Athena Turns Two: A Bittersweet Celebration

My Lovelies,

Isabelle here 😘❤️! Welcome back for another weekly post on PawzandProse.blog. Thank you for spending some time with us this week. Whether you’re a new follower or a returning follower, Athena and I are extremely grateful for your support, My Loves ❤️. As for me, I’m delighted to be back after Athena’s takeover last week to continue celebrating our four-legged princess’ big day. You already heard the day's adventures from our sweet little muse and now it’s time for me to provide my paw-rental perspective on my fur-baby turning two.

As Thena’s birthday approached, it definitely brought this pawrent into moments of serious and sweet reflection. To go off on one of my usual tangents Ahem Ok, so maybe two Ahem but anyway… I digress. I begin by saying that I still find it crazy that we pet pawrents aren’t considered parents. OK, OK… So, I understand we can’t birth our 4-legged babies as they are of a completely different species; however, we simply cannot ignore the fact that we share a lot of the experiences that any other parent does… including the nostalgia of seeing our little ones grow up! Obviously, I knew that time was going to pass and that I would be watching her go through all her doggie stages of life… from vaccines and teething to eventually… well… we all know what I mean, right? So, let’s not think of that quite yet 🥲 we still have many, many years before that God Willing. Anyway, knowing that Thena was turning two made me think of the proverbial “enjoy it while it lasts as they grow up fast.” This could not be more relatable!

I can’t confirm or deny that in the week leading up to her birthday, I was quite nostalgic and sentimental. It made me think about all the cuddles we’ve shared, all the memories we’ve made, and Sniff Sniff the scary thought of how many more years I’ll have to share with my little love 😭. As Athena is the first dog I’ve ever had the pleasure of owning, I also began thinking of how she won my heart from the first moment I set my eyes on her. How my heart just instinctively knew she was meant to spend her whole doggie life by my side. From the time that her breeders/foster family sent me her sweet video, to the moment when she walked out of her crate and picked me over my dad and she walked over so that I would pick her up, and how her little eyes wouldn’t stop staring at me as we drove her home to officially become a permanent part of the family all the journey with her has been nothing but love and blessings. From there, we’ve only added new memories of our walkies together, our late-afternoon/early-evening cuddles as I watch TV, and her keeping me warm and allowing me to hug her as I fall asleep. These are all moments I had heard other pawrents raving about, and now that I’ve been able to be a part of it, I can completely understand.

All the adventures that Athena shared with you from her big day: from her birthday treats/snacks to the visit to the dog park, were all my small way of thanking her for all the joy that she has brought and continues to bring to my life on a daily basis. I will never be able to repay how she has helped me through some of the most difficult and anxiety-provoking days in these past 2 years. I will never be able to repay how she waits for me at the door every time I come home, regardless of how long I’ve been gone. I won’t be able to repay the companionship, strength, and hope that her furry little presence around the house brings me. I will also never be able to pay back all the little kisses she gives me to show me she appreciates this imperfect hooman 🥲.

I had a feeling that this post would put me in #allthefeels, LOL but this is my way of honoring my little one on her special day. Unfortunately, with life having thrown us a horrible and unexpected curveball last year at this time we were not able to celebrate her first birthday properly; however, I’m hoping that this year my family and I were able to make her day the best day yet.

To my little one, my little Athena, my Thena, my Theenie Weenie, My feisty little one… I’m happy to have taken this week to celebrate your little life with this post. Thank you for all you do, mamash. I know you can’t comprehend the love we have for you, baby girl, but thank you for existing 🥲❤️. I know I’m not a perfect momma, but I vow to keep doing the best that I can, whatever that is or whatever that entails so that you can live your best doggie life for as long as we have together. I know it’s been over a week but… HAPPY BIRTHDAY, little one. We love you… I love you FOREVER and ALWAYS 🐶❤️.

With all My Heart,

XOXO Isabelle 😘❤️ XOXO (AKA: Your Hooman 🥰)