Adventure!

Since you didn't get a post yesterday, today you get two!

Kate and Kai had a bit of an adventure. I took Leika out for doggy business, and thought I'd look over at the chickens...THAT WAS NOT A CHICKEN. I saw the super duo trotting past the chicken coop, and I ran into the house croaking about "YAKS! OUT!" with the small amount of voice I have recovered since yesterday. Daven slipped on some sandals, threw the other yaks some grain, refilled the bucket and bribed Kate to come back into the paddock. She was so good about it that we're kind of tempted to let her into that area on occasion so she can graze it down.

Giving birth really mellowed Ms. Kate. She was never terribly aggressive towards us, but she was just such an irritable pregnant lady that we were always on edge with her. Since Kai has come along, she's been fine with being bribed to let us mess with him (to a degree). She's turned into the sweetest girl now that the little spitfire is on the outside, rather than the inside. If he was anything internally that he is externally, he probably was tap dancing on her internal organs for months. That'd be enough to make anyone cranky. I also think that Kate likes being near the other yaks, but not having to fight for dominance with Snort. Kai, of course, gives not a darn about fences, and goes to visit the other yaks regularly. Millie seems to be his favourite; another imperial, of course!

Nubbins!

It took less than a week for Mr Smooth Head to get little horn nubbins growing in. Tiny nubbins! So adorable!

(This was meant to go up yesterday, but I was sick and forgot. Sinus infections are no fun.)

When it rains...it gets wet.

And this is what a week old yakling looks like when soggy. It has been raining and raining for the last few days. Though we need the rain, it has turned the paddock into muddy soup, which makes life difficult. On the upside, Kate has been pretty darn understanding about Daven and myself going in to mess with Kai. He's a skittery little thing!

Maria

Maria got highlights over the winter. "Black" yak, indeed!

Those lashes!

Seriously. Click on the picture. Kai has the most ridiculously long lashes.

Auntie Maria

After Kai's first escape, he had his first quality time with the other yaks in the herd. Maria, in particular, was all over him. It was precious to watch.

The chase

Kate, encouraging Kai to come back inside. Kai, in favour of this, but unable to figure out how the heck to get back in. Maria, Not Helping.

As an aside, Kai has figured out how to get in and out of the paddock now, so no longer needs external intervention on regaining Mama time. He showed me how adept he was at this by running through the barbed wire fence several times, at top speed. He is a frolicky little thing! The cute. It burns!

Pay no attention to the lack of posts...I distract you with cuteness!

We had a new addition to the herd! At 13:20 on 5/12/2011, Kate had her calf. He is 30 minutes old in this photo, but already on his feet. I did get the birth on video, but I'm not sure anyone but myself is interested in watching it.

Here he is at 3 hours old. Continuing our ridiculous naming scheme, he has been saddled with the name Kai. Yes, we've named him Kai Yak. This is my dad's fault. However, his middle name is all Daven...Kai Thulu. If he starts growing tentacles, we know who to blame.

And here he is at 3 days old. He'd just had a lovely adventure where he'd slipped out of the paddock and away from mama to go visit Maria. After Maria herded him around a bit, both he and Kate got agitated, so he tried to get back to her...only to discover he couldn't remember how he got out. I took photos. They shall be posted as I resume my Yak-a-Day posts. Sorry about the extended absence! I hope you enjoy the new little one as much as we are!