we have puppies!

As of 5:18 p.m., we have puppies.

When we got up this morning, Stella was *really* anxious and didn't know what to do with herself until she plopped in her box and then growled when anyone so much as moved. Oh, and she was panting uncontrollably.


Thank goodness she got up long enough, though, for me to move her box from the kitchen to a more comfortable birthing suite downstairs, out of traffic.

For the next nine hours or so, she panted, paced, and then finally settled in while P and I gave her privacy. The first whimpers came not too long after that.

I'm not sure when she was done delivering, but there was a lot of crying going on down there. I snuck down a few times to peak, but there wasn't much to see. She's a good mom and was protecting them accordingly.

Around 10 p.m. the newly skinny Stella decided it was time to walk around a bit and go outside, so she, Luna, and P did so--and I got out the camera.

Here they are! All SIX of them!

The count is: 2 colored like Stella (without the white accents so far), 1 black, 1 white, 1 brown and white (on top), and then the last one who was sleeping ever so cutely underneath that whole pile who is kind of mix of everything.

You can see that one better here:
(click to enlarge to see the colors better)

Please excuse the poor quality of the photos but those little buggers just wouldn't listen to my pleas to sit still. I guess that's not surprising since they can't even hear or see yet.

So Mamma and babies are doing well, as are Zia Luna, Nonna Sognatrice, and Nonno P (if a little taken aback by the number SIX).

And now I'm wondering...anyone want a puppy? And will you come to Calabria to pick it up?