Babies!!

It's been a busy time around here just lately, with more babies popping up than we quite know what to do with!

First the foals started coming...this little darling was among the first to join us - three were born that day! There have been more since, and yesterday was delivered a very special princess, who would in fact wear a tiara and have jewels were she a human - she is bred, as they say, "in the purple". There is a very real worry that I may have to sleep outside so she can have my bed!...No, just kidding - but she's that special! (Where I have written special - please read: expensive, costly, and nerve wracking that some grim fate may beset her!) when she has settled in a little, I'll post a photo so you can see for yourself that she actually looks like any other foal and wonder what all the fuss is about!

And puppies! Tina, our Mama Kelpie delivered 7 robust little fluff balls a few weeks ago - these are but 3 of her brood; whom I'm threatening with all manner of evil if they don't stop, cease and desist leaving little messes at my back door, and getting tangled up in my feet when I walk outside. These are destined for a life chasing cows or sheep and working hard - which is what they are bred for and what they thrive on...Kelpies go stark raving mad (and send their owners that way quickly too!) if left with nothing to do and nothing to herd.

Then, there came Darla Daisy...she's technically my grand-baby-puppy - Her daddy is my middle son, and she visits me at "Nanny Day Care" while her mummy goes to work...It's all completely hilarious, but she is ever so cute!

And then, most importantly of all...We became a great Aunt and Uncle again yesterday - the newest member of the Hewitt clan weighed it at 11lb 2oz (I think the baby was heavier than the foal!) Lachlan Roger is in line to receive the BEST children's book I have ever seen; which is what I really started writing this post about in the first pace! It's called "On The Night You Were Born", by Nancy Tillman. I got this copy from The Nile online bookstore, and it is the most delightful, precious book...The inside slip cover reads:
On the night you were born, the moon smiled with such wonder that the stars peeked in to see you and the night wind whispered, "Life will never be the same".
Nancy Tillman...created On The Night You Were Born to convey to children, at an early and impressionable age, that "you are the one and only ever you". She observes, "By using common events such as geese flying, ladybugs landing, and the moon up at morning to celebrate the birth of a child, it's my hope that even as children grow into adults, whenever they see these events they will be reminded of how valuable they are".
Not only is this a treasure of words, the illustrations are awesomely beautiful too!

So, if you are in the market for a gift for a new bub...do have a look at this book - This will be the third one I have sent to a fresh baby...and I think I'll keep a stash of them for every new little one who comes along (I now just have to find another wonderful title to give to second children in their families! Any suggestions?)