August has Arrived...

It is here....

It didn't seem to take long either!

Kole is now officially 3 months old! I still can't believe the changes he is going through! He is starting to get scared. In the night, if Nick makes a noise (or snores) too loud Kole will just burst out crying. It is sad really. I guess this means that I am going to have to prepare to move him to his own room (that makes me nervous to even think about)...

Anyways, today is Mom's birthday and even though we had her "birthday dinner" on Sunday we are going to eat at the Chicken house tonight. I hope to get some good pictures and a better update soon!

P.S. This weekend we have NO plans!!! I am so looking forward to it! :)

All night...

Kole slept all night!! He slept from 9:30 to 6:00 this morning!! What a good kid!!


Maybe he was worn out from his evening on the floof in his bumbo with Sophie...


Here is a look at his new adventure...

Karrie (almost) Miller....

This is a little look into our weekend in Wichita with my very best friend Karrie and her soon to be (might as well be as they almost meet common law rules :) ) husband Jason....

At the shower......

Jess and Karrie. Jess was a college roommate of Karrie's and is a bridesmaid.

Honorary Aunts, Karrie and Jill with Kole...Look at the ladies he is already getting!!!

The boys showed up, pretty much after the fact as showers are a girl thing, but Jason thought he would help!!

We all love cake, esp. a pretty one!

The happy (soon to be married) couple!!

We can't wait for the wedding!! :)

I know what you are thinking--two posts in one day??? Yeah, well, I am working on making up for all of the times that I don't post and should!!!

Almost August...

I can't believe it is is almost August!!

I have NO IDEA where the time has gone. My sweet baby boy is almost 3 months old and he is growing and changing by leaps and bounds EVERYDAY!!!

Look at those blue eyes!!

(His shirt says "I'm the King"--isn't that the truth?)

Kole is smiling and JUST about to roll over--if he could only get that arm tucked in just a little bit tighter he could get it done! He is eating ceral 3 times a day now, and loves it! We went to ceral out of the jar and everyone likes it better! Holding his head up is no longer a challenge and most of the time he would rather stand on your lap than be held. His legs are getting so strong! Now, he also loves to sit and just watch movement. Still being his father's child, we spend as much time as we can outside in the evenings (this helps keep him happy 'till bed time). We are just about to sleep all night. Some nights he does and others he just can't make it much past 4:00 A.M. We have no real complaints about that though! Last night he went down at 8:30 P.M.(about 2 hours earlier than he has ever went down) and slept till 3:30 A.M., took a bottle and I had to wake him up this morning! Kole has also moved up from a bath in his "net" to sitting on the little seat in his bathtub. He doesn't seem to enjoy his bath as much now, as he can't sleep as easy! I just can't beleive where the time has gone and how much he is changing! I will try to do better, but we have had LOTS going on.....

Look at me!!!

I see you!!

Like father, like son....

Eating makes me happy!!!

At the begining of this month we had the ever infamous Hepler Rodeo, then I had to head back to work. The next week the boys did LOTS of haying because they had to be gone (well not Nick, Kole and I) but, Doug, Kim, Hannah, Beverly, Lonnie, and Nikki. They all went to California for the National Junior Charloais Show. Meanwhile, Nick had to hold down the fort and it was just crazy! That weekend we went out to Wichita for my very best friend's bridal shower--where we had a blast! Kole really enjoyed his Aunt Karrie and all of the attention! Last week things got back to normal for the most part, but haying is still in full swing so, Kole and I don't get to see that much of Nick. This week starts the Crawford County Fair and that means we will be there most of the nights. All of this leads right up to August....

Are you looking at me??

The Rodeo was not too exciting...

Big Smiles!!!

Wow. Seems crazy. I am glad to say that I am not going to continue my education this fall, so maybe that will feel like a break, but I will probably persue some kind of a B.A. in December...maybe not though. The good thing is, that August should be somewhat clam for us (I say that now). We have my mom's birthday, and Doug's birthday, along with getting Aunt Hannah to Manhattan (that makes us sad), but I think that is it. That is almost every weekend, but not quite....

Oh well, I guess that all of this makes it go by fast!

Pictures pictures and more pictures...

Here are a few pictures from the last few months...I will try not to get so far behind and to put more up on a regular basis!!!

Getting ready to go home...

What a proud daddy...

In his seat...

In the truck, on our way...

1st week home...

2nd week home...

Thought we would try to spoon feed ceral (to help him sleep at night)...

Splish Splash...

In a polo just like a big boy!

All clean...

Trying to dicide if he likes the bouncer at grandma's house...

Enjoying the outdoors on Father's day...

Getting ready for the 4th of July...

Too much fun at the Hepler Rodeo...

A Very Long Time....

Ok, so it has been a VERY VERY long time since I have been on here. Lots of things have changed in our lives. We now have a beautiful baby boy, Kole Eugene Harris. Born May 1st, 2009 at 4:06 A. M. He weighed 8 lbs and 2 oz. and measured 21 and 1/4 inches. He has been a beautiful blessing and has taken over everything. Also, in the past few months I officially ended my time at Fort Scott Community College. Although it has been wonderful being at home with our pride and joy, reality must make a comeback, and today was the day. I made it through a whole day without seeing Kole. Although I have missed him greatly, I am proud of myself for not calling the babysitter (his grandma) once! I am going to try to load pictures momentarily. Hope this update brings joy to all as Kole has brought it to our family!!!

Slackers...

As usual, I have school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting with a 7:30 class. Since the time change I have dreaded it. Now, not only does the darkness thing mess with me, but spring break was SOOO nice (not to have to be up at the crack of dawn), so to say the least I am getting a bit spoiled with it!

Well, yesterday I got a text as I was walking out the door for the second time (because I forgot my backpack the 1st time) that my 7:30 class was cancelled! SEE--this is WHY I run late!! :) The REALLY good news about all of that is that my 1st 2 classes have the SAME teacher! That means that I didn't have to be there until 10:30!

Granted, I was already up and ready, but there was PLENTY of time for a good nap before class! The next thing with me is that I really don't see the need to drive all the way up to Fort Scott for ONE class (my 7:30 class has a lab in the afternoon, but since there was no class, no lab either)!

It was raining and Nick needs new work boots, so about 8:30 he calls to ask if I would like to go to Joplin to look for work boots with him! Half an hour later, he was home and we were getting ready for a rainy day of shopping! I was excited to go because we usually don't get to go, and it was a day that Nick couldn't really be doing much else. We had a good day really, and we ate a wonderful lunch at the Olive Garden!

Anyways, the bad news is that we came home with no work boots. I have to see what I can find on the Internet. He knows what he wants and what size he needs, we just have to find them now!

It was still a good day, and I love it when we are BOTH slackers!!

We also attended our pre-natal class last night, and let me tell you, if you ever thought there was stuff you DIDN'T want to know, don't' go to this class because they tell all..........

My favorite day...

Today is Friday!

This is my favorite day! I thought it was going to be a BAD BAD day because it started off on a very wrong foot with me being VERY annoyed, but all has turned out well (thanks to Julie and her mom's cookies :) ).

Anyways, it is about over, so I hope everyone has a good weekend and enjoys the warm weather (and the rain?)!



P.S. Only 51 more days 'till Kole's estimated arrival!!! :)

Thank you!

I just want to thank EVERYONE that helps Nick and I have what we have, but a special thanks to his parents.

Not only are they patient with us while we try to figure out what we are doing, but they are the 1st to volunteer when we need an extra hand.

We rented 80 acres this year, but it needed LOTS of help. It has sat empty for probably 15 years or so, and had basically no fence on it. Over the last few weeks with the help of Kim, Doug, and our GOOD friend Jeff, the fence is almost complete!! This is GREAT news, because I can't help much, and Nick has still been doing propane work most of the time! On Monday and Tuesday of this week, they accomplished more than Nick and I would have (even if I wasn't preggo) in a month.

This is exciting because yesterday Nick and I went and bought cows to put on it, so the sooner it is finished the sooner our new mommas will have a home! But once again, we couldn't even have scheduled to pick them up today if it wasn't for the help of Kim, and Jeff!!

We owe a lot to those who love us, and this is just a little thanks for all you do!!! :)

What a weekend...

It is Monday. As much as I usually don't like Monday's I must say that it might be an improvement from the weekend. Actually I didn't have a bad weekend, but lots of stuff went wrong....

Friday was good. We went to Fireside to eat and I had a FABULOUS steak (I love eating there). Then we came home and went to bed, my kind of night!

Saturday morning we got up, oh about 9:00 or so, got around kind of slow, but everything was fine. We had planned on sorting and moving some cattle and Kim and Doug had offered to help. Well on their way home from Thayer, they found the St. Paul bar. This was for ruritan though as we wanted to check out the band for the Rodeo on the 3rd. When we hadn't heard from them, we knew they must of had a good time at the bar and were working on getting around for the day. Well they showed up as we were on our way out the door to check cattle. Well this made Nick angry (I am not really sure why, but it did, because we were already "behind"). Anyways we got all of the cattle caught and it was working out pretty well. After a bit Doug showed up (he had to do some propane stuff). Well he was not very patient and the cattle could tell. So one of them got kind of hot headed and words started to fly. Anyways after we were all done and got them loaded we were off to Fort Scott. We get to Fort Scott and are getting ready to unload when Doug accidentally lets the mommas out before Nick had all of the babies out of the other trailer. Well this is bad because the mommas take off running and if their babies are not there to go with them, sometimes they won't come back for them. Well, this made Nick angry. So poor Nicholas picks up our newest baby and tried to carry her to where the mommas are going. Well They cross the creek and Nick gives up. Kim told us to just load the baby back up and drive across it. Nick said it was too muddy. Well after a bit of debate we loaded the baby and away we went (Nick had me put my truck in 4 wheel drive before we even headed that way). Well he was right, shouldn't have crossed right there. We got stuck. Truck, trailer, and all. Now, Nick has lost it. He is mad. I mean like REALLY mad, like red faced mad. Thank goodness his dad had chains on his truck and with some planning, Doug hooked us to his truck and pulled us out. No harm, no foul, just some lost time. After everyone had calmed down a little we went and did lunch at Wendy's, the guys headed home in one truck and Kim and I in the other. Nick, Doug, and Lonnie were headed back out to our house to try to catch a cow that we need to sell that got away from us this morning. Well once again no luck, she ran into the pond, and as a result MORE lost time. After giving up on her and heading back in Hepler, we load all that we need to go set corner posts and work on fence out at the pasture that we rented. All seems to be well, the guys are starting to cool down. We get 2 of the 5 corners set that we needed and we are headed to the last 3 and once again we get stuck. This time it is in our flatbed and Nick got it REALLY stuck, like almost to the bottom of the doors stuck. Oh boy. Yep. What a great day. Well we had the little tractor out there because that is what we were digging the corners with, so we thought we would try to get it out with that. What makes this so bad is that everyone had drove back in this part all week. Nick even bush-hogged it and left NO tracks, like none at all, and now...well different story. Well we get some chains and Doug thought he could probably pull it out with the little tractor. No luck fellas. Surprise, surprise. The little tractor got stuck. So after we unhooked the truck Doug started working on getting the little tractor out. Finally after like an hour (more productive use of time) Doug got the little tractor out. We proceeded to set the last three corners and then head home at like 7. What a day. The boys thought they needed a beer (and I was thinking that I wanted one too, if I could) so we decided we would go out to eat. We got ready and finished listening to the ball game and met his parents to go eat. We all decided that we were too tired to go anywhere really so we thought we would just go to Pizza Hut. After our day I don't know what were thinking, thinking that was a good idea. Guess what, it was a VERY bad idea. Long story short, we got a BURNT pizza. We are talking like the cheese on top by the crust was BLACK. It was horrible. We actually ordered 2 pizzas and were hoping that the second one would be better, and after like 5 minutes of trying to force ourselves to eat the burnt one, we decided she must have forgot our second one. So I went up to ask her about it. They hadn't even made it yet. We also ordered come cheese sticks, and guess what, they hadn't made them either. After our WONDERFUL day, we decided that were leaving. Our waitress stole a cheese stick order off of a to-go order and gave that to us, tried to charge us for a pizza that we didn't have, and that WASN'T EVEN MADE, and then charged us for the meal salads. Our wonderful Saturday night dinner cost like $30.00 for NOTHING. Oh, it was not good. We proceeded to head to Sonic to actually get something to eat. I really wish that I would have got our waitress's name and taken pictures of our pizza, I would have LOVED to have sent them to NPC. There were also 5 dirty tables that were making Doug crazy and we were the ONLY people in the dinning room. Thank goodness Sonic was good!

Sunday morning Nick tried to be sweet and cook me some breakfast because he got up before me, and as he was baking some cinnamon rolls the smoke detectors went off. This was because of last week's WONDERFUL cakes, and he didn't know about it. But it scared me to wake up to that and go in the kitchen and not find anyone (he had taken Sophie out to use the bathroom). But we had a good breakfast and then went to church and had a good lunch at his mom and dad's. After that we went and took the big tractor to get the flatbed "un-stuck" and it worked like a charm! Nick hauled some propane and then went fishing. It was MUCH needed after Saturday. I took a nap! We went into my mom and dad's for Jen's Birthday dinner. Mom helped me give Sophie a hair cut, and she looks SOOO NICE! So after a not so good day we had a good day, and we can only hope that the same is in store for today!!!

About Over....

Its FINALLY FRIDAY!

Even though this week has been jam packed for us, it has seemed to drag on. Maybe it is because I am unmotivated and seem to be worn out beyond any nap time help.

Last night was my last cake class, and while it was fun and I am happy I learned what I did, I am happy to see it go! It is also Spring break, and while Nick wouldn't let me take the week off of work (and I totally understand), I am EXCITED about my two days off like normal, but with NOTHING to do. I stress NOTHING now, because I bet something comes up! Oh well!

Anyways, we are going to try to get some cattle hauled up to Fort Scott this weekend and Jen's birthday is Sunday, so our weekend shouldn't be too crazy! Have a good weekend all! :)

Busy, busy, busy...

The farther I work my way through this Monday, I realize that this week is crazy. Just to vent a little, there is no need to buy any groceries because we will not be home one night this week...

Tonight is Ruritan.

Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment and we are going to our 1st prenatal class.

Wednesday the judging team is coming down for a work out (we will be home after they leave but they aren't to be here until 2 and are doing 2 heifer classes and possibly 3 bull classes).

Thursday is my last cake class and Nick's 1st week of their season long fishing tournament.

Friday.
Yep that is every night 'till Friday, we will be ready to go out by then, or possibly stay in with a pizza....

Hmmm what a week.....lol

Time change....

So, I understand the time change, but I think that Saturday night/Sunday morning is not really a good choice. The adjustment time frame needs to be larger.

Yeah, pretty lame complaint, but it bugs me, and today I am feeling it...Oh well, just another Monday.

On a lighter note Saturday I went to a registered sale in Columbia Missouri and came home with 3 new sissy dolls (this is what we call them...well I do..until they become mommas). They were on the clearance rack, or at least pretty close to it! (That is what I told Nick since he didn't' go and we didn't' exactly talk about what to buy or how many or what to spend....lol.) They were a good deal and I think we are going to show them, so I will let you know how they do! The two sissy dolls we bought there last year are due to calve, so we anxiously await to see their babies!! :)

"Dogspital"....

Bad news...

Sophie spent her first night with complete strangers Monday night. Not only were they strangers, but she was in hospital, or as we have coined it at our house now, the "dogspital".

Poor Sophie. She was sick on Sunday and we spent most of the day just lying around the house and tending to her needs. I thought she was getting better so we went into my mom's for dinner like normal. She got a bath like normal, and even ate and drank. That was the first time all day. She had a good night in her kennel--no messes. When I got home Monday at lunch, there was a mess in her kennel though. She had thrown up again! Poor baby! Well I called the vet because that is just not like my dog. They wanted to see her. So I took off of work to take her.

This is where the bad news is....they wanted to keep her. She was running a pretty high fever, not eating or drinking, and not keeping stuff down. They did all kinds of stuff to her while I was there, and nothing. They needed to keep her to watch her and to get fluids in her.

So, I left her...........her very first night in the "dogspital". I cried.

Good news!!! She got to come home yesterday! I went and picked her up, took her by mom's (to give her a bath, she had a nozzle put in their bath tub that does a WONDERFUL job, and takes about half the time) and we spent the afternoon together. She appeared to be all back to normal last night, and was even eating and drinking!

We are thankful for our Vet!!! :)

Cakes, Cakes and More Cakes...

So last night my sister and I, along with Julie and her sister-in-law Missy, started our cake class!

Kim that works for Celebrations by Lori, is actually our teacher and she is great! She did a demonstration for us last night and it looked beautiful! I would totally tell people that I made it, and even be proud to take it somewhere!!

Needless to say, even though it has started out being a little more expensive than I had planned and time consuming, I am really excited! We are to bake our own cakes to bring with us. This is the only thing that I think may be an issue, as for the last few months my "Betty Crocker" switch has been broken. I hope that this class will help fix it!! Nick is also excited now that he has found out that we will have a fresh cake in our house for the next 4 weeks!

Anyways, I just thought that I would share my excitement about our new journey and let you know that I will keep you up to date on our progress ( I will try to take pictures to show IMPROVEMENTS)!!

Thus far...

Well since the last time I wrote, I think that had one of the top five worst days of my life. Valentine's Day. Yep, that is right. I said Valentine's day this year was one of the worst days of my life, it is for sure in the top 10. I won't go into details because I love my husband, and he is sorry, but it was horrible.

I also had a doctor's appointment, and all is well there. They did the test for gestational diabetes and nothing abnormal came back on it! She said that we are still on track to have Kole here in May. To be exact we only have 80 days left, or 11 weeks. The weekends of the next 11 weeks are full too! Oh well, that is what makes it exciting! :)

We also started calving too, and our 1st baby, the one that wouldn't nurse (I don't remember if I wrote about this or not) is nursing on her own and is healthy!! We are keeping a close eye on her though to make sure that mom KEEPS letting her nurse, but all seems to be well and we are ready for more!!

Needless to say the rest of this week has been good. He has been kissing my butt to make up for it and that helps a little too! Anyways, this week has been good, and it is a busy week for us. Tonight we are having a family dinner for Nick's parents 25th wedding anniversary, tomorrow my sister and I are going to attend the 1st of a 4 week cake decorating class, and Friday we will do our usual thing. This means no cooking for me for the rest of the week too! :) Saturday we actually have nothing planned (and we aren't looking for plans either) and Sunday is full. We will go to church, have lunch, then I have a bridal shower, and we are to go back to Fort Scott to have cake for Great-Grandma Lewis' 92nd or 93rd birthday only to come back home and have my family out for dinner! It will be a good day!


Glad it is hump day........

Finally Friday....

Glad that it is FRIDAY!!! This is my favorite day of the week! I must say that I didn't think it was going to start out so good, but it has ending up being pretty good....

Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment, and all is well! She is still leaving my due date at May 11, but the math seems to be working out a little earlier than that...I guess we will just have to wait and see! It is getting really close and the more I look at the calendar the quicker I think each week is going to go by!

We also started calving on Wed.! Our first baby for the year was born! Bad news is, that as of last night that baby had not nursed her momma yet. The poor thing also has an extra whole in her ear because the dogs got involved when Nick was trying to tag her....hope our dogs learn to stay away otherwise they won't last long.....But with the help of Doug, Nick decided that we should take some action in this new baby's life and catch her and her mother this morning. So I called in a little late to work and we caught her and her mother. Once Nick got them both into Doug and Kim's she settled down and they got a whole bottle in the baby and the baby got to nurse down two quarters of her mother's bag! I bet that felt good for both of them! So a potentially bad day, with a potentially dead calf, has turned into a good Friday with a live baby!

Anyways, I am pretty sure that is all of my news...we have a wedding to go to tomorrow so that gets Nick off of the hook for Valentine's Day, but it will be beautiful I am sure!

Here's to a great weekend!!

Too Many....

Ok, I know I have better things that I should be doing but I just have to vent. I just want you all to know that when people offer to help that it is great, and most of the time welcomed, but there comes a point and time when there is TOO MUCH help and TOO Many people involved and TOO Many opinions. So the next time you think you are going to give some advice, think about what the poor person on the other end might be doing with the three million pounds of advice they might have already received. Before you offer to get involved in their business, this might also be a good time to stop and think because there is such a thing as TOO MANY people and TOO MUCH help............

A new month...

Sorry it has been so long. The days seems to go so fast anymore! Just a brief update on what is going on this month in our lives.

We just got back from a WONDERFUL weekend with our great friend Karrie, Jason was supposed to be there to, but his stupid job wouldn't let him. This means that we will just have to go back!! Well anyways, Karrie was an amazing host and took us all around Oklahoma City and we ate lots of great food, and played some Farkle!! We also got to meet her good friend Jill, who is a hoot, and see her work!! It was a blast and we hope to get back there soon!!

This month is kind of crazy too. We only have 96 days left 'till Kole arrives (if he doesn't come any sooner) so we are on the down hill slide of that, and excited! :) But the Iowa beef expo is this month, along with a wedding, an anniversary, and all of our regular doings. Oh well I guess it will make March seem even closer the busier we are!

Well I guess that is all for now, not a lot, but an update!!!

Progress Complete!

Well, MUCH progress has been made over the last week!! Nick is FINALLY getting caught up at work and has been home in the evenings MUCH earlier, thus enabling me to accomplish more!

Saturday Nick and I went to Joplin and registered at BabiesRUs and brought home ALL kinds of goodies! We have a crib, a changing table, a pack-n-play, a swing, a stroller, and a car seat. I think those are the essentials we need to bring Kole home!

This is the print Nick chose (he did a great job)!

(I wanted to do Kole's room in lime green and brown--I didn't win that battle, but I can live with blue and brown (it is more "cowboy" anyways!))

Kole's room got cleaned out on Sunday after church, and our bedroom is also complete with its new additions! On Tuesday I had another doctor's appointment, and all is well! After the appointment we went home and got ready to paint. With the help of my loving in-laws (who hate to paint) it is complete two days later! I will pull the tape off tonight and finish any touch-ups that need to be done (I will try to post pictures of at least the finished paint job)!

Saturday we have family pictures for the Harris side of things and I think that Nick and I, with maybe the help of an eager Aunt Hannah are going to try to move the crib and changing table in his room and start assembly (that should be entertaining to say the least).

An awesome amount of progress has been made, and many thanks to all of you who helped!! We will see what this weekend has in store.....