More is More

Today we are celebrating Tessa’s birthday.  She came to us as a stray found in the neighborhood on the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend 2 years ago.  The vet estimated her age at that time to be 2 or 2 1/2 years old, so we are calling today her 4th birthday.  We took her with us to Old Towne Orange to have a wonderful outdoor lunch at Bruxie (they brought her a dog treat, but she held out for a bite of waffle) and to walk around and enjoy the stores.  People constantly commented how cute she is and of course I was a proud and happy mama.  I thought I would share some of my favorite photos of Tessa over the past couple of years.  If you’re a regular reader then you’ve probably seen most of these before.

Two years ago today we didn’t have a dog.  We had our two macaws and had decided just months earlier that trying to integrate a dog into the  flock would just be too difficult.  It was Saturday and Curt was in charge of a car show at church the next day – his first one.  He had lots and lots of details to attend to and he was a tad stressed.  A knock came on our kitchen door.  A lady asked if we knew anyone who might be missing a small dog – maybe a long-haired chihuahua.  I said I didn’t.  Her son was playing in a soccer tournament being held at the school a few doors down and they were from out of town.  Everyone they were with was from out of town and they had found this dog and didn’t want to take it out of the area.  Without a thought (or a word to my husband) I said I would take the dog and find the owner.  This wouldn’t be the first time I had put signs up all over the neighborhood and found a missing family.  Off I went.

I came home with this sweet, pitiful little thing.  Curt was none too happy – especially since she nipped at him when he reached out to try to pet her.  She was clearly frightened.  We stopped everything we were doing to make signs and drive around to tape them up all over the neighborhood.

She finally warmed up to Curt around Monday.  He had the week off work for a staycation to work on the backyard and we had a BBQ scheduled the following Saturday.  She “helped” him in the yard all week.  By Thursday or Friday we were smitten and began hope to that no one would call for her.  Friday night we went and bought her a leash, a bed, and her first toy.

No one ever did call and she became part of our family.  A happy happy addition indeed.  I often say that I don’t think she had former owners.  I think the Lord had angels drop her from heaven just for us.  We didn’t even know we needed a dog!

Hot Dog for Halloween ’09

Our Christmas card ’09

May 2010 – first time we took her for a professional grooming.  Loved the bandannas she gets there!

One of my all-time fave photos!

June 2010

July 2010

July 2010

The classic chicken photo!  Halloween 2010

Christmas 2010 with her Nordstrom bowl from Grandma.  🙂

April 2011

May 2011

Today 🙂

Waitin’ for waffles!

If you’ve hung in with me through all these photos – thanks!  I’m one of those silly people who loves my pup like crazy – OBVIOUSLY!  I hope you are having a great weekend!