Belle, Cami, and Sammy's stork story has made the headlines in todays 
 "Pet Journal."

Follow their exciting journey as we follow Belle and Cami's pregnancy right through their labor and the birth of their puppies.

8/28/2006

Tee's Lady Blue Belle and Sam The Man Tequila Sunrise is spending a lot of time together these days, and why not!   The happy couple are expecting puppies in just three more weeks.  Belle's due date is September 18th.  She's already 42 days into her pregnancy and looking just fine.  She's feeling good, and proud papa doesn't leave her side for too long, unless it's to play a little game of chase with Jake and Shelby.  Even then he cuts his playtime early so he can get back and keep an eye on his Belle.

9/7/06

With about ten days to go, Belle's in pretty good shape.... Not too big so far, although she is having trouble fitting through her kennel door.  Her belly can't quite make it up and over the bottom of the entrance door, so we put a little ramp there to help her out.  Her appetite is good, and she still has a pretty good amount of energy, although she does take very good care of herself and makes sure she has a few short naps throughout the day.

9/9/06...  Cami's looking pretty good these days.  Her belly has just only started to pop showing an ever so slight hint that puppies are on the way.  Due some time early October, Cami is carrying pretty small and hasn't had much of an appetite lately.  Hopefully that will all change soon enough.  The lucky daddy is our one and only
Sam The Man Tequila Sunrise.

Cami and Belle laying on the deck of their kennel enjoying the early morning sun

Belle is doing pretty good.  It's pretty much a waiting game at this point.  She is getting rather big, and today I was able to feel the puppies kicking.  I'm always happy the first time I feel those little beings moving around. With just 7 days left until her due date, she still has a good amount of energy and is eating like she's eating for nine.  Her favorite time of the day is just before bedtime.  She knows that's when she gets her special treat of 4oz of fresh cooked liver as a bedtime snack, and believe me, she stares at the house waiting for me to bring it.  

Cami's doing fine.  Except for her tummy, you wouldn't even know she's pregnant.  Her activities and energy level has not changed at all, but all that will change in another week or so.

Belle is still hanging in there.  Just four days to go till her due date.  Her temperature has dropped a little, which is a good sign, but it hasn't dropped nearly enough to say labor is close.  But, these things can change in an instant.  Her milk has come in, so mommy is all ready to feed her little ones when they finally get here.  She still has a good appetite, but her energy level is pretty low.  She spends most of her day resting and saving up all that energy for the hard work of the labor ahead. 

Cami, on the other hand is full of energy.  Not much else to report about Miss Cami right now.  She's feeling good and that's the good news.

Belle did a great job delivering 9 healthy puppies on September 17, 2006.  Belle delivered all nine of her beautiful puppies in less than six hours.  5 boys and 4 girls.  5 lemon and white pups and 4 tri colored. 
GREAT JOB BELLE!

Belle's pups are two days old now and are doing GREAT!  Belle is a fantastic mother.  She's keeping her puppies clean and is very attentive to their needs.  All nine pups have found mommy's nipple and are nursing, so no problems there.  There are two pups that have lost a little weight since birth, so we are supplementing them a couple of times a day, but I'm sure they'll be fine.  It's a little difficult telling the little lemon puppies apart because they look so much alike.  By using the photos from their birth I'm able to find "little" markings that are identifiable.
Otherwise, everything is going great... 

Cami is doing great.  She's due in just four more days, but I'm just not quite sure that's going to happen.  Her milk has come in and she's acting very quiet these days, but there's been no nesting or any other activity that would indicate to me her pups are coming soon.  She's very small and I haven't felt any puppies kicking yet.  I'm thinking she's not as far along as I originally thought and her pups will be born some time the first week of October.

Mommy and daddy spent a little time together in the yard today. 

And Belle took a little puppy break to spend some time with Sammy too today.

Belle's pups are one week old today.  It's hard to believe a whole week has gone by already.  All the pups are doing great.  They're gaining weight steadily and are even attempting to get up on all fours.  They're little bodies are getting round and plump. The smallest puppy is 14 1/2 ounces, while the biggest puppy is 1lb 5 oz.  Just our smallest little guy is getting supplemental feedings now and even at that it's only 3 times a day, compared to every two hours the first couple of days.

Today Belle and her puppies spent some time outside their kennel for a little photo shoot.  Belle's pups are now 12 days old.  They're all doing just fine.  Their eyes and ears are starting to open and the puppies are giving a real try at standing on all four legs.  They're sweet, adorable little pups. 

Cami is hanging in there.  She's looking well and still has a pretty good skip in her step, but she does spend a lot of the day resting.  I believe her breeding was later than I orginally thought and her due date is around October 6th or 7th.  We're watching her closely and will know it the minute she shows any signs of labor approaching.

Belle's Babes
A little over two weeks old now and the puppies are really starting to get around.  Up on all four feet, the pups stumble from one end of their whelping area to the other.  They're starting to get little points on their gums where their teeth will start coming in.  Eyes and ears are open now and they are starting to respond to my voice.  They try to play with each other but usually fall over before it gets too far.  A little unsteady yet, but they're growing, gaining weight, and getting stronger by the day.  They are definitely beautiful little puppies.  If you look closely you can see some of the ticking starting to appear on one or two of the pups.

To view a montage of Belle and her puppies taken just today, CLICK HERE

After what seemed to be a pretty easy delivery, Cami and her pups are enjoying a much deserved snooze.  Cami whelped five pups, 3 girls and 2 boys, but unfortunately one of the little female pups did not make it.  However, the other four puppies are doing great and are enjoying not having to struggle to find a free nipple.  Their tummies are ALWAYS full and they are gaining weight from one feeding to the next.

CONGRATULATIONS CAMI
10/05/2006

Cami's smiling with pride.  Four beautiful little pups.  Not even one week old yet but sure do know how to chow down.  Each pup is over a pound and always, I mean always have full, round, plump little bellies.  Cami is very protective of them too.  I have to force her to take a potty break and eat.  Hopefully that will settle down in another couple of days.... The pups are doing great...

Belle's pups are a little over three weeks old now.  All sweet little babies who are all about hugs, cuddles, and mama's milk.  Their teeth are in and soon will be introduced to puppy food.  They bark, they growl, and they love to be held.

Click here to see more of Cami and Belle's pups

Belle's pups are almost five weeks old now.  All of them are doing great and getting ready to meet their new families this weekend for "Puppy pick out day."  Click on their photo to see more photos of this beautiful litter taken just today....  10/19/2006

Cami's pups are also doing great.  Four little porkies, that's for sure.  Cami's pups are just two weeks old today, yet, her biggest puppy is only a little smaller than Belle's smallest puppy.  Belle's pups are not small.  It's just that Cami's pups are getting PLENTY of feeding time.  Their eyes and ears are starting to open and they're doing some creeping around the whelping area.  Mommy is never too far away, and doesn't want to be.  She's such a good mommy...  Click on their photo for a few more pictures.

Meet my new puppy Bob, Cindy, and the kids had first pick of Belle's male pups.  They picked an adorable lemon and white male which they have decided to name Magnum.  The kids are counting the days till Magnum can come home, and truthfully, judging from the smiles on Bob and Cindy's face on pick out day, they're counting days as well.   Tony, Fran, and the kids were totally delighted with their puppy choice.  This is the families first puppy and can't wait to bring little Daisy home in a couple of weeks, and I'm sure Daisy is going to have a great time playing with her new big brother and sister.   How happy does this family look with their new puppy?  Jim, Denise, and the boys picked Belle's little lemon and white ticked baby girl.  The whole family was thrilled with their newest family member, Sadie.  Lucky for us Jim is a member of our discussion forum and I'm sure we're going to get to watch little Sadie grow into a beautiful adult beagle.    The clock can't tick fast enough for Barbara and the boys.  It was a hard decision but they finally all settled on Belle's little boy Ranger.  This little guys is not going to be lacking in the love and attention department if Barbara has anything to say about it, and I can tell the boys are going to make sure Ranger is the coolest dog on the block.  Good news for us.... Barbara is also an active member of our discussion forum, so we get to watch Ranger grow!   Bob and Bobby Jr. reminisced alot about their beloved beagle Boomer who passed away not too long ago, but a new life is about to fill their quiet home, and from the look on their faces, this puppy is going to mean the world to them.  When I asked Bob Sr. where the puppy was going to sleep his first night home, he patted his chest and said, "Right here."  Buster is going to be one lucky little puppy.   Belle's little blue tick Maddy is the newest member of the Cronauer family.  Chris and Terese brought along three of their five children to help pick out their new puppy.  Looks like Maddy's feet are never going to touch the ground with all these wonderful arms to hold her.   Suzanne and Dotty had a hard time deciding which puppy to pick and once they did, they had a hard time leaving him.  Belle's handsome little lemon and white male, who will now to be known as Beetle couldn't be in better hands.  When they said a picture tells a thousand words, they weren't kidding, and lucky us, Suzanne is a member of our discussion forum, so once again, we get to see Beetle grow up!   Jordon is getting a BIG puppy kiss from her new puppy Sophie, (Better know to us as Flo) as mommy and daddy smile away.  The family got Belle's last available girl, but they couldn't be happier with their new little blue tick.  Sophie has the most unique marking on her back which looks just like a tulip.  Every part of white on her body, including her tummy is ticked just like her mommy Belle.  Very special little puppy going to a very special family.   Diane, husband John, and daughter Dana didn't have a choice when they came to visit their puppy, but it was love at first site.  Mikey, (name subject to change) is going to be John's best buddy.  After living in a house with all women there's finally going to be another male around.  It's a win win situation for Mikey, and there's going to be plenty of hugs and kisses coming his way, especially from his two big sisters Dana and Danielle, and mom Diane.

I invite all of Belle's puppy families to join us on our discussion fourm.  You'll meet other New Jersey Beagle owners, and, beagle owners and lovers from all over the country, and world for that matter.   There you'll have an opportunity to update us on your puppy once he/she goes home, share photos, ask beagle questions, and share puppy stories with other beagle owners, including littermates to your own puppy.

Just click on this link and it will take you directly to a page started just for Belle's puppy families.

How sweet are these babies?

Click here to see more photos and video of Cami's pups

Cami's babies at 5 weeks old
Click here for more photos

OUR NEW PUPPY

Mary and Pat with their new little boy Murphy

Colleen, Mark, and the kids with their new little girl Casey

Joe, Christine, and the girls with the newest member of their
family, KC.  Cami's little lemon and white male.

Chris and Jen have decided to name their little girl Pie. 
Her full name will be "Cameo's Lemon Merang Pie."

There's only a couple of days left before the pups leave for their new homes.  Today, Pie, KC, Murphy, and Casey were having a ball playing with mommy Cami.   As you can see from the photo, Cami loved spending the morning with her babies as well.  The five of them chased each other and wrestled one another from one end of the kennel to the other until they finally pooped themselves out.

All four pups have left with their new families today.  The kennel is quiet.  No tiny little barks, no excited little faces when I walk in.  No one undoing my shoelaces or licking my face.  No more rubbing tiny little bellies or the smell of puppy breath. On the other hand, there's no poop to clean either.  <s>   But still, it's a little sad.  Four sweet little babies that made me smile every morning. 

I"m sure there are four families smiling right now.

Good luck to all of you!