Then one night just about a year ago my dog loving husband put the guilt trip on me and said "I think we should get a dog since you travel so much to keep me company." My response was for him to go golf more. Then John kept pressing me and I decided maybe we should look into it after all. The research then began on what dog we could possibly get that would be clean, nice, well behaved, and not to doggish. Based on my reasons for not liking dogs previously, I needed to identify a breed that was going to minimize my list above of manageable traits for our new family member. That is what led me to the goldendoodle breed, even better a miniature goldendoodle (aka easier to handle for Nicole) no shedding, and no drooling.....sign me up! Unfortunately as I have learned over the past 9 months of dog parenthood the rest you can't control, even though Palin knows she is only allowed to lick my leg, two times, after I work out. In return I provide her with more then her fair share of belly rubs.
So the story goes, Palin Rose was born on Christmas day. We picked her up on Feb 18th, and at that point I was figuring out what the hell we got ourselves into. I think I am the only person on the planet that had my mother in law come stay with us for the first two weeks the dog was home (and thank goodness). Now that I look back on it I realize why I made Karen and John laugh so much during those first few weeks because it was quite the change. Just picture me running towards the back door, arms outstretched holding the dog, yelling "She's going to poop, she is going to pooooooop!!!!!!!!!" Or following her around the house terrified she was going to chew something, go the bathroom inside, chew something, I was constantly carrying a raw hide around to give her at the first second she tried to bite or chew. Karen, my now mother in law (John and I were not yet married at this time) was probably thinking "This is going to be the mother of my grandchildren" I continuously promised her throughout the ordeal...I was much better with children.
I will not lie I wanted to rip my hair out many times during her first 4 months home with us. Then it was like a light bulb clicked one day and this cute little bundle of lickiness, and excitement began to pull at my heart. When I travel my heart not only misses John, but it misses Palin. When I land in Tampa I get filled with excitement and a smile crosses my face thinking about how excited she is going to be when I get home. I love in the morning when we wake up and Palin jumps on the bed (note the above comment cerca 2009 before Palin regarding that being gross, not anymore) and lies her head on the pillow between John and I and just stares at us, how when we are lying on the couch (yep, she comes on the couch and has turned me into a softie) and nurgles between us, how in the morning she sits with perfect posture waiting to go on our walk, how she literally hugs John when he walks in the door, when she lies on my feet under my desk all day while I work, how her little dog bum wiggles when she walks (don't like the comment her dad makes when he says Palin has a bum like her mother whatever that means) and how she smiles at me (yes she smiles, she is genious) She is a dog that knows what she wants, is fiercely independent, is literally a gorgeous dog, and is our pride and joy. Bottom line....I get it now. I understand why people love animals because they give unconditional love no matter what. It makes me want to give more love to all those around me, because unconditional love in my mind is one of lifes simplest pleasure. So this ones for you Princess P, you bring so much joy and happiness to our lives every single day!
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