They're starting to play with each other

I don't know if anyone can get as excited about this tiny little bit of early play behavior as I do but it is just a sign of how much they are changing. I guess it's like being so excited when your first born starts to crawl... until you discover all the mischief they can now get into. they are so cute, though.

The puppies are starting to pee on their own as well. How do I know this? Because when I changed the fleece pad this morning, there were pee stains all over the incontinence pads I use under the fleece.

My quandary is that they are not really walking yet and all the literature that I have read says that you start litter box/potty training around 3-4 weeks. But, if I let them continue to soil the whelping box, how does that effect their eventual potty training? And, since I have not figured out how to tell when they are going to pee, how do I handle that?

Gidget is still cleaning them around the time they nurse, usually just before (it seems to serve as a wake up call). I tried putting them in a litter box lined with pee pads after they nursed a while ago but they didn't do anything. I haven't actually seen one of them peeing so I don't know whether or not they are even standing or just letting it go while lying there:-).

I know I am getting ready for the really busy time. After next week (or maybe before), I'll start giving them some milk replacement to lap and then some puppy "mush". I haven't seen any teeth yet and since Gidget still seems happy to nurse, I'm going to let her as long as she wants. I don't think I'll need to supplement yet. They are all still packing on the ounces. Haymitch who is the smallest now, gained almost 2 oz yesterday.

I put them on a piece of rubber yoga mat yesterday and today. It's a novel surface for them and they seemed to be able to get a little better footing to walk. They are all walking after a fashion now. Still doing their drunken sailor routines and toppling over. It is so funny to watch.

Our son works nights and lives with us. I now know exactly when he gets home because our early warning system (aka Gidget) lets the whole world know. It takes her a while to settle down so I am up for at least an hour and then of course I can't get back to sleep. He's off Sunday - Tuesday so hopefully we'll get a better night's sleep then.