We are (hopefully) expecting!

So this is a pretty big deal to us as newbies: both Annabelle and Lilly were bred to a buck, and we will hopefully have kids June 23rd/24th-ish! We are super excited and nervous, but this has been in the works for a couple of years so I feel as ready as I'll ever be.

I will mostly use the pronoun "I" as my husband is not nearly as into this as I am -- but he is a willing assistant. Twice he drove a goat an hour and a half in the back seat of his brand new truck to meet a smelly buck. Twice he hoisted in and out of his truck a now-smelly doe. Twice he missed out on things he really wanted to do (football party, quiet night at home) just because I came into the house saying "we have to go now!". Twice he listened to me ramble on in the truck for three hours about plans and what we have to do to prepare. He will also "willingly" build my kidding pens, he will also most certainly be present to assist me when the does actually go into labor, he puts up with the vast amounts of money I spend on my goat obsession, he listens to me go on and on about my dreams and goals ... he supports me, and I could not be more grateful because I know this goat thing isn't his choice. He clearly loves our animals but mostly he loves me. How lucky am I. Seriously. To have a supportive spouse is one of the best things one could ever wish for.

So KIDS - we are going to have babies! Some concerns and thoughts that are racing through my mind include:

-- I have a lot more reading to do so that I feel at least somewhat knowledgeable about the birthing process. I have never assisted in the birth of anything, not even a guinea pig.

-- I have to purchase all the supplies I'll need, but I did make two purchases already: a surveillance camera and a baby monitor.

-- I have already planned the barn layout with the kidding pens, and also the layout outside so all goats can enjoy the fresh air and sunshine safely. Now we just need to construct it (Jim, the saint, is needed here).

-- I think I am going to have "Open Barn" a few times a week after the babies are born so that everyone who wants to visit can, and so that the kids are well socialized with people. I'm thinking evening hours with cocktails and Saturday morning with the orange squeezer set up :)

-- How the heck will I feel confident in giving up my babies to people I don't know?? Applications? References? Gut feelings?

-- How many kids do I keep this year - one doe and one wether? I really don't want a larger herd but how can I NOT keep at least one??

-- Wait - what if neither doe is even pregnant at all, and my hopes will be dashed and I slide into a deep depression?

-- I am not experienced - what the heck am I thinking, that I can successfully handle kidding??

-- I am filled with a roller coaster of feelings including courage, excitement, doubt, fear, joy, panic .... it kind of reminds me of the time I was expecting a baby myself.

Lilly on her way to meet Lux, Sunday, January 31st

Annabelle on her way to meet Lux, February 1st