Squeaks and squeals

June 28th:   I woke this morning to a chorus of squeaks and squeals. The pups are up and busy scooting around the whelping box.  I'm beginning to notice them trying to stand up on their shaky legs, fat bellies toppling them over after every few attempts.  Nevertheless, when they are determined to get somewhere, they eventually do.  Red boy would not stay still for his picture last night and kept turning to go toward a corner of the whelping box--where? only he knows for sure..  They still move by scooting, using front or back legs to slide themselves determinedly from one place to another.  Last night when I came out to check on everybody around 1::30, Sophie was stretched out on her back, a few pups working hard to climb her belly which must have felt like a small mountain.  I can't tell the contented squeaks fromthe hungry squeaks but the "mom sat on me" squeals are definitely notable as are the indignant squeals signifying a meal rudely interrrupted. Every now and again a primitive "bark" emerges.  Sophie recognizes that not all sounds are equally urgent and sometimes takes her time to trot over and assess the situation..  This morning we weighed lime boy and I thought something was wrong with the scale until I raalized that he is the first pup to top a pound..  Navy lost his collar for the third time in a day and all I could imagine is that his prankster siblings wait until he falls asleep and then untie it when he can't defend himself.  Little Pink stands out in the litter as the puppy with the lightest coat..  Green girl's "french tip" nails offer an interesting contrast to her dark coat.  We handle the pups as often as we can, making a point of stroking their bodies and tummies, blowing softly in their faces and rubbing them against our skin.  All of the pups settle readily into these handling routines and seem to enjoy them, as do we.