The Waiting is Over

Finally, the waiting is over. After months and months and months of watching and waiting for the arrival of our new baby goats. THEY ARE HERE! Amber started things off yesterday when she hid herself for most of the day, causing eyebrows to be raised in wonder. By feeding time that evening she was showing signs of going into active labor and we moved her into a birthing pen. We hurried through chores and gobbled down supper in hopes of getting to see the new faces. A quick check afterwards though told us it could be a wait, but felt by morning we should have some babies. Amber has had twins twice before and we were hoping she would birth them again this time. About an hour later we went back to check on her, to find her cleaning up her first born. A beautiful spotted buck, only minutes old. Rats! I wanted to be there, so much for timing contractions.

As we ooh and ahh over this new life that had just entered the world, she began pushing and dropped a tiny baby girl practically in my hands.

I was thrilled to be a part of her delivery and quickly helped to wipe her nose clear and wipe down her warm wet body. Amber, the one we had figured to be the last to deliver, had surprised us with being the first. Lon's response was so appropriate, quoting a part of scripture. . . "and the last shall be first." We stayed with the new family for several hours, making sure there wasn't any problems with the afterbirth or the babies nursing for the first time. About midnight we decided to trudge off towards the house to celebrate our new arrivals with a slice of the Strawberry Cake I had baked for our Valentine celebration today. Oh well, seemed like a good enough reason to go ahead and cut it. After all it was midnight and technically in a few more minutes it would have been today anyway.

Jason, Brian and his family all came out to the farm to see the new arrivals today. I knew just as soon as they heard we had babies that they would be out. Leah loved seeing them and wanted them to come out of their pen to play. But settled for just touching their soft fur and floppy ears instead. While visiting with the new goat family, Sugar who we had put in another pen to keep Amber company began to show signs that her delivery time was closing in. Could we possibly have a Valentine baby? Back to the house for a bowl of homemade soup and a slice of cake for a late lunch, we visited for a little bit. Before they left, as theywanted to get home before the rain started. They were about to leave when Lon called up from the barn that we had another baby. A mad dash down to the barn was made by all to see this new baby.

Double Rats! I missed this one too. We had been concerned about Sugar giving birth as she is small framed and this would be her first birthing. No worries, she did an excellent job all by herself. But we had missed the birth of her darling little doe by about half and hour. Yea! we have a holiday baby after all.

At this point we have two down and one more mommy to go. Anna, who you will recall that we have been waiting on since Christmas eve is still quite pregnant. Looks like she will be the last of our does to deliver. Being our first time at all of this, I am very thankful that we had two easy births and 3 healthy cuties to show for all those anxious days of waiting.

Loving our 2 doelings and buckling,

Deborah