There's a lot of joy to spread around this holiday season and one Gresham grandmother is doing more than her share. Sandi Swiridoff is celebrating her first grandchild, a boy her daughter and son-in-law just adopted after caring for him since 2015.

Swiridoff also has a three-book deal with the first book to be released in the fall based on her delightful photos. And she's raised about $20,000 for local groups that support foster care.

Swiridoff's blessings all started with a bespectacled boy she calls Little Buddy and her photogenic pup, an Australian Labradoodle name Reagan.

The dog has captured the heart of the toddler and the world. Almost 300,000 people follow Instagram images Swiridoff has taken of the overprotective canine in clothes or costumes that match those of his fluffy-headed best friend.

National TV morning show hosts have chuckled over the funny photos and network news teams have trailed the story of how the duo found each other.

Swiridoff adopted Reagan in 2014. When the dog was 11 months old, Swiridoff's daughter, Kari Lewis, and son-in-law, Zach Lewis, took in the little boy, who was also 11 months old.

On Wednesday, Dec. 20, the Swiridoffs and Lewises received their biggest wish: Little Buddy officially became part of the family.

Writing from the dog's point of view, Sandi Swiridoff posted on Reagandoodle: "He's the best Christmas gift our family has ever received. The adoption took time, the love arrived instantly. I've adored him since the day we met...He gives hugs and kisses generously and often says, "I love you, Reagan" which melts my people's hearts every single time. Oh happy day - My best friend is here to stay!"

Seeing her grandson and her dog together makes Swiridoff "snap happy." Every day, almost since the two met, she has posted an Instagram photo of the pup and his curious pal, or with Reagan doing something silly on his own, like pretending to smirk while reading newspaper headlines.

"Who would think good could come out of Instagram, which is fun and silly?" asked Swiridoff, who stages the photos and made sure Little Buddy's face was turned or hidden behind a cuddly teddy bear or Reagan's tail when he was a foster child.

Today, after being adopted, his full smile lights up the photos.

"I am humbled and honored to have so many followers, and so happy to be able to use this platform to bring awareness to, and benefit children in foster care," said Swiridoff.

For the last three years, Swiridoff has compiled a dozen of the images into calendars sold to fund Foster Parents' Night Out, which works with the Oregon Department of Human Services to provide volunteer, trained babysitters.

She is offering the 2018 calendar in two sizes: standard ($20) and extra large ($30). Orders can be placed at www.Reagandoodle.com.

Swiridoff's books will also focus on the special friendship the boy and dog share.

"Reagandoodle and Little Buddy: The True Story of a Labradoodle and His Toddler Best Friend" by Sandi Swiridoff and Wendy Dunham will be released Oct. 2, 2018 (pre-order at $16.99), with a portion of the proceeds benefiting children in foster care.

Swiridoff is also spreading the message that dogs are therapeutic. "They bring comfort and being around them lowers your blood pressure," she said.

For her grandson, the dog represents stability. "The bond they have can't be replaced by anything," she said. "He knows that Reagan is there and he's his friend."

The boy and the 42-pound, camera-ready dog have grown up together. Since they are the same age, they don pointy party hats and celebrate their twin birthdays together each February.

Over the seasons, the cheerful duo have been captured in matching Hawaiian shirts sipping pineapple drinks, sitting on haystacks dressed as roly-poly pumpkins and napping in lookalike flannel pajamas.

When the sun's out, you might find them hanging out on the deck overlooking the Columbia River or a park bench wearing similar T-shirts. Or at the beach sporting swim trunks (one pair of trunks has been carefully cut to allow for a wagging tail).

Sometimes, Little Buddy's sister steals the scene. Kari and Zach Lewis have fostered the girl since she was two days old. She is now 15 months old. "She adores Reagan as well, and the feeling is definitely mutual," said Swiridoff.

When Reagan's tongue is not hanging out, he appears to be smiling.

"I truly am amazed by the response," Swiridoff said, "And I am continually amazed by Reagan. He loves the camera and is super cooperative. And he loves the kids, which is evident in the photos."

She confesses that sometimes the dog looks human-like, "even to me."

Swiridoff's husband, Eric E. Swiridoff, a primary care physician with Legacy Medical Group-Firwood in Sandy, said last year that he's happy with the global attention his wife's photos have received.

"Am I surprised?" he asked. "No, people clamor for what's good and it heartens me to see this go viral rather than bad news."

-- Janet Eastman



jeastman@oregonian.com

503-799-8739

@janeteastman



