Friday, November 19, 2010

Birthday Pup

This month, our little baby girl turned one year old. I can't believe how fast they grow up! For Sophia's birthday, we took her to Carney's for a scrumptious hot dog (her favorite) and the whole family watched Babe.

I can't explain my puppy's taste in movies. She likes animal movies, sure. But what she REALLY loves? Super gory horror movies with lots of blood and screaming. When my husband and I rented "The Human Centipede," she couldn't take her eyes off the screen. Same thing with "The Fly" and "Mortal Kombat."

Every now and then, she'll watch "An Education" but her favorite movies involve gross stuff. Go figure.

So here is a year in the life of Sophia, the teacup Chihuahua.

Nine weeks old.

One Year Old.

Her first day with us. We picked her up from LAX, where she was so tiny, she could fit in the palm of your hand. We bought her from AffordablePup.com.

It was love at first sight. Everything we put beside her just reminded us how tiny she was. Instinctively, this made us want to protect her. During her first week, we took her to the Farmer's Market, Target, Starbucks, Ralph's and just about anywhere we went. She became very fond of my Fendi Spy purse, where she fit quite spaciously.

Wherever she went, a crowd would circle. With her amber red hair and dark mask, people thought she looked like a little fox.

As time passed, little Sophia grew. Her short, chubby frame stretched out into a long, slender figure. But most curious of all, her ears got HUGE. Instead of looking like a fox, she quickly turned into a fruit bat!

To build her independence, we let Sophia sleep alone in her crate each night. But after a while, it became harder and harder to put her away to bed. She yearned to stay with us, cuddled in bed, watching movies and gnawing on chew toys. Eventually, my husband convinced me to let her sleep with us. Just once.

And now she's a regular fixture in our bed.

Easter time. Sophia got into the spirit with her bunny cape. Let me tell you: this is a little girl who LOVES clothes. I used to think dressing your dog was the sort of annoying Hollywood thing that dogs resent and owners relish. But the first sweater Sophia got kept her little body so warm, she would fight you if you tried to take it off. She now has a wide assortment of little outfits, and she just loves it.

Basking in the sunlight. It's a little known fact: chihuahuas LOVE sunbathing.

I learned this when I found Sophia curled up by the porch, laying inside the single ray of sunlight peering into our apartment.

Outside the Grove, in her Fendi purse. Sophia loves shopping. It gives her a chance to hang out with mom and dad, and sleep. Basically, her two favorite activities.

We entered Sophia to be in a coffee table book called "Hipster Pups." My assistant and friend, Michelle, made her this Lady Gaga "Paparazzi" outfit, or as we called her: Puppy Gaga. Sadly, she didn't make it in the book. All the winners were wearing black-framed glasses.

For Halloween, Sophia went to ZOOM ROOM, a canine social club that has puppy training classes and parties. On this particular day, they called it DOOM ROOM. Sophia was dressed as a pumpkin.

And finally here she is on her birthday. All grown up. 4 pounds, 7 ounces. We love her so much, and we're bubbling with excitement to celebrate Thanks Giving and Christmas with our special little girl.


Motherly Nostalgic,
Sabrina London