Chloe and the puppies

Here is pregnant Dixie. She looks very ready to have those puppies.

Chloe had so much fun when our dog Dixie had puppies. She really couldn't keep her hands off them. I was surprised at how well she did with them. Especially when we had to eventually sell them. Not one tear was shed (on her part). I may have shed a tear or two though. It was really hard not to get attached to these little dogs. It was amazing to watch Dixie care for her babies as well as any mom could. In a weird way I bonded to her through this experience. She went through many of the same symptoms as I did when pregnant. It was very obvious to me (though not so much to David) when she was ready to have the puppies. Not just the "time to have the puppies" ready, but the "I've been this way long enough, let this baby out now!" ready. And to have had a new baby myself when hers were born, the similarities between the way we cared for our babies was uncanny. She would run to them in the middle of the night if she heard them make the littlest whimper, made sure they were always comfortable and safe. And I think because, as any new mom knows, her hormones were very rampant, she would also try to care for my baby as I would hers. When Tyler cried, she was right there to lick his face (not exactly what we wanted, but it worked). After nursing her own little ones, she would lay next to Tyler the same way like she was waiting for him to nurse too. I marvel at God's work to make all mom's no matter the species, just as caring and loving to her children as any other. I felt like she knew what I was going through and she knew that I knew what she was going through. David pointed out one time when Dixie was feeding her little ones that she had the same expression as I did when it was late and I was very tired and Tyler was teething. Not very pleasant but dutiful. I have a new respect and awe for Dixie for keeping her sanity after caring for four puppies and still staying as sweet and kind to everyone else as ever. A lesson I still need to work on after sleepless nights, endless feedings, and a NEVER ending repeating Peter Pan DVD. On bad days Chloe (who has always wanted to make things better) will come up to me and ask if I'm sad. Then she gently rubs my arm and gives me a hug and says "I make you feel better." I love being a mom.