April 5, 2010

Happy Birthday Cody!!

I haven't written in a few days, but I have been smart and kept brief notes of the past few days so I will know what to write when I finally have the time to put it all down in a post. But I couldn't miss writing my special boy a birthday post. He turned 5 today! This is an absolute miracle considering the vets didn't think he would see 3. We love him so very much and can't imagine our lives without him! He is such a gift of joy. If he can't put a smile on your face, you need some serious therapy. Every morning I wake up with he and Cooper curled up next to me and I smile. Every day when I get home from work and they greet me at the door, Cody always with a toy in his mouth, wagging their cute little tails, I smile. The way that Cody is obsessed with toys to the point where if you throw a toy for him, he will run for it as fast as he can, even if it means slamming his body or his head into the wall after he has slid 5 feet on the hardwood floor, makes me laugh so hard! I try to avoid the body/head slams but sometimes it is unavoidable. The way he is ready to play at any time of day...always bringing me a toy to throw, he is just such a joy. Cooper could care less if I throw a toy (most of the time), but Cody is like those dogs you see on cartoons where it doesn't matter what they are in the middle of, if you throw a toy, he goes after it. He is just such a goof ball!

I love the way he joins us on the bed, only briefly, because if I don't rub his ears while he is up there, he decides he would rather not be on the bed at all. Sometimes, he will even be sorta pushy about it, pushing his head up under my hands, begging for me to rub his head/ears. So sweet. How can I resist? I love the way he steps down onto the steps leading off the bed, stops and stretches, puts his little butt way up in the air, and then gently jumps off the top step instead of using the rest of the stairs as they should be used. I love how in the middle of the night, he gets up, scratches for a few minutes and then quietly lets me know he needs to go out. If I don't wake up, he will tell me a little more firmly, but never with a bark or a growl. Always, just a soft sound as if to say "hey, Mom..." I love the way he sleeps on the floor on a variety of cushions (thanks to me). He has a body pillow which lays against the closet door, a donut bed which lays on top of a carpet square for a little extra padding and for right now, a folded up comforter. It looks horrible now that the comforter is there, but I can't resist...he really seems to love how comfy and cozy it is. Anyway, I love how he moves from one to the other all throughout the night. Each night, he sleeps on all three and moves between them several times. Then, once Dad is up and getting ready for work, he then comes up onto the bed and takes his place. He used to sleep with us, but I think he got tired of making Dad mad by sleeping too close to him, or waking him up etc...so he got the hint and just stopped sleeping with us :( Hubs will miss that some day.

I just love Cody so very much! He is my child, one of 3. I can't help but love him as much as I do. When someone or something relies on you so very much, you are bonded in a way that is indescribable. Just like a Mom and a baby. I love how smart he is, even if Hubs begs to differ. He gets it. He knows what's going on, he senses things, he grasps things that he isn't given credit for. Hubs thinks he is dumb for the way he does tricks, but really, I see it as pure genius. When Hubs gives him treats he tells him to "sit." Then he tells him to "lay down" and then he tells him "up!" Well, Cody has figured that he will get the treat quicker if he just does it all in one sequence. So when he is told to "sit" he sits, lays down and then jumps up and if not given the treat right away, does it all again :) LOL!! So freaking funny to watch! But Hubs thinks this is a sign of idiocy when like I said, it is in fact, pure genius.

I could go on and on...but I will save it for another post. I have been wanting to do a post with all of the special, funny, quirky things that both Cody and Cooper do. There are so many things! So many things that bring joy to our daily lives. So many things that will be irreplaceable when gone.

I love you dear Cody. You were my first dog, my first baby, we will always have a special bond because of that. I will always remember how you slept in the crook of my neck during the entire car ride, which lasted about 30 minutes, when we first brought you home. I will always remember how we let you sleep with us that first week and you were so tiny and light that I didn't realize that you woke up, climbed over onto Dad and peed on him, then climbed back to Mommy and went back to sleep :) You were crate trained after that and no longer allowed to sleep with us until you were completely potty trained! I will never forget the day we took you to the store to meet Cooper. You wanted absolutely nothing to do with him! You sat up on the bench and watched while we played with him. You know you wanted to play, you know you wanted those toys, but you had to act disinterested so you could save face. We brought him home and you ignored him for days. You did sniff him a little here and there, but mostly you were completely disinterested. Then, slowly, but surely, you let him get close to you, you let him play with you, you let him in to your little heart and from then on you were best buddies. Brothers. You are two peas in a pod. I can't imagine my life without either one of you.

Happy birthday dear, sweet boy. You will always be our special little boy. Even if Dad doesn't say it, he loves you just as much as I do. Hope you enjoyed your balloons and streamers. Your presents and Easter basket. Your yellow butter cupcakes with peanut butter frosting and marshmallows. Your trip to see the Easter bunny. Your trip to the park and your walk. I hope it was special. Just like you.