Weekly Dog Blog -- Sampson, 10 weeks
Age: 10 weeks
Weight: 31 lbs.
Sampson, 10 weeks photo credit: Briene Lermitte
This week Sampson has not grown so much in poundage as he has in developmental milestones. Sampson now sleeps from 10:30-6 or 7 am on his own. (Here is where all similarities to my human babies end--I have a six-year-old who doesn't do this yet.) And as far as housebreaking goes, I'm going to whisper so that the poop-cleaning gods or the manufacturers of paper towel don't hear me and strike me down, but we have been accident free for three days. However, this does not mean I have been free of cleaning up bodily functions. I've been caring for my Colorado-based niece and nephew (5 and 2) for the last few days while their parents bop around NYC and have dinner with the president and wear fabulous giraffe-print shoes (just Lisa, not Gavin) and remember why ten years ago they got married. We had an explosive toddler diaper incident the other morning. You might drive by the Hoffman house and see a recently-steamed rug hanging out to dry on the porch and think, "Ahh the puppy months..." Sampson is happy to take the fall for Lachlanon this one if he will share just one of the objects from his lovey triumvirate for some light chewing:
Lach protects Boo Bear, Sea Otter and Baby Lavender
He wont.
All week long I have been hearing how how nice I am to add extra kids to my roster in the week we are painting our house, installing new fencing, my husband leaves for Central America and my in-laws are arriving. My motives are twofold:
Do you see this little bathtub full of Mr. Bubble Foam Soap and cousin magic?
Rub a Dub Dub! Lach, Q, Mo and Pip in a tub!
At the beginning of the week, I took the crew to the grocery store to load up on Pirates Booty and our regular lady's jaw dropped. "All these years you've had twins???" She said of Piper and Imogen, the two on the right. It has been so incredible to have all the kids together, going to zoo, swim practice, playgrounds, and last night, in a bold move, we took all six to hibachi. Whew!
My second motive is way-ulterior: sometime this winter, my brother and his wife have offered to return the favor and keep our children out in their Colorado wonderland, take them to ski school, on Uncle Gavin's wild jeep rides and wow them with Aunt Lisa's hospitality and cooking. (When we went there on book tour last fall, Hayden declared that her artisan ham sandwich 'made a man out of him.' He's nine.) They have offered to keep our children for days. Nights. Those are plurals. They have hinted at such things as J and I jumping into their sports car and toodling off into the farther reaches of the Rockies. Or (hold on to your hats) even the two of us getting back on an airplane in Denver and flying on West. To California. OR HAWAII. Alone.
So if I get to snuggle with my little Lacher Spaniel and listen to Pip and Imogen try to outboss each other with ever-louder and more stern endearments--"Now, SWEETIE, this time I'm the Mom and you're the big sister"--it's a win win win.
However, Sampson has been the nippy little snack-stealing source of terror for all the under fives. This has meant that sometimes he has to view the feeding of his compadres from inside his kitchen playpenitentiary. (He can actually get his front paws up onto the drawer pulls and barstools to get closer to their food!) On evening walks, Sampson is on a leash. And in quiet moments, I have to do some retraining with Samps and Piper, to remind her not to run or shriek or flap her delicious arms, to get her back into Officer Bossy McFlossy mode where he is concerned and to have her do her favorite treat-training sessions with him. These are going really well. 
Piper gets Sampson to sit
It has also meant that while the kids are all still sleeping in their 'angels flung from the sky' starfish formations like a pile o' puppies in Piper's king-sized bed (see photo)
Pile o' Puppies Can you find 4 children in this photo?
I take Sampson out in the early hours to burn off some steam. Atticus (aka Sportakus or Sporty) our spunky little boy-cat and Sampson have been making strides in their friendship. They were spotted rubbing noses at dawn this morning:
Sampson and Sporty
In other dog news this week, Sampson continues his vehement crusade to protect us from the following dangerous household items:
--rolls of toilet paper (7)
--brooms (2)
--any red shoes (3 pairs down so far)
--clothes hangers (4)
--Max's new flip-flops (1)
--Garnet Hill crocheted throw cushions (2)
Last thing: I got an email this week from a Dog Blog follower who is the owner of one of Sampson's littermates and we had a great time exchanging stories (damages) and I had an idea: guest posts on the Dog Blog!
Check out this post and reply or comment to let me know if YOU would like YOUR DOG featured on the dog blog and stay tuned for more canine capers!