Willa

Two weeks ago and one day ago we had no intention of getting a dog for a couple more years although we'd been researching a very specific hypoallergenic brand for over a year.

Two weeks ago today I went to bed consumed by thoughts of a little white and black ball of silky fluff sleeping on a cage floor that I had no intention of meeting earlier in the day.  As insane as the idea was, I knew she was ours and I hated that she was spending another night alone.  Just had to convince Appa that getting a puppy at this stage in our lives was a great idea.

The next day the decision was made that she'd be coming home with us mid-week. We needed to prepare, since, you know, we had zero intentions of getting a dog just 12 hours earlier and I've never had a dog before, much less a puppy.  And Appa was out of town for two more days.

Two hours later she was in a new crate in the back of our van rocking out to Robot Tim and Human Tim with the boys because I simply couldn't leave her there.  So clearly nothing about this was going according the plan.

It could have gone terribly wrong.

But Willa (a feminine nod to William Shakespeare) is puppy perfection.  Sure, she nips.  Sure, she poops and pees on the floor.  Sure, she puts anything she can find in her mouth.  If I wasn't okay with that stuff, I would be childless right now. Frankly, I wish there was a child whisperer I could find as easily as I found a puppy trainer.

She's also friendly, quiet, cuddly, patient, loyal, and so very very very soft.  I knew I would enjoy having a dog, but I had no idea how quickly and deeply I would grow to enjoy having her in our home.  I didn't realize how lonely the nights are when Appa travels until I had a cuddly warm body curdled up next to me on the couch to fill the silence with contentment. I had no idea how much I would enjoy a little one who would be grateful for little things like providing food and shelter and love without flying into a rage because someone else got the orange plate or spitting their milk out in a "Milk RAIN STORM."  She even laid on my lap and enjoyed a bad chick flick tonight with me.  You couldn't pay another member of my household to do that.

But most of all, Willa has just given me one more blessing in my life to love. It takes a lot of work to help her grow and learn, but I'm learning that Appa and I are actually game for a little hard work because we know the rewards. Stepping out to seize the moment for her felt very exciting and brave, and I am proud we did it for our family.  I feel elated when she listens and behaves and simply proud to be her "family mommy".  (The bonus of having adoption already a big part of our family conversation is that the boys are all about her having a doggy birth mommy and a human family mommy. Nothing confusing here.)

She's cute as can be, for sure, but beneath the fluff is a dog that perfectly fits our family.  The last two weeks have been simply delightful with her in our home.

We also got our EP for Little Moon.  I think that was the universe's way of getting the hint.  Sure hope Little Moon likes "mung mungs."