Camille

It has become clear that the unsung hero of our new family is the four-legged beast that sleeps at the foot of our bed. Like the little hungry caterpillar, Camille has gone through a sudden and remarkable metamorphosis since she ran to the door and insisted on meeting Liam the moment he came home from the hospital. Theories abound, but our ever-sweet female dog is becoming the obediant and family-oriented friend we've always willed her to be.

Consider the following before and after scneario:

Lindsay was induced after visiting the midwife and learning that her blood pressure was dangerously high. That pressure was undoubtedly high due to the fact that she spent the better part of that day's morning chasing a chicken-bone-craving-Camille through the park. It was one of those rare occasions where Lindsay - even with assistance from Aunt Julia - gave up on Camille and left her to a life on the streets. (Only after she gave up looking for her did she find Camille sitting on our front steps, several blocks from where she was last spotted.)

24 hours later, Liam enters scene.

One week later, Lindsay, Will, Liam and Camille visit Wissahickon Creek for a Rockwellian romp through the Fall foliage. Camille, true to form, spends the two hours running with reckless abandon through the trees, rolls in mudholes, and ends her day rinsing in the creek. On the short walk back to our car, Will casually mentions to Camille that it would be pretty nice if she (like so many dogs we've pined for with owners we envy) jumped into the back of the car with the simple prompt of opening the hatch. It was said, fully prepared to chase her for the next 20 or so minutes, with a hopeless indifference common in our daily interactions like, "come," or "no," or "off the couch." Will opened the hatch and faked an expectant look on his face. Camille quietly sauntered toward the car and assuredly jumped into the back. We wouldn't have been more amazed if Jesus Christ had done the same. Could it be possible? No more stranger conscriptions to herd the herder? We both laughed with confused excitement as we praised and petted the hell out of her standing like the perfect dog in the back of the wagon. A repeat performance the following weekend sealed the deal. Camille is officially our newest best friend. It's like falling in love all over again.

Camille's daily kisses for Liam, cuddling, and overall pleasure with her little bro (her tail wags even when he's crying right beside her) is icing on the cake. So the next time you visit or see us out and about, please make sure to give Camille her props.