This has been our first full lambing season. Last year we bought two ewes, or female sheep. One mama with her new twin ewe lambs and one very pregnant ewe. The pregnant one gave birth her first night on our farm. It was not quite the same as seeing the process through from beginning to end. For one thing, there was much less waiting.

Last fall we brought a ram to the farm for a month, which gave us a month long window for Lamb Watch this year. So much anticipation. Every morning brings the hope of adorable fuzzy new life. And with every lambing (this is the term used for sheep birth), I am filled with a full rush of endorphins. So far, I have been alone every time I discover a new set of lambs. But I quickly return to the house to tell our five year old, E, who loves ALL THE BABIES maybe more than I do. She is a natural doula. Attentive and respectful, E helps me weigh the new lambs and take notes on our observations. She speaks southing words to the mama while crouching to see if the babies are getting the hang of nursing. We talk about the importance of colostrum and how amazing it is that mammals make placentas.

When the first set of twin girl lambs were born, E was eager to name one of them Emma. Emma is the name that two-year-old E gave to our dear friend Meredith. It stuck and for years now our family has referred to Meredith as Emma. Only recently, the kids have started calling her Meredith.

I stood there, watching E coo at this little white sheep with a tan spot around her eye. “Hi Emma. Cute little Emma.”

“But… we already have an Emma. Won’t that be confusing?” I said, wanting to nip this name overlap in the bud.

“What are you talking about Mom?” Her attention still on the lamb.

“Meredith!”

“Oh Mom. Her name’s not actually Emma.”

And that was it. My eyes welled up. It was one of those moments. You know those Mama Moments. When you realize you’ve crossed some bridge. I know that these things are actually happening gradually, in tiny steps, but sometimes it can truly feel like it happens in an instant. That your first baby is suddenly so… not a baby. She’d all but forgotten the name that her tiny self had chosen for her first friend. She’s a big kid.

So Emma Sheep it is. And Emma’s twin sister? Well, E is both a big kid and a thoughtful one, so she insisted we let her brother name the other lamb. He knew as soon as he saw her, the brown and black one would be called Bess. Don’t even think about calling her Bessy. Lucky’s babies are Emma and Bess.

Uma is greeting her brand new sisters.

24 Hours Old. Bess has some pretty neat markings.

They smell SO good. (My sister knitted this soft wool hat. I love all things wool.)

This is Ash and her new lambies. Ash is the ewe who came to us pregnant last year. She’s also a super mama.

Ash has spent most of her life as a dairy ewe, so she’s very friendly. Her lambs sense her comfort with us and are the least skittish.

This is Ursa and her one enormous ewe lamb. This one still needs a name!

Ursa’s big babe taking a nap in a pile of hay.

What do you think we should name Ursa’s lamb?! Leave a suggestion in the comments!