So eighteen months (almost) to the day after our beloved Jake left us, there's a new boy in the house. His name is Walt, he feels like a Finn, but so far he thinks his name is Maisie.

(I really wanted to name him George Clooney, but that's a lot to live up to.) (For George, I mean.)

He's half springer spaniel, half border collie, and because his family in Long Beach got a job transfer and can't take him along, he's giving life in Malibu a shot.

At just 16 weeks he's a total puppy, all mouth and legs and unfiltered impulses. He dumps his water bowl as often as he drinks from it. He gets the hiccups when he's startled. He doesn't think anyone should ever be alone in the bathroom. He's incredibly sweet and really smart, and he's soft, really really puppy soft.

Remember how Jake fell madly in love with baby Maisie and catered to her every wish?

Well, she's not exactly paying it forward:

But Walt Finn George Clooney is patient as well as adorable and if you met him, you'd know Maisie's days as a cranky pants curmudgeon are numbered.