Tiny Belly, Big growing peanuts

I adore every step of the way waiting for tiny jumping peanuts to make their presence known, and this week we finally reached one of my favorite milestones...

We officially have a baby bump! Okok maybe a small one but still, it’s a bump for our little Noni. The LITTLE LITTER is making an appearance!

It took this sweet girl a little while to start showing, but with her tiny 55-pound frame, every little change is easy to notice. Her once sleek slim figure is becoming wonderfully log-like (don’t tell her I said that), and her little belly seems to grow just a bit more each day. It's one of those beautiful reminders that amazing things are happening beneath the surface.

Her latest ultrasound showed these peanuts growing, flipping and turning in a bustle of excitement. Those tiny little babies are already dancing up a storm! Every time we look, there's a bit more movement, a little more activity, and another reminder that these precious lives are growing stronger every single day. As we head into these final three weeks before our squishy, squashy little potato babies make their grand entrance, the anticipation continues to build.

One of the most common questions I receive is, "How many puppies do you think she'll have?" The truth is, ultrasounds simply aren't very accurate for counting puppies. They are wonderful for confirming pregnancy but estimating litter size is much more difficult. Because this mama isn't very big, I'm expecting what will likely be a wonderfully manageable-sized litter. And honestly... I'm perfectly happy with that.

For me, the number has never mattered nearly as much as the outcome. Every pregnancy begins with one simple prayer—that each puppy is viable and growing well. From there, my hopes are for healthy babies, a healthy mama, smooth deliveries, and happy, thriving little lives. Those are the blessings that matter most to me.

It has been more than three years since I've raised a litter completely as a single litter without another bushel of babes next door in the second nursery... or a 3^rd nursery for that matter. While I've certainly stayed busy loving and caring for all of my dogs, this upcoming litter truly feels like a breath of fresh air. I am absolutely over the moon with excitement for the journey ahead.

A handful of very fortunate families are about to be blessed with a brand new cream puff—a phone call I love to make to give a family the opportunity to be part of a litter.

Before Isla and Neema begin their own exciting journeys into motherhood later this year, these few families will have the privilege of watching these tiny miracles grow from tiny squishies into very confident, sure, stable, balanced companions that will flip a heart and mend a soul.

Speaking of Isla and Neema, both girls continue to be monitored closely every single day. They are thriving, eating exceptionally well, enjoying plenty of exercise, and soaking up endless love and attention as we look ahead to their very near future litters. Every decision I make revolves around giving my dogs the very best care possible, because healthy, happy mamas create the strongest foundation for healthy, happy puppies.

As for the rest of the pack... life couldn't be much sweeter.

This week brought beautiful bright sunshine—and perhaps a little more than we bargained for! Several afternoons climbed well into the 90s, so we switched into full summer mode. The fans ran nonstop, everyone enjoyed plenty of cool-downs with refreshing hose baths, and frozen watermelon and cucumbers became favorite afternoon treats. There was certainly no shortage of happy dogs around here.

Even my gardens looked a little weary after the heatwave, drooping under the heat. Thankfully, the cool morning air worked its wonders, and before long everything was standing tall again, refreshed and ready for another beautiful day.

As I write this, I find myself pouring my everything into gratitude more than ever. These next few weeks will be filled with eager anticipation, endless snuggles for the mamas and of course everyone else as well, and countless moments of thanks to all the families who have been wonderful to work with.

Before long, our nurseries will once again be filled with tiny noisy squeaks (always louder than people think), a glorious puppy pile, fat baby bellies, and the unmistakable smell of newborn puppies.. kind of like hot soggy mushrooms.. weird but true!—a season that always reminds me just how blessed I am to do what I love.

The countdown has officially begun, and I cannot wait to share every precious step of this incredible journey with all of you.