I wanted a pig

Five years ago, my other half and I decided to venture away from our norm. We left our place that was conveniently located ten minutes from the beach & both of our jobs to move an hour away to pursue our dream of starting a farm. That two bedroom unit in that rundown triplex was my first apartment and that beach town was the only life I had ever known.

The first week we moved in we got to work right away, building enclosures and adding farm animals. First it was rabbits and chickens, then soon goats and pigs. Quickly we realized that our pigs were SO incredibly intelligent. They behaved better than our two dogs and wanted to be loved on just as much!

We added a variety of breeds, each and everyone had their own loveable personality. We, like you, pawned over cute pictures of micro pigs on the internet. Who doesn’t LOVE those little pigs to pieces. Whether they’re piglets or full grown, I could look at pictures and videos of them ALL DAY!

One October day, my other half sent me a link for a craigslist ad for a 6 month old micro pig with the caption, “for my birthday?” That was it. I called the lady, set it up, drove 3 hours after work one way to get our new family member. The lady said she had tried to sell him to no avail earlier but because he screamed his head off at anyone who touched him no one wanted him, but now she had a new litter and he was herding them around the house causing all kinds of chaos so he had to go.

Sure enough when I got there he screamed just like she said but I figured worst case scenario he would live a great life with the other farm animals. Nope, it was love at first treat. As soon as we got him home, we named him Harley the Hog, gave him some strawberries, and loved on him. After a week, we thought he was lonely - we had two dogs and only one pig- so we added a girl, Hazel!

I was over the moon for them from day one! As time went on Hazel got pregnant and we worried worse than if it was my own pregnancy. When she finally had Hannah Belle we knew that not only could we not ever go through the stress of that again - but we definitely would not be trying to have a baby of our own. Life was stressful enough between growing the farm, the commute to work, and the booming careers.

Not long after - you guessed it- I got pregnant! I was so scared of all the things that surrounded having a baby. In my mind, I figured IF I survived childbirth that would be amazing, but then what was I supposed to do?

People would always come up and joyously proclaim, “Congratulations, how far along are you? Do you know what you’re having? What do/did you want it to be? Aren’t you just the most excited you have ever been?” I would usually tell everybody something to the effect that I wanted it to be a pig! I was not ready to have a baby - I was only 26, sure we had been together 7 years but how were we supposed to raise a baby when we were still kids ourself? My day was full of farm chores and long work hours- how was I going to find time to take care of my baby much less sleep?

Some people would be horrified I thought this way. After all, having a baby is the most miraculous thing that can happen in your life- only I didn’t know it then. Most people offered encouragement, told me that being cautious would make me a better parent and that my being anxious was all part of the process.

They were right!!! The second my little girl entered the room my entire world, life, persona changed. I never believed in love at first sight until they laid that little ape looking baby on my chest. She was the most perfect thing I had ever seen, even covered in all that after birth. I held her close and cried with more joy and love in my heart that I have ever felt.

My aunt had this gift made especially for her and had given it to us at the baby shower. When we brought her home and got her newborn photos, I was more than excited to slip her into this special little memory. Everytime I see this photo it brings me back to the start of my journey to motherhood, my pregnancy.

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