Merrylog

The princess is still just as fabulous as ever, despite the crazy year she’s had. She still enjoys rocking the pink look, still begs for treats quite prettily, and still enjoys long walks with mom, dad, and/or “sister” (my stepdaughter). She loves all the birthday wishes you’ve shared here and on Facebook – thank you!

As I mentioned, my parents came by this weekend and we had a nice birthday celebration for le pug.

Oh, Merry, you crazy pug. I cannot believe that you are a whopping twelve years old. How is this possible? It was just yesterday we were celebrating your first birthday at the beach, flirting (well, you were flirting, at least) with everyone on the looong streetcar ride on the way there and playing with what would be the first of many, many Holy Roller balls. :)

As you can see, the pug was very ready for her special birthday dinner – the only night of the year she gets 0% kibble and 100% real, tasty food – just like the grownups are eating. I think she could have done without the birthday hat, but that’s just not how we do things around here, princess.

As always, Merry attacked the food with gusto.

This year, the pug dined on roast chicken, asparagus, tomatoes and grated cheddar.

It didn’t last long. She made sure to clean up every last little crumb. Good girl, Merry.

Of course, the moment the food was gone, she was looking to Hubby for the next course. Maybe she’s smart enough to know her birthday “cake” was to come, but honestly she gives us this same look after every treat, every meal, every occasional nibble from the table. So yeah. Probably just the usual.

Her “cake” this year was half an organic blueberry muffin with a schmear of mascarpone on top. She made sure she licked every inch of cheese off the top before swallowing the muffin in about three bites. Ha!

And as always…

She gave me a look right afterwards that asked me where the rest was. Good thing I have nerves of steel or the pug would weigh thirty pounds! :)

Happy birthday baby girl. Here’s to twenty more years together. Oh yes. You’re a magical pug, and I know you’ll make it happen.

Birthday celebrations are a regular thing ’round these here parts. If you’re not familiar with it, check out past years of Merry birthdays.

Based on the comments and emails we’ve been receiving, everyone has been expecting the worst. And it was a pretty bad 2013 so far for the princess. But she’s still with us, still adorable, still waving hello to all of you.

Over the Christmas break, we found a lump. It was mast cell. It was removed as well as some bumps under her chin, which turned out to be benign. Then, three weeks after that surgery, we found another lump. They couldn’t tell if it was mast cell or not and advised us to remove. So within five weeks, the little princess went through two surgeries.

Several weeks later, we found more lumps. More tests. These were benign, thank goodness.

Then a few weeks later she developed a UTI. While taking her in for that, we also vaccinated her. On the way home she collapsed in reaction to the vaccines, so we had a harrowing night at the vet with her on IVs.

All the while, we were also driving up to a nearby city several times a week to visit my husband’s dad, who was hospitalized for more than three months.

Less than a week after that, Merry got to spend nearly two weeks with her Aunt Rebecca and little “cousin” (not really) Lola while Merry’s Dad, sister and I took a hard-earned and badly needed vacation to Paris, France.

On arrival home, the peanut had developed god-help-me another lump, which meant another round of yummy tests. Thank goodness, this too came back benign.

But it’s been a stressful year so far to say the least. What a way to work up to a twelfth birthday, Merry my love! (She turns 12 this Thursday, and is having a BIG birthday celebration next weekend with friends & family.)

Thank you to EVERYONE who inquired about Merry, and to everyone who stopped by lately to see if the niblet is okay. Yes, she is – though she’s given us all heart attacks! :)

And to whatever force has turned my little girl into a lumpy wonder and hospitalized my father in law: thank you for your visits. However, please visit your cancer crap somewhere else, if you don’t mind. Like Mars, maybe. Appreciate it.

Pug, you seem to be under the impression that all the chopping I’m doing is for you. Actually, there are three other people in this house that need food, you know?

We’re allowed to eat too.

All food is not for you.

Sigh.

Here. Want some carrot?

How can something so teeny take up so much space in a house, in a life?

And how on earth does she get her feet like that? :)

It’s so shameful that I didn’t post a single Christmas photo this year. Shameful – bad me! Given that Christmas is how Merry got her name, I’m a bad pug mommy indeed. However, I did manage to sneak a few in this weekend under the tree and around the house. This one – with the tilted ear – was so adorable, I had to share it with you despite it being two weeks after Christmas. :) The princess was a very good model under the tree and I managed to get several shots I loved, this being my favourite.

Don’t forget you can also get your fill of prior holiday shots from Halloween and Christmas in our Holiday section.

In previous years, I’ve been much more imaginative with the end of year Merrylog photo: see 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006. However, this year we are at least sporting an adorable new black puffy coat! Isn’t it cute?

It goes without saying that one of my resolutions for 2013 is to take more photographs, and that includes more photos of the princess pug. Here’s to a fabulous, pug filled 2013 with all the love, snuggles, tummy rubs and treats anyone could possibly hope for.

If you think this photo is funny, you should have seen the live action version. My mom’s a hand-talker (she can barely converse when she’s not moving her hands – a trait that she, sadly, passed along to me as well) and so the entire time she was chatting, her hands kept moving under the pug. Looked like a pug-grandma version of the potato dance. Gave me such the giggles! (Small monitor? See the smaller version on Flickr.)

It wouldn’t be Halloween without sharing a photo of the pug all dolled up for the holiday! This year’s festive outfit included a skeleton onesie and a fabulous skirt with purple trim – seriously, seriously cute. The puglet LOVED coming to the door for every kiddo that came knocking for candy. Want a historical look at the puglet with the most costumes? Here’s a Pinterest board with all of her Halloween photos and costumes over the years.

I know, I know, those of you who still pay any attention to Merrylog are falling over in your chairs right now with three posts in one week. I’m on a roll. Let’s not talk any more about it or we may jinx it. ;)

The pug and I both love fall: she loves it for the leaves, I love it for the dozens of sweaters and outfits that I can wriggle that cute little pug bod into. Fall walks make both of us happy.