Puppy love

After the loss of both our fish and our sweet hamster, the kids and I have been racking our brains trying to decide what kind of pet we want now.

I was doubting we'd find another hamster like Muffin. We'd had him since birth. He was snuggly and happy and allowed the kids to play with him like he was a Zhu Zhu pet.

I considered a guinea pig, rats or even a hedge hog. But I just couldn't bring myself to get any of them.

Then this past weekend while on a phone call with my Gentleman, we talked about what I REALLY wanted.

"I'm ready for a dog." I told him, "It's been almost 8 years since we lost my dog... I miss her so much. And the girls have wanted us to have one for so long."

As he went on to ask why I was fighting it, why I was frightened of the responsibility, why I was nervous... I started crying. I knew then that it had to happen soon.

Oh universe, please bring us the perfect doggie...

***

I started noticing more dog ads on TV. I saw dogs every where I went. I searched Craigslist. I began researching breeds - I've always had German Shepherds but wasn't sure I wanted that large of a dog anymore. Did I want a respectable and expensive pure bred? Or did I want a pound mutt? Older dog or puppy?

I had no idea but I knew she was out there somewhere.

The kids and I started putting money away for her. We came up with her name. We decided we wanted a dog for more playfulness than protection. More snuggliness than aggression since we have kids over at the house all the time.

We were just waiting on her to show up.

Finally, on a whim, I searched petfinder.com and looked at the dogs available at shelters local to my zip code.

And that's when I found her:

My decision took literally less than a minute. I saw her face and was hooked.

She was the one!

And I'm the Mommy of the Year!!

Details: She was one of a litter of 6 week old Lab/Shepherd mix pups at our local pound. She may not be as large as either breed. She is friendly, LOVES kids and soooooo snuggly. She seems very smart but still clumsy. She's just a baby still and sleeps a lot. The kids are spoiling her rotten when they aren't using her like a rag doll.... her tail wagging the entire time.

All of the puppies were named after the Seven Dwarfs. I found out while adopting her that she was the one they named, "Happy". And that made me SOOOO happy!

We renamed her Lilli.

What a tiny bundle of cuteness!