Because we’re all running around, trying to get ready for a wedding, and I realize I have to run to Target because Dawson has NO dress pants… Here’s a photo of our little dog, Murphy.  I took this one yesterday while I was photographing our garden.  When I uploaded the photo, I decided it looked much better in black and white, because those are the colors of Murphy’s coat.

This is not just a dog, he’s a best friend.  Don’t you just want to pet and cuddle him?  He is adorable, yes?

In the beginning, Murphy would run into another room whenever Dawson cried. When Dawson was around three months old, Murphy took an interest in him.  He loved to sniff his little head and lick his baby toes. Once Dawson became mobile, war began in our house.

We tried to teach Dawson to be gentle with Murphy, encouraging gentle touch and reprimanding him when he pulled on the dog’s ears and fur.

Dawson and Murphy have a love-hate relationship.  At times they love to play together, the rest of the time they fight like boy and dog.

Doug and I let Dawson and Murphy sleep in our bed. Murphy has slept with us ever since I brought him home and couldn’t get him to stop whimpering unless I let him sleep curled into my neck. Dawson began sleeping in our bed at 18 months old, due to a back injury that prevented me from lifting him into and out of his crib. It was a habit we didn’t intend to start, but now we haven’t got the heart to end it.

Every morning it’s the same routine. Dawson wakes up, crawls down to the foot of the bed by Murphy and gives him hugs and kisses and a few tugs on his neck. Murphy endures it for five minutes and then tries to escape Dawson’s grasp. Dawson pulls him back, Murphy playfully nips at him, and they “fight nice” for awhile until Murphy gets fed up and leaves the room.

Yesterday morning I decided to get a few photos:

“Okay, Kid.  I’ll pretend to like you for the camera.  Maybe Mom will give me a snausage if I cooperate.”

“No snausage?  Fine.  If I ignore him, will he go away?”

“Lady, I better get a damn treat for enduring the Kid and the camera!”

“Screw this!  I’m outta here.”

(And yes, I did give Murphy his snausage.)

Five years ago, today, you were born.  A month later my co-worker, Donia, asked if I wanted a puppy.  I picked you out of a basket of five and I’ve loved you ever since.

I still remember the first night after we brought you home, I slept with my hand on your warm little body, as you wimpered from your little wicker basket.

Two weeks later I found out I was pregnant with Dawson.  We called you our good luck charm, and you were like our first born.  Everything I learned about taking care of another being, I learned by taking care of you.

You’re our little buddy.  We love you so.  Happy Birthday, Murphy!

…and let me just say that posting the words “Christmas”, “photo” and “card” on this blog has caused a gigantic surge in blog traffic! I couldn’t figure out why 350+ people were coming here to look at Christmas photos, but then I went to sitemeter and saw all the search terms, and referral links.

It seems that several hundred web surfers are visiting from MSN, Google and Yahoo! search tools.

Welcome!!

But we didn’t adhere to our tradition this year. Thanksgiving came and went, and I just didn’t have the time to wrangle a child and a dog and manipulate the self-timer on the camera to squeeze the whole family into a photo.

So we cheated. This year we only captured Dawson and Murphy. But lets review the holiday cards of the past, shall we?

There was 2004:

And then 2005, with a screaming toddler:

And 2006, in which we all look so cheerful:

I suppose you expect to see the 2007 Christmas card, but I’m not going to show it on the blog until after each card is mailed out. It wouldn’t be right to give you all a sneak peek.

Instead, let’s take a look at the photos we didn’t use:

Stay tuned for the 2007 Christmas Photo Card! I can’t wait to show y’all!

Dawson is full of energy these days. His favorite thing to do is run in circles around the coffee table yelling, “I am SPEED! I am LIGHT ‘N HAKEEN!!!”

He loves to chase Murphy and the poor little pup is so good about it. Most dogs would get mad and hide, but little Murphy playfully chases Dawson and the two boys have become best friends.

I remember when Murphy wanted nothing to do with Dawson, but now he likes to sit next to him — especially when Dawson is eating because he always slips him some food. I think it’s adorable that they are finally getting along.

Yes…they are cute as buttons…

I’m at BlogHer today!  Make sure you swing over and visit me!

Happy Birthday, Murphy!  Three years ago, today, you were born.  We fell in love with you immediately and you are truly our first born.

Love,

Mumma, Daddy & your little human brother, Dawson.

Murphy is a Boston Terrier who came into this world on December 12, 2003. We adopted him on January 16, 2004 when he was just five weeks old. His entire body fit into my hands and he had the worst puppy breath imaginable, but I loved him from the first moment I saw him.

My co-worker Donia had two Boston Terriers that decided to mate and produced second litter of 5 pups. Two males and 3 females, and Murphy was the cutest of them all.

His handsome facial features and adorable “bat ears” as we called them, always made my heart melt.

When he was just a few months old, he learned the joys of potty training in the middle of winter (poor freezing puppy) and chewing pig’s ears (he loves these).

Sure, Murphy chewed our furniture, had potty training accidents and nasty puppy breath for a while, but he was the cutest little dog ever.

Just a few days after I brought him home, I discovered I was pregnant. Murphy was like my first born. I definitely learned some responsibility in taking care of a puppy. Looking back now, puppy care is so much easier than parenting, but I had a pretty good idea what I was in for.

Murphy is a bundle of love. He loves to play. He loves to go for walks (he was like my personal trainer — he loved long, fast walks — I could barely keep up). He is content just sitting next to me on the couch, chewing his nylon bone and occasionally licking my feet. His job is just being a dog. A loyal companion. He’s like a child who never cries, never demands attention, always licks your face when you greet him.

Granted, I love my Dawson very much, but I often feel guilty when I don’t pay enough attention to my faithful pal, Murphy. He loves me no matter how good or bad my day was. He forgives me when I have to pass up playtime to change a diaper or clean the house.

And I love Murphy. I love his playfulness. I love that he burrows under the covers every night to sleep next to me and Doug in our bed. His warmth is better than any electric blanket. I love to see him run outside and to play fetch. I love how he plays nice with Dawson, careful not to injure him, but doesn’t hold back with me.

Murphy is a member of our family. He holds a special place in my heart and I will love him always. I’ll love him eternally. I can only pray there are dogs in heaven, because I can’t bear to not see my Murphy in the afterlife, he means that much to me.

Love you always, Murphy Lee.
Your “Hu-Mama” (Human Mama)

Murphy & Dawson– April 2006

Yesterday I was doing some last minute cleaning and organizing around the house. I usually don’t do “Spring Cleaning” but Doug and I were in the “spruce-up-mood” so he began to paint the downstairs spare bedroom (FINALLY! after four years of living in our home).

I stopped to take a break and the Doodlebug wanted “marsh-a-mellas,” as he calls them. I agreed to let him have a few as long as he sat quietly. He nodded and we shook hands to seal the deal (okay I’m fibbing–he said “na na na!” which means “Now!!!”).

Our Boston Terrier, Murphy, crawled up on the sofa next to Dawson and I thought it would make a cute picture; but at the last minute Murphy sneezed (I think) so it kind of looks like he’s laughing!