For Sydney, Anya, and Sonador...

'He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.'

--- Author Unknown

(With Anya and Sonador just before Thomas was born)

Since Thomas was born last year, our pups have been getting much less attention. And we knew this was bound to happen. But finding out that he is horribly allergic to dogs and they trigger his asthma, made life a whole lot more complicated.

Skip and I are both devout animal lovers. And getting Anya was a big deal for us. She was our first child together (Sydney our lab was mine before we were married.)

Anya came all the way from Italy. And she was raised very much like a human child. So we knew the transition to human parenthood would be a strain on our all canine relationships.

Ecstatic pups upon Thomas' arrival home - oh, and they're probably happy to see me too!

Anya, Skip, and Thomas (1 week old)

This really did not impact Sydney, our Lab, since she is always outside and can get to her bed in the garage (with a heater). But for Anya and Sonador, it has been a huge change for them spending time in the laundry room and the side yard.

Syd with her daily morning milk bone - she turns nine on Sunday. See that gray muzzle?

Anya has always been queen of the caste or "our little princess". She has had the most challenges with Thomas. Being exiled from the bed and couch have been especially difficult. But she has Sonador, whom she treats more like her pet and less like a sibling.

Princess Anya taking over both beds while waiting for me to move them into the laundry room.

All that aside, we still love them and have a special place in our hearts for them. However, I definitely feel unworthy of the love and devotion they give me every day no matter how happy or grouchy I happen to be that day.

I can certainly take a lesson from them.

Can't we all?!?