We have a calf; it's a boy

When I went to the barn this morning, here's what Bonnie was doing.





Even though she's been doing this for a week, she seemed more serious about it today.

At one point she went to the gate, trying to indicate to me that she'd much rather have her baby in the pasture.  Yeah, we tried that last year and ended up with a calf at the bottom of a canyon.

Once the water balloon came out, I knew it wouldn't be long.

Then came the feet.


 Sister-in-law Rena joined me for the excitement about the time the feet showed up, and she got to see me sit down in a pool of cow amniotic fluids so I could grab the baby's feet and give a little pull to help Bonnie, each time she started pushing.   I handed Rena the camera, since I had fluids all over my hands, and she took the first pictures.

"Who turned on the lights?"  

Cute face, eh?

He thought this was the breakfast bar, so I guided him to the real source of his nourishment.

Now the only thing left for Bonnie to do is get rid of the afterbirth.  I don't think I'll take any pictures of that.  


Several have asked if there will be a naming contest like last year.  Since he's a boy, I think probably the answer is yes; but I will ask that the names have nothing to do with what the baby will become after he's butchered.  Not that I'm squeamish; I'd just rather have another kind of name.  I'm not sure my freezer will be ready for him in a year, so we may end up selling him at weaning.