Lovable, Curious and Opinionated. Chloe.

We get asked it all the time.  In fact, the questions started very shortly after we got married.  “Soooo, when are you guys going to have children?” While I try and drum up the appropriate response in my head, Matt often chimes in with “We already have a kid.  And her name is Chloe.”

Chloe.  Our squirrel-hating, tail-chasing, ball-catching baby.  Our pup.  She was the first living thing that Matt and I were responsible for together and yes, we treat her like our child.  As all my fellow dog lovers out there can attest to, dogs have a way of warming your hearts and and quickly becoming a four legged family member.  And ours?  Has a personality all her own.

She’s opinionated.  And when I say opinionated, I really mean stubborn.  We’ve trained her well but when she doesn’t want to do something, she won’t.  She has a normal route for her walks and if you turn the wrong corner, she stops.  She won’t move or budge an inch until you go the “right” way.  And if she’s not in the mood to pose for pictures, she won’t.

She’ll walk away or refuse to look at the camera.   Or pretend to be sleeping.

(Both of the above pictures are outtakes from our Christmas blog.)

She’s curious.  About everything.  Though often tentative and shy at first, curiousity always wins out.  This often involves sticking her head in grocery bags, christmas gifts or the usual “sniff down” Matt or I get after arriving back home, just so she can get a whiff of where we have been.  She spends hours each day looking out of different windows because she just has to know what is going on outside at all times.

She’s just so gosh-darn lovable.  I have never met a dog who loves people more than she does.  Anyone who’s been to our house before knows how unbelievably excited she gets when you arrive, whether she’s met you before or not.  She adores her stuffed animals and treats them like her babies.  She never destroys them like most dogs will.  She plays with them all the time and snuggles with them to sleep.  And like any little kid, she often leaves them all over the house.

We do eventually want (human) children.  Someday.  It is the next logical step but one we will be waiting on a little while longer.  In the meantime, we’re enjoying our family of 3.  We’ve learned a lot since Chloe came into our lives two years ago.  It seems funny to say, but Chloe has taught us a great deal.  She reminds us of what is really important.  Things like how essential it is to spend time with those you love.  To remember the small things in life.  Patience.  The importance of loyalty.  To not take yourself too seriously.  Forgiveness.  To always enjoy life.  Unconditional love.  And determination.

She’s a whole lot of cuteness wrapped in one pup.  Because with a face that adorable, how can you not be in love?

Happy Friday!