Happy 2nd Birthday, Jaxon

Happy 2nd Birthday, Jaxon

Dear Jaxon,

Happy Birthday! Today you turn two. I can't believe that you're so young still; it feels like you were always part of our family. I remember when you first came home, and I just stared at you. Who was this strange new dog in our home? You were already so different from your big brother, Cairo, and it took me some time to get to like you. I loved you immediately. So did your cousin, Sebastian!

Things like yogurt containers suddenly became fun in our house again! I took about 50 blurry pictures of that first yogurt experience with you because you just wouldn't stay still. There was so much you wanted to see and do!

Some of the names we have for you include Beefcake, Pig Pen, Munchie, Mun-Chi-Chi, Jax, Jaxy, Jaxy-Waxy, and Brudder. You are fearless, sometimes to the point of reckless. You love to swim more than anything, you still sit "in" my lap whenever I sit on or even crouch near the floor. You love to be dirty, love the snow, and love attention. You eat with wild abandon and drink equally loudly. You sleep next to the bed, along the windowframe, and then wake up in the night to go to your spot at the foot of the basement stairs. You love to run full speed ahead up on to the bed and our chests and bellies. You are a snuggle bug. You love to sleep on your back.

On the day we brought you home, you got tired at the end of our block, and I carried you in my shirt the rest of the way downtown. These days, you can go hiking for miles and still take a swim at the end of the trip. You love the car, especially if you can catch a breeze. You are the sweetest little brother, always cleaning Cairo's face with that tongue, which can't ever stay in your mouth. You are very smart, and I think you could figure out most things given enough time. You love kids and fun and are the life of the party. You have formidable mandibles and can make short work of any bone or stick.

You weigh 107 pounds, you've gotten stitches several times, you love food, especially carrots, meat, and fruit. You love to crunch and chew. And guess what? We love you.