What every boy needs

Dawson didn't really get presents yesterday since we are having his party at my parents' house next weekend but he did get a few things- a movie my sister sent and a coloring book with pencils that a friend gave him. We asked him at the end of the day what his favorite gift was and he said "all of them" which I thought was quite sweet, then finally he said, "...oh the pig. I forgot about that one."

Yep, my friends, he got a pig. Piglet to be exact. A still nursing piglet. Brett and I were visiting friends yesterday afternoon and their neighbor had a bunch of little pigs. We always think they look cute but obviously never really needed one (esp since the adults are HUGE and UGLY). Well, Brett was overcome (mostly because we leave in 2 days for the States and the kids will forget about the pig by the time we return) and bought Dawson a pig. On the way home as Brett is holding the thing in the back of the car and it is squealing with every bump, which are many here, I kept thinking, how am I going to feed this thing? I have to find a bottle, what does it drink, etc... We got online and found out you can do cow's milk with egg yolk, cod oil and citric acid. Didn't have the last two but our little pig has thankfully started drinking the milk with egg in it. (and before animal rights people come and get us, he probably is old enough to survive without his mother's milk...maybe).

Here's our little piggy. One guess of his name....Batman....or sometimes Spiderman.

Here he is with our turtle, Robin. I was hoping they would be friends- kind of like a new Charlotte's Web- the pig and the turtle- but somehow Robin got away today and we can't find him. (we've had him since Aug, we lost Batman the turtle a long time ago). I guess it doesn't matter too much, since Batman the pig will be leaving our home when we leave. We are giving him to our house guy to take care of and keep (and eventually eat). Hopefully he can find another nursing pig who can take this one on as well. So our little Batman will only stay a few short days with us but unfortunately, he is making his way into my heart. Pathetic, I know. He only drinks when I go out there and grunt to him. Yes, grunt. Pigs don't really oink like we say they do. It really is a grunt. (right under his nose is the turtle)

Silas is playing with the turtle like it is a car. They hurt that poor thing, it's probably good he got away. Silas can say "tortue" (turtle in french) now quite well. I'm amazed at how many words he is picking up lately. Too bad half of it is Bambara which he will forget in the next three months.

I think a pig will go down as one of the weirdest gifts my kids will ever get...at least I hope.