Pawsitively Kimmy

One Hundred and Thirty Nine Paws

Dear Leo,

The sunshine is back today and I am so dog-gone happy about it! Did you see what I did there? I used a pun, “Dog-gone.” haha. I have picked up a thing or two from mama and dada about words. I try to be funny every now and then. I know that I am rather expressive with my facial features and ears, but I let my words do the real talking, especially if I am startled. I really found my voice once you were born. I never barked, or at least that is what mama and dada never heard from me. I would play growl, and sigh or grunt, but I never barked. Then suddenly you came along and it was a game changer in many ways. But one important way was the fact that I needed to protect you, so barking just came out of me to cover that base.

It has now morphed into a bark followed by a growl, especially if someone knocks on the door or if the garage door opens suddenly without warning me, the guard first. I don’t particularly like barking, but I can sound pretty darn convincing, if you ask me. I use a sharp woof sound, like my cousin Daisy dog taught me, and then I follow it up with a firm low growl to make sure that the meaning is punctuated. I know that you are part dog too because you growl with me, and then if mama or dada ask what is going on, you’ll growl some more to let them know that I growled. It’s a class act, the pair of us. We communicate well little one. Thanks for being my back up doggy. I love you!

xo,

Kimmy

One Hundred and Thirty Eight Paws

Dear Buddy,

Thank you for the sweet cuddle hug when you came home from swim class. I now know that when your head is wet and you smell funny it’s because you went to the place called, “the pool.” Mama said you were really brave today. You practiced floating on your back two times with you teacher, albeit, you weren’t particularly fond of the experience, but you did it! That’s what being brave is all about lil’ guy.

Sometimes I have to practice being brave too. For instance, when I go to the vet and they poke and prod me with things, I’m super brave because I know that mama and dada want me to be ok and they take me there so I can get help. Although, I don’t like it, I am brave and I do my best. Mama says that’s all you can do, your best! So, our best is what we do, and I am proud of you.

I liked when you walked up the stairs too after our snack time. You followed me right upstairs. That’s the first time that you chose to walk all the way up the stairs after me. I think I provided some good inspiration for you! At least that’s what I would like to think. You were excited to move our trucks around and play before our nap time. I drank some water to hydrate up for all of our dreams to come. You’re all snuggly under your blanket now and so am I, on the parent’s bed. Shhh, don’t tell them. I love you buddy.

xo,

Kimmy

Point your nose towards the sunlight friends!

One Hundred and Thirty Seven Paws

Dear Leo,

The sun is SHINING! I was so happy to spend time in the sun together. Dada was home with us and we got to play, run, dig, scoot, and be silly together. You had a special stick that you dug, dug, dug in the ground with. You dug all over the yard with that stick. Then, when you were done digging you shared the stick with me. I tasted it and it tasted like a normal stick, a run of the mill regular woody thing. I gnawed on it a little bit, but the mama and dada told me no more because sometimes the wood and grass I try to eat hurts my tummy.

We went on a family walk and saw our neighbor. I love to jump to say hi to her, but that’s not super polite, per the parents, so I try to jump, but farther back. She has a doggy who can’t hear well, and he is part hound dog like me! He has a very distinctive, (that means characteristic or quality) voice that goes, “Woof, woof, woof,” and then he smells the ground for a trail or pathway. Sometimes I do that too, especially if it has rained and all the smells come alive from the ground. Anyway, she is a nice neighbor. She likes us doggies, and she likes to talk to you. You said, “HI!” really loudly and so we chatted with her for a minute. I kept trying to jump up and be friendly too. So we finally started our walk and we watched for squirrels and cats, and saw a lot of both of them. You snuggled your blue bunny stuffed animal and I lead the way. It was a stellar walk, if I do say so myself. I loved that we were all together and in the sunny sunshine. I am curled up on the bed dreaming about you right now. Thanks for being my buddy. xo,

Kimmy

Quick pets, let’s go back to exploration time buddy.

One Hundred and Thirty Six Paws

Dear Kimmy,

Yesterday was a big day, or morning for you. Mama and I took you to the vet. I can say vet because it rhymes with the word jet. I learned that yesterday. I was really excited about the rhyming factor. I like to say the word jet, whenever I see an airplane in the sky. It’s one of my favorite things to look for when we’re outside. Well, that and squirrels, oh and cats…I guess there are a lot of things that I like to look for! Anyway, we had a good drive to the vet and I helped you into the clinic. You did a good job trying to be calm. I laughed a lot because you were so wiggly, and I love it when you wiggle around Kimmy! You’re such a funny dog. Mama read us books while we waited for your vet doctor to come in. She read to you, and me and my finger puppets. At the end of every page I would call your name so that mama wouldn’t forget to show you the pictures too. Sometimes you would look at the page, or boop it with your nose, or lick it.

When the vet came in and she listened to your chest, looked in your mouth, your nose, and your ears. I watched, and watched, and watched. It was really interesting to see how she checked to make sure you were healthy. When the vet left the room I said, “Bye bye,” and then we left too. I liked that part because we went back to the car and had snacks together. I shared some of my snacks with you. Sometimes it’s hard to share snacks because they’re so tasty! I’m glad that I could be at your appointment with you. I love you Kim-Kim. Maybe you can come to my next doctor appointment too? xo,

Leo

One Hundred and Thirty Five Paws

Dear Buddy,

Today started out like most of our days together, the diaper, the changing, the foods, and the playing outside. However, things took a change for the worse when mama said we had to go to the vet place. Now, I know what the vet is, I especially know what it smells like. I even can recognize the smell when we are outside of the place itself. We went to the place that should not be mentioned, as I have referred to it before. I was a brave dog and we all piled out of the car and into the vet. You did a great job of observing, sharing, and talking about things when we were at my appointment. I, on the other hand, had a lot of feelings about the situation at hand or paw, however you want to look at it. I was so worried I kept panting and moving around. I could hardly sit still I was so nervous.

When the vet was looking in my ears and listening to my chest I started shaking because it made me feel anxious to have a human that close to me that wasn’t one from our pack. So my solution to the problem was to lean into you, in your stroller and mama. You watched really intently. Mama and you talked to the vet when she looked up at you. You said exactly what I was hoping to hear once they finished with the exam, “Bye bye,” but alas, they took me back to the room with the scared feeling smells and you and mama waited for me. The vet and vet tech did the unspeakable. They tried to touch me where I do the potty business and I wasn’t about to let that happen. So I sat down, and I tucked my tail in so hard that I refused for them to do anything. I went running out to you and mama, and I headed for the door once we were reunited. It took mama a moment to get me calmed down, and then we finally exited. I haven’t been so happy to sniff fresh air form the other side of a door in a very long time. Needless to say, I am napping, soundly on the couch and mama and you gave me extra loves. We took a walk, had a snack, and then I decided the best thing for me to do was to nap for the rest of the day. That’s my plan for now, unless peanut butter or play time come up, I might get up for either of those things, but I’ll just nap it out and see if something good arises. I love you baby. xo, Kimmy

Oh and I forgot to mention. Thank you for sharing your car snacks with me after my vet appointment. It made me feel so much better to have a little treat, especially coming from my best friend.

One Hundred and Thirty Four Paws

Dear Kimmy,

I just want you to know that you’re my favorite being to cuddle with. I love to snuggle into your side and rub my face in your doggy fur. Sometimes I get a little more than I bargained for in terms of doggy hair, but momma and dada take care of that for me. You always nuzzle me, give me ear and face kisses and talk to me about life when we cuddle. One of my favorite spots to cuddle together is on the parent’s bed. There is an endless supply of pillows too! I like to face plant into pillows and then crawl over to you. Usually you share your feelings of some sort when I crawl over to you. Momma calls them, “Yawn sighs,” she said that you didn’t used to do them, but now you do! I guess it’s because you’re telling me how much you missed me while I napped or had to go to night-night bed.

One thing I noticed about our cuddle times is that you always seem to be on a bed, or a couch. You have good taste doggy! I like the couch and the big beds too. Earlier today you were all curled up in a big Kimmy dog circle on the couch and I popped up there, crawled towards you and nuzzled in. You promptly hopped off of the bed and then proceeded to yawn sigh in the family room. We ventured upstairs for the nap time and you made yourself comfortable on the big parent bed. As soon as I crawled over to you after my diaper business, you moved to the other side of the bed. I guess there’s more than just me that needs a nap! Hehehee, have a good nap Kim-Kim. I love you best buddy.

Love your baby,

Leo

One Hundred and Thirty Three Paws

Dear Leo,

Currently it is night-night time and mama is writing for me while I snooze on my bed. You helped tuck me in and give me treats before your bath time. It’s our ritual thing. You holler for me, pounce on my bed, and then hand me treats. I like this time of the day or night, because it’s about me, Kimmy the dog. Then I get to give you lots of kisses while you get undressed because, baby skin is so tasty!

Earlier today we were playing in the back yard and you handed me my ring toy, which was fine and dandy. I chewed it for a little bit, but then you decided to hand it back to me after I had put it on the ground. That was ok, I guess, but I decided to paw you over and play, but it didn’t work out that way. You ended up with a face in the grass/dirt and mama saying, “No Kimmy.” I was so very confused about what the no was about in the first place. Never the less, I was happy when we went on a walk with dada. You brought a cup with snacks and thought it was absolutely hysterical to show me each of your crackers and then pop it into your mouth. “Nom, nom,” I eat crackers too baby, but honestly, when we’re on a walk, nothing else matters. I’m outside! I’m with our family! We’re on a walk, life was great!

I love you, sweet dreams lil’ dude.

Xo,

Kimmy

One Hundred and Thirty Two Paws

Dear Leo,

It’s another beautiful day in the neighborhood baby. You and I had a nice romp about the backyard. You find it extremely funny to slide down your slide with a ball in your hand. I run from the stairs to the slide and wait for you. Each and every time you slide down you have the ball ready for me and you shout, “BA-LL!” And each and every time I wag my tail to tell you that I am happy and that I want to play.

You came over to me when I was playing with the green spiky ball and said, “Pah-lease,” so that I would drop the ball for you. I did, begrudgingly with mama’s help. After that I ran around super fast, crazy dog like to get my energies flowing really well. It helps me to run, run, run, especially if I am having a hard time sharing the toys. I hear you calling for me from your bed while the mama writes for me. I think you want to get up and play, but we haven’t even napped yet lil’ dude. What’s up with that?! I love you! Now, “Nigh-nigh,” as you say!

xo,

Kimmy

Teaching how to pet, continuing onto year two now with this strategy. ❤

One Hundred and Thirty One Paws

Dear Leo,

Hello little buddy. Guess what? The sun is out once again. This is the best news EVER! We had a lot of fun throwing the bouncy balls, you going on the slide, and romping around in the backyard this morning. There is something about the sunshine that ignites the puppy in me. I couldn’t help myself whenever you would slide down the big red slide, I would get super duper jazzed up and circle around and around the yard to show you just how excited I truly was.

After that you and the mama had a nice little exploration time and then we all took a walk. The air was super cold, but the sun was shining down on us. You and mama went on some kind of adventure together. You came back smelling like slides, feet, and grass. I think you went to a small human park of some kind. I thoroughly investigated you and you seemed happy so I felt good to focus on the banana time that was up next. We’re both snoozing now. I love you Leo. Thanks for being my puppy dog baby.

xo,

Kimmy

Curled up, balled up, for sleep time today.

One Hundred and Thirty Paws

Dear Leo,

Guess what little buddy? The sun is back again today! Hip, hip, hooray, as we say! You said, “Yay,” so many times this morning during several play sessions outside that I lost count. You came back from an adventure with mama talking about big, “Booms!” I can only presume that meant that you saw a lot of trucks on your trip.

I know that we watched a cement mixer truck for a good long time together this morning. They were pouring out stuff onto the ground, and the workers were smoothing it out in between these wood boards. You were fascinated. Me? I thought we were supposed to sniff the ground over by where we stopped to watch, so that’s what I tried to do, sniff, sit, sniff, sit, sniff. Mama took a picture of us and I kept trying to walk back over to mama, and she would laugh with you and say, “No, no Kim-Kim, sit!” I don’t understand why she wanted me to sit next to you! I needed to be with her, with the leash, so that she wouldn’t get lost along the way!

Sweet dreams little guy, I love you,

Kimmy