Panda Baby 2012: National Zoo Releases New Video Of Mei Xiang And Her Baby!

WASHINGTON -- The National Zoo has released a new Panda Cam video of giant panda Mei Xiang and her baby, born on Sunday night.

Look closely: in this video -- taken Thursday morning -- you can actually see the tiny newborn, who is only about the size of a stick of butter right now. You can also hear the little cub's squeaks, as he or she (we won't know which for at least a few weeks) is picked up by Mei Xiang, then put down for grooming.

The Zoo said in a media release that keepers are "encouraged by the cub’s activity and vocalizations -- two signs that it is healthy."

Regular, reassuring updates on mother and tiny stick of butter baby are also being provided on Twitter:

There's now a Flickr pool of Panda Cam screen grabs showing the baby, too. We are duly charmed. And amazed at how tiny that new panda really is.

For those who aren't already spending all their waking moments watching Mei Xiang and her new baby, here's a link to one of the Panda Cams and another. You can even watch from your phone, using the National Zoo's app.