A Late August Weekend with Newborn Puppies

It was late August of 2002, and our house was suddenly full. Our Gordon Setter had her litter, and overnight our home was populated by a pile of tiny, sleeping puppies. For those first few days, there wasn't much action, just a lot of snuggling in their tray—a quiet tangle of black and tan fur.

They were so small, mostly just sleeping and twitching. Their mother was patient and attentive, resting beside them on the tile floor while they nursed. It was a peaceful, quiet scene for the most part.

Our son, on the other hand, was anything but quiet. He was fascinated by the puppies but had far too much energy to just sit and watch. He ran through the living room, a blur in his striped shirt, made funny faces for the camera, and was generally a whirlwind of toddler activity. It was a strange contrast—the sleepy calm of the newborn pups and the boundless energy of a little kid occupying the same space.