Pawsitively Kimmy

One Hundred and Twelve Paws

Dear Leo,

Today the noise behind our house of rebuilding the human homes continues. You’ve taken to saying, “Boom!” whenever the trucks move around or slam things down. You love to climb up on your tower in the yard and watch the, “Beep beep beep,” happenings behind us. I stick my nose up into the air and get all the smells that I can so that I know what’s happening.

I have tried to teach you how to use your nose to sniff out the details, but you like to watch and use your ears to listen more than your nose. These are entirely appropriate senses, but I fear that you neglect your puppy sniffer all too often. My favorite moments are when you bring things over to share with me so I can sniff them, and then you sniff them and we investigate them together. You pick up on a lot of good doggy traits that I have taught you. I’m glad that you still listen to me when I try to teach you my tricks. You’re my one and only puppy pal that learns all the good stuffs I know about in life! I love you.

xo,

Kimmy

One Hundred and Eleven Paws

Dear Leo,

Today, guess what? The rain is back. However, it was really pretty outside in the morning. Thankfully we had some fun playtime in the sunshine while our backyard was filled with light. I loved sniffing the blue sky and watching the planes go by, while you say, “Je-t!”

After that we had a nice walk in our neighborhood and you held my leash some of the time. Mama holds the leash too, but you like to feel like you’re helping and kind of in charge in some way. I get that. But in all honesty, I’m the one in charge baby. I lead the way, and guard against the dangers of squirrels and other woodland creatures. We have a grand time working together through our walks. I love to pull just a little bit to keep the pace moving along. Sometimes we see other doggies on walks too. I like to greet them with a full jump, but mama’s not to fond of that idea. Come to think of if, I don’t think dada or the grandparents are too fond of my leaping abilities either. None the less, I do it anyway because it’s the friendliest choice I have! You completely understand me and love my jumps! I love you lil’ buddy!

xo, Kimmy

CEMENT TRUCK SITING! Kimmy was thrilled, clearly.

One Hundred and Ten Paws

Dear Kimmy,

I want you to know how much I love you. First of all, every morning I wake up, I look for you. If you’re not in my room with one of the big humans, than I call for you. I love to give you a hug and hold on, even when you walk away, I still hold on because you feel good in my arms. I also love when you try to make me feel better when I’m sharing my feelings through whining or crying. You always lick my ear and the side of my face. Sometimes I whine a little bit louder, but if I’m being honest, it’s because now I feel better, but I was grumpy so I got distracted!

You understand me. We have this signal for play time too. You boop me with your nose or slurp my cheek to get me excited and then you bend your front legs down and wiggle your bottom. I get really jazzed up and laugh. That will then commence the play time zone where we run around or play chase. Sometimes I get so wound up that I need to take a break by holding onto mama or dada’s legs, but usually I just roll around on the floor in a fit of giggles. Thank you for being my buddy Kimmy. I love you to the moon and back, like what mama and dada say.

xo,

Leo

One Hundred and Nine Paws

Dear baby,

Did you know that mama says, “Make a wish,” whenever the time thing hits the same numbers? So, when it comes to my wish, I go for more sunshine and I think you probably wish for more bananas. Although, even if we can wish for what we want I really am a happy dog with what we have. I have you, and dada, and mama, and I love where we have our beds, and that I get fed, so really, that’s all a doggy could ask for.

Today you and mama gave me an “impromptu,” bath. I was not pleased about the prospect of getting all wet, but I knew that it was probably inevitable because it was so muddy outside and we had a great time romping around in the mud. You played, ran, fell, ran, fell again, and I just kept on circling and running around. It was a fun time, and then we got all wiped off, went upstairs, and I had a bath thing and you helped by watching, laughing, and playing with some strange bath toy. At first it was just my paws that were wet, then my legs, tummy, tail, back, neck and chest. Mama is really careful not to get my ears wet because they are part hound doggy ears and we don’t like getting wet ears. Then I shake-shake them really hard and that can hurt them. So, I get off scot free with no doggy ear washes! Haha! Bonus for Kimmy. High-paws baby! I love you, dream on!

xo,

Kimmy

One Hundred and Eight Paws

Dear Leo,

Sometimes life teaches us lessons. Mama says that every time we make a decision, that means that we’re steering the course of our lives. This might seem deep for a doggy, but I listen and I care about you humans more than you know. Sometimes I make decisions because I am stubborn. Mama and dada think it might be because I am part hound dog. I don’t know for sure, but I do know that it is hard to give in. Most of the time I just sit down, or put my paws in a firm stance to say, “No, nope, nada, not happening.” It doesn’t always work out that I get my way. I would say nine paws out of ten, I have to moan and just face the music. You might be wondering why I’m writing this to you little brother.

Well, that’s because you’re at this new stage of life where you have lots of big ideas in your head. You know how to do a lot of things and you want to do it all by yourself, or your way. Sometimes you have some big feelings, as mama says, that comes along with those ideas. I just sit and wait patiently, or I come and give you big kisses to help ease the frustration you might be having. I remember being a puppy and thinking how scary and challenging it was if I didn’t get my way. For instance, I refused to leave the house, then the garage, and then the driveway. For at least the first two months of life in our home, I would not venture past those markers unless the big humans carried me. But I learned that, it was ok to try some new things and to trust my humans. Now I’m trying to help you learn that it’s ok to try new things in different ways, even if it’s not the way you envisioned it baby.

I love you,

Kimmy

One Hundred and Seven Paws

Dear Leo,

I just remembered our drive to the post office box yesterday. I rode in the backseat next to you while you played with a thing that had a button. Mom called it a flashing light, but you kept signing to me that there was no light, “all done,” and “light.” I can’t sign like the humans baby. I just lick your face and ears for reassurance that I see and hear you. We all need to be seen and heard sometimes. That’s why I climb onto momma and dada’s laps. I need some reassurance that I’m still their loved doggy.

Anyway, by the time we got to the post office box, I was so excited to get out of the car, but alas, we didn’t get out of the car. So I took in some smells while momma had the window rolled down. Then dada’s voice came from somewhere in the car and boomed over our heads. It was a very confusing experience. You said, “Hi, hi, hi, dada,” but I wasn’t so sure where dada actually was. Then I didn’t hear him anymore. So I decided to look out the back window by resting my head on the shelf behind our head rests. It’s a perfect spot for a taller doggy like myself. I quite enjoyed it! You think most things I choose to do are quite funny. And, that head resting spot was no exception. You said, “Ah-iii-aaa,” and laughed. I love you baby.

xo,

Kimmy

One Hundred and Six Paws

Dear Leo,

Hi baby! Today I discovered how fun your blanket fort really is. You always crawl in there and say, “Nigh-nigh,” or play, read books, the list could go on and on. You moved all of the pillows out and I was able to crawl in when you and the big humans were eating dinner. I realized, it’s actually pretty cozy in there. I like that I was covered with a blanket and in a small tight space of my own. After dinner you came running over to me though and the magical moment had passed. We had fun for a while in the fort. You crawled on top of me, trying to sit on me, but there wasn’t enough room for you to sit on my like a horse and bounce. You really enjoy doing that, I allow it for a few seconds, and then I let you slide off of me and I move spots. I’m not so much into pretending to be a horsey. Mama and dada aren’t into that game either, which I appreciate. We work on playing together in a different way so that one day you won’t pretend I’m a horsey, but until then, I’m your faithful steed. I love you!

xo,

Kimmy

One Hundred and Five Paws

Dear Leo,

Hi baby boy! Guess what? It’s raining. Insert sigh here <…> We did play outside for a little while this morning and then I took you on a walk! There weren’t any other doggies outside, but we went! Like I said before, rain or shine, we usually go on our walk. I’m really good at navigating our route.

Momma and I opted out of walking along the muddy pathway to cut over to the school and garden. We did walk on that pathway earlier in the week, but I was covered in mud afterwards and had a paw/doggy leg bath. Any type of bath is not my favorite, to be honest. Mama and dada are really gentle when they give me the doggy baths, but I still prefer to be, “au natural,” without doggy soap and shampoo. You helped mama get me towels and share words of encouragement. You even gave me some loves after my bath, but still, I’d take loves without a bath. I hope you have sweet dreams baby. I love you!

xo,

Kimmy

One Hundred and Four Paws

Dear Kimmy,

Today we played ball outside. Ball, is my favorite word, favorite game, and favorite thing period. We romped about in the rain and had a ball until I bumped my finger. You and mama took me inside and helped me get cleaned up and cuddled the sad feelings away. You always come over to lick me when I’m upset, which, sometimes I appreciate, and other times I don’t always enjoy because then my face or ear is wet and the tears are running down too. It’s just a messy situation, as the big humans say.

Mama said that she writes for you while you take your nap on the couch, well, I’m doing the nap thing in my bed and I like to think that I’m sending these thoughts to you while you dream too. When you were playing with your squirrel log toy this morning, I kept intervening to help save the squirrels and give them kisses. You would stop chewing on it when I said, “Na-ni-na,” and scooped them up. You’d watch me give them a nose kiss and then gently take it back when I wagged the tail in your face. I was very worried about the squirrel toys because no one wants their face nibbled on. Mama helped us practice sharing and so I guessed that was good enough for the time being.

I love you Kimmy,

xo, LDB

“When I hear the button click and take my photo, ears back.”

One Hundred and Three Paws

Dear Baby,

Sometimes we don’t take a walk together and I feel extra sleepy on those days. Like today for instance, we didn’t get to take our usual morning romp outside because you had to head out on an adventure with mama and I felt sad about being left at home. I relaxed and napped, none the less, and I enjoyed myself during the alone time. I was so happy when you came home though, I licked your ears and face to let you know how much I missed you.

Later we went on a search for the square foam balls upstairs. Yesterday you had a fun time making a car out of the laundry basket and pushing it around me with your ball toys. You would yell, “Ball, ball, Kimmy, Ahhhheeeee,” and then we’d race down the hallway. Half of the time you would chase me and then the other half of the time you would run and push the basket where ever you pleased. You were a super happy baby. I love when you laugh and get super excited to play with me. It’s my favorite sound that you make, besides when you call my name of course. That’s obviously, my first favorite. I love you LDB. Happy nap time!
xo, Kimmy