Baby Chicks...

 This spring we are in our "baby chick phase of life". Let me start by saying we already have 11 chickens. 10 hens and 1 rooster.  We ordered about 6 baby chicks when a friend was wanting to order some. The minimum you have to order is 25 for the safety of the chicks. In the mean time, Steve borrowed an incubator from a friend. He wanted to try to incubate our own eggs. We were doubtful, and I even told the children several times that they probably won't hatch. The temp. has to stay between 99-101 degrees. They need humidity and to be turned 2-3 times a day. We did our best, and low and behold 21 days later they started hatching!!! I couldn't believe it!

Here we are with 19 eggs. The "o"s on them let us know which side we put up. There are "x"s on the other side.

 Here is a little crack where the chick is trying to poke it's way out. It takes about 15 minutes to an hour from this point for the little thing to fully emerge.

 Here they are hatching. Funny looking little things! They actually have an "umbilical" cord! There is a thing that attaches to the shell that the chicks get nutrients from. Crazy!

 Here they are as they are starting to dry. They look cuter when they aren't so wet and newborn!

They are sitting under a heat lamp, finishing the drying process. Then they went down to the shop buy the others.

Out of 19 eggs, 15 hatched and are doing real well. We actually had one die last night, so we are down to 20 now.

We know that some will be roosters and end up in the freezer, but we are so excited to be able to hatch our own chicks now!!!

Come on by and see them sometime!!!  And in about 20 weeks we will have more eggs than we know what to do with!

Breastfeeding...

I never thought anything other than I would breastfeed. I never had problems with it and the babies all did well taking to it. I can't complain about anything! I loved every minute of it and I miss it more than anything else about babyhood! I think it is the BEST thing for baby and Mommy! Did you know you burn up to 600 calories a day breastfeeding full time??? That is huge! Not to mention the benefits that have to do with lowing your chance of cancer. I am a full supporter of breastfeeding!!!
Having said that I think it is inappropriate to have a baby doll that sucks on the breast (they don't even have them yet) of a 5 year old! I think it is odd to have note cards with babies nursing on them. Bumper stickers, t-shirts, etc...really??? Come on!  I was never ridiculed, made fun of, told to leave a place, (I even breast fed right in the middle of Neiman Marcus in downtown Chicago) or made to feel uncomfortable. I never breast fed in the bathroom either! I would go to the shoe dept. (they have benches) or a sitting area (most malls and shopping centers have them) and just do my business. No big deal!!! I  honestly don't see the push to make breastfeeding illegal or wrong. Most M.D's still suggest it as the best choice for most people.
That is my 2 cents! If you have had a bad experience I am sorry...I had a wonderful experience with all 5 of mine, wouldn't trade it for a second but I also will not be getting a baby doll that breast feeds to my daughters. They can just wait until they have their own babies (and boobs for that matter) and then I will be their biggest fan!  =)