By sheer coincidence, our actual blogiversary (which fell last Friday) came just days before what we fondly call a “dogiversary” here at home. Burger’s birthday was this week—yesterday, in fact—and he turned four years old. Happy birthday, Burgmeister!
Here’s the old man now in a little tribute inspired by his sister’s weekly photos:
We celebrated his day the usual way: a long walk, extra playtime, and a special dessert from Three Dog Bakery. This year, Sherry and I also pulled out some old home videos to revisit the days when Burger was truly tiny—about two pounds of pure chihuahua energy. Watching those clips turned into a fun blast from the past, not just because of the puppy antics but also because they captured a snapshot of our home years ago (circa 2006, before the blog even existed).
The footage was never intended for public viewing—so forgive the shaky camera work, sweatpants wardrobe, excessive baby talk, and the occasional pup-on-mouth smooch. We’re definitely “those” kind of people. Still, the videos were too entertaining to keep to ourselves, and they offer a candid look at how a home evolves over time.
In the background you might spot a few decorating relics worth noting:
- Sherry’s original “office” area, where a desk was skirted with a wrinkled sheet.
- Our old laundry area and entryway, complete with bi-fold doors.
- The former floor plan—at one point Burger runs through a doorway that’s now closed off between the kitchen and our then-dining-room (the current nursery).
- A den painted yellow and ice blue, accessorized with quirky silver ornaments on blue vases, and a fireplace screen that was painted white before we restored it to black.
- Old furniture pieces, including our original den couch shown both with and without a slipcover.
- A very bare-looking living room from before we realized it would work better as a combined living and dining space.
Those details serve as a reminder that rooms don’t arrive at a finished, magazine-ready look overnight. Our house took several years to become what it is now—about four and a half years of trial, error, and gradual improvements. Watching the videos makes it obvious that we didn’t start out as natural decorators; we learned as we went. If your home feels like a work in progress, take heart—you’ll get there over time.
We won’t over-explain—just grab some popcorn and enjoy the clips. View the video below for a peek at Burger’s first year and a look back at our early decor.
So what do you think? Which decor choice was our most cringe-worthy? Was Burger not the absolute cutest pup ever? How have you seen your own house slowly evolve into a home? We’d love to hear your thoughts and stories—let’s chat.
P.S. Although the footage is only four years old, it was recorded on an older mini-DV camera, which is why the video looks grainy. We’ve since upgraded to a newer camera, which makes a big difference. If you’re shopping for an easy-to-use video camera, we’ve had great results with our newer model.
Also, don’t forget to check out our weekly feature over on BabyCenter. This week we talk about how our house can look like a daycare one minute and be neatly stashed and calm the next—small organization tricks that make a big difference.