Sunshiney lazy Sunday afternoons are the best for sleepy cat naps.  Puccini is no exception to this rule and yesterday I was able to snatch these pictures of the Puppy Prince.

It just feels soooooooo good!

Slightly annoyed that the sunshine has moved beyond the comfort of his crate. Straight Chillin'

I can't say that anything extrordinary has been going on here lately.  Puccini had his first taste of Guinnes last night, he likes. He has also sampled such specialties as bacon and steak fat.  He is definitely a fan of the people food.  The most adorable little whines come from his tiny black lips when Nicholas and I sit down to eat and the smell of delicious food hovers in the air.  I will say, however, that Puccini is very obedient about begging.  If I tell him to go sit in his crate while we eat dinner, he usually does, more or less; but he most certainly stops sitting adorably at my feet looking up at me with the roundest most hungriest and pleading eyes (which are insanely dificult to resist.)  Tonight is taco night, so I guess we'll see how the pupperoni likes the chili powder on his carnitas!

Puccini was a big help with cleaning the apartment today.  He graciously moved all his toys from the spot on the couch where I had put them so I could vacuum.  H was great at standing riiiiiiight under my feet as I was stepping backwards while mopping.  His favorite task of the day, cleaning out the fridge.  Patiently, oh so very patiently did he wait with the most attentive eyes and nose on the lookout for his favorite fridge fall-out... the garlic skin.  As soon as the garlic rolled out of the shelf where it is kept it was in Puccini's mouth and trotting off to his crate.  Ah yes, the crate, with the freshly laundered towel in it that annoyed the little puppy to no end.  When I replaced his stinky puppy towel with the fresh clean one, Puccini jumped right in and began thrashing about so as to rearrange his "home" and rubbing his chin around to get his puppy stink all over everything again.  Puccini was a really big help with cleaning out Ollie's litter box too.  Its a wonder all of Ollie's bathroom treasures didnt make it all over the floor what with me having a Puccini and an Ollie with their paws up on the edge of the box and their noses curiously trying to figure out what I was doing with all that "stuff."  The two of them kept looking from the litter box into my face so questioningly, I just had to smile at them.  When Puccini wasnt helping out with the cleaning, he was keeping that kitty away from whatever I was doing.  Piccini has sort of taken on the role of "herd dog" when it comes to Ollie.  He just loves displaying dominance.

Cuddle bug all worn out from cleaning.

Stretchy legs in sleepy time.

Puccini the Heart - Stealer (Ruby has nothing on him)

So its been cold here in OTR these past few days. Puccini has been cuddling for warmth just as much as he can stand.  He's so tiny though, that sometimes he overheats.  Just the other day he was cuddling under the blanket with me while I was watching TV and he started making this noise.  Naturally, not having heard this noise before, I was worried and tore the blanket back to check on my fur baby.  He was panting.  Full on, tongue-on-the-couch, mouth open wide panting.  It was by far the most adorable panting ever.  He looked up at me with an annoyed look in his eye as if to say "you're wrecking my sauna in here mom!" 

Puccini playing kangaroo baby.

Puccini's aunt Marisa with his cousins (not sure how far back, but theres definate genetic history) Scout and Willow warming up.

Also, I feel its worth mentioning that half of the Chihuahuas that I know of in and around OTR came from the same breeder.  So, Puccini is never far from family.  Thats something that I know he doesnt understand (another dog is another dog) or care about (he growl-barks at Levi territorially whenever they're in the same room, so far only at the vet) but I still find it cute...  Theres a family herd of tiny chihuahua pupperonies running around Cincinnati. Too bad theres snow on the ground and its waaay too cold to have a puppy herd play date.

There's not too many new pictures of Puccini to post. He's been adorable and snuggly, but he never quite realizes when I want him to remain perfectly still.  I have a lot of good mental pictures.

I will say though, Puccini is probably one of the most jealous creatures I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.  Jealousy in most individuals is a tremendous turn off, but when you're considering a five pound pooch, it just gets pretty cute.  Puccini cannot stand anyone getting attention other than himself.  If Nicholas is cuddling with the kitty, Puccini does what ever is in his power to break that up.  He'll sit on the floor stairing up at the two cuddle bugs whimpering and whining and snorting all while stomping his little paws and attempting the huge two foot jump from the floor to the couch.  Many a times has that little puppy wiped out trying to gain the summit of the couch.  Then, of course, he gets embarrased at his failure and runs to the comfort and safety of his crate.  Puccini also hates Ollie having anything he doesnt have... In fact, whenever I give Ollie any sort of treat, whether it be a catnip sock or a midnight crazy, within a matter of minutes Puccini is parading around the apartment with his stolen goods proudly displayed in his mouth... That little stinker.

Playing "King of the Mommy Mountain"

Not much to update about today.  I think I'll tell you the story of Puccini's first Thanksgiving. 
Being the little guy's first Thanksgiving ever, and having tortured him with all the really good smells of baking up a pumpkin pie, some sweet potatos and carrot cake cupcakes, Nicholas and I decided to take Puccini with us to our Thanksgiving get together with the OTR misfits.  Puccini was shy enough, being in a new environment with new smells and really really tall people that he'd never met before.  Needless to say, he was cuddled up on one of three familiar laps; mine, Nicholas' or Gavin's.  After dinner had been eaten and the conversation was picking up, Puccini, sitting now in Gavin's lap, saw a golden opportunity.  With no one paying attention to the four pound puppy, Puccini leapt from the safety of a lap into the body cavity of a dessimated turkey.  There, before anyone could really react, he proceded to stuff his tiny little mouth with the savory scraps of a fantastic Thanksgiving bird.  I am so so so sad that there is no pictoral evidence of this occasion, as it speaks thousands of words more than I can possibly explain to someone who was not there.  So, all in all, Puccini had a fantastic Thanksgiving as well.

tryptophan coma

Wrastlin'

I know that I've talked a bit about Puccini's affections with wrestiling his sister.  I thought that today, among other things, I might talk about, and show, Puccini's moves.  Puccini, only having known cat-warfare, has picked up a few tricks of the feline trade... For instance, when he advances on the cat, he mixes his dodge-and-nip move with a cat like batting with his tiny little paws.  So, the poor cat gets nipped in the chest, doesnt get to make contact with the attacker and then is smacked in the face with a puppy paw.  Now, the fights are never unfair. Quite often I have to seperate the two of them when they are fiercely gnawing down on eachother.  Puccini also tries to make the fights fair by nipping the cat, then rolling onto his back, exposing his belly, and letting the cat try to attack him.  Of course, when the cat does try to attack, Puccini uses his back feet to rabbit kick Ollie's chin till she gets fed up and just lays down on top of him.

Puccini and Ollie enjoying a roudy jostle

On another note, I dug up some of Puccini's baby pictures.  I know he's still a small guy (just under 5 lbs still) but I cant get over how tiny he was just three months ago.

Puccini's first night with us; getting used to his new family

Before Puccini became a snuggle bug, he would hide under a chair and sleep on the sheepskin rug

Puccini's very first outdoor excursion (in our courtyard)

Puccini and I taking a puppy-nap in the sunshine (not quite a baby pic)

Puccini has had quite a busy day today. The usual kitten chasing was called for, quite a bit of synthetic wine cork (his new favorite toy) chewing was mixed in and then, there was the making of the pizza blanco!  Puccini was such a big help with the making of dinner tonight; in fact, because of him, I didnt step on one slice of olive or crumb of cheese on the floor during or after the pizza making process. The little puppy even posed for a photo with his finished masterpiece.

Puccini was such a good boy while Nicholas and myself were eating our nummy pizza that we gave him a tid-bit of crust for exceptional behavior.  Pucci perched on my shoulder while I was eating so as to almost get the full effect of eating it all by himself.  This is not a new trick of his, in fact, we tend to call him the "puppy parrot" due to his ability to sit on my shoulder.