Lots of things change when you have a baby.
You sleep less, you learn how to eat really fast, you have kiddie songs stuck in your head all day, and you truly believe that your child is the cutest and smartest one around. And if you have a pet...you know what happens. That "baby" is no longer the baby. Even though you swore nothing could ever take the place of your pet, your baby does.
I used to say, "Harley will always be my #1 girl", "I'll never love anything as much as I love Harley", "Harley will NOT take a backseat when the new baby comes!" Poor Harley has lost a lot of attention in the past 17 months. We don't love her any less, we just have something else to love more.
Harley was a last minute maybe-we-should-get-a-dog-today kind of thing. My good friend, Courtney, told me she had a neighbor with a 1 year old dachshund that she needed to find a new home for. On Saturday we went to meet Harley and take her home for the weekend to see how it would work out. It worked out-really well. We fell in love with her like I never, ever thought I would love an animal. I officially became a "dog person."
She slept in our bed, went places with us and could basically do no wrong. We thought it was so cute when she jumped up on the kitchen table to steal food when we weren't looking. We taught her to sit, paw, and roll over. Anything and everything that had a dachshund on it, I had to buy it. Our camera was filled with pictures of Harley.
We couldn't wait to bring Bridget home from the hospital to meet Harley.
I was never worried that Harley would be aggressive or jealous towards Bridget-and she wasn't-ever. Bridget loves Harley and now she giggles at all the same things that made us laugh when we first got her. We love ya, Har-and you were our first baby!
5 comments:
Ohh Har-Bear, she's one of a kind! Love her!
awwww! You're gonna make a pregnant woman cry!!! Thanks a lot!! We feel the same way about Emma - she is and always will be our first "baby"!!!
oh this post makes me feel so emotional....i swear i've had those same conversations and thoughts about our cole. he was a last minute addition to our family too and was our 'baby', like you said...going everywhere with us and getting all this crazy attention. i sometimes feel sad when its not the same but like you pointed out...we still love them! thanks for sharing about your cutie pie puppy. xo
Our first dog was a twin of Marley from the book Marley and Me. His name was Bailey (for the Irish cream, of coarse) and he was our world. Babies came and grew and he patiently waited for any and all attention that came his way. Never jealous, love unconditional. All dogs do go to heaven, I am sure of this. :0)
I'm tearing up! Oh....Har is the best of the best! Thank God you put my fav. picture up there with her and the scary halloween dog. That is just a classic. It really deserves its own Halloween frame. I know I say that about every picture you show me, but it's true.
P.S. MAC says, "Happy Bday, Har!"
Post a Comment