She really is the best dog ever, especially for a one-year-old. We got our sweet Moxie when she was just a little thing. A tiny, fluffy, nine-week-old pup. In the weeks leading up to us bringing her home I read every book that our library had on dog training & Craig & I watched every episode of our man Cesar ever made. We were set on training her right so that she'd turn into a sweet, well-behaved dog that we could leave home without worrying that she'd wreck the place, that we could take anywhere & that would one day be great with our kids. Well, that flew out the window FOR ME the moment I found out I was pregnant & all those crazy-lady-pregnancy-hormones started flowing & I couldn't look at her without melting much less discipline her. Thankfully, Craig stuck to the plan & his training (& mine once I wasn't so hormental) coupled with her gentle, playful nature = the world's greatest pup. Truly, she's incredible.

She loves to follow me around the house (or to the mailbox, or the bathroom, or ...), she'll do anything for a carrot, she is SUCH a love (I mean, if you even look at her she'll be all over you licking & burrowing & acting like the lap-dog that she thinks she is), she loves to go to the beach & walk with us off-leash, her hair gets crimpy when she's wet (like straight out of the 80's crimped with a crimping iron. It's awesome), she'd rather play chase than fetch (a bad habit I taught her. Oops), & she absolutely adores Emrie (she lays her head at the end of Emrie's bouncer & just watches her sleep. She also adores Emrie's pacifiers which she thought were a fancy new toy we brought home just for her. Now she knows the truth & she admires them from a distance). 

Happy birthday Moxie Bird! This past year has been a great one & you've got a lot of life ahead of you - I'm so glad you & Emrie get to grow up together. You bring so much joy to our lives & I can't imagine our family without you.
P.S. Even though dad says she's a dog, she doesn't understand you, we know the truth.
P.P.S. You're the best dog ever.

And here she is just after we got her. Heart-melting. I love this wild animal.