About a Boy ♥

A few weeks ago there was a tiny party in the garden to celebrate the 1 year anniversary of the birth of a very special boy.  And this week, there is more celebrating, as this is the very week one year ago, that this same birthday boy came to live with us.

A tiny and very young fluffer became a part of our lives, changing us in ways we could not imagine.  Healing us in ways we would never have believed.  Bestowing upon us, the greatest love and kindness we could have ever hoped for.

Where did the year go?  And how on earth could I choose the perfect photos to celebrate the most sweetest happening in the lives of Mister Lovee, Matty and me?

I'll try....

(Matty, short for Matisse is the brown dog, Miles is the white dog.  They are both boys)

So, yes!

It's true. 

Our little Miles has turned 1 year old!

Sniffle sniffle.

Many of you know the importance of adding Miles to our family, as our hearts were so broken from losing Baby.

The day Miles came into our lives was amazing.  It took me 6 months to seriously consider adding a new member to our family.  I wanted to adopt an older dog, or a rescue dog.  Alas, fate had a different plan.

One morning in late December of 2010 I woke up and knew this would be the day we would adopt a wee furry babe. 

I ran out to the gate barefoot and in my pajamas (what's new) and grabbed the newspaper.  I tore it apart looking for the classified section, and promptly saw an ad for a golden retriever puppy.  I called the number.

The gal who answered lived 3 hours away, but had two puppies (a girl and a boy), and would drive to Tucson because there was a couple ahead of us who wanted to see the puppies as well.  They would get first choice.

I drove an hour away to meet the puppies.

I waited in my car, watching as the couple played with the boy puppy.

My heart sank.

I thought I wanted the girl, but now, I wanted the boy.

I knew he was mine.

All of a sudden the couple stood up, putting down the boy, and picked up the little girl.

They finished their paperwork and left.

I jumped out of my car, happy as could be, picked up the baby boy, paid, filled out paperwork, and went on my way with my new bundle of joy.

This is a photo of the first day we brought him home.

I drove home with this wee furry babe on my lap, all curled up.

I stopped to show him to my Mom and Dad who were in town shopping, and we snapped this shot of my dad holding him.

Matty, who doesn't like anyone, loved Miles from the moment I took him out of the car.  Lovee sat in the dirt driveway and just fell in love with Miles.

(It took us a couple days to find the perfect name to suit him)

He was and is the happiest friendliest sweetest little guy I ever met.

It is amazing, how your heart can morph and change.  How one moment you don't think you can ever fix the pain in your heart from losing a super special dog.

And then, when the time is right, your heart opens up again.

Of course, we had Matty to love and adore, but he was missing Baby too.

So, Miles came in and filled a void in all of us.

We still miss Baby, and shed a tear for her every so often...

We still love her.

And we love Matty and Miles just as much.

If you are a parent (of human or furry children), you get what I mean.

I used to think it was silly and crazy for people to compare pets to humans.

Before having Baby in our lives for almost 10 years I had no compassion, even when I tried to, for people who lost a pet.

I just didn't get it.

I hadn't been there, felt that kind of love and known that deep secret of furry love, and how it changes you, and opens your eyes.

Lovee and I talk all the time, about how Baby changed us.  How she made us better people, and how she opened our eyes, so that we could love the kindest most loyal creatures on earth.  Those sweet furry children.

Matty and Miles gift us such different things.

Matty has a curious character, tough, mean to strangers, protector of me (must be with me at all times).  Leary of the world.  He makes me feel so safe.  He attacks me, literally, with love in the morning.  Jumping on me, going crazy as if he hasn't seen me for months.

Miles gifts us constant laughter, easy going, hilarious.  Loves other dogs, loves people, loves everything.  Loves to eat, to collect pieces of wood, loves to sleep on his back, hug, make horse noises, and sulks if I don't give him his spot at the end of the couch (which I always turn over promptly).  He loves toys, and does a whole bevy of tricks.  He rubs his eyes with his paws when he wakes up in the morning, and purrs like a lion.

Both boys know how to shake your hand.

Matty hugs me on command.

See, different things, all good.

Oh oh, one other thing though, if I happen to even leave the car door cracked, both boys will find their way in and wait for me to take them on an outing.

It is so amazing to see a puppy grow over the course of a year...

Miles came to live with us when he was just under 5 weeks old.  We were told he was 6 weeks old, but the forms had a different date.  He was so young, and yet, he did so super well.  Sometimes we couldn't find him, but he had already put himself to bed.

Such an independent strong little chap.

I can't even look at these photos without wanting to cry and laugh and swoon out loud...

To be a part of the every day, in the life of a puppy is just incredible, as they grow so fast!

It is a true treat, a gift.

Especially if they let you dress them up every now and then ;)

I know a lot of people wonder, and ask me, if and why or when I might have human babies?  And the honest truth is that, I have not had that moment in my life where I know I must have a human baby.

Is there a moment where that happens?

I have no clue.

I am not sure if and when that happens, or when and if it will happen to me.

I feel so content and happy in my life, and I go with the flow.

But I will say this...

My pups, to me, are my children.

I adore them as such.

Call me wacko, crazy, clueless.

I don't care, they are my children.  Totally and completely.

I am a fierce protector of them, and they are spoiled, but well behaved.

:)

Of course, I am so chatty today that I veered (what's new) completely from the reason for this photo filled post....

The recap of my wee Miles babe, growed all big!

He still gets the paper every morning, which he began on his own.  I am not sure how he even knew to do that.  He runs outside, and grabs the paper down the driveway.  I wait by the door, he runs back in and delivers the paper to Lovee.

I always tell Mister love that...

If we had not lost Baby...

We probably would have never met Miles...

And so, in the sadness of losing her, there is such vast light and love gifted in the form of this darling guy...

Who has totally outgrown my desk...

But now cozies up beneath it...

And, with each sleep...

Has grown bigger and bigger by the second...

Jumping galore included!

And so.....

In 365 days, my baby got very growed up..

A big smiling boy...

Like I said, jumping included ;)

Who runs and plays all day...

And always, I mean always...

Carries a stick.

And, although he is much bigger than he was one year ago, to me he will always be that little guy who mended our hearts, and makes our little world a better place, just by being him....

Have you hugged some fur today?

I hope so.

There is nothing like a furry hug to make the day extra super special.

Must go find that boy and squeeze him for the 750th time today.

Now he is 1. 

Oh my!

Loooove, V

 

ps:  Thank you for humoring me with my extra long obnoxious doggie mama post ;)

pss:  I will be back with our yearly New Year's wish post extra soon!

psss:  I almost forgot, it is my five year blogiversary.  What????  Yes.  Crazy!

pssss:  Please oh please, tell me something extra funny or special or sweet or anything at all about your furry babe (s), please???  I loooove those sorts of tales.  Also, tell me their names.  I love to hear the names of furry kids!  Pups, kitty cats, feathered too!

Comments

[Jenn]

So much celebration! Happy birthday Miles! And happy 5th blogiversary Vanessa! And Happy New Year as well!

I did indeed hug TWO fur babies today, neither of them my own, but I am just fortunate to have friends and family with lovely little pooches. Lady is a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel and Buddy is a Yorkie. I love them both SO dearly. I was a babysitter for Miss Lady yesterday and the little goblin just would not walk when I took her out... she literally will beg and beg for walkies, and then once you get on your coat, her coat, your boots, and her leash on and head outside, she lays down in the snow! She just lays there and will not budge! It drives me insane but I love her dearly!

Lots of love,
Jenn

[somepinkflowers]

what a grand puppy story
for one
such as me
who could not sleep
after staying away
~~too late~~
watching the latest jane eyre
with mia wasikowska
yet
again...

but now
i feel i can have a good slumber
with furry dreams
of All your Furry Ones!

the photos are dream*worthy,
for certain!

:-)

PS--
never once
did i feel this myself:
'''that moment in my life where I know I must have a human baby'''

but truly
all manner of babies--
some with 2 legs
some with 4--
have found their way to my door

as it will B with you.

worry not!

good night, missy
and happy new year to you
sooner
than
not!

♥

{{ i do remember when miles
went thru his dress*up jane austin phase!
what a sweetie! }}

[Naomi]

Such a beautiful post Vanessa. A very sweet Happy Birthday to Miles and a very sweet Unbirthday to Mr. Matty. Let me not forget about you...Felicitaciónes!! Congratulations on your 5th Blogiversary!! I don't have a furry little one just yet...but my friend's "Momma dog" had pups and she will be giving me one! I am so happy because I've never had a dog of my own!

[deb]

Vanessa what a wonderful post. We've had many animals throughout our life but now we are down to one. A 6yr old black cat Jinx. I cannot tell you how many times a day he makes us laugh and smile.

We too had a golden retriever touch our hearts. They are such good natured, big hearted, fun loving dogs. His name was Orion. I like to look at his constellation in the night sky and think of him. We got him from some people who mistreated him terribly. I answered an ad in the paper for retriever $50 and when i got there i thought he had freckles all over him and it turned out to be ticks.I wasn't sure i wanted a boy, i thought too i wanted a girl and he looked so sickly i had vet bills dancing in my head but i COULD NOT LEAVE HIM to that fate. I had to pick him up and put him in my car he was too weak to jump in. Drove him home and while the flea shampoo was doing its job called the humane society on those people. I don't know what ever became of it but i had two wonderful years with him spoiling him to death, teaching him not to be afraid of his own shadow.And he was feriously loyal and protective of me. Then he started getting where he couldn't breathe. Found out he had caught a tick disease from all those ticks called erlichiosis (spelling not right) and even with treatment and pills he died drowned in his own blood. I was so heart broken, i cried and cried. i was so angry at those people. He made my life richer and i was a better person for having loved him.

Its hard to believe its been a year since you brought miles home. He was such an adorable puppy. Now hes a fine young man-cub. :) Orion was a year old when i brought him home so i didn't get to see him as a puppy. Loved seeing all those pictures! Hugs! deb

[Deanna]

I know exactly what you mean about not understanding fur baby love until you have one of your own. We started with 2 dachshunds and now have 4 ~ momma, daddy and 2 of their puppies. After the puppies were born, we were permanently attached! I have never in my life enjoyed dogs as much as I have this last year with our herd! Everybody is spayed and neutered now, so one litter of puppies was it, but what a wonderful experience it was! And what a wonderful life mine has become because of them!

[Annalee]

Ahhhh... all those pics of your sweeties make my heart just melt!!! =D

I have a similar story to yours... A few years ago, my kitty, Kyo-kun, died suddenly from what we think was bone cancer. It was terrible... we almost lost our apartment & car in trying to get him the best vet care possible. But it was no use, he still left us to wander other paths. He was my furry heart like no cat before him, and possibly no one else ever will be. He was sensitive & sweet & loved to talk with you. ^-^
He loved everyone & was the biggest bed hog. After he died, I was beyond depressed. I couldn't get out of bed for days. It took me so long to recover... I'm still recovering. Several months after he died, my partner's youner sister's cat had kittens. We went to see them & they were soooo cute, but none of them were Kyo... and I decided that I didn't want another cat if I couldn't have MY cat back (silly, I know, but that's part of grief.)
In the end we decided to take home a tiny grey ball of fluff... and it was one of the best things I've ever done. We named him Cthulhu (cause I'm an HP Lovecraft nut...) and call him Lhu for short. He's huge now... booshy & lovey. He has done so much to heal both Britt's & my hearts after losing Kyo. He showed us that each furry babe has something new & different to give. He also helped our cat Macha heal after Kyo died. Kyo had kind of been Mr. Mom to her, and she was a little lost without him. Lhu gave her someone to mother, and helped her too.

I can't imagine life without Lhu now. Each of my kitties is the best gift. They make me complete. They are my children, and I am fiercely protective of them. They add personality & character to our little family.

I'll always miss my Kyo, huge & fluffy & orange. He was so special. ^-^ But my kitties with me now heal me every day.

Phiphi is the oldest. He's the only short haired one & is black with a white undercoat... his fur shows up on everything. ^-^

Macha is fluffy & black with red & brown in her fur. She's the only girl, but doesn't seem to mind.

Lhu is grey & white, fluffy & lazy most of the time. He loves to sleep on his back, all stretched out. He's part Pixie-bob. He loves to be babied by Macha.

Vash is our newest kitty. We got him over the summer. He's black & fluffy, and is Macha's doppelganger (although now he's a bit bigger than she is...) @_@
He loves being the baby & adores Lhu, who likes to have someone to play with. The two of them wrestle & tumble all over the place. ^-^ He loves to snuggle & be carried around.

So... these are my furry babes. Sorry for such a long comment... ^-^ But once I get going about my kitties, it's hard for me to stop...

Hugs & kisses to your furry babes & hugs to you & Mr. Lovee.

XOXO

[Alyssa]

Our furry baby is Gypsy and she is the love of our lives. She is a quiet Pomeranian mix with the gentlest little heart and brightest personality. I had a conversation recently with another fur mama and we all feel nutty when we talk about our babies but only other fur parents would understand. I've got a human baby on the way and know that my baby and my Gypsy will be the best kids ever. Happy birthday to your fur baby!

[Serena Talbott]

I've sat here with tears running down my face and being amazed by your love story with your sweeties. Ain't love great! I have kitties Rowdy, Ranger, Rascal, Smudge, Violet, Cheeky, Osiris, Pele, and Pywacket; and puppies Cowboy, Sophie, LillieRose, Felucca, Martha Rae, Bub-boo, and Eli. They each have a special place in my heart that no one else can fill. A very Happy New Year to you and love to your Babies.

[ittybittyandpretty]

hippo birdie two ewe miles!!! what wonderful photos, such love in each one. we have a stray that came to stay. we found our cat last winter in our back yard with 3 little kittens. after handing the kittens to an adoption service we decided to keep 'mumma' as our own. 'mumza' is showered with love from our 3 girls and every now and then i catch my hubby giving her a little pat too. we gave her a collar for christmas and didnt see her until the next afternoon. we were beside ourselves with worry, wondering if the collar had choked her and other silly such thoughts until she sauntered (as only cats can) back to us. needless to say we took the collar off deciding that she isnt a collar wearing cat.
hope your new year is wonderful.
xxrosey

[Two Crazy Crafters]

Oh Vanessa! I loved reading about Miles So Much! He looks like such a sweetheart! I know he was born to be your baby. That's how I feel about ours, too. Muffin (a bolognese) was 2 years old when we got him, but from the moment he was born, his purpose was to join our family and heal our broken hearts after loosing our beloved Buffy. Then a few months later we added Spencer (a poodle). He was a puppy about the same age as Miles when you got him. It was trying at times because he chewed up everything in the house! Cords, bras, Coach purses, Halloween decorations . . . he wasn't picky! Then a year and a half ago we walked into a local 'care' center to see what dogs might be there and immediately fell in love with a little white bundle of joy we named Barney. He's a bichon and so much personality and love in that little body. Kids say I spoil him, but there's just something about knowing you rescued this baby. He is special. I do know just how you feel about your fur babies. They bring so much love and laughter to our homes. Enjoy your day and please give Miles and Matty a big hug from me! Twyla

[Natalie VV]

I loved every word and picture of this 'extra long doggie post!' Happy Doggie Anniversary, and cheers to the years ahead... blessed and joyful, may they be!

[Aleksandra @ diaryofaliveaboard]

I just love this post, Vanessa. I, too, had a wonderful dog that changed my life. Her name was Nikki. My grandad bought her for me when I was 8 years old and we became best of the best friends. She was a yellow lab. I had to go away to college and every time I came home she seemed just fine. Finally in my sophomore year I came home for thanksgiving and she could barely walk. I couldn't imagine how she'd gotten so bad so fast, but my mother said she was that bad, but every time I came home she'd rally herself together and put on a brave furry face. Now, years later, I still miss her and think of her almost every day. Anyway, I'm dying for a dog now, but my boat is just too small. Maybe soon though...

[victoria]

Happy Birthday Miles from BEAR, my Aussie Shep.
I loved this post...It could be signed by me!!!
I waited 7 years to fill the void that Lady left in my life...but then we were ready for BEAR ~ and she was ready for us. We have grown children and grandchildren, but BEAR is with us day and night. She is so smart, attentive, and gives unconditional love...please visit my blog when you have a moment and take a look @ my BEAR...Happy New Year to you and the 2 boys...oh, and Mr. Loveee also :D
~victoria~

[Mairi]

Oh, I love this post so much! Your blog always--and I mean always--makes me smile, and fills me with a happiness and calm that just makes me smile.
We have 2 cats--Mimi and Winston, though they get called Meester and Bubba more often. ;) They are brother and sister and we adopted them when they were about 3 years. Mimi is a mama's girl--boardering on the obsessive--and is the reason we took them home. She yelled and yelled and yelled until I kneeled down to pet her. She only had eyes for me--scratching both my sister and my husband--and intimidating a tiny kitten who thought we'd be great parents. Winston was there with her, but was terribly sad to be in the cage, and was morosely looking out a window, barely lifting his head to say hello. Now they fight for the prime spot on the couch (my lap) and snuggle us all through the night, greeting us with joyful meows every morning and following me throughout the house all day. Oh, I do know the joys of the furry babe momma. The fierceness with which we can love our babes. The tears it makes me shed--sometimes the force of how much I love them spills out. I'm so happy that we have this great gift every single day.

[Kelly]

Oh WOW Vanessa, I have such a smile on my face reminiscing with you and your Wonderful year of the magnificent Miles. Such a treasure trove of delightful pictures as you invited us all to watch him grow up!
I have to say losing furry ones is just as heart breaking as it is with losing anyone in your life. Time will help to heal but never lets you forget.
I most say that it’s funny how and when the new furry one enters into your world it’s a magical time, and is one that fate allows and it’s just as you say, the right time.
My new fury member arrived in October and was saved and brought home by my husband who did not want two dogs and yet here we are. My Trixie looks similar to Matty and acts exactly like him. We feared of bringing another dog home and yet my kiddos wanted a loving dog for themselves. Enter Buddy, all love 24-7, almost too much that it can bug Miss Trixie.
This new family member has stirred the pot of our lives and is served daily full of new adventures.
Happy 5 Vanessa ;) and New Year to you and the Boys! <3

[Beverly]

Dearest Vanessa....

You bring light and love to the hearts of many with your blog posts....and sharing Matty and Miles is just one sweet part of that. I know the joy that fur babies bring to your life as we have five. We never set out to have five, but the last three just found us and we could not turn them away. For as ferociously as we loved the first two....Sadie our Bernese Mtn. dog and Maddie our Newfie.....we have found oodles more love for our "found" boys Oakley and Sam and our precious adopted senior "Hickory" who would surely have died in the Humane Society. So....our home is furry at times and slobbery and little muddy prints often track across the hardwood floors....but our hearts are full of love and our arms are full of 4 legged babies just wanting to return that love ten-fold!

Happy New Year to you and your babies!!!
Hugs,
Bev
Bee Haven Acres....a small farm in central PA.

[Leah Adams]

Congratulations on your 5th blogging anniversary! And a happy birthday to Miles! Happy 1st anniversary to all of you for having him in your lives! What a wonderful way to end the year!

I've got three furry kitty babies. I say they are all used cats, as we got them all from other homes that didn't want to, or couldn't keep them. They are very well loved, spoiled and much happier where they are now. They are Tweedle, 20; Faith, 15; and Shinji, the baby at 10. Dear Tweedle in her old age is deaf as a post, and is getting a little forgetful. She is utterly devoted to me, and when I leave the house, or she forgets that I'm there, she will yowl until I appear again. My husband has told me that she has done this for two hours straight, and the he could not comfort her. Faith love is a scrawny little cat with more energy than should be allowed. She used to love to play "Bait the Tweedle," until Tweedle got too old to care. She now plays "Bait the Shinji." The game is the same. She will hide around a corner or under something, and when they walk by, will leap out and attack them, then run away to get them to chase her. This game can last for hours! Bratty Shinji is my little monster, but the biggest cat in the house, at 15 pounds! He may be 10, but he still acts, and sounds, like a kitten! He's a little snot that is constantly getting in trouble with his big sisters. He so wants to be top cat, but has no clue how to do it properly. But he's happy having two sisters who love him, and a mom & dad that shower him with attention and throw jingle balls, q-tips & Mardi Gras beads for him to play fetch.

We lost their older sister, Arilia, a few years ago from bladder cancer when she was almost 21. She was with me from the time she was a kitten, and was so young when I got her that my own mother cat had to take up her feeding. She was the best cat I've ever had. When we first got Shinji, he tried his best to dominate the three girls, but they were having none of it. He tried to dominate Arilia one time. At the time, she was less than two weeks away from dying of her cancer. She chased him three times around the house, and finally chased him into the tub. She couldn't get into the tub herself anymore, but anytime that he poked his head out of, or tried to get of the tub, she chased him back in. For two hours! She was tough enough that when she was literally knocking on Death's door, she could still beat the tar out of her little brother, which was 1/4 her age, and more than three times her size! She was loving enough that sometimes my heart still breaks when I think of her. I can honestly say that if I hadn't had her in my life, I might be dead now. She got me through some really tough times.

[Lisa K]

Happy Birthday Miles!
I have a long haired black kitty and a little white Jersey Wooly bunny. The bunny loves to play! He runs in circles around the kitty who just sits in place with a paw up ready to smack at the bunny every time he runs by :) It's hilarious to watch and apparently the bunny loves it because he does it often!

I'm so glad your hearts are mending :)

[Miss Linda]

Oh how precious Miles is.
My story is about a year and a half ago my daughter brought home a paper with the cutest little unkept, weak, adorable doggy on the page. We loved her right from the get go...she filled out papers and we had to just wait. She got an email from the pet connection. We then had to fill out adoption papers. With in the hour the owner of the pet connection called me. She asked it we would like to meet her. We screemed yes! We were to meet her at 10:30. we were there by 10:00. The lady brought her out to us. Oh my goodness. What a tiny bundle of joy...we were home by 10:30. They gave us special food, medication and everything else we needed. She weighed 2 1/2 lbs. (too small) with in two weeks she started to put on weight and was off her medication. With in 6 weeks she weighed 3 1/2 pounds. We love her so much...Her name is Penny Lane. She is a chi/teacup poodle.
Animals always fill in the gaps...they don't replace but add a helping paw.

[Lisa K]

One more story...
I have children too (daughters). They sit in front of the basement door that has a cat door. He likes to fly through and swat at them to make them squeal with delight! He'll do it over and over and the girls never get sick of it :)
With is much as he likes to smack it's a good thing he's declawed!

Oh and Happy Blogiversary! I love visiting here!

[GG Pinkster]

Woof and bark hearts a spark.
PaChuco is his name.
Jumping high and wagging tail,
Rescued from pain of cries and wail.
Now he sits and shakes too,
Walks with Momma across the dew.
A carmel coat and a white head,
Zoot suiting across the spread.
Kisses and lapping tongue,
Oh how fresh to be so young.
Dreams of Termito and Maxine of past,
Their loving memories will always last.

Happy New year, birthday, blogiversary, furbaby yahoooo day. xo

[Jessica]

Happy birthday Miles! It is so amazing to see our fluffy comanions grow up, but at the same time, you almost wish for the first day you found them, as a tiny furry pup...

I do not really have any experience with dogs. I have kitties. There are stereotypes about cats and how they are aloof and snobby and don't cuddle with you...how wrong! My two kitties (Pogo, a super fluffy kitty, and Smudge, a gray, short-haired cat) are brothers who we discovered in our backyard when my brothers and I were playing outside one day with our friends. They were two in a litter of five and so cute! Well, we ended up adopting Pogo and Smudge out of the five and we still love them.

As far as individual personalities go, our cats are very unique. Pogo (the super fluffy one) is sort of my cat. He will follow me everywhere if I use my special kitty voice and he especially loves to rub against anyone's ankles. Sometimes he even falls over on the floor when he gets super excited! We got this stuffed animal cow that sits on the end of my bed and Pogo chews on him. He loves to suck on his cow! So strange, but cute. Every night he wants me to pet him while he sucks on his cow. He used to do that to his soft bed when he was a kitten.

Pogo is very bouncy, hence his name. We were going to name him Pounce, but none of us liked it because it lacked originality. When my dad suggested Pogo, we all loved it. As a kitten, Pogo would try to bounce away from the group, his little bottom going up and down as he attempted to climb the stairs in our house. I can remember that so clearly...

Pogo was a mama's boy. He loved drinking his milk as a kitten and he is so attached to his cow, maybe because he was taken away from his mommmy too soon? He is also a snuggle bunny. In the winter, he loves to snuggle up into a tiny ball and sleep on a soft, cushy blanket. There is a story attached to that but it would take too long to explain.

As for Smudge, he is a character as well. We have many nicknames for him, including "Fatty", "Pudge", and "Smudgy-Poo" because, you guessed it, he is FAT!!! He loves his treats. He will wake us up by jiggling my parents door handle and meowing if he is not fed soon enough and he is always on the look out for a food bag. My dad is his main food bag, but sometimes he can weasel treats out of me or my brother. (My mom can somehow resist his cute antics :)

When he was a kitten, he had a smudge on his nose, which was where his name came from. Now, he has grown out of his childhood birthmark, but the name stuck. He follows my dad around in case there are any treat-giving opportunities around and he loves to curl up in people's laps.

The kitty brothers are good friends and love to play with each other. A lot of the time they just sleep, but sometimes they get into lame fights that everyone wants to see and encourages. (They don't hurt each other--mostly when they try to bat each other with their paws they miss!)

Well, thanks for reading my super long comment!

Ta ta for now,
Jess xoxo
A Woodland Fantasy

[Jill James]

Baby Miles with a baby crown on his head! soooooo darling....

Before my human babies, my fur baby was Sasha (we rescued her on her way to the pound). Eight years after she passed on, another precious love came to us....my Mom's dog, Lulu (my Dad married someone who doesn't like pets - a severe warning!) so we adopted her. Can you imagine someone who won't even pet a small, adorable teacup poodle?! Well, after Tallulah Belladonna (Lulu) went to doggie heaven, my daughter wanted a chihuahua, Micariot Cocariot (Mickie).....when my Dad & his wife came to visit, Mickie went right over to her, pawed her arm and started barking for her to get off the sofa! But he played and chased with my Dad (dogs know, don't they?)

I also had a sun conure bird (Chi Chi) who I adored & cuddled with in bed under the covers......we had to adopt her to another family after my husband had his transplant because you can't have birds or cats. It broke my heart.....

All creatures, even wild ones, open our hearts to a Higher Power.....love the saying......Wag More, Bark Less. You are definitely a wagger Mz. V

[Elizabeth]

Happy, Happy First Birthday, dear, sweet Miles!!

Ok, a longish furry story from me: Once upon a time I found a Siamese kitten on Christmas Eve and named her Nikkie...no one ever claimed her and so she became my bestest furry friend. we talked together all the time, you know how a Siamese will 'meow" all the time?! About the weather, her love of french fries, the state of her litter box...all about her! Except that she could purr up a storm and slept right beside me at night, and waited for me to get home from work. I loved her so, for 19 years. She crossed the Rainbow Bridge 4 years ago, and I sometimes still think I hear her, or even glimpse her tail as she runs down the hallway.

More story: When Nikkie was about 10, we got a puppy for my daughter and named it Gizmo. She is a Lhasa Ahpso and so stayed small. My Nikkie hated her, but then she hated every other furry creature out there, even cats! She terrorized Gizmo who then grew up despising cats. However Gizmo's best friend was our other dog, a big dog named Rosie, and they looked so cute together...Rosie took good care of Gizmo. But Rosie lived a good long life and crossed the Bridge. So little Gizmo had neither Nikkie to terrorize her or Rosie to love her (we loved her, but it wasn't quite the same).

The rest of the story: We moved from Arizona here to Mississippi, onto an acre in the country. One afternoon on a cold January day, a small black kitten appeared in the back pasture and when my daughter gently called to it, this wee thing gallopped to us and came into our house and our lives. She is named Kitterz, and is all black and all lovable.

The funny part of the story: Gizmo the dog, sworn enemy of all cats, tried to be mad at Kitterz, but the kitten was not afraid of dogs, in fact she rolled on her back and purred at Gizmo. Since Kitterz was about the same size as Gizmo, Giz at once realized that this was a dog who, sadly, looked like a cat, and was not something to be mad at.

So now they are best friends, and keep each other warm in the side room, sleeping next to each other, and sometimes eat out of the same bowl. And if Kitterz isn't in the room, but in the rest of the house (poor Giz, at her age can't control her bladder and so cannot be in the carpeted house), then Giz makes quite a fuss, until her best furry friend comes back to her. Kitterz stays with Gizmo when it lightening and thunders, so she won't panic :)

Thanks, Vanessa, for letting me write this story. I understand about our companions. I'm so glad you have so much furry love around you!

Oh my, Hello to Matty, too!!

[Kaerie Faerie]

Happy New Year, always love reading your posts and your photos are magical, completely understand about the furrie ones, I'm off to hug mine
your fairy friend
Karey

[Tricia Fountaine]

Hi Dog Mom!!! Cat Mom here... no need to leave you with my story, you know it already. And yes I did hug some fur today, somewhere around 70. You asked for it so here is the names of our babies...
Munchkin
Scamp the Scruffy Spot
Cleo Swaggatum Patternip
Nipper of Nipomo
Yazz
Freeway
Abby or Absters
Flattop or
Jabba-walkie
Casper
Casper Too
Zeb
Monkey face
Patches
Princess who used to be Pudgerster Girls
Kitten (one of the first, very original name I know...)
Stripes
Sandstone 3/4
Paddington
Sandstone Kitten
Jumper
Mama
Ginger
Morgan (all the Morgans are ginger colored and are named from the movie "The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill And Came Down A Mt"
Baby Morgan
Solo Morgan
Mouser Girl
Timmy
Speedy
Tiger
Baggins
Missy
Snowy (or when she is off her diet we call her Avalanche)
Barney girl
Thumper
Sukie
Mcgonagall (from the story Harry Potter)
Fuzzy Mcgonagall
Whiskers
Sandstone Tom
Coon Tom
Leo
Ogi (One Good Eye)
Zen
Tab
Scarface
Ope
Peanut
Meatloaf
Applesauce
Stretch
The Conductor
Number Four (I know again not very original...)
Snufflehook
Fuzzy Applesauce
Little Grey Goose
Spooky Spooks
Taylor
Robin
Herman (yes from the Harry Potter story)
Paul
Leticia
Charlie
Chuck
Chaz
Annabelle
Gracie
Buster
Nadia
A huge (79 furry babies worth!!!) happy birthday to Miles!
And a Happy New Year to you and your family!
Furry Blessings,
Tricia (AKA Cat Mom)

[Lilli]

Thank you for the lovely post that brought up great memories of our wonder dog, Walter. He came into our lives a month before we got married and he was a dark red Golden Retriever who stole our hearts as soon as we saw him at the local animal shelter. I don't know how anyone could've given him up, but then again, I know he was meant to be our dog. Because of him, we adopted Boomer from a Golden Retriever rescue group. Boomer helped us move through our grief when Walter died a little over two years ago after a battle with cancer that included chemo at our vet where he gained a huge fan club. Several months after Walter died, a friend of mine who trains dogs and knew us, Walter, and Boomer, asked me if we were going to get another dog. I replied, "Yes, but I just don't know if we're ready." She said, "I understand, but maybe Boomer's ready." So, we adopted Blaze from another Golden Retriever rescue group. Blaze is a joyful dog. Boomer, Blaze, along with our two cats, bring so much joy to our lives.

[Ros]

I woke up this morning ( 1/01/12) missing Narla. Its just under a year since Narla passed away. I miss her terribly. She was 14. Its funny how just reading these beautiful stories uplifts you. I have followed Miles progress over the last year and at times its been a painful reminder of the emptyness I have in my heart. I am hoping one day a new fur baby will enter our home and after reading all your lovely stories I'm sure there is another four legged human out there for us. Thank you everyone and have a happy fulfilling New Year!

[Tawny]

Such a sweet boy!!

I have loved all of Miles Shanangans Updates!! We lost our sweet fur baby Pixie a few years go, she left such a hole in our hearts we never thought we could fill it, then one day I was just looking online and saw the same woman we had adopted pixie from had another litter of pups, all but one was spoken for and i of course knew she was ment to be ours, Miley has completed our family, and everyday is an adventure with her!

[Laura]

Happy Birthday to Miles - he has to be one of the cutest puppies ever! Oh, those pictures are so precious, and he has grown into such a handsome young boy!

[Ariel]

Hello Vanessa!
Those pictures just melted my heart! I am so glad Miles was able to fill the void Baby left behind, and to know what a great child he has become!

I myslef have a white german shephard girl, named Luna. She is the most lovable thing, and was the absolute cutest thing i had ever seen when we got her back in June(But Miles comes pretty close to beating her....)

One crazy thing she does is every time she greets me or someone in my family, she does this silly dance, where her whole body wiggles like crazy, and her ears are flattened on her head!

Puppy love is indeed the strongest of all :)

Have a great day!
xoxo,
Ariel
The Whimsical Journey

Ps. I just bought one of your prints, and I am soo excited!! :))

[Theresa]

Happy happy birthday to Miles!!!! :) Oh Vanessa, this post brought a tear to my eye. I KNOW how much the loss of Baby affected you. And I know how much joy has been brought to you by the addition of Miles to your family. Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos. I do indeed understand the power of furry baby love. We nearly lost our Willow twice this year. I am so thankful she is still with me. She will always be my sweet baby girl. I have probably told you this already, but I always marvel at how smart she is. She always searches for the perfect toy to take to bed. And she knows when it is bedtime. She gets all frantic in her search for just the right toy to take to bed...it's too cute. And Neo is our sweet baby boy. He just seeks joy whereever he goes. He is, however, eternally hungry. And he tries to sneak food off our plates - but he doesn't have the word "no" in his vocabulary. When you tell him this, he tries to give you a human smile. With all his teeth. It is THE funniest thing you've ever seen!!!! Well, I've gone on enough...Happy Happy New Year to you and yours! xoxo

[Carolee Clark]

Happy Birthday to Miles, and Happy New Year!! I sooooooo love your posts, especially the ones about your furry children.

We have five furkids here - our Australian Shepherds Cadie and Cosmo, and the kitties, Merlin, Arthur and Guinevere. All rescues, and we LOVE each and every one of them to pieces...

And now, at the risk of sounding obnoxious, lol, I have to tell you that while you may not feel that pull to be a Mama to a human child yet, I feel sure it will happen (albeit sometimes after the fact, lol)...And when it does, you'll look back on your pre-parenthood life and marvel at how you could have ever been happy? You know you were, you remember thinking you were, but then you look at this beautiful little creation, and think you couldn't have possibly been. It's a different kind of happiness, a complete kind of happiness. The kind of happiness two people who so complete each other deserve, to bring everything full circle.

Anyway, if and when it does happen, I know you and Mr. Lovee will make amazing parents, and your child will be blessed.

Just sayin'. ;)

OK, end of annoying, intrusive, overstepping baby speech, lol...

Hugs and Happy New Year wishes,
♥ Carolee

[Rochelle New]

Gah!! What a handsome boy!

[Stacy Ross]

Happy Happy Birthday to you, Mr. Miles!!!!! Our Rocky turned 1 at the end of September. Love those Goldens.
They make life worth living.

[Renee]

It seems like just yesterday you showed us his baby pictures. You have beautiful furry babys.

[Shell]

Happy Birthday, Miles. He is adorable!!!! My furry bf, Mabel is the best. When I go to bed, she curls up next to me. She likes to pat my face with her paw and those rare moments I love, she licks my hand/cheek with her tongue.

[Donna ~ The Decorated House]

Much love and hugs to two very special pups!
Funny how they come to use to teach us such wonderful lessons of love.
Happy New Year to You and the Pups~

[marjorie]

Oh what a sweetie fur baby, indeedy! You must have found your little fur wee one around the same time last year as we brought our first born home.....we just celebrated her one year birthday, too! I've been tearing up thinking about how much she has grown and changed over the past year....and how happy I've been...it has been the best year ever!! I hope your 2012 is full of all things magical and bright and merry ( and many fur baby kisses and lots of tea and sweet yummies, too)! tee hee!!

♥ Thanks for being so lovely, as always!!

[Canadian Queen]

I always love your furbaby posts! My baby Oswald brings me joy every day. I dream of adding to our family, but everytime I think I've found "the one", someone else has already spoken for them. It's disheartening, but I know that when the right puppy sibling comes along, we'll be ready!

[Lynne]

Love this post.
Our greyhounds came with names that we kept. Paddy a big white softie; Rufus and Arthur, brothers, both with missing teeth, Arthur has only 4 and is partially sighted, (which is a shame for a sight hound), and Jess who came to us in October after we had to say a sad goodbye to Jewel. They give us so much don't they? In fact without them I don't think we would have made the wonderful friends that we did settling in a new country. A lot to be thankful for.

[phyllis]

Precious photos V!!!
I will brag about mine...
Cheyenne is an old old mix of German Shepherd and Collie...and has little found pal, Maya, who looks very much like her, only way smaller. Maya is hyper and collects the craziest pile of stuff daily. She worships the ground Cheyenne walks on even though Cheyenne can't see or hear...they are besties and snuggle buddies. Maya will not eat a morsel until Cheyenne is done. She will wait until Cheyenne's nap is over even. If I put food out she nudges Cheyenne, "get uppp, it's time to eattt!"
Then we have mama kitty who has a litter each April and August. She is Siamese and petite. Her kittens are the most gorgeous blue eyed children. We kept Greystone who is solid gray and has velvet fur and deep blue eyes. Mama kitty raised as her own, Eyegore, who I found alone and scared at three weeks of age. He is a tiger striped boy who is really flexible and squishy. He is blind in one eye and very tender about his feelings. He gets embarrassed easily but loves to play soccer with little glittery puff balls.

[Betty]

Dearest Miss Vanessa,
Oh, Dearest Dear Miles! Happy Birthday to you! *please give ear-scratchings from us!*

We don't currently have any furry children but as soon as we are settled some place for good, we will. My last little sweetheart dog, Chloe, was a wild girl and somewhat eccentric! She was part Boston Terrier and part Welsh Corgi and had taken the crazy bits of both to form her wacky personality. She would chase her tail (as most doggies do), but she would catch it and then pull and pull on her tail until she had wrestled herself to the ground!! She loved tearing up paper bags as a past-time. The sound of packing tape ripping off of the roll would drive her into a frenzy and she would tear around the room and jump all over the furniture! She was super loving and snuggly.

She is in heaven with my parents now, along with her sister Blinken, whom she never knew. Also there is my favorite turtle Punchy from my childhood who loved to sit on his rock in the sun each day, but always with a different pose from the day before. Sometimes, his head would be drawn in his shell and all four feet would be stuck straight out. Sometimes, his neck would be stretched as far as it would go and one foot would be sticking out back! Everyday he had a new pose and I always called him, "Punchy, the Object of Art"!

Thank you for reminding me to hug and kiss and scratch all of my Dear Ones, if only in my heart.

Betty

[Julie Q]

What a sweet sweet post about your darlings. I've always been a cat person, and my girl Poppy Q has her own little blog. However last year I house sat a sweet spoodle dog, I called him Chicky dog and fell in love.

I never understood people who abducted babies till Chicky dog, now if I see a cute scruffy puppy, I could just snatch him up and run!!

I work long hours in my job, and rent a house, so would feel mean having a dog - even though my heart wants it. So Poppy Q is my dog substitute.

Julie Q

[Fair Rosamund Art]

Aww, happy birthday to Miles!! He is so cute and handsome. I love seeing all of the photos as he grows up :)

I have four kitty girls whom I love with all my heart: Rosie, Alice, Jasmine and Violet. Rosie and Alice are daughter and mom, though no one can tell because Alice (the mom) is as small as a kitten! She came to a local cat shelter as a semi-feral to have her kittens, and now can't get enough lap time and pets. Rosie is my baby and gives me tons of cuddles.

Jasmine and Violet were both rescued from outside. Violet was found in my mom's back yard raising 5 kittens all by herself (my mom and sister have her kittens). Jasmine was abandoned and left starving to death outside, with bald spots and scabs all down her sides and a nose chewed up by mosquitos. Now she is the happiest, plumpest, sweetest girl :)

Thanks for sharing all about your special furries and letting me share about mine! :) Hope you are well and had a beautiful holiday season. ~Lauren

[Heidi Anderson]

I just love little Willa; I just think that we have very much in common! :D Sometimes, when I am having one of my migraines, I, too feel like I am walking a wee bit sideways... Sometimes, people look at me funny because of that. But, thats okay. I am happy to be me, even though I would rather not have to deal with such nasty headaches. I like to wear sparkles too, and green is my favorite color. So, you see, Willa and I are meant to be! :D

[Heidi Anderson]

PS: Now that I'm here, First comment, but long time fan- you're work (and you) are fantastic and I am on your blog all the time. Thank you for your inpiration. XO :)

[Heidi Anderson]

A little love note to Willa: Dearest Willa, I started thinking about my last message, and while I meant it, I realized that living in a place with headaches doesnt sound like fun. So, I wanted to write you back to let you know about the fun things that we do there... We have a very little, magical home. We like flowers and plants, fairies and angels, enya and Lorena McKennit and music is always playing... We watch a lot of movies there too! We like to watch kids movies- the magical kind- because I used to work at Disneyland and I am a kid at heart- and always will be ;) There are two furry feline princesses in our home who live with us and play and we hope that you will want to come stay with us. We wish you the best Willa! :)

[Izzy]

My chihuahua Chili Pepper sticks his tongue out ever so slightly and makes weeeeeee little noisies. He Snorkes and snorts like a piggy and slinks around the edge of furniture like a kitten. He barks at pictures of other dogs and chased a German Shepard three times his size one day and nipped the nose of a great Dane he truly only fears a the day he doesn't get table scraps, if that ever happened! <3