Two sleeps....

Oliver's crate with a cosy bed (and lots of newspaper!) is ready in the corner of our living room, his bowls are washed and in the kitchen, thanks to 'buy one get one free' offers on the food he's been having with his breeder, I have about 60 days of food for him. The car is booked for collecting him on Wednesday and the weather forecast even looks kind for us. After getting to grips with annual versus life and cover capped per year or per condition... and after reeling over the expense of some of the policies, Oliver is insured. He has his second vaccination tomorrow, before we collect him, but we have an appointment with our vet next week to familiarise him and discuss his care. We're ready and William, Hope and Ellie are counting down the hours! I'm looking forward to Wednesday too but with a few nerves about the huge task I'm about to undertake. I've been exchanging tweets with a fellow journalist who is also about to get a puppy. We've been likening the time gap between choosing a puppy and bringing him home to the end stages in pregnancy. Like those final weeks before a baby is born, we've both been full of excitement but I feel a bit like the end of a first pregnancy now when you begin to worry about your ability to take care of a precious new life. As I did when Hope was born, I'm turning to books and those more experienced than me and I know I'll do OK. Nerves are good I think. They show I care and that I'm not naive about the difference Oliver will make to my life. It will enhance all of our lives, not just William's, but it is a new responsibility for me, all be it one that I welcome with open arms.