Goodbye, Bubbles

Nine years ago, I bought a house.  Not even a month in to this adventure, The Hubbs and I made the decision to adopt a fur kid, and we've never regretted that decision, not even for a moment.

Driving with my parents to a farm about an hour away from home, we were excited.  All four of us were giddy at the prospect of meeting the American Bulldogs who were up for adoption.  I even wondered how I'd choose.

The truth is, I didn't choose at all.  She did.  And so we became a family.

Our family in 2005

This little girl worked her way into our hearts so fast, it was hard to imagine what life had been like before her.

The day after we adopted her, and her first walk at the state park.

Our sweet girl

 She's been with us through everything: our wedding, the addition of Sookie, the birth of The Princess.  Before her, this was a little yellow house.  Thanks largely to this big, beautiful, buxom bulldog, it's now a little yellow home.

Happily snoozing on one of our many couches through the years

She used to love laying on the back of this one.

Very important business lady, keeping Doodle company in the office

How, I ask you: how do you not love that face?

Such a good girl

After she'd been with us about a year, we ran across this beautiful baby
bulldog who had just arrived at a local pet store.  It was lub at first sight,
and before we knew it, Bubbles was an adoptive momma.

They've gotten along famously from the word go.

One of my favorite pics of the girls together

Puppies grow fast.

A gentle soul, Bubbles always loved to hang on the couch (or the bed, when we'd allow it) with her people.

A little girl and her daddy

Momma dog and her not-so-baby-anymore puppy

She's always kept careful watch over The Princess.

Not to mention screening gentleman suitors before allowing them to declare
their intentions.

A girl, her pig, and their protector.

Always together, these two

So gentle.  She would let kids step all over her and yank on any of her bits,
all without a complaint.  She loved people, and man, did her people love her.

She also loved to "drive."

I like to call this one "Really, Nana?"  

In the last few years, she really came to love walking with her people.

It's been a hard week.  That's the understatement of my life.  But I would not trade one moment of the last nine years for anything.  The pain of losing our beloved fur kid is far outweighed by the multitude of wonderful memories she blessed us with over the course of her life.

After spending a peaceful afternoon and evening with her family, Bubbles fell asleep one last time around 3:00 this morning.

We love you, Bubbles.  So, so much.  Goodbye, sweet girl.