Feeding Time

Feeding times are what rule our family's new rhythm.  It's forcing me out of bed early and demanding that everyone else is also up and playing their part.

My part has been more than demanding moving from nursing Charles, cooking breakfast, milking goats, bottle feeding baby goats and back again to nursing my own baby.  Childcare mixed with goat care is certainly an interesting process but we are smitten with these sweet animals and finding so much joy in their care.

I've already described my feelings to a few friends........I've never been more stretched and tired in all my life yet I've never been so alive.

Peter is feeding "Yagi" above and William is feeding "Sachi".  They are nicknamed the "greedies" because they finish their bottles so fast and jump all over in hopes to steal from the other two, Princess and Zara, who have a harder time taking the bottle.

Princess and Zara have been mostly successful in nursing but we like to feed a bit of the milk back to them to be sure they are getting what they need.  But getting those two to take a bottle is harder so it usually falls (literally) in my lap.

Here I am trying to make it work with Charles in a sling.  It was as awkward as it looks but Princess finally took what she needed and Charles slept through the whole process.  They may be developing a special bond to each other.

Charles cries a lot when he's not being held so sometimes it is easier to just keep him wrapped to me while I'm concentrating on goat care, even during the milkings.  But I have recently become more demanding in having the oldest brother exercise his patience in caring for a crying baby, it has been good for all of us.  James is developing the magic touch with his youngest brother and they are definitely developing a special bond.

From one feeding time.......

.....to another.

Feeding time is not just for the one offering and the one consuming, it is a peaceful time where the other younger children and other animals like to gather.  Here are a few of them not too far from my seat quietly enjoying feeding time on this unusually warm day.  I love when they are all so still and near, it is rare. 

Here is Clara and Pickles and then Henry soaking up some sun.

Off to bed, the baby goats only require 3 feedings a day but Charles is nursing round the clock every 3-4 hours so if I'm not busy feeding someone it would be wise to rest.