Less room on the couch

Chris & I got Ruby Blue when she was wee chocolate puffball of puppy love, almost five years ago, right after we made the move from Iowa City to North Carolina. She is our child, and we have treated her as one. Cooing, coddling, snuggling and pampering – Ruby’s got a pretty good life and has developed quite the diva attitude. She’s got full-reign of the house and its furniture, two square meals a day with numerous treaters and an unlimited stock of plush toys and tennis balls.

When Chris & I first saw the second pink line appear on the pregnancy test eight months ago, we were obviously elated. Clutching each other in the upstairs bathroom, we were shocked, relieved and overjoyed as we read and re-read the directions on the box. Yes, we were going to be parents. Ruby bound in, tail wagging, and started celebrating. You could tell she was all, Something’s going on, right? I hope involves rawhides and dog biscuits. We looked down at her and then looked at each other. Ruby, better get ready for some changes.

Overall, I have had a wonderful, normal pregnancy. Morning sickness, check. Pickle cravings, check-check. First trimester mood swings, check-check-check. Much to the relief of Chris, I took all of my hormone-induced irrationality and directed it towards my neighbors, trick-or-treaters and, most frequently, Ruby. She jumped before me going in the door, she licked the kitchen floor while I was cooking dinner, she wouldn’t bring the tennis ball back after I threw it, she shed all over the house, she breathed on me, she looked at me. Chris would come home from work and Ruby would meet him at the front door, pleading with him, Hey, how about the two of us go outside and leave her alone for awhile. I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but that lady’s going crazy.

The second trimester brought a burst of energy and renewed companionship between me & Ruby. Anyone who has gone through the transition between first and second trimesters can relate to the renewed sense of wonderfulness you feel, other than the fact that your pants start cutting off circulation. My stomach got bigger and we started scolding her when she jumped up on me. Due to the fact that she pulls on the leash like a champion sled-dog, our walks became less and less frequent. Other than that, no big changes for the Rubes.

Now we are in our 35th week of pregnancy and have started rearranging rooms, assembling cribs and have our hands and minds permanently attached to my belly. Ruby’s a smart dog. She knows something’s up, but she has no idea what’s in store. I try to tell her to soak up our attention now and savor all the couch-time she gets during the day. Soon Baby & I will be home all day with her, disrupting her naps, kicking her off the furniture and watching really bad reality television. Of course I have these aspirations of training her to be like Nana from Peter Pan. Ruby, fetch me a pacifier. Ruby, switch the laundry. Ruby, make me a sandwich.