Today is Hazelnut Day! That is to say, today is my Miss Chocolate Hazelnut’s appointed birthday. And yes, yes we did make some birthday portraits to share!
I re-used the birthday banner that I bought for Japhy in June. While the “5” sticker didn’t really come off very easily, it came off enough for me to slap the “4” over the top of it and call it good. You can’t even tell in the photos that remnants of the “5” remain. [I can hardly believe my baby girl is FOUR!]
I also had two balloons left from Japhy’s birthday. Only one survived to be in photos. Honestly, I kind of hate balloons. But they came with the birthday “kit” I bought, so I wanted to use them. I was quick to pick up their remains so no wildlife would be harmed by them.
I got Hazel a Chuckit ball for her birthday. When we walk down the bluff road here, she will often pick up sticks and carry them. A few times I’ve asked for the stick, then threw it down the road, and she ran after it, which made me think that perhaps she would enjoy a ball.
Some backstory: neither of my dogs gets toys very often. Only on special occasions, and only under very close supervision. Japhy has always eaten toys, rather than chew-and-release, resulting in some awkward “removals” of said toys, and also several worrisome nights that almost ended at an emergency vet clinic. As such, Hazel has not gotten many toys either, sadly, as I can’t very well give Hazel one and keep it away from Japhy. When we lived in the back house, I would sometimes get Hazel a toy and allow her to play with it while Japhy was kenneled. Now that we’re in a van, that’s a little harder to do.
BUT… now that Japhy has a properly fitted muzzle, we have some flexibility back with regard to toys/play, and I’ll definitely be revisiting this in another post, because it’s very exciting for us. However, for now… how ‘bout some more adorable photos of my girl on her special day?
I hope you have a good long weekend, friends, with lots of time with your pups. <3