I was obviously a hormonal human when I was pregnant with Waverly, I’m pretty sure my brain was on constant overdrive trying to picture what life would be like with a baby. I was beyond excited & spent my days counting down the minutes to meeting her, but with lots of time to kill, I couldn’t help but think about all aspects of our life as we knew it & how they would change. One of the things that made me most nervous was our dog, Bogger. He is a yellow lab, a giant, & although maybe not the smartest, the sweetest dog around. I didn’t know how he would react to a new baby & definitely had no idea how a (growing) baby would react to him.
One of Waverly’s first words was “gogger”. I’m pretty sure it came before “dada” & you would think my husband would have preferred it other way around, but he is so in love with both of them that the day she said his name was one of his proudest moments. They really are the sweetest duo ever, most of their relationship can be tracked to food & sharing it as often as possible.
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| Headband |
For the most part, these two have been best buds from day one. We have had our moments, like when I was one week post-baby (& still hormonal) & freaked over the dog hair on the floor, convinced that it would forever harm our infant. More legimitately, Bogger was almost sent to his grandparents when he got too excited a few months ago. Waverly & I walked through the door, he was so happy to see her that he ran, accidentally knocked her into the wall & she ended up with her first bloody mouth.
Yet at the end of the day (everyday), Waverly LOVES him to the core & it is nothing short of adorable. She never leaves his side, she says “bye, gogger” as we pull out the driveway every single time, & any dog we ever see or meet is always referred to as “gogger”. Without a doubt, Bogger is smothered with more kisses & hugs than anyone else, period. Waverly feeds him throughout the day (what she doesn’t want to eat & even sometimes what she does) & laughs the hardest I have ever seen her laugh when he runs through the house.
And my absolute favorite, lately she has been making a habit out of putting her headbands or necklaces on him. He is so going to be that dog with painted toenails sometime really soon.
I love their relationship, love watching them grow together, & just know that her little sidekick will be one of the sweetest memories of her childhood.
In other “little things” news, I read an article last week that pretty much summed up my thoughts on motherhood & really, the whole inspiration behind this link-up. The article is called “Mommy, Somebody Needs You” & can be found here.
Oh yes, it’s a total tear jerker. I read it three times, although I’m not sure why I felt the need to continue after the first round, I was already a hot mess crying my eyes out alone on my bed (wish I could blame it on hormones this time). The article is so good at capturing what really is a special time in our lives, yet one that can be exhausting & just plain stressful, too. It’s such a good reminder that these moments are just that, moments that will pass us by quickly & that we will want back so badly one day. Since I read it, I really have been holding Waverly Maye a little bit closer & taking in every little part of her, I love her so much sometimes it scares me. 😉
As a reminder to those of you who are interested
in linking-up, all you have to do is write your post with whatever “little
thing” it is that you would like to share. Then, link-up with either
Jess or me at the bottom of this post! Feel free to download our logo
(located at my sidebar) to share on your own post or on Instagram, you can also
share your own photos of “little things” with the hash tag “littlethingslinkup”.
in linking-up, all you have to do is write your post with whatever “little
thing” it is that you would like to share. Then, link-up with either
Jess or me at the bottom of this post! Feel free to download our logo
(located at my sidebar) to share on your own post or on Instagram, you can also
share your own photos of “little things” with the hash tag “littlethingslinkup”.
Another week, another great giveaway! This one is for the girl moms (or boy moms who have a little lady in their lives!). Meg from MegDash Made is the sweetest mom to Maddie, & her shop is absolutely adorable! She really has a variety of items to choose from, including super fun confetti balloons, aprons (for both boys & girls), & headbands. Next week, she will be launching a handmade confetti tutu & is giving away one of those along with a confetti bow clip to one of you!! Enter below & be sure to check out her shop & blog! Good luck. 🙂
Thanks again, hope everyone is having the best week so far!!
Oh my goodness, they are so cute together! Your dog looks like such a gentle giant! We have a cat that Liam is obsessed with! He is constantly trying to pick him up or feed him. I love seeing their interactions and the occasional snuggle session!
This is the sweetest ever! We have a yellow lab, a chocolate lab and a mutt who is part great dane (I know, I know….3 dogs?! I think we are certifiably insane!) and they are Sadie's best friends! She puts jewelry on them, brushes their hair and uses her little nail clippers to "do" their nails…not to mention all of the riding them like horses, hugs and other shenanigans that take place on a daily basis!
This is so sweet! Our dog is very protective and doesn't even like it when I hold other people's babies! I am hoping when our time comes that he can love the little one like your Bogger. Interesting name btw – there has to be a story there!
Wow! That "Mommy, Somebody Needs You" really hit home and I'm in tears. Though, I think I have honestly enjoyed and appreciated it all this year – being a mommy, that it is. I fully realize how fleeting this time in our lives will be. The part I fear is when we won't be needed any more by our well-loved, independent little ones.
I love these pics of Waverly and "Gogger"! I only wish our old dog would love the love Kaitlyn wants to give her as much as your dog. 🙂
xx Viv @ joiedeviv.blogspot.com
So adorable! My youngest(Emily) and last little one is One and I honestly can't imagine what life will be like when I don't have a baby/ toddler around let alone when she is ready for school. For 7 years now my life has revolved around a little one. I have 3 and they are all three years apart. It will be quite a transition. Not that I won't be busy enough still. It will just be different. I better have a nice or nephew by then!
I love this so much! I think it's great she's growing up with a pet and even better that they like each other! I can't wait to see photos of his nails painted haha! Callie loves our animals (dog and two cats) but when her and the dog play it's my favorite. When she couldn't move yet as a baby he loved her but now that she can run he's a little shy around her which is hilarious to watch a 90lb Weimaraner be shy! Sweet moment for sure!
I've felt the same way with our puggle. That dog was our baby before our baby and I feel awful sometimes that she gets so much less attention! There have also been times that I've thought about sending her away, but then I really think about it and Cruz adores Maya. He knows Maya is part of our family. And as inconvenient as she may be at times and how the dog hair is a pain, I know we couldn't get rid of our family pup. Love the pics with Waverly and her puppy!
I love this! My dog is beyond obsessed with my husband and I and really isn't too fond of kids so I always worry about how she will act when we have a baby. Everyone I talk to says you'll be suprised how sweet the dog will be to the baby. Almost like she knows it's from her mom and dad and to be gentle with it. I sure hope so!!
This is so sweet! My son and our boston terrier are the same way. He gives her more hugs and kisses than anyone else, and I'm pretty sure their relationship is mainly based on food sharing. I love that my son has a puppy friend to grow up with, and it is so sweet to see that Waverly has that too!
thingshelddear.blogspot.com
Love this. My daughter and our dog are BFF too. You know, the kind that harass each other 😉 so cute. Thanks for sharing!
Plumtickledpink.blogspot.com
Oh my gosh. It's this so true! We got Piggy as a very small pit puppy, and I found out like two months later that I was pregnant. I worried about how they would get along, and I can honestly tall you that they have always been the best of friends. Now they are to the point where Sydney wants to play with Piggy more than Sydney wants to play. But I love to see them running through the house together and hear Sydney's giggle when piggy has almost caught her.
Ps- m favorite thing to do during the holidays was always cooking ham with my mom at Christmas, and now I make that same ham with Sydney. This giveaway is so cute!
Love her polka dots! That headband is so cute.
I wrote about our dogs this week, too! I guess it was time to give them some love on the blog. 🙂
Love this! I grew up with a chocolate lab and she was the sweetest!
My favorite childhood holiday memory is the year my parents set up our video camera to hopefully "catch" Santa leaving our presents. We were so excited to watch the video the next morning. I still remember every detail of that short video. We could hear what sounded like hoofs and bells outside on our porch and then we could hear the door opening and then we saw a white-gloved hand put the lens cap on the video camera. When it came back off all our presents were there. We didn't get see Santa in action but oh we knew he had been there. 🙂
So sweet! I love seeing the bond between dogs and kids! And seriously? Bogger is like Waverly's older sibling! Because you know Waverly will be dragging your next baby around and probably giving him/her a bloody mouth on accident 😉
That first picture of Waverly and Bogger melts my heart!! So sweet! Waverly and I have something in common already – my first word was doggie! 😉
She is seriously the cutest little thing!!! And I love a child and their dog 🙂
That article made me ball because its so true!! I need to link up with you in this because what a great reflection each week!
I loved that article too. It really truly makes you take a step back and look at your world a little differently, because these babies won't be babies forever!
I love the relationship Waverly seems to have with Bogger. It reminds me of Charli with her Bailey and Bogey. They are seriously her world and she wants them every minute of every day! It truly melts my heart!
This post totally makes me want to get a dog for Evie! So sweet!!!
http://www.lovemyevie.blogspot.com
This is such a sweet post and reminds me so much of my Raegan and our yellow lab Sadie. She loves her so much. I was worried too about how Sadie would react because she is super hyper but she is so gentle with Raegan, she just knows. And I've never heard Raegan laugh harder than when she's playing tug-of-war with Sadie! <3
-Lauren
Home Style Love
OH that is so sweet! A girl and her dog! Grace loves her puppy too! But poor thing has days I think she won't make it, but Grace loves her so much!
Katie
godslittlegrace.blogspot.com
Oh this is so sweet! 🙂 I think every child should have a pet, and I am partial to dogs myself. Scarlett and Bentley get along so well for the most part and 'guggie' was also one of her very first words! I will always have a dog for my kids to play with, I love that it teaches them how to have compassion for animals and how to interact with them. I find kids who don't own dogs are terrified of them, or don't know how to approach them properly! Thanks again for hosting this link up… my absolute fav!! 🙂
Ok this is too cute!! I wrote about how Ellie loves her dog's today too!!!
atparsons.blogspot.com
There is something so innocent and sweet about a little and his/her doggie.
We have a HUGE chocolate lab – Drake -, and like you, I was so worried how he would do when we introduced Marcus. Thankfully, Drake has been nothing short of amazing with Marcus. Drake is so tolerant of the riggers of a 2-year old boy.
I love this , I remember growing up how much I adored my dog and my kids love ours.
Ashley, I just LOVED this post. We have a 2 year old yellow lab, Jessie. Like you I was panicked in the beginning of my pregnancy about how they would do together. Pups are so smart though because Jess knew I was pregnant and would cuddle me even more. She rested her head on my belly, and when we came home empty handed no one loved me more fiercely. I had tears in my eyes looking at your pictures they are just soo sweet. I know Waverly will cherish those memories with your dog, how could ya not with that face? I think every family needs a lab haha they warm your heart <3
xoxo
hillarysgrace.blogspot.com
Cute post! We have two labs and our kiddos love watching them play in the backyard, since the dogs are too rambunctious to keep in the house with four toddlers. One day, though, the quads will be running after them trying to catch their tails and bugging them to no end!
This is so sweet! 🙂
http://www.lyndsey-littleharper.blogspot.com
what an adorable little couple they are! they're only going to get closer as the years go by <3 so cute. she is just beautiful, too.. those eyes! love.
you take gorgeous photos. really great lighting. i don't understand the link-up thing. i'm kind of new… i've seen it on a few other blogs, but don't understand how it works?
-amber
http://thesiblingrivalries.com
There is something so sweet and special about kids and their relationship/bond with the family pet. I watch Madeline and Henry {Our sheltie} run and play together and it's just so innocent, sweet and fun. It makes me want to bottle them both up to save this moment forever. Great photos!!
I love this and I love your blog! I can't wait to be a mom so I can document my babies life like you have! 🙂
Ugh Ashley, you're killing me! I spent hours perusing the dog rescue sites yesterday, battling with myself that C does need a dog…but the time just isn't right for us!
I think the connection babies have with their dogs is one of the most important ones they have. It's truly amazing, unconditional love. Even when they bowl them over and knock them into walls 😉
And one of my favorite childhood memories? Trying to convince our dog, Bear, to tear open her stocking gifts at Christmas!
Love love love this post. Mac loves our dogs like crazy too, even though they can be rough with him sometimes. Our Golden is wonderful with him, but she's so big (and gets really excited about things like a ball) that she has knocked him over countless times and even knocked him down the stairs once. He never really even seems to care, but it makes me a nervous wreck! He loves them so much!
<3 This post was filled with so much sweetness! I told myself at the beginning of my pregnancy that I wouldn't let hormones make me crazy …. hahahahaha, who was I kidding?! They are NUTS!
Love those cute pictures! My favorite memories have been at Christmas – there's always more time spent together during the holidays. I loved wrapping gifts, walking around looking at lights and eating delicious baking!
I spent my whole first pregnancy worried that our golden retriever would run clear across the country when we brought Jaren home; however, this obviously wasn't the case! Beautiful post mama 🙂
http://www.littlebabyseed.blogspot.com
Making Christmas cookies with my family:)