My Furriest Baby, My Last Baby

Some women go ga-ga over babies, long after their youngest is making his own breakfast or tying her own shoes. One visit to a friend who just had a baby and these women are gone; just smelling those little bundles of joy sometimes seems to wipe out any memories of the hours of “discomfort” during labor or the sleepless nights or the crying at the drop of the hat (baby AND mom). Often women will come home from a visit with a new baby and that familiar feeling of wanting another one–to start fresh–is so overpowering.

Not me.

Ugh.

When I hear that a friend is pregnant, “Good for her!” I shout from the rooftops. “Better her than me!”

It’s not that I don’t love children. Well, I love MY children. I have enjoyed seeing them grow and go through their little stages up to this point, and I look forward to what’s upcoming. You couldn’t pay me any sum of money, however, to start over again.

Show me a puppy, though, and I’m gone. For me, a visit with a new puppy seems to wipe out any memories of housetraining, night whines, and destroyed household items. After a visit with a new puppy, that familiar feeling of wanting another one–to start fresh–is so overpowering.

A friend brought her Pointer puppy to the gym today. She put this little black and white furry bundle on the floor of the aerobic studio at my urging and we all laughed as she ran around with the awkwardness of a baby deer who is all legs and scrawny body.

The dog ran up to me (of course!) and I got down on the floor with her, cuddling her, petting her, and letting her gnaw on my shoelaces. I could have done that for the whole hour instead of teach class, but unfortunately the class would have had a problem with that so we had to part ways.

Although I have quite the dog, I was swooning over this puppy; that’s why I had to dig out these photos of young Roxie: to remind me.

I feel much better now. Enjoy this look back!

Rpupjun04toy

“Toy” beagle? You decide. Roxie at about 9 weeks old, June 2004

Rpupjun04withj

With the younger boy at age 9

Rpupjun04withd

With the older boy at age 12 (just shy of, actually)

Rpupjun04jump

Playing with our friends’ dog. Roxie still does this when playing with Jim. She thinks she’s all that and a bag of chips.

Rpupjun04

All Cuddly

17 Comments

  • Michelle

    What a cutie patootie! She’s adorable. But ummmmm I’m so not EVER getting a dog. Or another child. Show me a horse though 😉

  • k a t i e

    Ya see, I’m concerned I’m like this BEFORE having kids. Some of my friends see a small child and exclaim in delight about their snotty noses/other revolting habits like they’re vaguely appealing, whilst I see a small fluffy animals (and yes, we’re all well aware usually puppies) and I’m ready to forget – just like you said – sleepless nights, destroyed shoes etc.

    I always kind of figured my body clock would kick in and give me the urge to breed one day.

    In the meantime – puppies, and especially your little bundle of gorgeousness will suffice.

    The one of her jumping on the friends Beagle is particularly adorable.

  • Leslie

    What sweet puppy pics! I want a puppy. But honestly, we aren’t at that stage yet. I’m still going through some pretty crazy stuff over here with my little ones. Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

  • Julie

    thanks for stopping by Hungary today! I laughed at your post. I am a bit more in the “baby” phase mostly because my husband won’t let us have anymore. So, I guess I just enjoy it knowing it is all I am going to get!!!

    Love the puppy pics, thanks for posting!

  • Sue

    Over the baby phase as well, but wishing my sister or brother’s girlfriend would pop one out. I enjoy the shopping for little people clothes! That I miss dearly, especially since my girls don’t like “cute” outfits anymore.
    Very cute puppy pics, but I’m not having another one of those either!

  • Kim M.

    I am in love! I have such a soft spot in my heart for beagles because in my first tv job down in Chattanooga (sp?), I had a roommate who had a beagle (Betsy). One night that beagle nose smelled an intruder and alerted us. My roommate yelled “get the hell out – I Have a gun!” and he left out the back door… HER NOSE SAVED US!!!

  • Rene

    Melisa — thanks for stopping by on my BATW day!! Thanks also for the prayers for my hubby! He’s doing pretty well considering and I read him all the well wishes and I know that made him feel good that people who don’t even know him are praying for him.

    I love puppies — they just smell so yummy and are so squishy! Love their little pink bellies right after they eat too!!

  • Anissa Mayhew

    I am so with you on that one. I have all these friends with babies right now and I feel nothing but casual adoration. Not an ovary twitch, NADA! When I see them hefting their kid around and wrestling with the stroller and the diaper bag…I sigh in relief that those days are long gone for me.

  • Dea

    OMG, beagle pups are SOOOOOOOOOO cute! She’s adorable!

    I’m not even that far removed from babyhood with my boys, and I’m with you – SO done with diapers and bottles and crying without any way to find out what’s wrong….I used to think I wanted to adopt a baby once my boys were in junior high, but I’m starting to think not…

  • abritdifferent

    I LUUUUV beagles, their wee face is soooo lovely! I’m about 50/50 on both babies and puppies. Great post and smashing pics too. Thanks for sharing those.

  • Kat

    OMG it is so hard to believe how much we have in common.

    And these photos of Roxie are so cuuuuuute I just want to cuddle her right here, right now. She`s so precious. *Swoon*

  • Rela Pantaleon-Manigsaca

    Hi Melisa! I love both babies and dogs! To me, they are similar. In fact, my mom told me a few years back when I had my first (yes first!) pup as a pet (Kookai) that if Kookai were a child, “she would be walking now”.

    Roxie’s pup photos are are very endearing. In fact, my husband just kept staring at Roxie’s photos for quite sometime. May memories of her continue to make you smile!

    Anyhow, just wanted to circle back from Austin, TX! Thanks for the comment last Wednesday!

  • Andie

    I am the exact same way!!

    and thank you for your kind works at the 365 blog. I really appreciate it! its comments like yours that keep me going!

  • devilish southern belle

    I am the exact same way….about babies, being done, and puppies! My fur-baby is at least as spoiled as my kids ever were, and I think we are about to get another 🙂

    P.S. I *still* remember what all the discomfort, sleepless nights, and tantrums were like. No thanks!