And because I had time to play around with GIMP while Susanna and Isabella sleep a little longer this morning:

Last week, Susanna and I decided it was time to take a break from the birds. With a baby at home, me traveling a lot this summer, and the boys not helping as much as they had promised, it was time to take a break.

So Saturday a friend, Mark, picked up the five remaining hens and duck to add to his flock and we will take at least  the next year off of chickens.

Now all that remains is to clean out the coop so it is ready if and when we want more birds. And to remember to limit what we throw in the compost since we won’t have chickens to process cheese and meat anymore.

We have plenty to do this summer around the house and we won’t miss the birds (at least won’t miss them too much). Plus, there is a farm around the corner where we can get fresh eggs until we decide to get our own again. And next time no ducks. They are too messy.

…because, who doesn’t need more baby pictures?

Isabella is doing well. Yesterday she got her first checkup at the pediatrician, and everything was good. She is eating well and sleeping well. She even gives us one or two 4-hour stretches at night (at least for now), so I can’t complain. Susanna is healing well, and we even all took a little bit to enjoy a short walk in the spring-like weather here.

I get to enjoy a few minutes snuggling with Isabella while she sleeps. Not much else to do other than take pictures and post them on the Internet. The other option is to move and disturb her. 

Isabella was a little jaundiced yesterday when they sent her home, so we get a (hopefully) quick trip to the lab to get blood drawn this morning to check up on her. 

She was a champ last night. Sleeping from 11:30 to about 3:30 and then back asleep to almost 7.