A Playdate in the Park with a Purpose

For the past couple of days, I've been telling Molly that, "We are going to the park on Friday"!  So since this morning when we woke up, I reminded Molly that today will be a very fun day because we have a play date at the park.  Even as I left for the manicure and pedicure appointments my kind husband gave to me for my birthday, Molly already started getting excited when I walked to the door.  "No, not yet," I told her with her eyes glaring back at me like I've totally let her down.  Yes, I'm mean for getting her all wound up at 8 a.m. not to be leaving until 1 p.m.!  And as soon as I got home, she then thought it was time to go.  This is the honest to goodness truth:  every time I go to the bathroom before we head out (could be 1 minute or 45 minutes before we leave),  I am sitting on the toilet and here comes Miss Molly looking for me, giving me once again those eyes that say, "Come on' mom.  Is it time yet?  I'm ready!"  Every time I'm sitting there and this little girl comes truckin' in wondering if we're going yet.  Why the bathroom for heaven's sake!?  It happened to me just 15 minutes ago, so I just had to blog about it.  You all are likely wondering why I don't close the bathroom door, huh?

Molly's a smart dog.  She knows what the words "go", "let's go", "truck", "walk", "squirrel", "breakfast", and "go get 'em" all mean.  And I think she's nearly learned the word "snuggle", which I use all the time right before I put her in the bed with me.  Whether she's there for 10 minutes or all night, I use the word "snuggle" so she knows she gets to be with me in bed.  Rarely does it actually mean she's snuggling with me, up close and personal.  That would be my preference, but no, she would rather sprawl out and take half the bed than get all snuggly next to me.  Unless she's been in bed with me all night.  If that's the case, then in the mornings when we wake up, she wakes up quite playful and in the mood to snuggle, coming next to me as close as she possibly can.

So we're going to leave for the park in 25 minutes or so, and I can guarantee this dog is counting down the minutes.  As soon as I stand up, she'll know it's time and then go buzzerko on me, without me having to say a word.  We're headed to Zilker Park to meet my friend, Janna, and her two 14 month old twin girls, Emily and Lauren.  You see, Janna is afraid of dogs.  Bless her heart for knowing how much Molly means to me and being willing to extend her comfort zone to even pet her.  I joke and tell Janna that she will have to get used to doggies because I bet her anything that her girls will beg and plead for one by the time they're 7.  And Janna will cave.  It may even happen before the girls turn 7 because they already love dogs!  They've interacted with Molly once when they were real little and loved her then, so I can't imagine how much they'll love her today!  Miss Molly and I are going to the park to let Emily and Lauren hang with Molly and play all over her, and help Janna be a little more comfortable around a dog.  In all reality, it's just a fun reason for the two of us to get together!   (Interruption:  Molly is standing right next to me, staring at me with her ears perked ready to go!  I can't keep this puppy waiting much longer so I'll wrap it up.)  I'm thankful Molly loves big and little people so much!  She'll help convince Janna that dogs are the best.  I bet anything Janna will have a dog of her own some day soon.  I just know it!