His Name is Not Noodle: The Story of a Dog

The only response you will get from MaKaty if you ask her what her doggie's name is: "His name is not Noodle." Ummmmm, OK.
No, this is not a two headed dog. There are actually two doggies in this photo. Perhaps one of them is named Noodle, and the other one is Not Noodle. We may never know. All I know is that the original doggie, given to her on her first birthday by Brandon and Heather, is an absolute necessity. So much so, that being smart parents, we procured a "back-up" from the same store. (thank-you again, Heather.) But...being not-so-smart parents, we neglected to keep back-up doggie hidden. As soon as she realized that there were two, it was necessary to have two with her, AT ALL TIMES. Thankfully, that has phased out now. Both dogs kick around the house all day long, but when it comes to nap or bed time, she is a purist. Only the original will do. And if you get confused or desperate, and try to pass off back-up doggie for original doggie...well, it's not pretty. She looks the doggie right in the eyes and says, "Where is my other-one doggie?", and promptly drops back-up doggie like a bag of rocks.

Even in the middle of the night, she will wake up crying if she can't find original doggie. Back-up doggie in arms, she will cry and cry as I fumble around in the darkness, trying to find the original. As soon as he is found and placed in her arms, she is instantly back to sleep. She carries doggie around draped over one arm, and periodically hugs him to her chest and proclaims emphatically, "I lub you." (I admit it was a little blow to the ego when I mistakenly thought she had uttered the words for me...I was quickly corrected.)

As you can imagine, a fluffy white doggie occasionally loses his fluffiness and whiteness, and needs a little trip to the "doggie salon." Those are rough days for Kate. She stands in front of the washing machine crying. She gets to move doggie from one machine to the other, and is slightly less disturbed by the drying procedure. My hunch is that it's because of the warm fluffiness straight from the dryer. She has been known to tell visitors that she is sad because "Doggie in the washing machine." Trauma, I tell you. I still shudder to think of the day he got peanut butter on his paw. Doggie is no longer allowed anywhere near the peanut butter.

And apparently doggie gets cold in the mornings. Because lately she has been insisting on bringing doggie in the mornings when we head to the bus stop. And Katy needs a jacket. And doggie needs a jacket. But Katy gets the jacket that is a little too small and not nearly so cute...but DOGGIE gets the good jacket because "it is more comfy for him."

No one will ever accuse her of being a girl without priorities...Welcome to the family, NotNoodle.