'I spent $200 on my dog's lavish birthday celebrations, but I forgot to get something for my mum's birthday four days earlier'

Some may call me a 'crazy dog lady' I prefer the term 'caring mum'.

Yesterday, my dog, Nelson, turned three – 21 in dogs years, if you subscribe to the seven-year theory – so of course, we had to celebrate.

Now, when I say celebrate I don't mean give him a pat and a bone, I'm talking a full-blown celebration worthy of a human child.

Let me take you through the day.

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Actually, first we need to take things back to the week before his birthday, when the celebrations first began.

On Thursday last week, I headed to the shops with a budget of $100 in mind to spend on Nelson's birthday presents.

My budget quickly went out the window.

Across The Reject Shop and Kmart, I spent probably over $150 on his gifts – including the $4 wrapping paper.

Four days before Nelson's birthday is my mum's birthday, and I must admit that while I spent $150 on birthday gifts for my dog, I did not buy anything for my mum (important to note I did get her a very good Mother's Day present, though).

"I've raised my kids to love and cherish animals so much that they lavish presents on their dogs and forget to send me anything": a direct quote from my mum on the topic.

Now, fast-forward to Tuesday night, otherwise known as Nelson's birthday eve.

I had one of my roomates distract Nelson in the living room while I hid in the kitchen with piles of dog toys and one four-metre roll of dinosaur wrapping paper.

Now, you might be thinking I wasted my time by wrapping gifts for a dog, assuming I would be the one to unwrap them anyway, but you're severely underestimating my son.

The next morning, Nelson rolled out of bed to be showered with kisses and cuddles from myself and my roomates with cries of "happy birthday" and "what a handsome birthday boy" echoing throughout the house.

The morning started off with a trip to McDonald's, where I purchased Nelson a babyccino (no chocolate) and myself a sausage and cheese McGriddle (delicious, by the way).

Nelson lapped up his babyccino, which was essentially a $1.50 tiny cup of warm milk, while I pilled his presents up high and made him wait to open them until I had captured a sufficient amount of photos.

As soon as he was given the command, he went straight for the biggest, most expensive teddy (he is my son, after all) and had to be encouraged to come and rip open the rest of the gifts.

Now, if you don't believe me when I say he opens the presents himself, the video above is proof he is very intelligent and advanced.

After he unwrapped his gifts and had some time to play with all his new toys, he jumped in the car to head off on his birthday adventure to the beach, as it was an unusually warm day for Sydney winter.

He ran wild along the beach and made friends with some other dogs whose owners had also decided to capitalise on the nice weather.

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Nelson wasn't incredibly happy that I didn't want to go for a swim with him (I went up to my knees and could not feel my limbs, the water was so cold) but he eventually got over it and had a bit of a paddle around by himself.

After a few hours at the beach we went on a short walk to the fish and chip shop to get him a little snack, and then it was time for the worst part of Nelson's day – a bath.

While he usually puts up a fight, he simply didn't have the energy after a big morning at the beach, so I very quickly rinsed the salt and sand out of his fur and got him back in the car.

Despite at this point acting like an overtired toddler – he threw a fit at the beach when I wouldn't let him eat the fish some men were filleting on the rocks – he refused to go to sleep when we got home, and instead played with his toys until he passed out.

Of course, he woke up shortly after when his body clock told him it was dinner time and after dinner, he was ready for dessert.

I baked his birthday cake (it's a Pet Barn packet mix that goes in the microwave for two minutes) and decorated it with dog-friendly sprinkles before lighting the candle and forcing my friends and roomates to sing Happy Birthday to my dog.

After he went feral and made a huge mess over what I can only assume is basically flour and yoghurt mixed together, I lost him.

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I looked outside and he was nowhere to be found.

I searched upstairs and in my roomates' rooms – nothing.

Eventually, I went to check in my bedroom and found Nelson fast asleep, snuggled in bed.

After a very big day for a very handsome boy, he had put himself to bed at the early hour of 6pm.

Now, at the end of the day after the various treats purchased on top of the presents, I probably spent upwards of $200 on his birthday celebrations, which, if you're asking me, is simply what he deserves.

And if you think this is excessive for a dog's birthday, just you wait for next year (I will also buy my mum a present, I promise).

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