Happy Birthday, Olive!

My fuzzy love...
My constant k9 companion...
Charcoal eyes with a heart that's bigger than your body...

I can't imagine our family without you.

I didn't realize how much we would all come to love you. Oh sure, I knew that we WOULD love you, but I didn't realize what an important part of our family you would become.

You have an intuition that most people would scoff at. You know when your girls are sick or sad or needing some extra attention. So many evenings, I find you curled up in the bed of a little girl, providing some comfort. Usually, you spend your evenings with Doug and me so it's not like this is part of your routine.

You seem to have an uncanny sense of when Ellie hurts -- you can pinpoint a swollen joint and lick it before we even know that she s in pain.

You lick the tears of a brand-new middle schooler who is fighting all the emotions of an 11-year old girl and forging her own path.

You keep me company as we plod the familiar streets around our house in search of inspiration (and perspiration).

You greet us all with a tail that perpetually wags.

You welcome the treat of an ice cube as if it's prime rib.

You know when it's time to pick up a girl from school -- even though you can't tell time (or can you??!!).

You never complain about what's for dinner, your homework, your siblings, bedtime, or chores.

When my girls were little and napping ever-so-peacefully, I would sneak into their room and check their crib, carefully listening for their breath, watching the rise and fall of their chests -- just to make sure.

Just to make sure...

One morning this week, I was up early. You were snuggled into a tiny ball at the landing on the stairs -- a perfect spot for you to keep watch on your family upstairs and to keep an eye out for any activity downstairs. You were so quiet and so tiny in that little ball.

I found myself kneeling over you and carefully listening for your breath, watching your black fur for the rise and fall of your chest -- just to make sure.

Just to make sure...

You are family -- for all you give me and for all you give my girls.