As we prepared for our nation's birthday, we also celebrated another special birthday in our house...Jackson's first.

Jackson has turned out to be a great dog, even if he has his Marley & Me moments, but he completely redeems any wrongdoing by snuggling. Every morning, he crawls into bed, and lays on his back, just smiling and getting his pets in for the day.

Jackson is a true lab; he loves to fetch and swim. We are truly lucky to live so close to the beach and are able to take him there almost every weekend. One of his favorite things to do is fetch found objects, which is usually the biggest stick he can find.

We like to call Jackson our dump truck because he will literally eat anything. He has yet to find some floor food that he won't devour.

So in memory of his first birthday, I have compiled a list of all the nonfood items Jackson has consumed in the past year. And they are:

• Bleach
• Charcoal
• Earplugs
• Two remotes
• Three bras
• A battery
• Entire USB jump drive
• No less than 3 pairs of shoes
• A rug
• Countless Japanese stink bugs
• One book
• His pedigree
• An aluminum can
• Lucy's collar and rabies tag
• An entire pack of socks
• Two boxer briefs 
• Four razor blades
• A Christmas ornament 
• A permanent marker
• Nerf dart
• Mascara
• Styrofoam
• All styrofoam white poop
• Duck decoy
• Beer
• Vinegar
• Two throw pillows
• Eyeglass lens
• Half a pack of cigarettes
• A few days of birth control
• Expo markers
• Sidewalk chalk
• Bounce sheets