[Mom2BabyNatalie]

Hi Everyone!!

Brand new as I just found this site today, but OH the great information here!! We just love it!!

I actually fell into the forums while following another message board regarding the Guinness Book records re: different dog titles! (wow, there's quite some battle out there over the "World's Smallest"!! And some pretty nasty posts!)

I suppose I have mixed feelings about the “Smallest Dog Competition” - being a new mom of a tiny little girl myself, but I think recognition… in ANY form… can be the root of both negative and positive response.

A baby is, what a baby is… and I think that God has a hand in each one.

All that aside - - I'm Dena! My little girl is an ACA registered Yorkshire Terrier. (you'll notice I tend to ramble! ha!)

While I've never before been owned by a Yorkie, (we currently have a Border Collie mix, a Pitbull, a little rescue Havanese, rescue Shih Tzu and a Yorkie/Maltese baby! FULL HOUSE!!) I've always considered the Yorkshire as “choice” in my preference of “toys” and had been keeping my eyes and ears open for a “quality” pup, when I was contacted by a friend who had seen an ad on a local “tradio” type program.

The pup’s description sounded precious (of course, they all do) and I immediately contacted the owner, who told me that someone had already planned to come out to pick the puppy up, but her “terms” were “first come, first serve”…. (which was a big red flag - but by then I was already quite excited to meet this baby girl).

We drove as quickly as we could, the four hour drive to see what I'd hoped would become my new love….

To my amazement, it couldn't have been a more speedy “transaction”…. I had of course, expected a rather long “inquisition” by the owner to assure that we were suitable parents for her little one - and was ready with a list of questions of my own, for her.
But when we arrived, the owner was standing outside this beat up ol’ junker of a car - - a scraggly 11 week old puppy in hand - - telling her daughter to take the money and write out a receipt for the “nice lady”.

She handed me the puppy (who I could tell by the evident flea infestation, was already experiencing the effects of anemia) and the registration papers - and while I was quite shocked at the “lack of fancy” of the meeting, I couldn't resist those big, beautiful, brown eyes looking up at me………………………….. I handed over the money and scooped my little Yorkie angel up and ran about as far and fast away from there as I could get…. sweet new baby in tow - overwhelmed with excitement - and suddenly overcome by the reality that I had neglected my list of (over 30!!) questions that I had so diligently prepared in the event I found a “puppy of interest” and realized that I may have just committed myself to a very unhealthy little puppy.

Thankfully, though - - baby Natalie has been a true joy, in every sense of the word!! After vigorous medical testing, we've found her to have no health issues other than ridding her of the fleas and dealing with some hypoglycemia issues - along with the fact that she REFUSES to eat ANY type of dog food…. (Heavenly angel girls simply DO NOT break kibble with common ANIMALS!!) ::gigglin’::

So, she is now fed every 3 hours (’round the clock until she is a bit older yet), a diet of various Gerber baby foods… meats, vegetables, organic rice / oat & grain cereals and the little Gerber toddler dehydrated fruits.
As well, Natalie is partial to the boiled chicken, organic rice, peas and carrots that I prepare for her once a week.

My precious baby girl is 23 weeks old TODAY…. a delicate thing at just 24 ounces, she’s still no “World’s Smallest Dog” by her height of 5 1/2 inches and length of about 10 inches. (if I measured correctly)…. but, I don't need a record book to tell me that this beautiful dolly is one of THE BIGGEST BLESSINGS in MY WORLD!!!

Nice to “meet” you all!! Looking forward to all the wonderful tips, tricks and stories found here!

Take care of each other and your furfaces!!!

~ Dena & Natalie ~