Happy 2nd Birthday Baby Girl!

Dear Sophie,

I promised you a birthday essay of your own. I've been thinking about the crazy busy life we've lived for the last 12 months, and realized, with a shock, that you weren't even part of my life on April 28th, 2010. You weren't even my Possible Dog until the middle of May of last year. You have been part of this family for less than a year? How can that possibly be? I feel like you have been my funny little baby girl forever.

You came into my crazy life at an even more crazy than normal time - I'd just quit a "Good Corporate Job" that I loathed, decided to leave Florida, but hadn't decided where to go yet, there was a wedding on the horizon that fall, a new granddaughter in Asheville - and I was a crazy nut who decided to get another dog, with all that on my plate.

I'd already talked to your breeder about upcoming litters of puppies, but my saner, more practical voice was already fretting over a baby dog, and adding socializing, training and housebreaking while relocating didn't seem like such a great idea. Then your first mommy decided that you, at barely a year old, should join a smaller household where you would get more attention, and I jumped on you like you jump on a tennis ball. (With a crazy, froglike spring, except mine was over a telephone.)



The day I brought you home, I drove to Jacksonville over 2 hours each way to your house, to meet you. On the way back, we stopped at your Auntie Carol's (she's really my cousin, but you're a dog and even humans find that stuff hard to sort out, so we will go with Auntie Carol). She adored you at first sight, and declared that you are the spitting image of the Bostons our family had when she was a little girl! She took this picture of us, then she carried you around like a baby and fussed over you, until we got back on the road. The big moment had arrived: introducing you to your new home!

You walked into the house and Murphy leaped for joy and shrieked "HOORAY! A BOSTON! I LOVE HER!" and greeted you like his new BFF. I had been prepared for a period of adjustment, but aside from a couple of very minor nervous moments around Murphy and the cats that first afternoon - you'd never lived with cats before and they do tend to quietly sneak up on a dog - you adjusted like you were born to be here. In 24 hours, you and Boris were exchanging kisses and head butts.

When poor old Boris got really sick last fall, you were very supportive, and cuddled with him and gave him kisses. Little you comforting that old sick cat - I'll never forget that.

You became part of the family very quickly, though there were some unhappy moments. There was the unfortunate hiney problem of which we shall not speak again, but whoa, that was nasty. You haven't had a hint of it again, knocking wood. You were so brave - you became very afraid of the vet's office at that point, but always faced it bravely and solemnly, like a brave little soldier going into battle. We just went for your annual checkup this week, and you have not forgotten your bad experience with Vet Things. You were extremely, solemnly well behaved, and your new doctor was wondering about your personality, and actually asked if you ever ran and played normally! He never saw you in your normal mode, goofy and snorting and jumping like a frog.

You are a hilariously funny and sweet girl - a total cuddle bug with a serious TV addiction.



You fit in everywhere and always try to get along. You love your doggy cousins,



you even learned to love snow,



and you are the perfect fit for this little family. You were meant to be my dog. Happy Birthday, my sweet little girl.