Day 39

Ico spent most of the day outside under our maple tree enjoying the beautiful weather. At around 2 pm she went to the basement to cool off and took a nap. We have not gone for a run in a couple of days because it is a little hot and I have noticed Ico is great when it is cool but when the temperature starts to rise she is not as enthusiastic. To make up for it we played several games of ball, tug and chase.

Here is a picture of Joanne and Ico from last year having a good game of tug!

Day 38

Lavena and I (Vikki) had a great time visiting Raquel and Ico yesterday. I love to see how quickly Ico is settling in with visitors. We spent a few hours last week walking and playing ball and Ico acted as if she and Lavena were old friends.... of course treats and a tennis ball helped a lot ;) Yesterday I noticed a difference in Ico's personality. She's always bubbly, poodely and bouncy but yesterday she wouldn't stop hugging me. It’s like she couldn’t get enough Lov’n. Lavena was also sitting on the floor and enjoyed getting to know Kinsey (Raquel's 14 year old shepherd mix), who kept vying for toys. Ico couldn't decide whether she wanted to dig into my lap or steal the toys from Kinsey and play with Lavena.

Our plan is to get Ico very comfortable with Lavena so she can be present for the whelping. As Raquel pointed out, there’s a chance that I’ll be at work during part of the delivery. I wasn’t able to take the specific time off... darn those girls for having a mind of their own!!! But it’s likely that I’ll be there for at least the beginning or the end (and hopefully all of it). Lavena is a good friend of mine, a poodle breeder, poodle trainer, poodle lover and just a wonderful gal. She has a wonderful way with all dogs and gives off the most amazingly calm vibes. I couldn’t think of anyone more perfect for helping out.

The other issue is Raquel of course... and whelping those puppies! Can you imagine her; with her obsessive neat-nick personality?!?! She’d be trying to put diapers on the puppies as they were being delivered! Poor Ico could be so distracted putting smelling salts under Raquel's nose, between contractions, that she'd forget why she's in the whelping box!.... Ha ha ha ha ... just kidding, Raquel ;^D

Here is a pic of Ico’s growing Buddha Belly day 37. She was a glutton for belly rubs.

Here she is with Lavena... the Oh-so-poor recipient of a full body massage!... Ico not Lavena ;^) Ico was in such bliss she was having a hard time not falling asleep. We all decided that Lavena has ‘Magic Fingers.”

Day 37

Ico spent a part of the day today with Vikki and Lavena. On the anticipated delivery day there is a possibility that Vikki will be stuck at work which would leave me alone to deliver puppies. Those of you out there who know me I hope your first thought was oh no, Raquel will totally freak out if she has to do this by herself. Plus it will be messy and I don't deal with mess well. For those of you who don't know me think of Monk (tv character) toned downed a couple of notches. Thankfully Lavena will be Vikki's back up so one of them can deal with the delivery and mess and I can be drinking beer witnessing the entire event. It is perfect! Lavena and Vikki probably don't think so but I am loving the arrangement.

Day 36

Ico and I went on a morning run and she set the pace. She is starting to show a little in the belly but you really can't tell. She has begun nesting in her favorite spot in the family room behind one of the chairs. Here is Ico at roughly two months old.

Day 35

We're going into week 5 now and things are starting to change really quickly. The puppy development will be changing daily. Next week we'll be moving Ico into My house (Vikki) so that she can become comfortable with my poodle pack. She'll start sleeping in her whelping box and learn that this is a safe, supportive and protective environment for her and her puppies. She's been spending more time playing with the poodle pack but now she'll be eating, sleeping and training with them. She'll (in theory :) learn that this is a safe and comfortable place to raise her puppies. Eureka was a key figure in raising Ico; for TinTin, and I hope that this tradition will continue on. I feel privilaged that I'll have Raquel participating with our Poodle Village in raising these puppies.

Day 34

The only thing to report today is Ico was being a total pain. I don't know if it is the heat or the pregnancy but she has been nothing but ATTITUDE! Honestly, if I didn't know better I would say aliens abducted my Ico in the middle of the night and exchanged her with a dog version of Joan Crawford. Oh well. Here is a profile picture of Ico a couple of years ago.

Day 33

Ico and a clan of poodles (Vikki and Wendy's menageire) plus one airedale got together today for a swim at Luther Burbank Park in Mercer Island (about five miles east of Seattle). Ico loved it and was competing with Tin Tin on the retrieval of tennis balls. Little does Ico know that Tin Tin will win every time and that Tin Tin is strategic and could probably dunk Ico very easily if she wanted. Here is a picture of Ico and Ico and Tin Tin on one of the retrievals.