Today we’re celebrating a special kind of birthday: Hamburger “Burger” Petersik’s second birthday. To mark the occasion we treated the little guy to a fun day out, starting with a stop at Three Dog Bakery for a dog-friendly cake and finishing with a new harness that’s gentler on his small neck than the collar we’d been using. Seeing him enjoy his treat—tail wagging, blissed-out face—reminded us how fast these dog years go.
It feels like only yesterday we brought home a tiny two-pound, two-month-old puppy who had no idea he was signing up for a home renovation and a life full of attention (and more photos than he probably likes). From that first wobbly walk to the confident little strut he has now, Burger has filled our home with energy, curiosity, and the occasional mischievous chew. Celebrating his second birthday is a good moment to reflect on those little everyday milestones: the first time he mastered the stairs, the first successful stay command, and every quiet evening curled up at our feet.
Part of what makes this celebration fun is how it ties into all the other projects we’ve been doing around the house. If you’ve been following along, you’ll recognize the photo above of our former kitchen floor. At one point we had the original tacky linoleum that came with the house, and we decided to update it by laying new vinyl tile on top. It was a practical, cost-effective change that refreshed the space and made life easier for both humans and pets—less slipping, easier cleanup after treat time, and a nicer look overall.
We originally planned to post a step-by-step vinyl flooring tutorial a while back, but life with a puppy—and a few other projects—kept pushing that post down the list. Now that Burger’s birthday has given us a pause to look back, we’re reminded to follow through on that promise. Expect a clear, practical vinyl floor tutorial in the near future: how we prepped the subfloor, the adhesive and tile choices that worked for us, and tips for getting a clean, professional-looking result without hiring a contractor. We’ll include the tools we used, common pitfalls to avoid, and how to make the space pet-friendly during and after installation.
For now, we’re focused on enjoying the day. The new harness fits him well, distributing pressure more comfortably than a collar, and the bakery trip was an absolute hit. Birthdays for pets are a small, joyful ritual: a chance to pause, spoil them a bit, and take photos that remind us why we adopted a furry companion in the first place. Whether you celebrate with a special treat, a new toy, or a longer-than-usual walk, it’s the attention and care that matter most to them.
Thanks for sharing this little celebration with us. We’ll be back soon with the vinyl floor tutorial and more updates from around the house—and, of course, more Burger photos. Stay tuned for that step-by-step guide, and in the meantime, give your own pup an extra scratch behind the ears from us.