It's New Year's Eve. And it's all about the numbers.

It's the number of pounds we vow to lose. The amount of money we vow to save. We'll promise to reduce the number of times we yell and the number of cell phone minutes we use. We'll commit to raise the number of quality hours we spend with our family and to reduce the number spent on wasted activities.

Whether it's the number of resolutions we make, the number we break or the simple act of getting used to writing the new year's number on our checks, it can be one big numbers game.

So in the spirit of the game, here's my top ten list of what I have learned over the past six weeks as the new mother for yet another young, somewhat messy, sometimes stinky being, although this one has four legs and fur:

1.  Just like my kids, my dog sucks the time right out of my day. Granted, it's not always in a negative way.  One glance with his big eyes and suddenly, I realize it may not be the right time to start working. That perhaps I should delay the grocery store for 30 minutes and take him for that extra walk.

2.  Just like my kids, my dog drains my bank account. The vet. The food. The treats. The toys. Need I say more?

3.  Just like my kids, my dog can be stubborn. It's a battle of wills to break a bad habit. And of course, the habit I need to break has ended up being the one I most dreaded.

4.  Just like my kids, my dog sleeps better when he plays hard.

5.  Just like my kids, my dog is sloppy when he eats and drinks. The only advantage is that this furry child cleans up not only his crumbs, but everyone elses.

6. Just like my kids, my dog leaves a trail from wherever he has been - cotton stuffing from a stuffed animal, toilet paper, and a fallen bird's nest conveniently dragged inside and torn apart.

7.  Just like my kids, my dog occasionally smells horrible, needs a bath and should brush his teeth more.

8. Just like my kids, my dog needs me to find creative ways to give him medicine and sometimes, he spits it out on the first try.

9.  Just like my kids, my dog feels badly when he has disappointed me. And of course he brings out the mother pangs of guilt when I have to discipline him. 

10. Just like my kids, my dog has reminded me that when I stop getting frustrated or rushing and take the time to teach, we are both rewarded.

So as I sit on New Year's Eve, struggling to write a number of meaningful resolutions, I realize that this top ten lists points out the need for only one. I am reminded that the things I am most grateful for aren't  always clean, organized, good smelling and perfect. Life is messy and so are the people in it. But that's what makes it our own. That's what makes it special.

And if I could resolve to remember that from time to time, everything else would fall into place.