He is small and cute and soft and cuddly. He curled up in my arms and in one instance, captured my heart.

Not one of the three of us who went to meet him could resist his charm. Not one of us had any doubt — he belongs in our home. He is the one!

He weighs all of 5 – 8 lbs right now and full grown will be about 50.

He is joy and love and wonder and awe and he will be coming home in two weeks and we are all excited.

After visiting with him on Saturday in the home where he was born, just south of Edmonton near a town called Beaumont, we drove back towards Calgary and talked about names.

Oskar. Finnegan. Mulligan (C.C. is a golfer) Fitzgerald (Ellie was named after Ella Fitzgerald and Alexis is a singer). We rode in silence for awhile with one of the three of us occasionally throwing out a suggestion.

Herbert. Max. Snoopy. Digby.

And then, C.C. suggested Beaumont.

Alexis and I both loved it. He was born just outside the town of Beaumont. It can easily be shortened to Beau. It suits him.

Beaumont it is and in two weeks Beaumont will take over our house just as he’s already taken up residence in our hearts.

He is a Sheepadoodle. We met both his parents and they are lovely. Ara is a black and white spotted poodle (she gave the pups their colouring) and Max, the dad, is a big, lovable, happy sheepdog.

We are all so very excited and eager to bring him home and have him become part of our family.

And when we got home that evening, I walked out into the backyard and stood beneath the crabapple tree where a jeweled container of Ellie’s ashes is buried beneath the Buddha statue and told her of our new baby boy’s arrival.

I think she’s happy too. As Alexis said as we drove home, “Ellie would like him mom. She’d want you  to be happy.”

She’s right. And I am.

Happy and excited. Bathed in the joy and anticipation, filled with hope and faith and love.

Beau is in my heart.