Of Dogs and Babies

This is Jo Montana. We call her Montana. She's also affectionately called: Mawma, Monty, JoMo, Brat, Pretty Girl, and Montana Good Girl.

Today is Montana's 2nd birthday.

Montana had a rough start to life. She was born in the middle of her litter - 4 females and 1 male. Her mother died when she was just 5 weeks old, and her humans decided to surrender her entire litter to a kill-shelter in Madera.

Fortunately, a rescue group here in the South Bay heard about this litter and partnered with Humane Society Silicon Valley to arrange pick-up and foster care for the litter. Montana was fostered with 2 of the females: Jerry Rice and Daisy.

We had only lived in our house for a few months when we found this litter. We were originally after the 1 male, but miraculously, we ended up with our girl, Montana.

When we adopted Montana, our friends and family teased us that we were "practicing" for when we had a child. They certainly didn't mean anything by it, but they definitely didn't know how hard it was for me to hear those words. 

It's not a secret, we don't have any children. It's also not a secret that we've been struggling with infertility for several years. And frankly, we're still struggling. 

4 cycles of ultrasounds, medication, and shots. 4 cycles of negative pregnancy tests. Not to mention the 3 years of negative pregnancy tests before that. To be honest, I don't know if conceiving a child will ever be in the cards for us. 

But here's what I do know. Montana is the best cuddler - as long as it's on her terms. She doesn't jump in the backseat of my car, but she'll jump on the bed without issue. She won't eat unless she knows where I am. She loves to play and will chase ANYTHING she thinks could be a good playmate. She reads me like a book and presents herself for a cuddle when I need one - like right now, as she has her nose buried in my hip. 

We may not have a child, but we have Montana. While I once loathed people that would treat their dogs like their children, I've become one of those people. 

Oh well. She's worth it.