Happy Birthday Baby Boy!!

A few years back I was taking a public speaking class and had to write a piece that celebrated something in my life:

                                                                                My Baxter

When he was just a baby, I picked him up & held him in my arms. He rested his head on my chest, nuzzled his nose into that small space between my chin and shoulder and fell asleep. At that moment, my heart absolutely melted, and I felt more love for this little guy than I have for any person I’ve ever known. Little did I know that this little guy not only stole my heart, but truly changed my life. 

Before I met Baxter, I was never much of a dog person. I liked puppies, they were cute and cuddly but like a child, once I had my fill, I was more than willing to give it back to the owner.  Even adult dogs, like older children, I had no enjoyment with.  I would much rather watch and smile than have to pet or play with it. Then I met Baxter and my world completely changed.

At the time my boyfriend Brian and I had been living together.  When the conversation of getting a dog came about I had a lot of rules: No dogs in the bed, no dogs on the couch, the dog must stay in one room and not venture to other parts of the house, we’ll have scheduled times of when to take it out and so on.  The following day, I had a very bad day at work and instead of going home; I decided to visit the pet store, that’s where I met him.  Baxter was behind one of those glass caged walls, the kind where you can see them but can’t touch them. The second I saw him, I thought he was soo handsome; walked over, crouched down and immediately he started pawing at the glass. I knew right away that Brian had to meet him.

I continued to visit the pet store every day for 2 weeks, just to see him and to kinda make sure he was still there. It had come to the point that he started to recognize me as soon as I walked into the store. When I would approach the cage, he would jump around. He was so happy to see me.  The store manager stopped allowing me to play with him, saying it wasn’t fair and that only interested buyers were allow to play with the dogs several times a week. I knew I had to have him, that I needed him. Ive never needed to have something before; this was a completely new and weird feeling. But I knew I needed him.  I brought Brian in that night to meet him and he agreed to get him. After a long and exhausting process in which we almost lost him, Brian and I finally came up with enough money to buy him.

It’s been 4 years, Brian has come and gone, but Baxter and I are still a team. He’s my baby and I’m his mama; he sleeps in my bed, sits with me on the couch, has full access to my apartment and even shares my dinner. The two of us have been through so much together, like moving, boyfriends, break –ins; that I truly wonder what my life was like before him, I simply cannot remember. I sometimes wonder if he’s a person trapped in a dogs body, Sounds crazy – I know! He and I are just so connected it seems like that’s the only possible reason. When Im upset, he comes and snuggles with me; when I’m scared, he stands guard protecting me and when I’m happy, he is too.  Baxter is the best thing to ever happen to me. OH and like dogs, I like kids now too.