Oliver Cromwell (a.k.a. Ollie)

Meet Oliver Cromwell, more affectionately known as "Ollie".



He's the newest edition to the family. Since I've already given birth to four babies and know how expensive and time consuming human children are, I decided the only way I'd bring another being into the family is if he didn't require a nine month pregnancy or to be taught his abc's.



So, enter Oliver. Ollie is half maltese, half min pin (just look at that cute stubby, little min pin tail and beautiful maltese eyes). He's what they call a malti-pin. He's a sweet guy that is so loving, but he really needs to be socialized since he was basically a shut-in with his previous owner. He was left alone all day and never got out of the house except to his owner's apartment balcony. Sad, right?

We take him to our neighborhood bog nearly everyday. And he loves it. See here...



Ollie is adored by all the kids, even Adam.



But don't be fooled...



Even though it appears Adam is just loving on Ollie here, do you see how he's holding Ollie's face? Yeah, he's a little rough on the poor doggie, but Oliver just deals with it. Adam is the baby human of the family and we have seen some jealousy over the attention his furry little brother is receiving. I have to keep a close eye when Adam plays with Ollie, that's for sure. But I'm not too worried, I'm sure the love/hate relationship between them will eventually soften to love/love.

Oh, and the name? No, I didn't name him Oliver Cromwell because I have a particular affinity for 17th century British puritans who violently overturn their government. Nope. The name came courtesy of Monty Python. They wrote a song called Oliver Cromwell that I used to listen to in high school (and it actually helped me during my European history class, as did Monty Python's Galaxy Song help me in a science class. Their song Medical Love Song could probably help in sex ed too). Our dog did not start off with the surname of Cromwell, but every time I said his name, I sang the song in my mind. I'd hear John Cleese's posh voice singing of the Lord Protector of England. So, he has become our own little Ollie Cromwell.

My favorite line from the Monty Python tune is - "The most interesting thing about King Charles the First is that he was 5 foot 6 inches tall at the start of his reign, but only 4 foot 8 inches tall at the end of it. Because of.....Oliver Cromwell"

Though I'm sure our little Cromwell won't be so blood-thirsty as to desire anyone's beheading, I'm thinking that if Adam doesn't back off a bit, Ollie just may display some of his namesake's tendencies.

So far, though, so good.