LB Phases: Let Me Blow Ya Mind

Even after making the bet, my current life experience is mind-blowing to me.

birthday kisses

Fast forward to early January. We're outside in the back hanging as a new family of 3 when Joey says to me, "Don't take this the wrong way, but this is the most impressed I've been with you."

Need more color? So this had just happened:10-week old Grizzly was chewing on something he shouldn't be. I had him sit, pried open his mouth, stuck my hand in, and pulled out a wood chip.

Sounds like normal puppy-parenting to most of you I am sure. For you, you probably won't fully grasp the magnitude of this maneuver because you (intentionally) have never seen me in the same room as a dog. But some of you know, old Amy would be petrified of this. Petrified! Regardless of size, breed, familiarity, my fear of dogs was debilitating. In my mind, if the dog breached my personal space and started to sniff me, he would slobber and lick me, and then he'd bite me and I would die. Okay, I know that's extreme, but now you're starting to understand the dreaded world I lived. I would tell people, Please keep your dog away from me. I understand it's excessive and unreasonable, but I am terrified. ... So when I nonchalantly put my hands in bear's mouth Joey was very impressed.

Grizzly came to us by way of plane, so the first time we met our pup we were in an airport cargo facility. It didn't matter how long we were waiting for his arrival or that it was a cold warehouse when we first met him it was Instant Love.

And not 48 hours later, after seeing this pic, a dear friend says to me, "I love that you're not a dog person but he's already become your baby." I said some people just don't know how much of a nondog person I am and she said, "A non-dog person but a pro-love person."

I had never thought of it like that. It took awhile to get me in and I'm gonna take my time. I won't fight the good licks in my ear. Love for Grizzly has blown my mind.

Now seriously, without Eve in my ear. It sounds cliched, but Bear's love transformed me. While we wait to see what happens next, some puppy pics.