Since I found out I was pregnant, my dog has become my shadow. My 90-pound American Bully, who has always been a cuddler, is now more attached to me than ever before. She refuses to leave my side, and if someone walks too quickly towards me, she barks as if to say, “Slow down, that’s my mom!” It’s adorable how protective she’s become, and I can’t help but think she’ll make a great big sister.
At night, she insists on sleeping right up against my legs. While it’s sweet to have her so close, it’s also making it difficult for me to get comfortable. With her taking up so much space in the bed, I often wake up with ligament pain in my abdomen and pelvis because I can’t move my legs freely. And as much as I love her, there’s the issue of her chewing her feet in bed, leaving behind a smelly wet spot. I find myself washing the sheets more often than I’d like, and I’m starting to worry about what it will be like when the baby arrives.
I’ve been thinking about transitioning her out of our bed, but I just don’t have the heart to start training her to sleep elsewhere, especially when she’s been so attached to me during this pregnancy. She’s my baby too, and it feels wrong to push her away now. But with the baby on the way, I know we need to make some changes.
Speaking of changes, baby-proofing the house feels like an overwhelming task. My mom friends have pointed out things I never even considered, and it’s crazy how much a baby can change your life before they even arrive. My dog, with her lack of personal space, is another concern. She loves to cuddle and doesn’t seem to understand that she’s not the size of a Chihuahua. I’m worried she’ll try to cuddle with the baby the same way she does with us, which could be dangerous. We’re trying to teach her about personal space, but if you’ve ever had a Pitbull or an American Bully, you know the sad puppy eyes they give you when they’re corrected—it’s enough to make you want to give in every time.
As I write this, she’s staring at me with those sad eyes because she can’t sit on my lap. I call it the “pittie love stare.” She’s cute, so she gets away with it more often than not.
In addition to preparing my dog for the baby, we’re also trying to figure out how to keep our home safe. My husband and I are nerds at heart, and we have several expensive Lego sets we’ve built together. I remember the time we dropped R2D2 after spending hours building him, and I nearly wanted to set the world on fire. We need to find a safe place for these sets because there’s no way our kid will ignore them—and I definitely don’t want any choking hazards around.
I also have a rock collection, not just crystals but fossils too, that could probably fill three large totes. They’re all over the house on shelves and tables, so I’m thinking I might need to pack them up and put them in storage for a few years.
Being a new mom is a bit scary, and I find myself overthinking everything. People keep telling me that some things don’t matter, which just adds to my anxiety. It’s frustrating when others don’t validate your concerns. A while ago, I spent a week stressing about what kind of baby bottles to use—glass or plastic. With all the talk about microplastics, I didn’t know what to do, and some people made me feel silly for even worrying about it. But as a new mom, I’m still finding my way, and I think it’s okay to be a little obsessive as I figure things out.
If you’re a new mom and find yourself obsessing about things that others think are silly, just keep doing what you’re doing. It’s okay—this is how we will learn, and you are not alone.
Despite the worries and the changes ahead, it’s all still very exciting. I can’t wait for the baby to start kicking—I’m curious to see how my dog will react when she feels those little movements.
Thanks for reading my blog, and have a great day!