March 2009 - 8 months old!!

Oh, goodness, I have been SO busy that I haven't posted anything for quite a while! I will let you know what I've been doing (besides sleeping and growing!) and put a lot of new pictures. I hope you'll enjoy them! I'm afraid they are out of order. I'm still learning about this blogging!

I got to stay with my Thomas family while my Mom B went to Kansas City. It was fun to visit their friends and family and go to church with them. I sure get a lot of love when I'm with them!! I don't have any pictures from them, but I bet they have a bunch if you will ask them.

The first pictures are really the latest ones! We had our puppy Mall Madness Meeting in March. That's always a lot of fun because we get to have people score us on what we do. I was the youngest pup there, but I won the contest! I guess part of it was because I got to go through the stores the day before so my mom could get everything set up, but it's mostly because I'm just a great pup! My mom's friends, the Mehaffeys (shown below) call me Saint Sam. I guess they're right!

I got LOTS of hugs - that was cool!

The first time I saw the headless people in front of Hollister I was a little concerned! My mom showed me they were harmless so I was OK. This guy and gal wanted to come out and have a picture made with me. I guess maybe I shouldn't have kissed the girl on her chest, but she laughed so I didn't get in trouble!

Mom went to Hilton Head for a week with friends from Wake Forest and couldn't take me. I can't understand why! I didn't mind, though, because Bethany took good care of me. I got to go to work with her at the Celebrations! party store and met a lot of cool people there - like Miss Liberty

and the Three Stooges and even Elvis!

I even played with Mickey Mouse and this silly Smiley Face balloon!

We had a lot of birthdays in the Bagwell family - five in January and February and one in March! That was good because we all got together in Charlotte and I got to play with the grandson, Mahlon, some more. He loves me and I let him do anything he wants because I think he's funny.

Steve Obremski (who works for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind), his dog, Joe, Mom and I went to record a radio interview. It was a lot of fun! It was to encourage people to become involved in helping provide guide dogs to deserving individuals.

Too bad it wasn't a television interview - I look good, don't I?!

All of us guide pups went to the WNC Agility Trials in January. That was a LOT of fun. I enjoyed watching those dogs run and jump - but it looked like a lot of work to me. I prefer sitting up in the stands and having someone rub my ears!

Well, that's all for now! More later!!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from SAM!!

It was a lot of fun getting ready for Christmas! We put up lots of lights and a tree - how cool! I didn't try to get any of the ornaments or even get into the packages that had fudge. I'm SO good!
Mom put the reindeer antlers on me. I felt kind of dumb, but I put up with it anyway.
We also went to the parade in Weaverville. Deacon had to wear the antlers that time. He's used to it and didn't complain. I didn't tell him I thought he looked silly, but I was really glad I just had to wear the bells around my neck. That wasn't too bad - and look how handsome I am!
Steve and his guide dog, Joe and I (and Mom B, of course) went to West Buncombe Elementary School and spoke to 100 3rd graders! It was the last hour before they left for Christmas vacation and the teachers were really happy we were there to entertain them. They couldn't believe how quiet they were and how well they sat! I got lots of loving - and a good nap! It was a good time!














We also had the Christmas party at my mom's office for all of the other puppies that are in the guide dog program. (We let their parents come, too, since most of the pups are too young to drive!) Steve was there with Joe so everyone could see how a real guide dog must act. First they had to play a game that asked questions about raising a guide dog. Some of them called it a test but Mom B insisted it was a GAME because there were prizes! You can see my legs where I'm lying under Mom T's chair.
It was fun to watch some of the people get their food and eat with blindfolds on. I think they did too well because I didn't see any good treats on the floor - darn!The best thing of all was that I got to spend the time with Mom and Dad T, Stephanie and Andrew. I gave them a couple of presents and they took a picture with me in front of the Christmas tree. I think we all look pretty good, even though the flash always reflects off my eyes. My dad's not such a great photographer, but I think he got some with their camera, too, so you might have gotten one on a Christmas card. I hope I was smiling!

Christmas day was really great! We had Christmas at our house with Josh, Bethany and Mom & Dad B. I wanted to eat the wrapping, but Mom B always took it away before I could finish it. RATS!

Fortunately, Bethany gave me my very own toy! I LOVE it! Unfortunately, Mom B always keeps an eye on me when I'm playing with it so I can't tear it up and eat it. I can't get by with much with her! Now she says that since it isn't approved, she will have to take it away. *sigh* She's leaving the picture, though, since I'm SO cute and you'll know that this kind of toy can be dangerous.After Christmas at our house, we drove to Charlotte for Christmas with Mom B's family. I got MORE belly rubs - yippee - and was so good everyone loved me!

Then we went to the grandson's house and had Christmas with his family. That was the best part of all! He really loved me and I let him sit on me, play with my lips, and fall over me. I licked his fingers (they tasted like broccoli and cheese casserole - yum!) He thought it was all a lot of fun and laughed and laughed! I didn't even mind when he bit me on the nose! (He didn't bite down hard!)

After all of that playing, I was tired and ready for a good nap!
Not long after that we drove home. What a wonderful day!

Yesterday my mom took me for a nice long walk through Weaverville. We hadn't gone in a long time because it has been too cold, but she thought it would be nice yesterday. We didn't take Deacon, because last time I was too slow and she got frustrated. She was thrilled when I walked briskly the whole time. I guess I'm growing up, huh?! It was a lot of fun and next time we'll get Deacon to go with us. Hooray!

Well, I better go take another nap. I need to rest up and grow so I can be ready for a whole new year of learning how to be the best guide dog ever! Say a prayer that I will be able to change someone's life!
SAM

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hi, friends! I wanted to wish all of you a happy Thanksgiving and hope that you will be having a wonderful holiday season as we prepare to celebrate the birthday of Jesus! I continue to amaze my family with how good I am. If my mom says, "Stay," I'm content to do just that! We went to her parents' house for Thanksgiving and had a wonderful time visiting with the family - especially her grandson. He liked me because I didn't get real excited and scare him. His dad was sitting right beside me and didn't even know I was there for about twenty minutes! I'm such a good dog!!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

I think I have finally taught my mom that she has to slow down when we walk. If she will just go a normal pace, I will lead her and all will go smoothly. If she tries to go too fast, I just stop and look at her. She's finally catching on! Her kids have been trying to teach her to walk more slowly for 28 years, but they just didn't know that they needed to stop and refuse to keep up. They think I'm wonderful! (She, however, still has hopes that I will learn to speed up and go what she considers the right speed - very, very fast! We'll see!!)

Stay in touch!!

Its SNOWING!!!!

I had to write you a short note and tell you about the fun I had yesterday! My mom and dad took Deacon and me for a hike up to the cabin that some family members are buying in Barnardsville. It's always a lot of fun to go up there, but yesterday was the best ever because there was about two inches of cold, wet, white stuff on the ground! Mom says it's called "snow!" I wasn't sure about it at first, but it didn't take me long to realize that it was a lot of fun. Not only did it make everything look really pretty, but you could stick your nose in it and eat it, or dig underneath it or just roll around in it. Deacon and I had a lot of fun!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Today I'm catching up on my sleep at work. I got kind of bored a little while ago, so I entertained myself as I usually do. A lot of times I fall asleep while I'm playing. Life is exhausting for a puppy!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

This afternoon I get to go stay with the Thomas family for the rest of the week. LIFE IS GOOD!!