Wing'in It: Happy birthday, Joey!

Joey turns eight today. That's 56 in dog years.

In August, 2005 Steven and I decided we needed to do something about Maya's intense fear of dogs. There were many different times when her fear became almost overwhelming to her...but on this particular day, the kids and I had gone to a little boy's birthday party near Castle Rock. Maya was six at the time and I remember her being absolutely terrified at the party because this family had two large dogs. These dogs were calm and docile...never even left the porch, but Maya wanted me to carry her past them into the house...and the poor kid was crying and terrified the whole time we were near these dogs.

Both Steven and I had grown up with dogs and loved them. We wanted Maya to have a healthy respect for them, but we didn't want her to be afraid. That's when we decided to get a puppy.

Oh, dear lord. The ears...the face. So cute.

I did a lot of research. That's what I do. :) I knew that labs were good dogs but everywhere I looked I kept reading how good they are with kids. Steven had a black lab when he was growing up and somehow we decided upon a yellow lab.

Joey doesn't mind getting squished...as long as someone's loving on him.

I found a breeder in Nebraska who was expecting a litter of puppies within a few weeks. I sent her a deposit and after the pups were born and weaned, she brought them to her daughter's house in Parker, Colorado.

Right after we picked him out...his first ride in the Tahoe and heading to his new home.

There were two males left and Steven chose our little guy. We'd already come up with a name for him...He's named after Joey Tribbiani from the popular sitcom Friends. (If we had chosen a girl, her name would have been Phoebe.)

Scott was almost three when Joey came to live with us. The two of them hit it off immediately.

Maya was never really skittish around Joey. He was a puppy...and best of all, he was her puppy. She loved him from the very beginning.

And seriously...who wouldn't???

Maya carted Joey around all over the place.

He was such a sweet puppy.

Asleep in my lap.

Potty training was a bit rough. Okay...it was a lot rough. But we made it through.

This is one of my all time favorite shots. Ever.

Maya went from not liking dogs to really liking dogs. It didn't take long at all before she had nearly conquered her fear completely.

Joey...just like one of the kids.

Joey moved with us from our house in Castle Rock to our condo in Littleton. He had a big open space in the back of the building and sometimes we'd let him off his leash so he could run around.

As you can see, Joey was never in need of affection. We hugged on him all of the time.

Joey's laying on me...Scott's laying on Joey.

Joey sat in the front seat of the big moving truck with Steven when we moved from Littleton to North Carolina. He was an excellent traveler. He liked North Carolina...but it was very hot for one wearing a fur coat.

Who's the crazy one here?

Such a handsome duo.

Joey and Scott were always buddies, but the older both of them got, the more they hung out together. Scott loves animals...especially his dog.

Content pooch.

I love Joey a lot, too.

As with everyone in our household, Joey has a lot of nicknames. Jo Jo, the Joester, J Dog, Woofus, Doctor J, Diggety Doggety Doo, (or just Diggety)...and when he was in trouble, Joseph Frances Tribbiani Wing! (Again taken from the Friends character.) I even heard Steven call him Josephine a couple of times.