Formal Introduction

Facebook friends have already been informally introduced to the new family pet, but silly me, I never officially debuted her on my blog! My family's beloved pooch, Fergie, moved on to that lush dogpark in the sky in June (for the best really--she was deaf, arthritic, and as senile as the day is long). My parents debated getting a new pup for a couple of weeks, but in the end they decided my dad needed a new companion, so two and a half weeks ago they brought home this little one:

Name: Penelope "Penny" Laine.
Breed: Sheltie, natch. This is my family's third.
Age at present: 8.5 weeks (but 6 weeks in the pictures).
Favorite pastime: Chewing on feet.
Favorite toy: A stuffed sheep that my mom picked up at Big Lots and a plastic ball that was intended for the kitty.
Biggest fear: Water. She absolutely dreads bathtime. She's also wary of any part of the house that is not the family room or kitchen. Especially the upstairs (shudder).
"Haha" moments: She's not quite steady on her feet, so she's prone to tripping into walls and furniture. 
Opinion of the fam: She's fond of us all, as dogs are wont to be. She loves the sound of my mom's voice, she enjoys hanging out on my dad's lap, and she perks up and wants to play when I get home from work.
And what about the cat?: They were wary of each other at first, but now that Penny's realized that Layla doesn't have claws, she's hell-bent on getting her to play. (She's already mastered the "get the kitty!" command, barking and growling and lunging while Layla tries to look disinterested.) Layla's still not quite sure what to think of Penny, but her wide-eyes, flicking tail, and tense muscles suggest that spontaneous chases are not far off.