3 Weeks n 3 Days Meet the Girls

Here are the girls! Andrew and I have claimed the one on the right. We'll call her Audi or Andi. It was a really hard choice and has taken us a long time. We've waffled and gone back and forth. I think both would do really well with us. In the end we chose the whiter one because of her sass. She doesn't allow the girls to squeeze her too much and will bite or bark back. With Dakota being a two year old she doesn't understand the need to be gentle.  

The darker girl pup is our most mellow and cuddly pup. She likes to be held, doesn't cry and is really calm. We have a family considering her at this time. 

She is a real sweety and if we didn't have our kids she would be our top choice.

These are the girls side by side. We chose the whiter girl pup because she has the tenacity to bite back when the girls are being too rough. She also barks which I don't really care for but we will work on it. 

Top view of the girls

The end!

2 weeks and 4 days

All their eyes are open! It is really fun to start to see personalities show. In the last few days they have gone from cuddly lumps to active weaving pups. They are starting to growl, bark and chew on one another. They have little nubby teeth. Their actions are miscalculated so they end up in dog piles or backing up full speed until they run into the side of their box. I've even seen a few try to jump and they fall over instead. We are having some good laughs at their lack of coordination. Things that make me smile are wagging stubby tails, barks that wake them up, dreams that make their bodies quiver, and skunk smelling kisses with rosebud shaped tongues.

We had a wonderful Valentines Day and I hope you did too. Pinterest has to be one of my favorite websites and I use it frequently- if you follow me then I don't have to tell you that. It is so helpful and I love to dream. Call me a dreamer! On there I saw this idea to cut out tissue hearts and then have Daraby paint them with white vinegar. The color of the tissue paper bleeds onto the white paper. Daraby loved her Valentine because it was pink, made with hearts and she got to paint. At Christmas she got an art kit from her Aunt Rachel and Uncle Daron and that is when we discovered her love of painting. She likes to paint like I like to sew or make cards. We are starting to see the young desires of our children's hearts and that is like seeing glimpses of the person she will become. I hope to give our child roots and wings. We are growing their roots now so they can fly away and be transformed into who they are destined to become. I hope they love the Lord and pursues the passions that He has placed in their hearts.

Dakota didn't get to paint. I got a bunch of princess stickers to keep her occupied. All those stickers ended up on her shirt. She wore them proudly to lunch. The girls love all things girly and that means Belle from Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella and Rapunzel from Tangled.

They are getting so big!

Almost 3 pounds and bigger than my hand.

Today they ate softened dog food for the first time and just munched down the entire serving so I fixed another plate and they ate that too. After they get done eating they all start to lick each other because they bathe in the food as they eat. Messy yet but they enjoyed it. I am feeding them a fantastic puppy food that is grain free and full of chicken and fish meats and all the vitamins they need. If you buy a pup I'm hoping to have some left over to send home with you. 

This is another pinterest.com play idea and it worked out so well. I gave them each two bowls and lots of small toys to bury and find in their dry oatmeal- can be rice or macaroni too. Messy? Very! but so good for them to learn. This kept them interested and busy and I had fun burying Dakota's small toys only to hear her say, "Momma, found it!" I believe children learn the best with hands on activities.

This last weekend my nephew went to a dance with his girlfriend and I was so excited that we got to see them all dressed up in their duds and mom and I even got to help prepare their elegant supper meal! We are so proud of Daly and the tender heart he has. We are proud of the young man that he is becoming. We have a lot of fun with him and our kids really like him. Pray for a friend of his at school who is fighting cancer and at this point there isn't much more anyone can do. So many of the kids are hurting at his school. Pray that God would provide a miraculous healing in Brooks life.

These are my parents with their grandson and his girlfriend Mary. My nephews and nieces are more like siblings since our ages are so close.

Daraby's got hair and this bun turned out so cute today.

I am a bit red from being out in the cold but it is so sweet to come back in after taking Abby for a late night walk to cuddle with these warm guys. What a sweet addiction and I'll have to pass them off to you all in just a few weeks. I know you'll love them and take over well but I'll still be weepy and I don't cry very often- if at all. I'm still looking to sell the last two of the male pups. If you know anyone who would be interested please let them know that they will have their AKC papers, shots, dew claws removed and tails docked and come from exceptional parents. I am asking $350 firm.

I'll never regret adding Abby to our family. They are bit of work in the beginning-training but so worth it when you have them trained and you realize what a wonderful addition they are to your family- endless love, great entertainment, true devotion and fantastic secret keepers. Oh and for us the errant snack cleaner upper and dedicated bird chaser! 

Sierra's pup

This pup is currently spoken for and all the following pictures are of this little guy. The family that is considering him wanted to see some pictures up and close.

All white bellies on all the pups.

Andrew's science class came over on Friday and weighed the pups the largest gap in the pups is only 4 ounces. They all look to be the same size except the more white male pup. He looks big.

Later that day the whole elementary class came over to hold and pet the pups. I thought about posting their pictures but I don't know if that would be ok with their parents so I'll refrain but the kids are cute holding the pups.

That nose gets kissed a lot.

White legs!

Sierra's pup is on the far left. He matches the female next to him except for the fact that she has a small white spot on her right hip. The pups are really growing and their eyes should be opening Friday- give or take a day. They should start to hear things next week. They will be on sensory overload.

I hope ya'll are enjoying your Valentine's Day! We are up and just had breakfast. I got the girls gift I believe they will like- a puppy coloring book for Dakota and more flashcards for Daraby. Daraby loves to learn so we spend a lot of time sitting on the floor going through cards or books. I love books so I think that passion passed down to her.

Speaking of books- yesterday I planned to go to the library but the girls were so tired so I thought we would go after their nap. They slept late so I decided that we would go after supper since the library is open until 7- or so I thought. I called after supper to make sure they were open, since we live 15 min out of town, they were closed. They close early on Mondays and aren't open on Tuesdays. I think I could have wept. I need a good book and they have one waiting for me. I am really busy Wednesday so the earliest day I can get there is Thursday. You can bring me flowers or chocolates but if you want to make me happy just bring me a good book.

One week and One day!

The pups are a week and one day and we've been loving everyday with them. We've been a bit silent on the blog because we are honestly holding pups all the time and I can't type while holding one. However, I can pin on pinterest.com and so I've been pinning a ton. I've been cuddling and dreaming on pintrest. I don't think I'll ever live in the rooms I've pinned. Perhaps in heaven so perhaps I'm putting my mansion orders in early. Who cares, life is better with pups.

Daraby is a true mothering sort. It comes natural to her. I can just see her working as a nurse in labor and delivery or having a passel of her own children. I've never played house and babies so much in my life. I have to remind myself that I was a little girl but I sure never liked girl things until now. Good thing purple is my favorite color. I do fit in some where.

Don't mind the messy house we are making memories.

Dakota thinks the puppies are fine but she is really saying, "Mom they don't do much." I think, "Don't worry sweet in a few weeks you will be running with them. They will be active soon enough."

 If you think my house is messy now just wait. Chaos is about to happen right here folks. Plus, we have a home study to get ready for our adoption. During the day you can find the girls jumping on Mom and Dad's bed. It is the best to wear southern belle dresses while jumping because the dresses have bells sewed into the hems so they jingle.

The girls are huge fans of the movie "Tangled" so we brush and brush each other's hair. Mine is falling out the way it is but I submit to tear causing brushing -all in the name of parenting. Actually Daraby is the softest hair brusher I've met and I thoroughly enjoy it. Dakota is the tear jerker.

Dakota's hair is super fine and frizzy which gets some pretty interesting comments. I think my family is constantly brushing it behind my back. I'll pick Dakota up from nursery after church and it is all brushed but by the time we get to lunch it is a poof.

If Daraby can't brush hair- well the feet work too. "Does that tickle Kota?"

It doesn't show it well in this photo but Dakota is an extreme pack rat. She is normally carrying 20 toys. She piles them everywhere and remembers what is in each pile. She is attached to each pile. She squirrels them away in our walk-in closet, in her closet, under her bed, under my bed, behind the couch etc.... I keep finding these piles and putting them in the toy box- only to hear her moans of despair that her pile is missing. Honestly, she will be on hoarders. I am a thrower. If I don't use it, it is gone. Andrew is just like me so it will be a challenge to not throw Kota's stuff/art/church papers in the trash.

Happy Valentines Day- early. Andrew got me a fire and ice rose this week. He is making sure that he doesn't forget the special day. I love these white and red tipped roses. For the first year we were married he got me a new rose each week. I loved that but now living out in the country it is a bit tricky to remember to buy the flower and get it home unscathed.

Don't mind me I'm pinning on http://www.pinterst.com/ Each of the pups in handled everyday- multiple times. They will be very well acclimated to humans. Colorful male pup.

There are lots of yawns and open mouth sleeping. So precious! Colorful pup.

White ring neck male pup.

Daraby has the other white ring neck male pup.

Dakota just likes to tickle Daddy and that is fine by me. Daraby and I are mothering!

Enjoy your weekend!

Let's meet the Boy Puppies!

This is the more colorful boy pup- currently spoken for.

More colorful boy pup- that milk must be really good. 

Two of the darker boy pups. Very sweet and cuddly.

The two boy pups again.

The colorful male (not avaliable) and the darkest boy pup. The boy pup on the right almost matches our one girl pup.  Hard to believe that the dark boy pup is our runt and the more white pup is our tubby pup. They are pretty even in weight and size.

You can see that their tails are docked. They are 2/3 length which is more of a field cut.

Colorful boy pup- biggest pup.

Darkest boy pup- he is the smallest.

We've been having a great time here with the pups. The girls are petting them each day and we've been taking them out to hold them and let them crawl around on our bed. Yesterday I took them in with the girls to get their tails docked and dew claws removed. I don't know if any of you have ever taken two toddlers, 6 pups and one momma dog to the vet. It is chaos! We went through two packages of M&M while we waited. If you know me at all then you know that feeding my kids M&M's is not the norm. There were crying pups, a worried mom dog, and running/screaming kids. Don't worry I looked the vet in the eye and had a normal everyday conversation and realized I'm getting used to chaos. I bet they took a huge sigh after we all left. :)

The three boy pups that aren't nursing are avaliable. I do have one family really interested in the darkest boy pup.