For the record, we don’t normally all wear matching Husker outfits. This picture, taken the same day as the infamous Santa picture, was the first one to commemorate our coordinated gear. I feel like I should note that so, when (if) our kids ever read this blog, they don’t assume we dressed them in identical Husker t-shirts every day of their young lives.
Also different from the other picture is that we’ve swapped Santa for Maddie, our dog. Maddie turned nine last week. Which means she has been with M. and me through a lot. She was our first baby. She has lived with us at all three of our houses. She has curled underneath my desk while I’ve written ten books and countless hours of Bible studies. She has welcomed four babies home from the hospital.
She has sat underneath our family table for every meal and snapped up the kid crumbs–before they even hit the floor. She has curled next to me while I’ve nursed each baby. She has endured the kids dressing her up, kissing her, and lying on top of her.
I could go on and on about Maddie, who really is the seventh member of our family. She travels with us on road trips, protects our house, and is the most patient, sweet dog an active family could hope for.
But it’s now all worth it for Maddie.
Because Nate has entered the high chair phase.
This month is when life gets very good for the family dog. Because more food will end up on the floor than in his mouth. Entire containers of fruit puffs will be spilled. Bowls of rice cereal will be forgotten on the table. He will throw spoons of apples overboard.
Maddie will hit payload.
Through crumbs and spills, she will be reimbursed for all the times we made her pose for family pictures.
