A few weeks ago, I teased that I had big news. The news is, *drumroll please,* I got a golden retriever puppy! Those who know me personally know that I’ve wanted a golden retriever my whole life. Of course, it didn’t make sense to get a dog when I was working in downtown DC and living in a tiny studio apartment. Now that I’m permanently working from home and have a backyard, it felt like the perfect time to add a canine family member.

Meet Sunny

I’d like to introduce you to Sunny. I chose her name because she is an absolute ray of sunshine in my life. At the time of writing, she is 11 weeks old and weighs just over 11 pounds. Sunny likes pinecones, tug-a-war, belly rubs, shoelaces, and general mischief. She dislikes not being allowed on the couch and when I’m not in her direct line of sight.

If you want more puppy content in your life, I created an Instagram account for Sunny: @sunnythegolden_. Fun backstory about this account: I knew I wanted a handle devoted to all things Sunny, but every variation of Sunny the Golden was already taken on Instagram. On a whim, I reached out to the owner of the @sunnythegolden_ account since they didn’t have any posts on their page. The page’s owner, Sarah, was beyond kind and generously gifted me the username, even coordinating the Australia to US time difference to make sure I could grab the username before someone else did. Thank you, Sarah!

Musings on the First Month of Puppy Motherhood

I can only imagine how strongly one feels after birthing a human baby because I’ve had Sunny for just shy of a month now and I would do anything for her. The maternal, protective instincts are real!

It’s been amazing to see the world again for the first time through her eyes. Her excitement when she first encountered fireflies rekindled my own sense of wonder. I find myself more attuned to the everyday magic around us–the chirping of birds, a gentle gust of wind, the laughter of children down the street–because she is fascinated by it all.

There’s a quiet contentment that comes with starting each morning with puppy cuddles and playtime. I love our routine and the sense of purpose that being her mom gives me.

My camera roll is now full of Sunny pictures. Here’s a handful of my favorites: