Way back when I gave birth, Mom had it in her head that I only had eight teats, primarily because that is the normal amount for dogs and cats (and she's never had a pregnant rat before). She was afraid that one babe would always be left out - or would have to be strong enough to kick a sibling off a teat in order to eat. She was surprised to learn that I actually have twelve - you can see them more clearly after the little babes have eaten, which is when the next photos were taken. Mom wanted to show this, so I had to suffer through the next two pictures as proof.

I have a couple teats between my arms (oddly, the same place as humans), and since Mom is holding my arms up you can't really see them. She figured that since us Rats are able to have such large litters, it just wouldn't do for us to only have eight teats - so Nature found a way to work things out.

I have the same configuration of teats above my waist as I have below, which is shown in the above picture. Mom can't figure out why I have almost an inch of no-teat area at my waist. She has considered that since the babes end up so big, if I had teats there, the babes simply wouldn't all fit at the "feeding trough."

Tonight's baby pictures are done in three's - First the three whites, then the three browns, then the three blacks. It's easier to get a good shot of them close up in small numbers, since the mass of them together sprawl a good 4-inch by 4-inch area. Mom mumbled something about wondering when she will have to take individual baby shots just to get the same quality of image!

The three whites, as Mom calls them. The middle one is definitely darker, and Ratties have such an assortment of coats, there's still no telling what fur configuration any of the babes will end up with.

Here's the three that Mom has dubbed "brown" ones. Their fur is such an interesting mix of black and brown hairs... Mom told me what humans called that color, but I can't remember it at the moment. Look at the one little sweetie sniffing the air, trying to figure out what's going on!

Earlier, when I came out of my box after feeding the babes their night-time meal, one of these fellas had latched on pretty well and I dragged him out through my box's door (which doesn't have one of Mom's teat-squeegies). Mom watched as he sat there a minute. Mom asked me if I would go put the babe back in the nest. I looked at her - totally unconcerned, of course - and asked for a treat. Well, Mom was in awe as the little fella lifted his nose, sniffed all around, made a gesture forwards, sniffed the air again... and then went straight into the box, all on his own, heading directly for the nest. Oh yeah - and Mom finally gave me my treat!

Here's the three black ones. For some reason the lighting changed, so they almost look like the brown ones above. See how Mom's hand's color has changed? It's also much lighter.

I had just finished feeding the babes when Mom pulled me out for a photo-session. She usually allows us some time before a photo-shoot - for me to nap, and for the babes to digest their food - but she was set on taking pictures of my belly (for reasons I stated earlier). The babes, after the photo-shoot tonight, snuggled into the box that Mom transports them to and from the computer room or our cage. Daddy sat and talked to them, as usual - it's his favorite part of the photo-sessions. He said that in this picture, they looked like little sardines in a can.

Well, that's all for tonight! I don't think I will be writing this weekend, unless the babes' eyes open!

If that doesn't happen, See you Monday - and have a great weekend!

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