& In with the new...

Through the ups and downs of the last few weeks, I've had family/friends ask me whether this new life with Lucy is really what I want right now. In my last post, I discussed the challenges of integrating the needs of a highly anxious dog into my existing routines. In full disclosure, I shared that for the first few weeks, a part of me did wonder whether I'd done the right thing. I questioned my ability to figure things out, to handle the changes. I asked one of my friends how long it took her to adjust to having her puppy, and she said "about a month." I can now safely say, Lucy and I experienced a significant shift in our comfort, our ease of being together, at right around the 6 week mark of our new life together.

My last post did include description of some of the many ways that, thanks to Luc, I've already grown and changed: I'm more flexible; I've become okay with disorder; I developed and am sticking to a structure (which has significantly increased my work productivity) during an unstructured summer period; I'm exploring new parts of Columbus. I'm busier, but I like busy. I experience more frustration, but I also experience more love, more joy, and more fun. I laugh more. I play more. I let go of things more easily. I'm never lonely and NEVER bored. I described these things, but want to take a moment to show them to you. Here are the new structures and routines that Luc and I have figured out over the last 6 weeks...

So, Lucy sheds a LOT. She also likes to cuddle and nest. My pillows and sheets were always covered with her hair, so I created a nesting blanket for her. Every morning, when I leave for school, I put out her nesting blanket, so she doesn't shed on my pillows! # win

And yet, I still found myself washing my sheets and linens twice a week.

Linnens in the background 

Introducing, Lucy's Shedding Sheet and Nesting Blanket set! I make my bed every morning, add Lucy's shedding sheet and her nesting blanket. MUCH easier to shake this out and/or wash it. Shed away, Luc! #doublewin

MORNING ROUTINE. Yes, my mornings start earlier and are busier, but they are a hell of a lot more fun. It's WAY easier to get myself out of bed in the morning....

Morning Goose!

Lucy wakes up my Mom during a visit

I then get up and get dressed, while Lucy lounges in bed, often looking at me as if to say, "Do we really need to get up now?" When I go into the kitchen to make coffee and pack my lunch, Luc enjoys her morning look-out time in the backyard.

Proud adult moment: Installing the magnetic door net. Note: the gate didn't close so Lucy is on a tie-line

Proud adult moment 2: I Macgyver-ed the gate so it stays closed. Boom!

A quick game of fetch in an attempt to get her a little tired before we go for our morning walk.

(Exciting updates on Loose Leash Walking and dog school coming soon!)

Back home for her breakfast (and mine). I then begin to pack up for school. 

"Don't even THINK about leaving me."

Despite Lucy's best efforts to look adorable and prevent me from leaving, eventually I have to go. Lucy stays in my bedroom for the day. Here are the things I've figured out: 1. Keep the blinds closed (has almost eliminated her barking). 2. Lucy loves classical music. It drowns out the upstairs noises and helps her relax. I used to use a classical music radio station, but then realized that the station becomes Italian Opera in the early afternoon. I think forcing her to listen to that constitutes abuse, so the obvious solution was to create her own YouTube playlist that I set up on my iPad to play on repeat (duh). If classical music helps brain development, both she and I will be inducted into Mensa in no time. 3. The vet told me to give her a REALLY good treat when I leave, so she associates my departure with something good.

She gets her favorite toy with peanut butter
and delicious treats inside. I used to feel
guilty about the fact that several of the
tastiest-smelling treats are literally IMPOSSIBLE
to get out of this, but, well, it keeps her busy.
#parentingwin 

I created a classical music playlist for Lucy. At least 150 of
the 2,075,691 'views' are Lucy and me

My arrival home at the end of the day is basically a national holiday. I open the door, she begins her full-body wag, gives me a million kisses, and we cuddle on the bed. I ask her about her day, tell her about mine, and THEN she finds her toy and eats the treat.

Lucy refuses to actually eat any treat until I get home. Sigh. 

SO many kisses 

While Lucy enjoys her toy, I do my afternoon hair cleaning. Get ready for this... 

ALL HER HAIR FROM THE FLOOR. 

Wait, maybe you didn't understand how much hair that is because the picture isn't to scale....

In fairness, this photo shows what happened when I was out of town for a weekend
and didn't brush her/clean the floors for 3 days (during peak shedding season). But still. 

My fav birthday present. I swear, she's comfortable. 

Depending on when I get home, I may
do some work before our walk. 

Afternoon walk time!

Monday Miracle: She's actually tired. 

DINNER TIME! I give Luc her dinner and then have mine.

Lucy plays with Dino while I have dinner

Time to settle in to do some work. Lucy has her own project to do....

 She gets 1/4 cup of her food in this bobble thing. The miracles of intellectually stimulating toys!

At some point, both she and I need a break from all our hard work....

Some days we do obstacle courses!

Some days we do training! 

Most days we play tug of war, chase, Where's lamby, and dance around the living room to Justin Timberlake or The Beatles or Taylor Swift. She's very good at entertaining herself, but I don't want to miss out on all the fun!

Once we've gotten our evening jitters out of our systems, Lucy settles down and reminds me that it's time to get back to work....

Lucy checks in with me periodically. 

Lucy nests on my Snuggie, which she has
made her unofficial backup nesting blanket

Invariably, Lucy is ready for bed before I am. "Come on, Sara!"

This is what happens when I lay down and get ready to turn out the light. 

I fall asleep, happily exhausted, with Lucy at my side and a smile on my face. 

It's still a process. We are still making adjustments and changes, learning what works and doesn't. But it doesn't feel like I'm making some huge sacrifice anymore. Not at all. It feels right.