Lesson Two: Get a puppy first

Mommy and Emerson on the day we found out we were having you!

I always assumed I was ready for parenthood. I babysat all through high school and college, am not phased by unpleasant diapers, can handle the gentle lull of a screaming child and am generally prepared to deal with difficult questions about why something is the way it is, or what something is made of, or when something else is going to happen. But Maryn, I had no idea what it would actually be like to parent until we got Emerson.

Puppies are excellent training for a baby. When I'm tired, she wants to play. When I'm sleeping, she wants to wake up. When I'm eating, she wants to eat it too. She will not lie down unless is is somehow touching one of us. Potty training is more of a theory than an idea in practice. She can get into things and ruin them with quickness and resourcefulness that I didn't realize dogs were capable of. 

As frustrating as she may be, Emerson can also give you daddy or me a look that melts our heart and takes away our anger, even if only temporarily. We love her dearly and would never give her up for a second, even if sometimes we wish she'd just, for the love of all that is holy, sit down and be quiet.

Destruction at its finest

Maryn, we can't wait for you to meet Emerson. You'll be fast friends and quick partners in crime. And when you graduate from college, get a job, become financially stable and date a suitable young man for a sufficient length of time, get married and decide to have children, do us a favor. Get a puppy first!

Lesson One - There is so much to learn!

Maryn Ellery - your daddy and I have prayed for you, wished for you and thought about you and what you'd be like, long before there was even a "you" in the picture. We are so thrilled you are joining our little family of three. Your big sister Emerson may not quite know what's coming yet, but we're sure she'll love you just the same. Eventually :)

There are so many experiences we want you to have, so many things we want you to see and do, but most importantly, there are so many things we want to teach you. I catch myself thinking of things I want to tell you when I'm in the shower or as I'm settling down to sleep, begging the puppy to FINALLY stop pacing around and just lie down... I thought this might be a great forum to keep them all in one place.

Lesson 1: There is SO much to learn. And we can't wait to teach you! Love, Mom