Author: Allie Zottola

Life Lately

I feel like I haven’t posted about my life lately in a while. So, here we are!

Mom and baby girl smiling

I have to say a huge thank you to everyone who commented on my post about losing Lola. It meant so much to me. We’re doing okay. I knew I would be sad when she passed, but I didn’t know I would feel this sad.

It’s like there’s a hole in our lives without her. I keep finding her fur around the house, or will accidentally think “I should walk the dogs” and then realize she’s gone. We are moving forward and just doing our best. Losing Lola definitely inspired me to be present and love on our little family as much as possible each and every day. ❤

Mother and daughter in matching coats

Speaking of our family, Sadie girl is doing well! I feel like she is growing and changing by the minute. She is starting to say a few words (with meaning!) like ball, uh oh, mama, and dada. She also ran for the first time the other night (send help!), loves to dance, and is doing really, really well with her eating and swallowing.

She’s just a little ball of fun, curiosity, determination, and joy. We’ve had family members babysit her a few times over the past couple of months and she has done great. It’s really nice to have a break every now and then 🙂

I recently found a sled on Craigslist and scooped that puppy up for winter. Jimmy and I are hoping to pull her around in our neighborhood, yard, or on local trails this winter!

Baby girl sitting in LL Bean sled

Jimmy and I have been working on a big project now that summer is over and fall is in full swing. We’re renovating our kitchen! Jimmy has been wanting to do this project since we moved in, but I’ve always been resistant because I know how much work it will be, how long it takes, and how torn apart the kitchen will be.

I finally decided (you know, once we had a 13-month-old…) that it would be worth it in the end and dove in, starting with our cabinets. I’ve been removing hinges, puttying wood, and sanding my little heart out while Jimmy paints.

Gray kitchen cabinets

We’re going with a gray, yellow, and white color scheme, with black hardware. Can’t wait to see how it all looks. And I can’t wait until it’s all done because our kitchen is a disaster zone 😉

When I’m not getting my hands dirty with kitchen projects you can find me reading or crafting (wood burning has been my jam lately). I read The Sound of Gravel (<– affiliate link) and could. not. put. it. down. I also just finished a memoir about midwifery (<– affiliate link).

It is well with my soul wood sign

One of my latest wood burning projects!

I think that’s about it for life lately. Missing Lola, enjoying our little family, reading, crafting, and working hard around the house!

Tell me about your life lately!

Losing Lola

My heart is so incredibly heavy. Our Lola girl passed away yesterday.

Cocker spaniel and pit bull

Lola was my birthday gift when I turned 14. My dad and I went to a local shelter and picked her out together. She was an adorable, wild little puppy and changed my life in the best way.

She saw me through high school, college, getting married, moving, adopting Malcolm and Mavis, pregnancy, and having a baby.

Black lab and cocker spaniel puppy cuddlingDogs and baby

She was by my side through so many life changes. She always went with the flow and accepted each new family member and circumstance.

She loved a good, long walk, car rides, food of any sort, and snuggling on the couch. We pet sat together and shared food and years of memories. When Jimmy would take her to work with him she would hang out in the office and quietly greet new visitors. She had her stubborn moments, and she adored digging in the trash.

We went on so many walks together. In the heat, snow, on the beach, with other dogs, by rivers, in the woods, and so many other places. She was my baby girl for 13 years.

I had her before I started this blog and even before I met Jimmy.

Guy and black lab with harness and leash walking by water creek in Pittsburgh

Her passing came as a complete shock. I let her and Mavis outside yesterday afternoon and Mavis came back in as soon as she went to the bathroom, as usual. Lola did her usual thing of sniffing around the yard and sunbathing while Sadie, Mavis, and I hung out inside. Our neighbor knocked on the door and said I should check on Lola because she was laying strangely.

I went outside to check on her and she had passed. I’m not sure what happened. She was laying in an odd position, so I don’t know if she hurt her neck while rolling in the grass, or if she had a heart attack or seizure or something else. Whatever the case, I think her passing was fast and hopefully peaceful. She was totally fine that morning, and I’m glad she didn’t have a long, slow, and sad decline in health before she passed.

My parents were nearby and came over, and my dad and Jimmy buried her at Jimmy’s work–one of her favorite places. Thankfully I had a chance to pet her one last time and feel her soft ears and paws and say goodbye before my dad and Jimmy took her.

Mavis was doing okay until bed time. We went to bed and she started howling and crying, so she slept between Jimmy and I last night. We’re all just completely heartbroken at the sudden loss of Lola. I’m so thankful I had so many great years with her. She was truly such a sweet girl.

Case in point: below is the last picture I have of her. I laid on the couch to take a nap on Saturday and she and Mavis hopped up and napped right along with me.

Girl napping on couch with dogs

I miss her so much already ❤