So cute...

 For various reasons, Jake and I haven't seen the puppies since Monday.  I took him through for a quick visit after work yesterday and I can't believe how much the puppies have grown in just 3 days.  Laila is protective as ever, but seems to be getting into the swing of parenting.  She's in a good routine, running outside for a two minute loo break and even stopping to have something to eat and drink while we were there yesterday.  I love the picture above, looks like she's sharing a special secret with Jake.

So, pictures a plenty, as always.  This puppy cracks me up every time I look at it.  Besides the over-sized tongue they all seem to have inherited from Laila, the way the white patch grows and the way it's ears hang low makes this guy look like a baby goat... 

 This is a little girl (if I'm not mistaken).  Her stripe is slightly tan in colour.  She is just slightly smaller than her brothers and sisters... 

 Jake loves the fact that the puppies don't have any teeth yet and that they suck on his fingers...

 The puppies are fierce when it comes to feeding time.  They push and shove and grunt like mad.  It's amazing how they know where to go and how to get there, even though they can't see yet.  Bottoms up...

 Despite growing quickly, they're still tiny.  I am obsessed with their pink paws...

 And their long tongues and their wrinkly faces and their ears that fold back, because they're too small to hang forwards yet and their little pink noses...

 But they're hungry and demanding of poor old Laila.  It will get harder for her with each passing day, as they get bigger and more demanding... 

 She's been such a good mommy!  Look, she's even managed to lick the colour off her lips.  She looks like she's wearing lipstick, she's licked those pups so much...

 She was really good yesterday.  Jake's been dying to hold the puppies since they were born and yesterday was that day.  Jake hopped into Laila's box and after sitting with her for a bit, she let him hold her precious babies.  As long as he was near enough to her that she could reach the puppies, she was happy...

 Jake took this picture of me holding one, to try show you how big (small) they really are.  Yes, yes, I need a manicure and some hand cream, I know, but look at the puppy...

 Tiny little ball of fur...

 Pink noses, toeses and tongueses...

 It was great to get some photos of Jake enjoying the puppies too.  This one looks like he's enjoying giving Jake a little cuddle...

 Just about all the time we were there, the puppies were feeding.  I am so glad I'm not a dog!! Imagine 7 babies all at once?  And look at that suction power... 

 As they finished feeding, I was popping the sleepy puppies onto Jake's lap.  He was beyond excited...

 Laila kept close guard...

 But she was super chilled and seemed quite happy to share the load with Jake... 

 This tiny little princess has stolen Jake's heart.  She's the second born in the litter and if he could chose one for himself, this would be it...

Laila cleans her puppies constantly... 

 And she's tired.  She tries to squeeze sleep in between the puppies suckling...

 Here's Jake's fav again.  Funny how we both prefer girl dogs and how we both love the brindle boxers more than the tan ones.  Guess it's cos we've gotten to love Laila so much...

 Oh my...

 Oh, oh, my.  this one's a boy, by the way.  He's going to be slobbery...

 Bok again...

 Dreaming puppy...

 And while Laila was outside for like 1.38 seconds, I could get a photo of the whole litter without her...

 She's got a pretty nice set up in Danie's scullery.  Danie and Jake made her a whelping box (in the background) and he's put a heater in to keep them all warm (since it's like 4 degrees C here).  The wooden board in front slides open and closed for when they're slightly bigger.  Jake decorated it the night before the puppies were born...

 Mommy dog, with 7 puppies and 7 hows (hours) labour time to deliver 7 puppies...

 They all have long tongues, he was right...

 Look...

 One last quick cuddle before we headed home...

 Laila stuffing her face quickly.  Look how thin she is already!  Maybe I change my mind... wouldn't be sooo bad to be a mama dog...

Other than that, we have a busy weekend ahead.  Jake has a friend coming to play (I'm taking them to see the pups) today.  Tomorrow morning he's got a rugby tournament and then a birthday party and he's going to rugby with Danie on Saturday night.  Sunday we're celebrating a special some one's birthday.  And hopefully, somewhere in between, Jake and I will be able to cuddle up with a good movie.

Enjoy it, whatever you get up to!

Sue XXX