dbarron, I think you were harsh too. I think it's a far more responsible pet owner who gets a dog and realizes that they are in over their head and find him a new home, than one who keeps the dog but ends up confining it because they are in over their head. While it's easy for an outsider to say "Just put in more time", that's easier said than done with two young kinds and a baby on the way. It doesn't sound like DH is on board with helping with training, which makes it even harder for the OP. Unless you've had a puppy, you don't necessarily know how much time and effort it will take. It sounds to me like the OP doesn't have a lot of dog experience, much less puppy experience. She expected her 4-month-old puppy to come when called - and didn't have a plan to enforce that command. To me, that suggests that she isn't sure how to actually teach commands to the dog, and that she doesn't have realistic expectations. OP, this is not a slam to you AT ALL - there's no shame in not knowing stuff. I'm suggesting to others on this thread that keeping this dog, at this time, is not in anyone's best interests. We got a Cardigan Welsh Corgi puppy when our twins were 7 years old. We waited until they were that old, because we knew that the pup would require a significant amount of time, not on our schedule, but on his. By that age, the children were able to assist with his training, Because of his strong herding instinct, the first thing he needed to learn was to not herd the children, and that would have been difficult if they had been a lot younger. I completely agree with handymac that a different breed would be a better fit for the OP's family, and an adult dog would be even better. But I would wait until the baby is a couple of years old before taking on a dog. OP, I'm really glad you fond a good home for your poodle!

busybee, I know what you mean, but I made the photos lighter. At night, when using the dining room, the vibe is still mysterious. I just couldn't torture my dh any longer with the thought of a shag rug in the dining room. He only worried about if someone spilled something in it, how would we know?... I did try some other darker rugs, with a deep purple in them. But they just weighed the room down making it feel too dark, which is fine, but during the day having a room that at a quick glance looks like a dark cave isn't such a good thing. This really works for me because the wood floors were dark so I knew it needed to go lighter. java--I do know. I've emailed with the seller....asked if he would at least drive it to this side of the George Washington Bridge because that bridge makes me want to stop the car and jump off in the middle! It is so nuts. He said he could do that! I keep casually talking about the desk to my hubby, telling him of my email exchange with the seller, I'm waiting for the perfect opportunity to say "LET'S GET IT".

My son's room when he was a toddler also had a chair rail. We painted the bottom a medium mossy green and the top of the wall a pale sky blue. The chair rail was painted the green color as well. Using the chair rail as a kind of border, I stenciled ferns, ladybugs, lizards, snakes, butterflies, etc. to evoke a rainforest. It was very sweet and easily done. And of course stencils are so easy to paint over when they grow up. It was great for him because he loved rainforests. I agree with the above post -tailor it toward your son's interests.

Thanks Oceanna for all your hard work! Can't wait to check all these out. tina