I did something CRAZY.
Over the course of our nearly-eight-year marriage, I slowly,
v e r y s l o w l y
managed to convince Kyle that our family needs a dog. And then, one obviously perfect day last November, all the stars in the universe aligned, and I saw him.
My text chain to Kyle:
"Don't freak out, but I found our puppy. Like, for reals."
"Well great, let's get a house first then we can buy anything you want"
[*sees picture of Charlie]
"Well there's Charlie"
"Kyle, I don't want someone else to buy our puppy. I can tell, he's the one"
And then, there's the clincher...
I prayed about it, because that's what you do when you're about to make a super big decision that will impact the next twelve or so years of your life, and I knew it was right.
That's when Kyle said these magical words:
"Let's do it."
So I put the cart before the horse--- or in this case, the dog before the house, but what I have discovered is that when things are right, they just fall perfectly in to place. A few days later, we found the cutest yellow house with hardwood floors, a white kitchen, four bedrooms, and a great big yard. Then, Kyle accepted a new job here in San Diego, which is not at all what we were planning, but oh my goodness it feels so right. So here we are, and it's taken me a few months to catch you all up on it, partly because it has taken me this long to wrap my head around all these changes---and partly because potty training a dog is almost as torturous as potty training Elle.
BUT, let's go back to Charlie.
We picked him up at the airport on Christmas Eve Eve. He arrived an hour late, and Kyle and I could barely keep it together. When the cargo crew brought his crate into the loading area, I opened it, and pulled out the cutest little ball of red fluff I have ever seen. He held on to me for dear life, and I was immediately smitten. Charlie stayed at our dear family friend's house for the next 36 hours, so our kids could be surprised on Christmas morning. I can't imagine a reveal going better than this one!
It seems impossible that we have our sweet Charlie, that he fits so perfectly into our family, that he is adored and so cherished by every one of our kids. Kyle and I laugh all the time, when we see him playing endlessly with our children, convinced that buying him was the best decision we've ever made. Charlie is playful, affectionate, smart, and thinks he's just another one of the twins. When we walk in the door from going anywhere at all, all four kids run to his kennel. "Charlie! Where's my puppy?!" "Who's a good puppy?!" "Aah-eee!" "Mom, Chah-lee lick me!" "Aah-eee [l]ick [y]ou, Mommy!" "Charlie!" (lots of laughing, giggling). All my kids beg to feed him, to give him water, to take him potty, to hold his leash, to give him treats, to play fetch and tug-a-war, to give him a "belly wub", none of which I was expecting!
Having a puppy is HARD. Everyone knows that! And yes, I have knowingly added a whole lot of crazy to an already crazy life. But let me tell you this: The best things in life are the things that are hard and crazy, I promise.
He's the cutest, best dog in the history of the world.
v e r y s l o w l y
managed to convince Kyle that our family needs a dog. And then, one obviously perfect day last November, all the stars in the universe aligned, and I saw him.
My text chain to Kyle:
"Don't freak out, but I found our puppy. Like, for reals."
"Well great, let's get a house first then we can buy anything you want"
[*sees picture of Charlie]
"Well there's Charlie"
"Kyle, I don't want someone else to buy our puppy. I can tell, he's the one"
And then, there's the clincher...
I prayed about it, because that's what you do when you're about to make a super big decision that will impact the next twelve or so years of your life, and I knew it was right.
That's when Kyle said these magical words:
"Let's do it."
So I put the cart before the horse--- or in this case, the dog before the house, but what I have discovered is that when things are right, they just fall perfectly in to place. A few days later, we found the cutest yellow house with hardwood floors, a white kitchen, four bedrooms, and a great big yard. Then, Kyle accepted a new job here in San Diego, which is not at all what we were planning, but oh my goodness it feels so right. So here we are, and it's taken me a few months to catch you all up on it, partly because it has taken me this long to wrap my head around all these changes---and partly because potty training a dog is almost as torturous as potty training Elle.
BUT, let's go back to Charlie.
 |
| His first night. |
Having a puppy is HARD. Everyone knows that! And yes, I have knowingly added a whole lot of crazy to an already crazy life. But let me tell you this: The best things in life are the things that are hard and crazy, I promise.
He's the cutest, best dog in the history of the world.
 |
| He's also an extremely graceful sleeper. |
