As you drive around the valley these days it is not uncommon to see piles of steaming newborn claves in the predawn fields.  Considering some of the low temperatures it is always amazing that these little creatures can survive.  It is with baited breath that we too have been waiting for our first newborns of the year.  Our little piles are really little since we raise goats and sheep. 

Our first goat May gave birth successfully to four babies, a first for our farm.  We run out in the morning at first light to check and see if anyone is in labor, as they often have babies first thing in the morning.  But yesterday they waited for the weather to warm and then went into labor.  Over the course of an hour May had birthed her four babies, cleaned them off and they had all stood up and at least tried to find the teat.

Goats are amazing birthers as they have never needed our help in all the years we have had them.  Occasionally we have to help the kids find the teat, but once they know where it is that problem is quickly resolved.  Our impatience with them usually gets in the way as we want to get involved.  But we have learned to just hang back and watch the miracle of life, which it truly is, unfold in front of us. 

The sheep are not always so eloquent in their birthing.  We have had to get involved and help pull out animals or get them pointing the right way, save them with a tube of milk into their belly and bottle feed the lambs.  Usually we end up with a lamb crying in our bathroom for a night every year.  Helps to keep us from wanting more children though! 

We tend to have our animals birth early in the year since we get so busy in the spring with our plant babies that we do not have time for the animals.  Of course this takes good planning back last August, the timing of which is always a work in progress.  Many of the farmers who raise animals have them give birth at a certain time of year in order to have the right size animal for the market it is intended for.

We have our animals so we can have out own meat, milk, cheese, and compost makings.  It is our time consuming hobby.  But the values that the animals add to our farm are also immeasurable.  They help to complete the cycle of life with in the farm organism, which is good to remember when we have to break their icy water in the morning, shovel their manure, or any of the other unpleasant chores they entail.

When the first babies finally come signifies the coming of spring, and the beginning of the next cycle.  So as you drive around the valley and see the hopping little calves in the fields or some baby chicks arrive in them mail, celebrate the miracle that shows us the world keeps going in spite of us.   A new year has arrived.