what is that thing?...

In reality, we have three children...it's just that two have fur. Ripley is our 2.5 year old French Bulldog and Rambo is our 1.5 year old black Pug. Alexis came along, and no doubt it changed their doggy lives. When people ask how they're doing, I usually say that they're good, but a little mopey.

We don't love them any less - it's simply a question of having more kids to spread the love with (one of which is quite needy). They also don't understand what they can and can't do around the baby. Rambo doesn't think twice about walking on her (he really has no concept of body parts...walking on your face or legs is the same to him). It breaks my heart to push them back when they're being a bit too eager around her, but what choice do we have?

What absolutely warms my sappy heart is that Alexis actually smiles at them. She looks right at them and reaches out a hand to feel the fuzzy critters in front of her. Rambo loves to lick her hands, and she seems to hold her hand out to him and leave it there. Ripley is a bit more timid and sniffs her, trying hard not to get too close. When the baby hand comes her way, she typically backs off. Neither of them are afraid of her or aggressive toward her in any way. They're simply still trying to understand what exactly she is.

Just as they're trying to figure her out, I think she's figuring them out. I desperately want to know what goes through her head when she looks at them. She does not know the concept of "dog". So what does she associate with them? Does she see their eyes and consider them to be the same as people, with no clear distinction? Or does she see a stuffed animal that moves? What does she think they are? And what makes her think to smile at them? Is she entertained because they're fuzzy? Is she entertained because they're dogs? But she doesn't know what a dog is, right? What in the heck does she think they are?

This morning, as I was getting ready and Alexis was sitting on the floor in her little pillow palace, Rambo went over to her and sat down next to her. He was looking at her, and she at him. She then put her arm around him. She opened and closed her hand on handfuls of fur. How could that not just melt my heart?? She has a pug-buddy!

In time, she'll crawl and then walk, and as her mobility and awareness of things around her increase, she'll be able to interact with them more. They may go through a period of discontent if/when she tugs at them or pets too rough, but I have no doubt they'll all be the best of friends in time.

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." She'll learn to appreciate "critters" and discover the bond that people and dogs can have. It'll make her a better person, and I hope that love will translate to other relationships in her life. A pug-buddy and a bulldog-buddy...unconditional love...what more can a growing girl want or need!

PS - we're due for new pictures of the baby on here...stay tuned...