Raising a Farmer

Bye-Bye Maternity leave and back out to the barn we go.

For the last 12 weeks I have been snuggling, rocking and staring at our sweet baby girl in awe and how did this perfect person become mine. I have been slowly for the past couple of weeks been going outside, starting with feeding cows. Vivian was so early and tiny I was a little paranoid about taking her outside. She is getting bigger and stronger and the cold weather has become less harsh that I am more comfortable to take her out for longer periods of time. I am so grateful for what Nathan and I do for a living. Not only that we produce a great product but that we are able to be home together and work together. When Everett was born I was working in town. I took 12 weeks of maternity leave but when my leave was up Everett went to daycare, I went to work and Nate was home on the farm. All three of us were alone, not together. Being that we dairy farm and I am on the farm fulltime now, we have been given the gift of time. At times we feel like there is never enough time in the day to get everything done especially when it is planting season and harvesting.  For the last year we have been able to spend time together as a family everyday. Whether it is fixing fence, moving heifers, milking cows, feeding cows, checking to see if there are any new baby calves or going to town for parts.

We are together.

We are able to hang out for a little bit before evening chore time on a snowy windy day.

Everett, Nate & Vivian

Vivian is able to take naps to the rumble and hum of the tractor while I am feeding cows or she can sleep to the soothing rhythm of the milkers ch-ch, ch-ch, ch-ch while cows are being milked with her daddy.  Everett is able to get off the bus at home and have either his mom, dad or both meet him at the end of the driveway.  Dairy farming is a lot of work but it is a good life.

I can’t sleep at night. I can not sleep at night. It isn’t because I wake up worried about what tomorrow is going to bring or did I turn the stove off. It isn’t because Nate snores. (If you heard him you would wonder how I can sleep) I wake up to Vivian’s rustling getting ready for her midnight snack. I hold her tiny body close to mine. As she nurses I hold her hand in mine. It is so tiny but so big. 1,2,3,4,5. Five fingers. Same as when she fell asleep earlier. I run my thumb across her eyebrow. She has my dad’s eyebrows, short and wide. I run my finger down her nose. Oh poor girl, she has my nose. She belongs to me. Look at her hair. I run my palm across the top of her head. It is so dark, just like her brother’s was. She looks just like he did. All of a sudden there is a thump to my back. Everett kicks me while he sleeps. I hold Vivian closer knowing she will be that big before I can blink. I can’t sleep. I go over her face and fingers again. 1,2,3,4,5 I rub her ear between my fingers. So perfect. I run my lips across her forehead. She smells like Vivian. I wonder what she will be like. What will make her laugh? What will be her favorite color? She is done eating and I am still staring at her in wonderment. She is so perfect. She is mine. I can’t sleep at night.

Everett and 304..
Today was the day to take 304 for a walk to get ready for the fair.

This was the first time that we didn’t need to encourage Everett that he is the boss. He grabbed the lead rope and off they went. Every year we are always amazed how 304 just follows Everett around.

When we are milking Everett always has to say “hi” to 304.

Happy Birthday to my sweet baby boy.  I know he isn’t a baby anymore but every time I look at him I think how did this wonderful person come live with me.  I see his brand new face.  I see and remember how teeny tiny he was.

I look at him and I see how much pure joy he has brought into our world.  At the time when he was born we were moving into the home farm house, the beginning of farm transition talks and a very stressful summer.  Nate and I found refugee in our new baby.  We found calmness in the eye of the storm.  We were able to look at the big picture and see that that picture is really small to what really matters.  This sweet baby that God gave us and to do anything to protect him and give him the securities that he needed.  Happy 5th Birthday Everett.     

In February,  I was invited by Midwest Dairy Association to attend a Dairy Farm Mom Workshop in Kansas City.  My husband and I have attended several workshops in our area to help better our farm and better ourselves in farming.  This workshop was like none other.  I went with an open mind, not really sure what to anticipate.  At the time I was kind of stuck in a rut. I was feeling drained, exhausted and alone in being a dairy mom.  I had a great network of moms but I was limited to Dairy Farm Moms.  I am lucky enough that I have a wonderful farm mom just a mile away that has been great support for me.  Being a mom and a dairy farm mom are very different.  You are not just concerned that your family is fed but that cows are fed, calves are eating and everyone is happy on the farm, people and animals.  It can be exhausting!  As a Dairy Farm Mom we are the mediators, consolers, boo-boo kissers, advisors, cleaning lady, lunch lady, confident builders, the list goes on and on and this doesn’t even include the work outside!  Going to this workshop surrounded me with the most motivating understanding and gracious women.  It amazed me how I felt so alone on my farm in central Minnesota but how dairy moms across the Mid-West had the same hopes, dreams and fears for their family farm.  I was giving the breathe of fresh air that I needed!  I am so proud to call myself a Dairy Farm MOM!!