Lucy is ONE

Lucy Girl,

You are ONE today! We first met you when you were just four weeks old. You were one of the smallest in the litter of 12. You were sweet and quiet and wore a pink ribbon around your neck. Your temperament test confirmed that you were the pup for us — tolerant and gentle. And so we brought you home with us two months later.

You quickly outgrew your puppy collar, and the faint patches under your eyes soon faded. Our home became your home, and though life was crazy, it was also wonderful.

You loved your first snowfall and impressed us with your ability to fetch the duck without sinking into the fluffy white stuff.

And you soon learned how to escape from the temporary fence we installed in the backyard.

You grew more independent and more playful by the day. You insisted on fetching a ball or stuffed toy, despite the temperature outside. You ran laps around the living room and enjoyed our evening walks. When you began to lose your puppy teeth, you kicked them around the kitchen floor and chewed dozens of ice cubes to soothe your gums.

But, by far, the sweetest part of your puppyhood was watching the relationship develop between you and your brother.

You are always right by his side, requesting treats or stealing his snacks or waiting for crumbs to drop to the floor.

And, oh yes, your temperament test was very accurate. You don’t mind when Sam tries to ride you like a horse, or when he tugs your ears, or when he pulls up your gums to examine your teeth.

You love him as much as he loves you.

But the big surprise? Your endless amount of energy! You are not always the calm, quiet pup we first met. You have chewed up more of Sam’s toys than we can count. You steal the hat from his head and the plastic tools from his hands. And you are usually too fast to catch.

We enrolled you in puppy obedience classes when you turned six months old, and they did help to teach you commands like “off” and “drop it.” And you were quite skilled in the agility courses. But you still managed to get yourself into plenty of trouble at home.

We installed an electric fence, which thankfully, you learned to obey within a week of introducing it. But we still have no way to contain your craziness in the evening. When Sam goes to bed, it is time for the Lucy Show. You want to play, play, play — especially if Daddy is home.

You also love to play, play, play with your cousins, Sadie and Layla. Or should I say, you love to torment your cousins.

You love socks — you will dig through an entire laundry basket just to find one. And you love the water, too — from splashing in your water bowl to running through the baby pool to “swimming” with your buddy, Brooksie.

We cherish your (rare) quiet snuggles on the couch and when you lay at our feet while we’re working in the office or cooking in the kitchen. But we also appreciate your curiosity and your spirit.

Even on your craziest days, we wouldn’t trade you for any other pup. You are the perfect addition to our family. We love you, Lucy Goose! Happy first birthday!