Guess who had a birthday?

That's right. Our little ball of fluff (okay fine, our half-bald skinny bag of bones) turned three. And in a strange quirk of timing, she came to live with us on her second birthday, so the date also marked our one-year anniversary of becoming dog owners.

Of course I had to make her a hat.

In many ways, Smidgen isn't an easy dog to own. Given how ridiculously inexperienced Fin and I are (neither of us has ever had a dog in the family before), it's kind of crazy to think they even gave her to us in the first place. Her timid, cautious nature made her a rubbish racer, and led to her being put up for adoption - yay for us! But it also left her completely unprepared for life as a pet in the big bad world, filled with people, buses, televisions, HOOVERS OMG IT'S SO SCARY OUT HERE!!!

She's still shy around everyone apart from us and a select, Smidgen-approved few. She's wary of strange dogs. If she does decide she wants to play, the only game she knows is Let's All Chase Smidgen Round And Round And Not Be Able To Catch Her For Twenty Minutes, which I'm not sure is that much fun for the other dogs. She's a terrible moocher, she has no respect for personal space, she's kind of weird-looking if we're honest, and she doesn't even wipe her feet on the mat when she comes in from walks, the rude bitch.

But that, of course, is only half the truth. Okay, so we can't go out for dinner on a whim, but frankly I'll take a long, happy walk on a crisp day over an overpriced burger. And if an overpriced burger is the only thing that will do, well, fortunately I know a place that keeps a stash of doggy treats behind the bar.

Smidgen is sweet, joyful, affectionate and for some unknown reason she absolutely loves the pants off me and Fin. Her desires are simple: somewhere comfy to snooze, something tasty to eat, and the people she loves cuddled up beside her. She's a constant reminder to value the everyday and be grateful for small pleasures. Who doesn't want to be reminded of that?

PLUS. Not only does she let me put stupid hats on her and take pictures, she is so chilled about it that she falls asleep. With the hat still on.

If that isn't the cutest thing ever then I'd like to know what is.

Happy birthday, Smidger McGidger. We love the pants off you, too.