NyteByker 535 Posted February 20, 2019 Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 Hello everyone! Sixteen weeks and a day ago (10/30/18), Nakoma and Atlas (my husband's service dog from K9s for Warriors) became big brothers to our little baby boy, Jaime. I was nervous about how they would react, but for the most part, things are going great! Nakoma follows Jaime everywhere. One day, Jaime was crying in his crib, and Nakoma was sure to let me know that I wasn't getting to him fast enough (I was in the bathroom for goodness sake)!!! It's wonderful seeing how attentive and protective he instinctively is of the baby. Atlas is curious about Jaime too, but his job is to stay by my husband's side, so he can't just follow Jaime around like Nakoma can (totally amazing in itself). Before Jaime was born, I promised the pups that I will not ignore them and will keep them exercised. I am keeping that promise to them, but they unfortunately do get less attention from me than before Jaime's arrival. They do have each other to play with when Atlas is able to take a break from my husband, but they seem to be getting on each other's nerves every now and then. (They have had a few instances where they would fight over food or toys, which is very new... and scary). I attribute it all to the less attention and less exercise (I can't wake up at 5 to run ten miles any more like I used to; I just can't... not for a while). I am running them, but not as much or as far. And I do play with them, but not as much. I do cuddle them (they sleep on the bed every night too). My husband has taken on the role of taking the dogs out to either the beach or dog park in the mornings before I leave for work, but they aren't used to doing that without me, and he's not able to really run with them, so that's a huge change right there, though he does do frisbee and fetch with them). Also, I noticed that when I come home from work, I run straight to the baby instead of playing with the toys they greet me at the door with. They are stressed, and they probably sense me being stressed and tired, too. (Work is tough, nursing and pumping is exhausting, I still have my very busy ten year old daughter, and my husband has a service dog for a reason; I'm spent). New babies do take a lot of energy and time. The puppies are still young and full of energy too, and are used to lots of daily exercise. (Nakoma - from Raven and Choco- is turning 4 on 3/20, and Atlas is turning 4 on April 4th). All in All, they have been wonderful, and I think we are all rolling with the punches fairly well. I know when Jaime is a little older, I'll be able to take the pups for the 5am beach runs again, which will help. I do make a point of giving Nakoma extra hugs and belly rubs at least once a day, even if they're brief. He's my puppadoo, and he knows it. Nakoma and Atlas are turning out to be the best big four-legged brothers, and Jaime is so lucky to have them to grow up with. 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NyteByker 535 Posted February 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 Didn't mean for this to be a therapy session... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
miz molly 1,800 Posted February 20, 2019 Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 Aaaaaah yes, Nakoma sharing breath with Jaime....getting that bond going....a beautiful thing. I'm sure things will settle down when everyone gets used to this major transition. Take a deep breath mom, all the way to your toes. Feel it come in and then feel it go out. (talk about therapy...ha ha). You have a beautiful family. Just keep breathing. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LakeGirl 779 Posted February 21, 2019 Report Share Posted February 21, 2019 Beautiful baby! Beautiful family! Referencing photo #2....does Nakoma sniff ears? That's how Kaposia identifies people. She doesn't sniff crotches or butts, she sniffs ears. I always have to warn people. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Allison 2,369 Posted February 21, 2019 Report Share Posted February 21, 2019 Beautiful pictures. I thought something different, when I saw Nakoma smelling the baby's breath. I thought of it as a check up from the dog doctor. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LakeGirl 779 Posted February 21, 2019 Report Share Posted February 21, 2019 In photo 2 Nakoma is near the baby's ear. Kaposia sometimes smells your breath too, but mostly I think that's about what you may have just eaten. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LakeGirl 779 Posted February 21, 2019 Report Share Posted February 21, 2019 In any case, the photos are all beautiful, and the nose to mouth does look like Dr. Nakoma is giving the little one a check up. This thread is about a great little family. The pictures just made me wonder if anyone else has an "ear sniffer." 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NorCal 350 Posted February 22, 2019 Report Share Posted February 22, 2019 Beautiful addition!! Congrats to all. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KittynDoc 968 Posted February 22, 2019 Report Share Posted February 22, 2019 Wow, congrats to you all!!! What a beautiful family you have...and yes, things right themselves and get better as everyone gets used to the new addition- and the new routine sets and becomes the norm. No worries, momma, you are doing a great job (by the looks of those amazing photos!)...you take care of yourself, after all, you are the foundation of your family- and if the foundation is faulty, the whole house falls. So self care is needed for a while, as is care for the youngest little one. They will all fall into place. Thanks for sharing your wonderful world with us! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NyteByker 535 Posted February 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2019 Nakoma is an everything sniffer... eyes, mouth, butt, crotch, grocery bags, poo, dead fish, carcasses, rocks, shells, crabs... the list goes on. Haha. We can also add baby-spitup to the list. Thank you for the kind words and encouragement. I'm lucky to have the family that I have, and I'm so grateful that Nakoma is in it. He's the most unique dog I've ever known and loved. That's for sure! Here's a picture of him sporting his light up collar during sunrise. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KittynDoc 968 Posted February 22, 2019 Report Share Posted February 22, 2019 (edited) LOL!!! Yup, I"ve got two of the "everything sniffers"....! And -I absolutely LOVE Nakoma's light up collar. I might need to get one for Wyot as he blends in with the pine forest. Edited February 22, 2019 by KittynDoc 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Allison 2,369 Posted February 26, 2019 Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 Yeah! Can you give us a link? That is excellent! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NyteByker 535 Posted February 26, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 https://www.glowdoggie.com/home-mobile.html I like them better than the USB chargeable ones that always break. These collars are great!!! And waterproof (as long as they're set up correctly). And they are so bright that you can see them from quite a distance!! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sherab 2,337 Posted February 26, 2019 Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 Congratulations! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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