Welcome to the World, Little Jack!

Sometimes the biggest moments happen with the least amount of fanfare.

On the evening of Tuesday, June 2nd, sometime between 7:00 and 8:00 PM, our sweet miniature donkey Diva quietly welcomed her newest baby into the world. There were no warning signs, no dramatic labor, no frantic rushing around the pasture. One moment Diva was pregnant, and the next she had a beautiful baby jack standing beside her.

In true Diva fashion, she handled everything like a seasoned professional.

We didn't hear a sound. No cries, no commotion, no indication that a life-changing event was taking place just outside our door. She simply delivered her baby and went right back to being the calm, independent girl we've come to know and love.

This little boy is Diva's second foal born here at Hartland Oaks. Her first baby, Jewel, stole our hearts from the very beginning and continues to be one of the sweetest members of our farm family today. Watching Jewel grow from a tiny foal into the beautiful young donkey she is now has been an incredible journey, and we are beyond excited to begin that journey all over again with her new baby brother.

For those who may not know, donkeys carry their babies for an average of twelve months. That's a full year of anticipation, wondering, planning, and checking on an ever-growing belly. A year of asking, "Do you think it'll be today?" only to hear the answer become "not yet" over and over again.

Then suddenly, after months and months of waiting, there they are.

A brand-new life.

Tiny ears. Long legs. Curious eyes.

A little miracle standing in the pasture.

Moments like these are what make farm life so special. The early mornings, the late nights, the worry, the work, and the waiting all seem worth it when you're looking at a healthy baby and a proud mama.

We are incredibly thankful that both Diva and her baby boy are doing wonderfully. Mom is healthy, baby is nursing well, and our hearts are completely full.

Welcome to the Hartland Oaks family, little Jack.

We've been waiting a whole year to meet you.