t making fun of him for his surprise at the girly nature of the name he chose.
I, honestly, was expecting something along the lines of Denis Leary’s bit about naming a dog “Pongo.”
As I read your posts via email most of the time, I had to pop over to comment!
That Craig….he’s a keeper.
My question is, when is he starting his blog??
I know, right? He could share his wisdoms with the world.
In fact, just yesterday he was whining that he needs to buy a new belt that matches these new shoes he won on eBay.
I would love to see a blog from him!!
Now it makes sense. I think it’s very sweet of him. And she is super cute!
Aaaah, he wuvs you sooooo much. Yes, that was completely adorkable.
In my family our animals MOSTLY had human names. But when I got with Adonis, I brought home a cat and to make up for the fact I sprung this new pet on him I let him name him. He called him Cricket. Who names a damn cat Cricket? So no, when we get my third-child-replacement dog, Adonis will not be on the naming committee.
Um, yes. Big strike against Adonis for that.
There’s a bit of German Shepherd in that pup, no? Uber cute.
Love the story behind the name. Love!!!
Awwww very cute!
Do we have a I heart Craig fanclub yet? I’m happy to be the charter member. : )
Aw Craig major brownie points!!
Tessa Belle is extremely cute…I think he pulled the “I was just thinking about your blog” straight out of his patookis to save face.
I think you may be onto something, Dana.
That’s too funny!! Is it terrible that I can barely remember how we arrived at our dog’s name? Um, the one we got six months ago??
I DO remember we spelled it with a y because all of us have ys in our name. Not intentionally, just happened..
I would have guessed the girls named her too
Hey now that’s a good husband!
Cute pup too!
I guess that means I have a dog named Lydia in my future.
That is cute. And surprising!
After reading all of your posts about Craig I’m not sure that I’m all that surprised that he named the dog… although I would have thought that the girls would want to help name her too.
Still cute dog & cute name!
Too funny (and sweet too). You have a good man!
What a sweet story & what a good guy! And an adorable name.
That is so sweet!
I love Craig.
p.s. Please tell me he was shaving his legs when he suggested Tessa Belle…
XO
Oh Craig….
Wow Craig! Way to show up the other husbands.
Does she sleep on Craig’s side of the bed too?
She’s still in her crate. We need Jack to have some semblance of being important.
What a sweet man to think of your blog!!
And that puppy is adorable, does jack get along with her?
That’s so sweet!
{Seriously so, so sweet!}
You married the right man.
xo
He’s a keeper and I love the name!
Such a cute name. When we got Dumb Dog, Dumb Dad said we should name her Blog, so I could call her Blog Dog. That’s pretty much the only time he’s ever thought of the blog ever.
I LOVE naming dogs. And I think it’s a perfect chance to use those human names that either 1) Don’t work with your last name for whatever reason 2) Have obvious qualities that would result in your human child being ridiculed by other children or 3) Might make your daughter sound like a stripper. I also like old-fashioned (“porch-sitter”) names for dogs: Edna, Harriet, Norbert, Walter.
Awwwwwwwww, Craig! That was a very nice hubby moment he had there. He seriously needs to start up his own blog, that one!
I also love what he’s done with the name of your blog :p
What a sweet little pup! My parents recently adopted a 2-3 year old schnauzer and finally settled on a name last night. I think they’re calling him Pedro, after Pedro Almodovar, their favorite director. It’s cute (and way better than Mouse. Seriously?!)
I missed this post somehow (who am I kidding – I’ve missed a lot lately – cannot keep up!!). But anyway, that’s an awesome story. And an awesome dog. I love her!
She is adorable!
The dog naming story is so sweet!