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!
