Love Bug

Three and half years ago, I went to get a hair cut. It was getting chilly this Saturday in October, and we had just bought our new condo and were still getting things set up in our first home. We were so excited and every day Kevin came home from work there would be something new set up, or a new photo hung. This Saturday I was going to a new salon in our new neighborhood (which is scary enough). I got my haircut and decided to walk the mile or so home. I knew Kevin was at Home Depot getting some light bulbs and anything else we needed, so he wouldn't be able to pick me up. As I walked into our sparkly new home, I looked at Kevin sitting on the couch and he was pale. He looked sickened. He said, "I did something really bad." I thought, oh no, he bought a flat screen we can't afford, or he bought a ladder or something. I looked at the floor and saw that his favorite bowl (a nasty plastic orange bowl that he got out of Wheeties box when he was like 7 that no matter what you do to the thing it will just reappear) was on the floor with water in it. I walked around the couch and saw the tiniest, cutest little chocolate lab I'd ever laid eyes. I instantly fell in love.

(She was so tiny when we got her, she would hide under our chest)

We named her Bailey because we LOVE Bailey's (the liquor). Our wedding cake was also made with Bailey's (which was delicious btw). So it was perfect for our new little chocolate lab. And it sounds great whether you're screaming it, or petting her ears.

(Bailey likes to lay down on the dirty laundry while I'm sorting it...she won't get off of it)

In the past few years, Bailey has given us our full share of headaches. She has chewed our bedding, countless dog beds, pillows from our couch, shoes, brand new boots, towels, balls, toys, new furniture, old furniture...the list goes on. She got kicked out of dog boarding and we had to stop taking her to obedience classes because she couldn't sit still or stop barking. She's been sick too! She had worms when we first got her, and a couple of years ago, she got so sick that we were almost faced with that she wouldn't pull through. She has stolen raw Italian sausage off the counter when I was cooking. When you're sitting watching tv, she will run down the hall with your shoes, making you either get up, or take her out. She is oh so smart, and stubborn and completely lovable all wrapped into one.

(She almost died this day, but I was able to get a picture before I lost it)

But she has also turned into one of my strongest rocks. When we lost the baby and I was at home and Kevin had gone back to work...those were my darkest days. I needed them to be though. I needed to cry it out, all day long for as long as I needed. But every time a crying spell started Bailey would come up to lick my tears. The first few times she seemed concerned and would stare at me, but after numerous crying spells, she would come up, lick some tears and go back to sleep. She still does this if I cry.

(This is how we love her best, sleeping...but how cute...don't you want to just rub her ears?)

She seemed to sense that I needed her to be there, but also added in just enough "Bailey" to the mix so I remembered just who was boss. With every negative pregnancy test, and every tear shed Bailey has been right by my side. We've cuddled on the couch when I needed her most, just to feel a warm body next to me. But if I go into a deeper place, she doesn't let me sit there for very long. She throws herself into me, so I take her out with her ball. So that I need to snap out of it. If I'm cranky and want to be alone, I look to see Bailey staring at me, eyes penetrating to my sole, as if to say you still have me, and oh, you might want to put your shoes on take me outside with my ball.
So here's to my Love Bug, Pumpkin Munchkin, Sweets, Bails, Bailzers, Ms. B, Sweet Bailey B, Sweety Bs. I think I just embarrassed her.