{New babies}

We spent our Spring break in Idaho at Grandmas house. The kids were so excited to get to go and see grandparents and cousins and run to their little hearts content at the Place. I am starting at the end and working my way back to the beginning of our week. One of the fun things to experience while at Papa Chip's house is seeing a new calf be born. We have always just missed seeing the new babies come. Either they happen right before we get there or they happen right after we leave. Well we got lucky this time. We had two babies born while we were there. One we didn't get to see because it happened really early in the morning (more to come on that baby) and one we got a front row seat to see.

This little guy was born our last full day at the Place. His mama, Oreo as we lovingly call her, was showing signs all week of being about ready to pop. We had planned on having a family movie night to watch Tangled with all the cousins that night. Right after dinner and right after everyone arrived for the movie Papa came in to say that Oreo had started. You didn't need to say anything more and all those kids were headed down the hill to watch this baby being born. Cows usually go off by themselves to have their babies in peace and quiet but luckily for us (and the fact that Oreo was closed up in the front pasture) we got to witness the birth. At first we were up on the hill watching from afar because a tribe of kids can't be quiet enough for a mama cow to be able to settle down enough to have her baby. But once that baby dropped we loaded up in the back of Papa's truck and we were off to get a closer look. Once down on the road close to the new baby there were lots of questions about placentas and umbilical cords and the deep burning question of what gender the baby was. Basically the facts of life were discussed, analyzed, and debated among a group of kids ages 12-2. Pretty interesting stuff I tell ya. They also named the little one Oreo Milkshake, which makes total sense to a bunch of kids...... We couldn't resist waiting around to see the baby stand up and start to nurse. We cheered with each slip and fall of the baby, practically willing it to it's feet. Oreo was a great mama. She was right there licking and helping every time the little guy would fall and then try again to get up.

Finally there was success and though while very wobbly, he didn't fall down again and chased his mama around for his dinner. We finally left them alone and headed back up to the house to start our movie. Although I think some of us felt like we had already watched the main attraction. It is sure to be something my kids remember for a long while.