Bright Star McCovey's Excellent Year

This is another birthday update from a Bright Star who lives in an amazing place — in McCovey’s case, it is the Sierras.

The Sierras is one of my favorite places and I have albums of Sierra backpacking photos ❤️ Therefore, I love these photos for all kinds of reasons and am sharing each and every one Valerie sent along with her update:

“This was a huge year for our big guy! It started with a record-breaking winter, and followed with the arrival of his human baby brother who he simply adores.  It was love at first sight for those two.  

As Winter gave way to an incredible Spring and Summer, we enjoyed a reprieve from wildfire smoke, allowing us to make the most of the great outdoors. McCovey absolutely loves the water, and not even the dead of winter can stop him from taking a dip.

Definitely Claire’s son!

McCovey continues to be the center of attention wherever we go. Whether it's a local farmer's market or a hiking trail, he steals the show with his infectious energy and charming personality.

But it wasn't all rainbows and butterflies -- we had a few months after the baby was born where he wouldn't let dogs approach us on walks.  His protective nature kicked into gear, and in an off-leash community with a newborn in hand and snow on the ground, this was very hard to navigate. 

Luckily there is abundant open space here, so we just had to find the places we could adventure safely and freely for a few months. As James has gotten bigger, McCovey has relaxed completely back into his dog-loving self and we're able to socialize again on the busier trails. It's a relief for all involved.

He also made a big jump in stature this summer.  He was previously petite for a male Berner at 85-87 lbs, but this summer he grew both in height and weight, and now sits at an impressive and athletic 105 lbs. His face looks like Claire, but his build really reminds me of Ferguson these days.

We're off to Bend, Oregon this weekend and I'm looking forward to exploring a new place with my 3 boys. They have the snow we're lacking, so we're off to chase it!

Here's to many more years with our big lap dogs!”

I agree — we want to be celebrating these birthdays for the next decade PLUS!

Thank you, Valerie, for the update and beautiful photos.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY McCovey!!! 🎉