He was looking for his boys.
Of course. I think it was the first time I had come home in the past 4 years without them with me. He probably thought my scattered mom brain had left them in the car, and he wanted to be sure I didn't forget.
"Oh sweet Griffey," I said to him. "The boys are OK. They are in school now. It's just us for a couple of hours buddy."
I fixed myself a well deserved hot cup of coffee, grabbed a Milk-Bone® for him and his brother, and we headed out to the deck to enjoy our treats in the warm morning sun. And as I stroked his head, I thought about how he had been my best friend since the day we adopted him, but never more so than when I became a mom.
How a Dog is a Mom's Best Friend
You've heard that dogs are man's best friend, but I'm convinced they are really mom's best friend.
We adopted our dogs 4 years before our kids were born, and I already knew that they were much more than just pets. They were a part of our family. When I became pregnant with twins, I knew my relationship with my dogs would change after the babies were born. I worried that I wouldn't have time to spend with them, but I never realized how much they would end up helping me as a new mom.
Being a mom, especially a new stay at home mom of twins, can be a rollercoaster. It's wonderful and rewarding but also exhausting and sometimes very lonely. Having my dogs home with me every day meant the world to me in those early days. When you're a brand new mom home with two infants all day, you'll be so glad you have a best friend by your side too. I remember all the things Griffey (and his doggie brother Grady) did for me:
- Getting up with me in the middle of the night for every feeding.
- Desensitizing me to anything I might have found gross before. Believe me, I had to clean up way worse messes from my dogs than my babies.
- Making me laugh when sleep deprivation made me want to cry.
- Encouraging me to put the boys in the stroller and get outside for some fresh air and a walk.
- Keeping me company during naptimes (and a few Netflix binges).
- Helping keep the floor clean when I was having a hard time getting to spills right away with two crying babies in my arms.
- Entertaining the babies with their goofy antics.
- Reminding me, with just their gentle presence, that it would be OK when I was doubting that I could do it all.
Now that my boys are in school, the dogs and I get the chance to enjoy some quiet time every morning. When I get home from drop off Griffey knows it's time for a treat - a hot cup of coffee for me and a Milk-Bone® for him.
I love taking this time to let him know how much he means to me - how he is so much more than a dog but an important member of our family. He brings so much to our lives - more fun, more silliness, and of course more love.
Show the World How Your Dog is More
Our friends at Milk-Bone® have created a super fun way to celebrate how your dog is more than just a pet. The Milk-Bone® Gifmaker is a cute way to turn a short video into a gif you can share to show the world how your dog is more. Just look at how Griffey turns my efforts at a dog mom selfie into a sloppy kiss on the cheek (does anyone else's dog do this every single time?)
Check out the Milk-Bone® Gifmaker here and make a gif of your dog. Then be sure to share it on Facebook or Twitter to show the world how your dog is more than just a pet! (PS - I'd love to see it on my Facebook page).
And be sure to visit Milk-Bone® for yummy treats to show your dog how much you love him every day!