Happy Turkey Day

Well, I don't know about the turkey but the puppies were kind of thrilled with the intro to solid food.
Hmmm, this is very interesting.

Raven dives in and Cora finds a new teething ring.

Cora also discovers turkey coated sister is quite delicious.

Everybody all at once: Awwwwwwww!

Boo says: "This stuff kinda sticks to my whiskers." And that's not what we mean by inhaling your food, Buddy.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

And later that day...

Did someone say something about turkey?!!!

The Art of Becoming Puppies

Lesson 1: Siblings are for mouth fencing...


Leila says, "That tickles!!"


"No fair, no fair!!"
"Uncle, uncle!"
Leila exit stage left.


Raven says, "I get you, Fae!"

Fae: "Oh yeah?!!"
"Take that!!"

"Hey...

"I'm... not... done... with you yet..... Rats!"

But her tail was wagging.

2 weeks (and a couple of days)

From left to right: Raven, Fae, Leila, Little Bit-Elysia, Boo-Boy, Cora, and Shade.

It's been a busy week. With the holidays and with what I know will be happening as the puppies get older and sleep less, well, just prepare yourselves for fewer posts than normally happens when there are puppies around here.

I spent some time lining them up for the above photo. Such a picture will be virtually impossible for someone with my level of patience as they become more mobile.

It's also deworming day. They really haven't had anything other than mother's milk. I think they found the caramel-flavored concoction rather tasty.

Other chores for the weekend include pedicures for momma Panda and all the babies. And a bedroom remodel! Yep, the puppies are figuring out the sibs don't appreciate being peed and pooped on and are getting up off the pile and finding a place away from them to take care of business. I also observed that mom no longer needs to be involved in their toileting, although she's a great mom and is still very industrious at her housekeeping chores. (In case you didn't know: Little newborn puppies need mom to stimulate things.) So it's time to introduce a litter box.
What you'll see in upcoming weeks is a box with shavings. It starts out right outside the whelping box and as the babies become more active and need more playroom the litter gets moved closer and closer to the door outside. I understand this mimics the den and how they learn to not poop where they eat and sleep.

All have their eyes opening now. A couple are only half open but it's amazing how they change in personality when they are able to see their picker-upper. And woofs and grrrrs are heard. They managed to get the whole pack upstairs going this morning.

Legend of Raven

Read here for the Legend of White and Black Raven.

Seems fitting that the one with the name Raven is the first one to open her eyes and let the light in. I guess it also means she might be a bit of a troublemaker. Oops. Careful what you name your kids.

Boo is nearly opening his eyes too. Below is him next to Fae and Little Bit. Isn't he huge?!!

Windows to the soul...

Someone's playing peek-a-boo this morning. Can you guess which baby is opening its eyes today?

Saturday's Squirmy Squeakers

No news is good news they say. Just getting fatter and fatter really.


Leila says "ppppppppthththth."

Sweet Little Bit o' puppy breath.

Cora's nose spotties. Beautiful symmetrical markings.


Fae's a beauty most judges would probably overlook. She has full pigment around both eyes and no white on her ears, but...
And just you watch she'll probably move like a dream.


Boo is such a neck nibbler!


And now he says, "I prefer Mom."

How to tell the two tan-pointed girls apart...
Little speck of white on the back of Shade's neck


Raven has a white bird-shape on the back of hers.

The best Monday...

...is when I can sit and watch puppies napping while sipping my coffee.



Fae says "thanks for the heating pad. It's awesome!"

Cora thinks Boo is a wonderful heating pad too.


And Raven shows off her tuxedo jacket. She's always going to be dressed in style.

Little Bit is up to 9 oz. Yay!!

In-N-Out Burger

Well, a bit of turkey burger, elk trimmings, butter and yogurt go in.
And creamy goodness for Fae and Little Bit on two of the out ends.

Day 4

Cora lovin' what Momma Pan has for her. All are gaining and have fat, fat, fat bellies.


Elysia is doing well, still gaining and now 8 oz. I actually call her "Little Bit" most of the time. Little, mighty, and pretty in pink.


Brother Boo is the biggest and twice Little Bit Elysia's size. He's over a pound now. I love how their little tongues stick out.

Well, here they are. Sorry the last couple were blurry but they were very wiggly and Panda thinks "blogging, particularly the part about taking pictures of her babies for blogging, particularly when they need feeding, constant feeding, and why weigh them when you can tell they're doing fine by their vigor and fat bellies".... Ok, ok, Panda has all her babies back and she's much more content.

First one to arrive at 1:45 was this black girl who weighs 10.5 oz. I think I will call her Raven.

Then at 2:10 a blue girl. She weighs 11 oz. And her name will be Cora. Cora was the childhood name of Persephone, Queen of the Underworld.

Then at 2:25 another blue girl with a lot of white on her head. 9.5 oz. Her name is Fae. It means "fairy" and one gave her two blue kisses.

A bitty black girl came at 2:40 and struggled for a bit at first. A tiny star on the back of her neck. 7 oz. I would like to call her Shade.


This girl came next at 3pm. Weight 8 oz. Leila means "night beauty."

Then my itty-bitty blue girl at 3:50. She had a tough time at first but is holding on strong now even at just 6 oz. Downright feisty about her turn at the milkbar. Her name is Elysia which means struck by lightning. Elysia comes from the Greek Elysion (Latinized as 'Elysium'). Elysium was a part of the Greek underworld roughly equivalent to our idea of 'heaven'. Elysium is an obscure and mysterious name that evolved from a designation of a place or person struck by lightning.

And just when I thought all we'd get were girls along came a beautiful clear black boy at 4:10. (No visible points yet.) He's 12 oz. and I will name him Boo. I'm sure he's going to be full of surprises.

Good eatin!

All seem to be doing great.

The little blue girl there on top of the pile was one I was kind of worried about but I think she's going to be fine!

More pictures and the name game later when I have helpers...

And then there were 7

Yay!! Panda did great!
3 blue girls, 3 black girls and last but not least 1 black boy!!!

Thursday... waiting... it is the hardest part.

Her temp dropped last night, Kim came over and spent the night and just went home again. There's been nesting and some panting. But nothing significant yet. Someone said a watched pot. I'm going to take a nap... yeah right!

Any Day Now...

Panda's "due date" is November 4th... give or take a day or two.

I've had her girth measurement up on the sidebar for a while now. It's reassuring that puppies are growing. She's up to 30" around now!!

And starting last night I am keeping track of her temperature. As many of you know, the temperature drops below a certain point and the puppies will be born within the following 24 hours. It doesn't look like anything is going to happen today but I have been fooled before so there is always someone home.

All the supplies are piled up and ready.

Since I work nights, my daughter is sleeping near her at night to watch for any signs of labor and my co-breeder, Kim, will be over to help when things get going whether I'm home or not.

I sure hope I get to be here...