Pupdate & the Park...

Its been pretty rainy and dreary here these last couple weeks and both DW and LC have been under the weather.  I was bypassed for the worst of it, thank goodness! But let me be the first to tell you, that can make for one stir crazy family!  Even our pups, Tucker and Sam, have been going a little insane.  I have given up even trying to keep the floor clean right now and we actually put an ever-attractive puppy mat in front of the back door to catch the muddy paw prints the best we can.  If I could figure out how to attach swiffer wipes to LC's shins and feet, don't think I wouldn't consider it.

 

So many people told us that when we had babies, our dogs would cease to matter...and trust me, I did not want that to happen. They have been a huge part of our lives and it would be unfair to them to turn them from babies into d-o-gs just because we had a new family member arrive.  I have to admit that its harder than I thought to strike that balance. The dog hair that didn't used to bother me for a day or two (or three) before LC now has to be swept or vacuumed every day. Otherwise, LC or her toys wear it...or worse, have it for a snack.
 

The claws have to be trimmed more often because I quickly realized, with my light sleeper of a child, those formerly soft and "unnoticeable" click-click-clicks on the hardwoods might as well sound like firecrackers going off when you have a sleeping baby. We try not to be overly quiet when LC sleeps but the clicking wakes her up every time. We've had to make LC's nap time become the dog's nap time, too.
 

It's also hard now that LC is walking not to get frustrated when Sam (most often) accidentally knocks her over. The pups are incredible with her - even Tucker who is older than dirt and can act crotchedy sometimes. They forget to pay attention sometimes, especially when they get excited.  LC has made some adjustments of her own and I'm realizing even this is just all part of the "cause-and-effect" learning curve for her.

 

She knows when Sam walks up that there is a drive by licking about to happen unless she ducks away - which she does now (quite smoothly I might add) - and she knows that when the tails start wagging, its better to hit the floor and crawl away underneath the weapons of mass destruction. LC has caught a wagging tail or two to the face and it's pitiful...but the joys of her growing up with the pups far outweigh the complaints I have.
 

She loves them...she lights up when they walk in the room and says, "Dah!" for Dog and then says, "Buh!" as her attempt at saying "Ruff" when I ask "What does the dog say?" She giggles with delight when something "magically" drops on the floor from her highchair and the Clean Up Crew, as we call them, scurry to scarf it right up. Incidentally, this is a great reason for me to feel grateful for the pups. I never have to worry about the mess LC makes during feeding time!
 

Sam, in particular, is also a great playmate with LC. He doesn't just let her climb all over him or tolerate her as his bed buddy...

...he lets her play dress up, too, even if not super happy about it.  I feel like there was a silent battle of the wills going on in this picture.  The stare down makes me laugh.
 

The other day, LC was sitting on the floor near Sam and I noticed that every time she was close enough to him, he kept trying to sniff her left ear. When I started really paying attention, I also realized that she actually tugged on it here and there even though she wasn't acting like she was hurting. Could she possibly have an ear infection and Sam detected it?

 

That would be an affirmative. She did. Crazy how perceptive and intuitive dogs are. Best friends, cuddle buddies, Clean Up Crew, and Diagnotician...yup, definitely outweighs the other minor struggles.

 

In terms of human playmates, the Carter Fam invited us to the park yesterday afternoon and though I thought we might never make it due to the GPS gods apparently wanting to punish me for something, we finally did!  It was the first time LC has been old enough to go to the park and be mobile...I would definitely say she loved it.

 

Bo. Can't you just see the mischief in his eyes?  He's so funny, too.  He started mimicking LC's walk where she sticks out her belly really far and waddles like a pregnant person.  Hilar.

 

This dimpled smile just kills me.

 

LC was unsure of all this PDA from Grey...takes after me that way! HA!

 

However, I do have to say that I just love how gentle and helpful Grey is with LC.  He loves to hug her and "hep her"...and its pretty stinking adorable what a caretaker he is.

 

DW was away for the weekend on a hunting trip with most of his college friends and I am so looking forward to him being home!  Its been fun but I'm definitely craving some conversation that include more than words than "ball? dog? mama? knock knock? go? up? baba?"

And can someone explain to me why every word that exits LC's mouth sounds like a question?