Anika and the Pups

When we first brought Anika home, Ben and I were a little concerned about Peli and Bismarck and their reaction to having a little tiny baby introduced into the pack.  We've had the pups sleep in our room for years to help with the "pack bonding" concept as well as knowing that they weren't getting into anything and to put them outside should their bladders take a turn for the worse (we can be realists at times, you know!).

I've mentioned the dogs reactions to Anika previously, in this post .  Recently, though, Anika has become much more aware of them and they have started to try to figure out how to interact with her.  The other day, I was sitting on the floor holding Anika in Ben's office when Bismarck came in to check on us. Anika looked up and reached out her hands to touch Bizzy...and giggled.  Biz's tail wagged him and it smacked Anika in the head...and she squealed with delight!  Which made Mr. Biz even more excited - we ended up playing a sort of game with Biz going in and out of Ben's office and giving random kisses while his tail went bonkers.  It really was pretty hillarious. 

Below are a couple of photos of Bismarck and Anika's blossoming relationship (beyond the ones from Christmas):

Bismarck found a comfy spot to nap in the hallway - sunshine coming through the laundry room window...and Anika's clothes waiting to be washed.

I couldn't get a good shot of Biz and Anika together, but as you can see, I was in the middle of giving Anika a good sensory overload session by piling the toys on the poor kid when all of the sudden she turned her head and stopped everything and just stared at Bismarck chewing on his bone.  It was amazing how intent she was!  I wonder if it is a coincidence that she started teething shortly after this photo was taken...did Bismarck inspire her to chew on everything?

I don't have any good photos of Peli with Anika, but she is always close by - most of the time flaked out on our bed...or the futon in Ben's office...or a snowbank outside :-)  However, she does enjoy coming up to Anika and I when we are playing on the floor and dropping one of her toys on the quilt (dogs ARE NOT allowed on the quilt!  Especially if there is a baby any where near!).  Peli typically drops the toy in the middle of Anika's and my story time, and gets in a play stance and then collapses her rumpus on the ground with a great flourish and harumphs at us to play with her.  Anika immediately becomes infatuated, so Peli and I play tug and toss until Peli decides she has asserted her position in the household enough to Anika and saunters away. 

Here is Peli on alert at one of her favorite spots during the winter:

She's on a snowbank right by the barn.  That's the plow in front of her - you can see this was taken during our snow drought.  Which didn't last too long!

Here's a closer shot of Queen Peli