Pawsitively Kimmy

Two Hundred and Twenty Three Paws

Dear Brothers,

There’s this word that mama and daddy talk about a lot which starts with the letter, “K.” It rhymes with mind and the word is: KIND! Yup, that’s the one. This morning mama was busy doing the milky business with Irving and you were, “Not chasing me, but you were chasing Leo…” with the dreaded green garbage truck. Here’s the thing about this toy, it’s fun for you, but not for me because if I get bumped, or if it goes near my paws I worry about that it’ll hurt. I know that you don’t mean to bump me, but there are times when you have a stinker stroke come through and you terrorize me when the grown ups aren’t watching closely. Mama was watching and she was asking you if your choices were kind. I kept hearing the word kind and it got me thinking… why is kindness important? Here are a few reasons why I think it is important:

It generates warm fuzzies
Kindness helps make the world a brighter place for those in it.
It has the same beginning letter sound as cookies, so it sounds delicious.
Us dogs are exemplary models of kindness.
We feel more grounded and peaceful when we are kind.
It helps the environment and atmosphere when we’re outside in the fresh air and breeze with the air currents.
Kindness is something you can count on even when you’re not treated with kindness.
It’s a four letter word and I like things that are groups of fours like my legs, my paws, my paw pad and toenails.
It’s something as easy as a tail wag or body bump to lets the other doggy know you’re there.
It’s like love, but not quite as tail deep.

xo,

Kimmy

Three Hundred and Twenty Two Paws

Dear Tiny Humans,

Guesssssssss what? It’s almost Hannukah and it’s mama’s birthday this weekend. We have been decorating a little bit here and a little bit there. You’re both snoozing so naturally, what am I doing? Snooze as well, of course! It’s a sunny day in the neighborhood, but it is quite cold and windy.

The squirrels have been running rampant in the back yard digging up bulbs, nuts, and seeds. We did a little ditty yesterday for these two squirrels that were scavenging in our plant boxes. They were stinker squirrels indeed. Sometimes mama will catch them with their paws securely fashioned around a bulb from our tulip garden. She’ll then tell them all sorts of reasons to put the bulb back. However, squirrels do not listen, so I’m not sure why mama continues to tell them these things. You were lecturing them too LDB and telling them, “No, no squirrels, no no don’t dig up the bulbs!” You are a fierce and knowledgeable human Leo. Thanks for backing up my protection methods. I love you to the moon and back.

xo,

Kimmy

Three Hundred and Twenty One Paws

Dear Brothers,

I am sitting in the almost dark, lying down actually, waiting for the mama to take me upstairs to greet both of you. I’ve done my business, had my breakfast, and gotten the cuddles. I’m ready for the day to begin. What do I hear? Crickets. Ha! Did you like that joke, well it’s sort of a joke I think. Mama says that sometimes… crickets. What does it mean exactly? I don’t know for sure, but I think she is funny, I laugh and so do you two. Speaking of laughs, Irving, you’ve got quite the giggle on you. I. Love. It.

There is something about a baby laugh that makes my heart skip a beat. It’s one of the best sounds that there is. You and mama had this giggle fest after your nursing last night. You thought it was quite funny to put your whole fist in your mouth and mama would tease you and pull it out again and you would laugh and laugh IRB. Now, Leo’s laughs can make me extra excited and hyper. This can especially occur when accompanied by a romp or run around the house. I get super excited to see you and to play together. I lose all sense and I race around and around the house and then I have to rest. I’ll just plop right down onto the floor and pant. I have now moved back to my blanket bed on the tiny couch. Y’all are snoozing so I might as well get some extra, “shut eye,” in while I can.

xo,

Kimmy

Three Hundred and Twenty Paws

Dear Small Humans,

Guess what? We have taken three walks in a row the last few days! It’s been colder and colder days, but we have gotten out and about to venture around our neighborhood for our walks. Some of our walks last week were in the dark, which I don’t love, but will still accompany the family on. Why would I not go on a walk? Walks are my favorite or best part of my day.

Every night you ask me, “Kimmy what part best day?” And I always answer that the best part of my day was our walk, if we have gotten to go on one, which is most days. I love the sense of cold in the air that tickles my nose right now. You can tell that it’s winter time because there’s also a chill on my paws after the walks too. You said something about a, “birth-a-day,” yesterday when we were chatting with our friends on the computer LDB. I think it might be mama’s birth-a-day soon. She always gets older in the winter time. I can smell it when we get close.

Sometimes there are flowers, floating things from the wall or ceiling and dun-dun-duuuuuun: balloons. Those balloons used to scare me, but now I know that they’re harmless. Bella cat used to be afraid of the balloons too! I mean, can you blame her? Things floating and bobbing around in the air taking up enormous amounts of space can be quite unnerving especially when you’re a ground dweller as we both were. She was not a tree cat, but rather a bush cat, like the Jackson Galaxy cat daddy talked about. I know a lot about that because we used to watch his show and I learned all about cat life with him, and also while listening to his book be read on our car rides. Alrighty, I’m extra tired after that noise in the night. I gotta get an early nap in.

xo,

Kimmy

Squinting before the doggy kisses come in!

Three Hundred and Nineteen Paws

Dear Little Brothers,

Woof! Last night there was a crash in the middle of the night. Did you hear it too? I sure did because I was snoozing on the couch! I was so worried about the noise that I hopped off of my cozy couch bed and I slept by the window on the carpet and mat. I wasn’t uncomfortable, but I wouldn’t say that I was cozy! When daddy came downstairs he saw me on the floor and knew something was up! He looked around and then noticed the keys and magnet cloud on the floor. Who knew that something so small could make such a racket on the floor? As I said that I realized that I knew that small things can make loud noises, you two can certainly produce loud and strong sounds indeed! We say you have, “Strong voices!” Speaking of which IRB you have been experimenting with sounds lately and you have learned the dinosaur vocalizations. I remember when LDB ventured through this stage. We were all taken by surprise when one day you produced the loudest and strongest pterodactyl voice we had ever heard. Mama was fairly certain that you were part dinosaur Leo. I knew that you were part puppy, but I didn’t know what a dinosaur was until mama read us the book, “How do dinosaurs say goodnight?” That was a funny book, speaking of which, we should book shop today dude! I miss book shopping, we should do that this morning. I’ll let mama know it’s a good book shop day.

xo,

Kimmy

Three Hundred and Eighteen Paws

Dear Tiniest Brother,

We had some snooze time and then bath time together today. Well, mama had a bath shower thing, and I babysat you. I gave you a really good tongue bath and stayed with you in the bouncy chair right by the shower. Mama sang songs for both of us that included some Raffi and Gershwin, who knew that it would be so much fun to accompany her into the bathroom? My job is to make sure that you are occupied and enjoying your steamy shower times. We looked at the fun flowery printed shower curtain, I drank lots of water, and poked my head in and out of the shower to check on mama and reassure you. You seemed quite content, kicking, talking, and watching me and then there was a slight rumble in your tummy and your bottom did some business. I told mama that something was going on and she didn’t realize until daddy smelt what you had dealt. Who knew that tiny creatures could have such stinky toots! I mean, I am one to talk, but that’s another topic altogether. Whoops, I think you’re talking, better go get you up little one.

xo,

Kimmy

Three Hundred and Seventeen Paws

Dear Brother,

Did you know that today’s post is mama’s 319th installment of writing for me (we write a lot of extra letters and sometimes they line up with our blog and sometimes not…in case you were wondering)? Well, you might not be aware of that, and that’s ok! It’s just a little bit of information for you. However, what is important about the number 319 is two fold.

One, it represents two things in our little family. Mama and daddy were married on March 19th, which in numbers is represented by 3,1,9; and you tiny human, were born at 3:19 am! Isn’t that cool? It’s interesting, mama says, to stop and look at the significance that numbers can play in our lives.

We aren’t particularly sure when my exact birthday is, but mama guess it was around April 19th. So we will go with the number 19 for me too. I love that. We’re all connected in some way, and threaded in with a web of intricate strands of family love. Today I’m having a little snooze during your first nap. We all started our day at 6am, which is a good morning time mama says. I agree, it’s not as early as 5am, but not as late as I would like, being a dog who enjoys snoozing in, but that’s ok. That’s what naps are for, right?! I gotta go now. I think you might be waking up. I love you tiny IRB.

xo,

Kimmy

Three Hundred and Sixteen Paws

Dear Little Brothers,

Hi there! I have a question for you today. Why is it that my number two’s outside must be picked up with the scoop and yours are wrap packaged into the diaper and put into the stinky bin in the garage? I’m not quite understanding why you need to pile mine into compostable bags and yours are placed into this other bin? Most of the time these days you are flushing yours LDB. You were very intent on waving goodbye to the business, but now, you just flush and go.

You’re growing up faster than we expected you to do. When did that happen? Mama wonders where the time goes. I told her it’s that happy and sad feeling mixed up together that makes us feel sentimental. Whenever she and daddy look at pictures of me when I was a tiny pup they feel the same way too. I grew up at rapid speed after my bout with the parvo and I’ve never looked back. I look forward and go-go-go, that’s just part of a dog’s purpose. If I were to look backwards I would miss out on what is ahead of me. Life’s just like that. You have to see where you’re going and even if you can’t see, forge ahead with gusto like you know where you are. Sooner or later, you’ll get to where you’re going. Although, I have heard that it’s the stops along the way that make the journey that much more interesting.

xo,

Kimmy

Three Hundred and Fifteen Paws

Dear Tiniest Pooh Bear,

Hi little one. How is your day going? Mine’s pretty good so far, as far as dog days are concerned. I loved that we went on a family walk before your later nap. That was ultimately, the best part of my day. I love to share the best part of my day during dinner time. I generally speak about our walks or play times outside. Every now and then I share about a nap time, but generally speaking, it’s the outdoors that sparks my joy.

On our walk today you were looking around but then you started to get tired and dada and mama kept talking, singing, and waking you up so you could have your full nap in your cozy bed. I jingled my collar a bunch, woofed at a neighbor dog, and pulled on the leash to help keep the noisiness flowing. That’s one thing you can count on with me, noise! I love to make noises outside. I don’t make too much noise in the house, but I do woof from time to time depending upon who venturers onto our property. I become rather concerned when someone is on our front porch, so I sound the alarm and send alerts with my back hair hackles. I’m a wonder dog at those alarms. You could even say that they are my specialty. I just love it.

Speaking of love, I love you little dude. You might have been wondering why I addressed this letter to you as Pooh bear, well it’s because you have a cute hat with Pooh’s face on it. It kept the heat in your body underneath your fuzzy brown bear hood. I hope you’re dreaming well. I set the stage for sweet dream-ies for you with my ear kisses before your sleep time. I love you to the moon and back.

xo,

Kimmy

Three Hundred and Fourteen Paws

Dear Brothers,

Today’s a weekend day. Do you know what that means? It means that dada will run with the auntie with their face masks on, then he will sing songs with students in our office library and then, we will nap! Haha! What do you think about that little ones? I prefer the nap business the best of all. Oh no, whoops, scratch that. I prefer the fact that Auntie visits and I can get sniffs of my best friend cousin dog Daisy. She’s my favorite four legged friend. Last time Auntie was here, I got a whiff of, “Dun, dun, duuuuun: a cat.” I haven’t whiffed a cat in a while. I presume they have a new four legged friend. I think that it’s name might be Pumpkin or Pun-kin as you say LDB. Sometimes you have to get a really long, deep, sniff whiff before you can decipher what the whiff belongs to. That’s what I had to do in order to figure out that there was indeed a new four legged family member. After I realized this, I actually felt really happy because, you know what? I miss our cat sister, Bella, quite a lot.

The other night, well for two nights in a row now, I went underneath the extra bedroom bed in IRB’s sleeping space and I had a chat with spirit Bella. She resides in there and helps with IRB’s dreamies and the nursing. I miss our nap chats, our nose boops, and our long gazes out the windows together. She taught me everything I needed to know about life in our family and in our house. She helped nurse me back to health and hung out by my kennel when I took long naps in there when the parents were working. She was it, the one bff I knew. I think she’s working her magic still through the dream-ies and beyond. Speaking of dreams, I gotta take off for one now. I’d hate to miss out on an opportunity to nap.

xo,

Kimmy