Not Terrible Two's ... Terrific Two's!

Dear Cubby,
This year your birthday just happened to fall on Easter SONday so we made a big celebration and the whole family came over.  I think you enjoyed it ... new toys and extra treats and a whole lot of fun.
We started off at church where you were your usual good-boy and then we came home for naptime.  Pretty soon Joey was here, then Andy and Melissa and Lily and Liam.  Your rowdy puppiness came bursting forth as it still does when they come over but, on that note, you are learning and settling down more quickly.  You had no idea what all the festivity was about; you just enjoyed being a family dog with the people you love!
"Presents!  Toys!  Treats!  Frosty Paws!  I think I like this birthday stuff!"  Of course your flying fish lasted less than 30 minutes before you had it ripped open and the squeakers pulled out.  I don't expect your huge plush bone that's almost as big as you are to last very long either.  But I dare you to try chewing up your new interactive toy.  *wink*

You surely did have an eventful year, with so many brand new experiences I worried we might be moving along too fast, but we trusted our trainer, played by all the rules, and now you just seem to be okay with anything.  When something happens you're not sure if you should be worried about or not, I love it when you look to me for reassurance that you've nothing to fear.  It's heartwarming to know you need me as much as I need you.
This past year saw your first bus ride, first train ride (light rail), and first airplane ride, and you were great at all three.  You experienced two new states and even another country!  You mostly enjoyed your first live concert, but you were totally unimpressed by your first snowfall.  (That was a puzzler.)  Quite the power chewer, you destroyed about a hundred tennis balls and almost as many toys but, strangely, things you pick up for me never have so much as a tooth mark or a scratch.
The one occasion leaving me completely baffled was your effortless acceptance of Sophie's passing.  You didn't mope or wander about the house looking for her.  You laid by her to keep watch as she struggled those last couple of weeks and, when she died, you seemed to know exactly what happened and you were totally okay with it.  I'll tell you, Cubby, you're the main reason I got through that.  There was no jumping down a bottomless pit of depression; I had to keep myself together so I could take care of you.
It has been an amazing journey as you ascended from puppyhood into a full-grown, highly-skilled, beautiful dog, ready to jump with all four paws into your career.  Your practice certification test is coming up in just a week, and then comes the real one when the trainers think you're ready.  It's going to be one exciting summer.

Photo Descriptions: balloons floating around a number 2, Cubby underneath his Happy Birthday decorative banner, and Cubby with his presents including a new chew toy, big orange plush bone, purple interactive treat toy, plush stuffing-free leopard, and flying fish.