Don't Judge me: Meeting Miss Maggie

I've had a few moments lately in which I was feeling defensive. I did crazy two weeks ago... My mama madness got the better of me. And I decided to get a dog.

I'd been thinking about this for a while, and come up with LOTS of good reasons not to get a dog: I have five kids. I have food and environmental allergies. We have a busy schedule. Dogs take a lot of time and energy. I have THREE kids under eight. I have a mild allergy to dogs. We haven't had good luck with dogs in the past. Some of my friends kids are afraid of dogs. Our family lives far away, and it's expensive to board a dog when we travel. Still, I decided to just in with both feet.

And now we have Maggie.

From Maggie

So I feel a little defensive. Because our family "shouldn't" have a dog. But you know what? Whatever. I am completely utterly and intensely in love with this little girl. Who cares what other people think? I have made so many decisions outside the mainstream, rejecting one-size fits all parenting, infant feeding, birthing, and dietary ideas. What could be more mainstream than adopting a pet dog?

As I said, I am in love with her. We're still in the "honeymoon" period, but we are adapting wonderfully. Maggie is doing really we with house training. She's crying less and less in her crate at night. And I can't wait to get up and go walking with her in the mornings. All. By. My. Self.

More posts on doggie-pet parenting to come.