"Love is like a flower-you've got to let it grow." - John Lennon

So when I first found out that I was getting a dog (side note...thank you to the best boyfriend ever!) I knew I would have to tell Nancy and David.  Yes I call my parents by their first name.  Yes I know people think it's weird. Ask me if I care...spoiler alert, I don't. Anywho, I knew that they weren't going to be happy. David has always insisted that a dog would "destroy the house!" and Nancy has always said she just plain doesn't like dogs, "They smell!" And for those of you who have been to my home and know me you can attest to the fact that I am a crazy, obsessive compulsive house cleaner and my home is nine times out of ten spotless and far from destroyed and also that I treat my dog the same way as I do my home, and she is bathed about every other week!

Moving right along, when I officially knew that we were getting her and the plane ticket was purchased, I decided it was time to tell them.  I hemmed and hawed over this a bit and sought advice from a trusted friend and colleagues with whom I'd trust my life.  And who I know would probably be able to put the best comedic spin (or at least it's what we find comedic) on delivering bad news...the infamous, the fabulous Naomi! After much hard and admittedly inappropriate deliberation at the reception desk in our office we decided that the best course of action would be to tell my parents that I was pregnant first, and then anything they heard after that would HAVE to be good news! Well to Naomi's credit I think that this would have been a fabulous idea, but my delivery was all wrong.  When I announced this fake pregnancy I immediately smiled and had to stifle a giggle so I am pretty sure it dint carry the weight that it should have.  And then when I told them that in fact I was not pregnant but was instead getting a puppy the mood went from annoyed to extremely annoyed quite quickly. Whoops! Long story short I got pretty much the same responses that I had mentioned in this first paragraph.  And naturally I was not deterred and I made a vow to them that I would do my best to train her and have a quiet, enjoyable dog and once they saw her adorable face they too would fall in love!  Skepticism was in the air.  But sure as rain once they saw the puppy their hearts melted.  Some more quickly then others.  David immediately got down on the floor and began crooning "Puppy puppy puppy puppy puppy" and let her lick the entirety of his face. Nancy was a harder nut to crack.  She still thought she was "too big", "smelled like a dog", and was not more likable then a cat.  After about two months with us, we had slowly been working on her, when i saw the love begin to grow.  I knew we were on our way when she introduced Dolce as her Grand-dog at a barbecue they had. And slowly but surely Dolce has gotten more invites to do things with Nancy and I.  First it was coming over to have meals with the family and then more recently on hikes together.  And then a few short weeks ago Dolce quietly stole Nancy's heart.

She quietly followed Nancy around the yard as she watered the plants.  Seriously I was shocked. She just followed her and would lie down beside her in the grass while Nancy weeded and then get up and follow her off to the next plant and lick the drips of water off of the watering can.  She didn't get excited and jump up at it and she didn't try to steal the weeds from Nancy's hand or even from the bucket, and she didn't even try to eat the plants! As she kept going I kept peeking my head out into the yard to check on them and still the same a quiet relaxed dog and a quiet relaxed Nancy, just weeding away and every so often talking to Dolce.  And about an hour later I came upon and interesting sight.  Nancy and David in the grass with Dolce, David trying to get her to look their way and sit still and Nancy with the camera, trying to get a good shot to send to her friends. I think when you hold a puppy photo shoot it is safe to say your heart has been claimed.