The love of a good dog

I’ve been wondering if Mocha and Belle can sense their lives are about to be seriously disrupted by a new human sister.

Having the two foster dogs for a few months may have been good practice for them. (Side note: The two foster dogs had to go other foster homes since I couldn’t possibly conceive of having four dogs, a newborn and family in from out of town all at once.)

I let the girls go in the nursery and sniff around. No doubt they will sniff the baby from head to toe several times just to make sure she’s an acceptable new pack member.

We also made sure we invested in a diaper device that seals the dirty diapers in a closed up can. Belle has a tendency to explore the trash and may find, as only a dog can, dirty diapers ever so appealing.

So in honor of Mocha and Belle – soon to be protecting their newest pack member – here’s a nice take on dogs that someone forwarded me a in an e-mail some time back.

If I Didn’t Have Pets:
• I could walk around the yard barefoot in safety.
• All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of hair.
• When the doorbell rings, it wouldn't sound like the kennels.
• When the doorbell rings, I could get to the door without wading through fuzzy bodies who beat me there.
• I would not have strange presents under my Christmas tree -- dog bones, stuffed animals, nor would I have to answer to people why I wrap them.
• The most used words in my vocabulary would not be: out, sit, down, come, no, stay, and leave him/her/it ALONE.
• My pockets would not contain things like poop bags, treats and an extra leash.
• I would no longer have to spell the words B-A-L-L-, F-R-I-S-B-E-E, or W-A-L-K.
• I would not have as many leaves INSIDE my house as outside.
• I would not look strangely at people who think having ONE dog ties them down too much.
• I would not have to answer the question:: "Why do you have so many dogs/animals?" from people who will never have the joy in their lives of knowing they are loved unconditionally by something as close to an angel as they will ever get.

Look at what I've done for you

We’re down to the final two weeks. Now, it’s just a waiting game, which is incredibly unnerving for someone like me who thrives on planning and structure. But unfortunately, babies don’t really give any hints as to when they might like to make their grand entrance.

I have been thinking about some of the things I’ve given up during my pregnancy. I thought it might be nice to compile a list, giving me something to pull out when my daughter is, say 8 years old and won’t clean her room, or is 16 and tries to back talk. I can pull these out of the mom guilt closet:

• I cut back on caffeine, going to Starbucks only once a week or less.
• My exercise routine went downhill in a big way because I either felt too ill, tired or fat to do anything.
• I gained 30 pounds.
• I stopped wearing high heels. I’m the person who sacrifices comfort for style and is drawn to the highest heels I can find. This was a biggie.
• I scaled back on some extracurricular activities and volunteer work.
• I traded in normal clothes for a limited wardrobe of elastic-waist pants and unexciting tops.
• I shed a lot of tears worrying about whether I’ll be a good mother.
•I didn’t eat hotdogs or blue cheese salad dressing for months.

I think that’s a good starting point. Surely some of those will inspire a child to clean her room or whip a teenager into shape. Well, at least I can try.

Stick a fork in me

With about three weeks to go until my Feb. 6 due date, I'm officially done with being pregnant.

The last few weeks, in particular, have been, well, miserable. My stomach feels like a 100-pound lead weight, my back hurts, I have indigestion when I eat, I pee every two hours (or less) and I can't possibly get comfortable enough to get a decent night's sleep.

This baby should feel free to arrive anytime. I'm ready. I realize after she arrives, I'll still be a physical mess and my lack of sleep won't be due to frequent bathroom trips but to frequent feedings and diaper changes. But, at least it will be a new stage of discomfort.

After months of planning, worrying, stressing, shopping and preparing for her arrival, I'm just ready for the big day. This last month is definitely tough. I'm beginning to seriously question the sanity of women who choose to go through this multiple times. Their minds must just block out the misery and choose instead to focus on the joys of parenthood.

How many holiday movies can I watch?

Now that Christmas is over, so are the nonstop holiday movies. It's one of the things I miss most about December -- the ability to find a Christmas-themed movie on virtually any channel at any time of the day.

For some reason, I love these sappy movies -- many of which are found on Lifetime, Hallmark and the Family Channel -- need I say more about the level of sap? My mom also likes these movies so maybe it's genetic.

The plots and endings are ridiculously predictable but I just can't help myself. I'll record a dozen or more of these movies and watch them up through New Year's (today's count: I have three left).

Maybe it's just because these movies represent all that's beautiful about the Christmas season -- peace, joy and goodwill toward men. We don't always encounter that in real life so it's fun to get sucked into a pretend world where it always snows on Christmas, the gifts are beautifully wrapped and couples never forget to kiss under the mistletoe.

Hmmm, I'm already looking forward to next year's round of holiday films.

What are you worth?

Check out this interview with Kelly Love Johnson. I worked with Kelly with I first started with the Charleston Regional Business Journal. She was the managing editor and I really enjoyed working with her. She later left to become an editor with Skirt! magazine, a women's publication that started in Charleston but has since expanded to various locations around the country.

Kelly has a new book out called "Skirt! Rules for the Workplace." I'm hoping to pick up a copy soon because it sounds very interesting. One of the topics it addresses is asking for a raise - something I admit I'm not good at doing. I just accept whatever salary increase I'm given and don't ask for more - even when I think I deserve it.

What sort of message does that send to my boss? My personality is one that doesn't like to rock the boat or deal with any kind of confrontation or uncomfortable situation. That's probably one reason I'm hesitant to ask for more money. Plus, what happens if my boss simply says, "No, we can't give you that much." Do I let it go? Do I press the issue? How far is too far?

What are your tips for asking for a raise?

The ups and downs of fostering

This fall, Clint decided we should become foster parents with Lowcountry Lab Rescue. The organization was in dire need of foster families and would not be able to rescue any more Labs until more volunteers were found. Nothing like the thought of poor homeless Labs being sent to the animal shelter and probably euthanized to tug at your heart strings.

Cut to present day: We have two foster dogs for a grand total of four dogs at our house. Yes, four dogs. I now know why most people have only two children. Once you surpass two, life becomes just a little more chaotic. Now don’t get me wrong, our foster dogs are sweet and most of the time are relatively little trouble as they spend much of the day playing in our backyard (thank goodness for our large backyard and a warm climate!).

But as we approach Baby Day, it’s becoming more critical to find homes for our foster children. So, here’s a photo and some info. If you or someone you know has “Get a dog” as a New Year’s Resolution, fill out an adoption application with Lowcountry Lab Rescue.


This is Dixie, a 9-month-old black Lab ready for a loving home. She's incredibly sweet and loves to play. She is spayed, house trained, crate trained and knows basic doggie commands (sit, stay, heel). She loves to retrieve the ball and would make a wonderful pet.


This a Faye, a 3-year-old chocolate Lab. Faye has been through some tough times but is really thriving. She would do well in a home where her family would give her lots of attention and love. She is a puppy at heart and enjoys playing in the yard, chasing the ball and wrestling with her foster sister, Dixie. She is spayed and knows some basic commands (sit, heel).

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Clint and I spent a very quiet Christmas at home this year. We suspect it will be our last once we introduce a baby to the mix next year! It was nice to have a few days to simply rest. The last few weeks of my pregnancy have really worn me out. I find I’m spending more time sleeping or just lying on the couch watching television. I suppose I should enjoy it – I may not take another nap for 18 years!

I’ve posted some photos to an online baby photo album for anyone interested in seeing ultrasound photos, baby shower photos and pictures of me as I grow. Coming soon: nursery photos. It’s almost complete.