The unexpected

I never thought our house would harbor the sounds of new life.  I never thought I would experience the miracle of life within our family again.  I never anticipated how my motherly instincts would come full circle and bring with the feelings of being a new mom back to the surface. 

All of this is happening - unexpectedly.

Taylor's hamsters had a liter of babies this weekend.  

OMG! Did you think I was pregnant?!?!?  LOL!

I knew when we got the two hamsters (who were practically babies themselves) that it could be possible they were female and male.  They were not old enough (and the staff at the pet store wasn't knowledgeable enough) to determine the appropriate gender at the time.

Well, now we know that Turbo doesn't, in fact, have a huge tumor on his butt - he is a male - a very manly and mature male hamster.  Do they make hamster underwear because he could seriously use some?  

I am a bit shocked that Lil' Sniffer was 1) actually pregnant since we never noticed her showing and 2) delivered babies that made it out alive.  

Just last week I was in the kitchen while Luke was upstairs.  I heard a very loud crash and Luke started crying.  I immediately rushed upstairs to see what damage was done.  He had gotten into Taylor's room and was trying to get into the hamster's cage, but the step stool he was on slipped.  When he started to fall he grabbed the glass cage (aquarium) causing it to fall on him, cracking the glass (luckily not breaking it), and sending the hamsters across the bedroom floor.  I thought for sure one of the hamsters may have gotten squished, but I found them both scurrying around and a bit shaken, but otherwise unharmed as far as I could see.  

We are not sure how many babies we have.  I researched baby hamster care and found that we should leave the cage undisturbed for 10 days.  So depending on the number, I think their appropriate names should be crash, smash, topple and tumble.  And maybe even a Luke Jr. or LJ for short.  

I will keep you updated on their progress.  

(This is not actually them, but these babies are so cute!)