Call us crazy (Really, you should!). Just a week after our baby turned one-year-old, we picked up a new addition to the family–a blue weimaraner puppy. Jackson was not a spur of the moment decision, instead a planned out family member, dating back years. But now, just four days into new puppy parenting, I realize that yes….we are absolutely nuts!
A little back story on this sweet little face–We had planned on bringing a puppy into our lives ages ago. After our beloved weimaraner, Riley, passed away nearly two years ago, we had planned on getting a puppy a few months later. But the day I was speaking to the breeder, I found out that we were pregnant with our surprise baby. Needless to say, a new furry friend was put on hold.
Our oldest daughter has been asking for a dog ever since Riley left us. While a sister was an exciting addition, she begged for that buddy to chase around the yard. All it took was convincing my husband, who had a very good memory of what the early puppy days were like more than a decade ago…my 40-year-old mind conveniently forgot.
On our daughter’s 7th birthday, we surprised her with one last present–a pooper scooper and a dog toy. I grabbed my phone and excitedly started filming, knowing that this was her number one on the list for every Christmas and Birthday. But after filming her nonchalant reaction to seeing dog supplies, I put down my phone. She knew it was for the “new dog”. But it wasn’t until I told that a brand new puppy would be joining us in August, that it registered–she would finally get her wish. She started to cry and was the happiest we’ve ever seen her…and of course I didn’t get that on camera!
And that leads us to today. We are zombies after waking up every two hours to cries and howling in the crate next to our bed. I’ve spent lots of time cleaning up accidents throughout the house and pulling the puppy off of our little 12-month-old. So do I regret the “pandemic puppy”? Not a chance!
Watching our girls with little Jackson brings me so much happiness. It’s been nearly two years since we had a puppy in our home and I’ve always said that I want my children to grow up with a pet. Jackson is full of energy and warming up to our family at a rapid pace. Meanwhile, our girls (and us parents) are completely smitten. The cuddles, the little nudge of his nose, and those giant paws, are just what we need in our lives.
So yes, we’re tired and I’m busy chasing around a baby who just started walking, a little (soon to be big) puppy, and a 7 going on 17 year old….but I wouldn’t change a thing. Life is so much better with a dog!
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He is so cute. Life with a dog is so much better. Ours is 11 and so spoiled.