Anika and Bismarck

I've mentioned the relationship between Anika and the dogs before - she's certainly interested in them, and Peli regards her as yet another human to tolerate...and maybe get some treats from (although she always has her eye on Anika!), and Bismarck seems to always be around Anika - she gets lots of attention, so therefore, if he's in the general vicinity, he will get attention too.  And maybe treats :-)

Here are some pictures over the last 2 months or so of the blossoming relationship:

Anika has been wanting to stand and walk (holding our hands) so much lately, so after breakfast, we plop her down and she looks out the back door.  One morning, she was super interested in whatever was outside...then the dogs got excited and that's when we decided to check things out, too.  Lo and behold, Anika spotted 2 deer right outside!  It looks like they were interested in Ben's weather station - there's an anemometer (whirly thing that tells the speed and wind direction) on top of the pole and it was spinning pretty well.

Alas, my furry friends!  There are intruders in the back of the house!

Said intruders...one looking up at the whirly thingy.

Bismarck tolerates alot.  A LOT.  For example, for years, Ben and I thought it has been very funny to put banana stickers on Bismarck's forehead...especially if the sayings on the stickers are humorous (those wacky advertisers!).

This sticker says: "Place sticker on forehead. Smile."
Biz isn't really smiling but...

ANIKA is smiling!

She just thought it was too funny to see Biz with a sticker :-)

To further illustrate Anika's amusement with Bismarck, this series of photos was shot around Halloween:

Awww....isn't she cute?  Showing off her dimples with her cute top and headband on?

Nah...something isn't right, Mommy.  Let's fix it.

Woo-hoo!  Now THAT'S what we're talking about! 
(note: no comments about my dog's masculinity - it takes lots of testosterone to pull off ribbons! 
Plus, it made the baby happy)

Anika even likes to hang out with Biz in Ben's office!

Look at that face!  I wonder what will happen next?

Ahh...yes!  The toe/paw inspection!

Followed by: geez, don't you guys ever brush these dogs?

In an effort to encourage Anika to crawl/walk/become at least somewhat independently mobile, I do strategically place her near Biz at times...and since she's always reaching for his bear-bell, I take his collar off at times (yes, he has ring-around-the-collar...and is okay with it).

Notice Peli in the background on our bed...

Anika and Biz will be friends for quite a while, I'm sure...here she is, reaching for him on a nice brisk fall day:

Okay, so she wants to help Daddy out, too :-)