...And Visions of Sugar-Bones Danced in Their Heads...

Whitney's Nutcracker Sweeties began to open their eyes this week, though they still spend most of their time sleeping and dreaming puppy-dreams of who-can-imagine-what delights...

(Don't forget to click on the images to see them in larger format!)

"This is a special Christmas Eve for Clara. She is about to receive the gift of a dream."  -- The Nutcracker

"It is Christmas Eve. In just a few hours, the clock will chime midnight - a time of magic, and of dreams."               --The Nutcracker

"Let's be Naughty and save Santa the trip."

Fritz is intrigued by the aroma of the traditional
Roast Beast resting on the sideboard...

There is definitely something that smells QUITE interesting out there!

"He sees you when you're sleeping; he knows when you're awake..."

"Not a creature was stirring..."

"...And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!” 

Puppy Central!

Whitney and Bibi's puppies are growing like...like...well, like little fat piggies!!!  Both of these mama's are diligently feeding their litters such that their little tummies are bursting at the seams.  At this age their eyes are still closed and will be so for another week, but they are much more adept at hauling themselves around the box to areas with different temperatures, or to find their mama.

"The Princess and the Piece of Kibble"

Satori is expecting and is on "bedrest", which means that, just like with human mamas, she has to just lie around peacefully in her whelping box to give her litter the best chance of reaching full-term.   (This usually means that I have to just lie around in her whelping box too, to keep her company!) Every 3-5 hours (Yes, all day and all night long!) we run a monitoring session from an amazing electronic monitor that sends data via the phoneline to a canine whelping consulting service in Colorado, so that we have a better idea of what is going on in there!
http://www.whelpwise.com/testing/whelp-wise-service.html

Miss Satori is a highly intelligent--and fairly calculating-- canine "L.A.P." (or "Labradoodle Australian Princess").  We have conducted the Princess-Test and she has passed with flying colors!  Just like a true Princess, Satori will not accept kibble...or even roast chicken..except fed directly from our fingers in appropriately bite-sized morsels:

Acceptable

"I Don't Think So..."

Not Acceptable

Satori prefers NOT to be by herself too much, so when we are not looking after the other babies, we are spending a lot of time together... (note: the coffee is mine) 

5 days and counting with no progress

Meanwhile, here at Golden Gate Central HQ, while the pups and mama's needs (and whims!) are being catered to, the human contingent are demonstrating god-like forbearance and patience.  I could take a photo of the piles of laundry choking up the laundry room, the dishes on the kitchen counter, or possibly just the in-box of unopened emails on my Gmail account, but somehow this picture is emblematic of the situation:  

The Nutcracker Sweeties: Lessons To Live By...

"Day Two" saw a consolidation of the lessons the puppies learned on "Day One"...

Lesson 1:  Keep Track of Mom at All Costs

Even though their eyes are not yet open, or their ears unsealed, the babies seek out their Mama all over their box, calling with 
loud and plaintive squeaking

Lesson 2: Sleeping is Good

At least 20 hours a day is a good start

                                           
Lesson 3:  It's Not Always Better to Be At the Top of the Pack Order 

It's much warmer at the bottom!

Lesson 4: Siblings Are Not a Source of Nourishment

 

(They do have other uses however)

                                                                                              Lesson 5: Did We Mention The Importance of Sleep?

Might as well make good use of our time while Mama is "out"

Lesson 6:  Do Not Get Separated From the Pack

Remaining in physical contact with the "Puppy Pile" at all times is a prudent strategy

Lesson 7:  Furry Surfaces Often Contain Milk

"It must be in here somewhere" 

Nutcracker Sweets

The Lovely Whitney delivered a beautifully robust litter of 3 girls and 2 boys. Mama cleverly took her time with the whelping, birthing her first big girl at 5:20 AM, with the rest of the puppies appearing regularly over the next four hours.  Whitney was refreshed with the traditional bowl of vanilla ice cream, which provides extra glucose and calcium for both Mama and babies. The pups "Clara", "Sugarplum", "Prince", "Snowflake", and "?", all set to nursing with enthusiasm!

This little girl, only minutes old, is soaking up the heat from the warming tray

We are glad to see the puppies "pink up" once they start breathing on their own

"Snowflake" enjoyed the benefits of being an "only child" for over an hour!

But a sister "Clara", then a brother "Prince" came along in rapid succession

Enjoying his first meal of colostrum

Whitney would like to know who finished off the last of the Trader Joe's French Vanilla that had her name on it?  (Had to make do with Dreyers "plain" Vanilla...!)

A wonderfully strong litter is a delight to watch as they drag themselves around the box searching for  Mama  (and a cozy spot to curl up and snooze)

Plenty of room for all at the first Breakfast!

Whitney admires her handiwork...and takes excellent care of them too.

It's Puppy Time!

Two-thirty AM and Whitney has let me know that she thinks the time is drawing near...

They place so much trust in us to help them through the birthing!

Satori looks like she is laughing as this means she does not go to the scheduled grooming appointment this morning!

And Bibi is still waiting "Expectantly"!