Why We Could Possibly Be Good Parents Part 1:  Parental Sonar

So on Saturday night, Catherine noted that our hearing had gotten much better.  At various points during the evening, Dave or I would hop up from dinner and run into the house shouting NO NO NO PATCHES OFF!  Sometimes, we'd just have a hunch and lean over the deck, look into the kitchen window and check on the collie's location.  He's actually behaving much better in the house, as long as there is no food on the counters.

And it's not all the-dog's-gone-bad sonar.  Yesterday, while Dave and I were working outside, I heard two half whimpers and immediately knew something was wrong.  I was re-staining the deck.  Dave was fixing our driveway by installing pavers (which turned out really, really well!!!!).  Patches was doing his job, herding the big red ball around the yard.  Sometimes, he gets frustrated with the ball when it gets stuck in the ivy or the fence and barks at it in a low rumbly voice.  We assume that's the "I will herd you now" bark because he also makes the same bark at the cats.  But this sound was different.  It was more like two quick, soft, defeated, frustrtated, Help Me whimpers.  I was very proud of my doggie maternal instincts, which kicked before the last half whimper ended.  "What's wrong, Patches?  What's wrong?"  His ball was up a tree!  Now, objectively, I know that's not a big deal.  And I know that being able to pick up a half whimper is not a big whoop on the mommy scale.  But it's the realization that we always have this sonar/radar/dogdar going that picks up any unusual sound or the lack of usual sound that excites me.  I never knew how Mom could tell when something was up.  But now it's crystal clear.  You hear it or you don't and you know something is going on.  And no, I have no idea how Patches herded the ball up a tree.  It was really hard for me to get it out. 

Dave and I had a nice run this morning. We were only mostly sore from yesterday's homeowner frenzy.  It occurred to me that I've always imagined I would be at my absolute healthiest before I tried to get pregnant.  And that means about 5 to 10 lbs off.  No fried anything and no more sweets.  Yay and Bleah at the same time.

8:19:25 AM