After living for over 4 years without a pet, the art of becoming a doggie mamma again continues to amuse me. It amazes me the things I now get excited about and also the things that don’t actually gross me out anymore. You know you’ve gone off the deep end have become a true doggie mamma when:

• Your favorite birthday gift is a blanket made of all the pictures of your dog that you recently posted on Facebook (thanks again Kim).
• Your shipment of lavender-scented poop bags arrives at your doorstep and you’re not only excited to open it but you can’t wait to take the dog out so you can use them.
• You drive into your driveway and you breathe a sigh of relief because no window screens are missing, no windows are broken and the dog is still safely inside
• You no longer care that there are paw prints on your car seats and nose drool on the car windows
• You sacrifice a bike ride for a long game of stick
• In your free time you volunteer to help raise money to build a dog park in your community (and recruit your friends to help with events – thanks ladies, you know who you are)
• You’d much rather stay home cuddling with your pooch than going out on a date – men are too much trouble

Owning a dog is a true lesson in patience and love and I wouldn’t change it for the world.