Dolly had a baby

As you know (or will find out in two seconds) we have had milk cows for a while now.  We started out with an older milk cow named Clarice, and recently traded a beef cow for a younger milk heifer.  (Clarice was past the prime of her life)  Our youngen' is Dolly.  She is about 2 1/2.  We had let Clarice dry up about 5 months ago, and while enjoying our time off from milking, we were missing the milk.   Dolly had been bagging up for a while and we were expecting a calf any day now.  We were wanting to keep an eye on her as Jerseys are real delicate and tend to get problems if you don't take care of things. (we have learned the hard way) 

Well, Josh and Dad had fed the cows yesterday (Sunday), and noticed that she was really bagged up.  (I mean her udder was full of milk which means she will be calving soon).  On Clarice we had had to milk before she calved as she got too full and had problems.  Dad mentioned it to us tonight as we were visiting, and since it was still daylight and a pretty evening I went out to go check on her and everyone else.

 I walked out past the barn to the pasture she is in and the pen they come in for water and say a cute little black calf!  Now, one of the black cows we have out there was standing next to it so I thought it was her calf.  Not sure who we had that was due to calve anytime, I went a different route to get to that pasture.  (them mommas can get real picky about how close you are.  And in general I can run faster then they can for a short distance, but I have never really wanted to push it) 
As I came around the corner of the pen and looked out I could just see Dolly go running into the pen with the calf in it.  Mooing.  That's about when the light bulb came on and I realized that.... DOLLY HAD HER CALF!!!!!!!!

Yup, Dolly is a proud mother of a cute little black heifer.  Name is still undecided but we will let you know as soon as we all agree on it.  :D

We had to milk Dolly out some as she was producing more than the little heifer could eat.  She did really well.  She kicked a little, but Dad would just tap her with a rope and she decided to hold still.  Considering that she was really full she did great!  We will have to keep milking her until we get her milk under control, but I think we can get it going.  Yeah!!! 

Man, I am so looking forward to some good, fresh, pure milk!  Isn't she so cute?

Love in Christ,
Rebecca