This is my grand doggie, Ozis, a.k.a Gogo, Nuf Nuf, Mr. Galoo, tornado dog...because he is always on the go. I like to keep him at our place during the day so he can enjoy the fresh air and entertain us. One thing he likes to do is bark whenever someone comes upstairs, not naming names, but I decided to train him otherwise. I used an old faithful method they teach in dog obedience schools and it only took a few attempts and he nailed it. Genius.
Just take an empty soda can and fill it with about a dozen pennies. Tape the opening securely and insert can in an old sock and make a tie to secure the can. Hide this contraption so doggie doesn't see you holding it. Whenever Ozis barks at someone I throw the sock in front of him so he associates the bad behavior with the sound to distract his barking. He must think he caused it by his barking and not me throwing it which is why it must be hidden. When he stops barking I praise him. This is important - he gets positive reinforcement. It only took a couple of times and he got the message. I tell him anyone living in the house is friendly and no barking allowed at them. May I say it again? Genius.
Ozis will have a baby brother in three months as Margarita winds down the second trimester and soon begins the final stretch (no pun intended.) As Darcy and I took all three doggies for a walk to enjoy the gorgeous weather, we met a new neighbor with a three-month old newborn named Brady. Adorable. Now Dillon will have a playmate.
At 25 weeks, his hands are fully developed and he spends most of his awake time groping around in the darkness of the uterus. Exploring the structures inside the uterus has become baby's prime entertainment. Fascinated by the amount of tactile stimulation a fetus gives itself, baby touches a hand to the face, one hand to the other hand, clasps his feet, touches his foot to his leg, his hand to his umbilical cord. Brain and nerve endings are developed enough now so that baby can feel the sensation of touch. That doesn't mean he can feel it when his daddy pokes the stomach, so knock it off. LOL.
Baby's arms and legs have grown to almost the proportions they will be at birth. His nostrils, which have been clogged up until now, clear out, and he can practice breathing through the nose. The structures of his spine are now made up of 150 joints, 33 rings and some 1,000 ligaments. The capillaries, the teeniest blood vessels, are now forming, giving his formerly translucent skin a pink glow. The blood vessels in the lungs also develop this week. We'll know this to be true when he gives those lungs a workout in a few months! The nerves around the mouth and lip area are showing more sensitivity now. His swallowing reflexes are developing and baby can hear sounds outside the womb. The inner ear bones have hardened so hearing is more acute. Baby may hear his daddy's voice more easily than the mama's, as baby is sensitive to a deeper pitch. Baby weighs about a pound and a half and is 13 1/2 inches long. Bones are becoming solid and the brain is growing rapidly; the brain cells are starting to mature. The sexual organs are fully developed.
Happy days as we anticipate the arrival of our bundle of joy. It took my breath away when I saw the little neighbor baby in person and realized that we will hold our little Dillon sooner than later.
The joys of new beginnings. Springtime, sunshine and grandsons. Thank you, God. xo
