Has it been a whole month already!

One month old today.

Hobbies include:

• Cornea removal. Instrument of choice: fingernails.
• Practicing applied sleep deprivation.
• Taste test subject of dog.
• Nudist.
• Singing. Favorite song: AHHHHHHHHHH!
• Testing dads pain tolerance levels during chest hair removal sessions.
• Waste management extraordinaire.
• Aerobics Richard Simmons would be proud of.
• Perfecting manipulative facial expressions. (Flashed that smile at the bishop today. Smooth little lass.)
• Studying curtain patterns for future interior design craftiness.
• Bungee jumping. At least it will be when we get a Johnny Jumper.

Recent Activities include:
-Visiting the local pumpkin patch.

-Eating at Macaroni Grill

-Dressing up for church.

-Judge at ward chili cook off.

-Shopping with dad. Oh, how I wish we had picture of that one. Dave walking down the isles of Rural King with squirt in a baby carrier, the dog on a leash, pushing a cart bursting with bags of dog food.

So many activities!

Introducing our progeny

Harrell brood #1 entered the world Oct 15th, 2am. 8 lbs. 5 oz. and a total doll.

Already has dad wrapped around her dainty fingers.

Here she is in her first ten minutes home, bundled up by dad in two blankets, a towel and stuck in bed with us. A trend that needed to be nipped in the bud. Baby's crying - place baby in bed with us - we all sleep peacefully for 15 minutes - rinse - repeat. I think it was harder breaking Dave of this habit than it would have been for her. Once she figures that one out there's no hope for us when she starts walking.

"As I went down to the river to pray,"

My Mom and sister are currently here while awaiting the arrival of the "late" bebe and we are having a blast. While describing to them an incident that we witnessed a couple months ago behind our house I realized that it still needed to be shared with "ya all".

As far as we can tell, there were close to a hundred people that got baptised. Less than 24 hours prior while Dave and I were fishing, yes, even I, went fishing, I spotted a 4 foot black snake swimming up stream in the exact spot those people are getting dunked. The group was out there for about two hours before they got through everyone. Dave, who was "there first" did not let it disrupt his fishing. He never did snag one. But got to wear that smashing hat and was entertained while trying to bring home dinner.

The baby shower

My baby shower was over a month ago. This post was started two weeks ago. I think it might be time to actually post it.
My wonderful friend Christine, above, had the shower at her place assisted by Tracy, below. Good times were had by all. With the best food. Christine made delicious cupcakes full of happiness and sunshine. They were topped with a butter cream frosting that must have contained an illegal substance judging by all the joyous outbursts coming from those who consumed as many of the treats as could be shoveled into their mouths. Alas, I do not have a close up shot of those amazing confections to share with you all.

Everyone was so generous and we had a lot of fun oohing and ahhing at the cutest stuff. Baby things are just adorable. Can we get any cuter than baby socks and booties? I'm actually looking forward to doing laundry while those are in the mix.

Matching baby pictures with their owners was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. Knowing what these women's children looked like did not give me an advantage like I haughtily assumed. Sadly I didn't have any baby pictures of my own too contribute. But I was on the board as a little girl about 3 yrs. old I think. It's the one with the big black exposure mark along the bottom.

This event provided me with an opportunity to finally make some cake pops that I've been dying to try for months. I opted for the block shape. I don't recommend right angles on your first try but it was fun and I was happy with the end result. These were the devils food version. My kitchen took about three days to recover and it was worth every mess.

Thank you, Christine. Thank you, Tracy. Everyone had a great time.

Sully's Solo Frat Party

The Paramedic

Dave has been busy. Thus, I take it upon myself to update you on our doings.
After returning last month from a two week long camping trip (details to come), Dave started a rigorous schedule at a local hospital as part of the paramedic course he is invloved in. His shift is 7pm -7am, week nights. He comes home and tells me the latest adventure every morning (or rather every afternoon upon waking). These include but are not limited to:

· Drunken men getting tazed repeatedly while still being violent with their care giver. Until the police officer threatened to taz the family jewels.
· Parents discovered having “alone time” in the hospital bed next to their sick 12 year old daughter. Followed with indignation and nasty threats at being thrown out of the hospital.
· A man insisting he was well then collapsed in front of Dave in the parking lot as said man was on the way to his car.
· Insane nurses giving sedated patients a “make over” and chopping off an eye brow in the process.
· Insane nurses singing choreographed songs about poop.

Whenever additional help is needed in a “situation” there is a page on the PA system for "DR. Strong report to room ###." At such times every available staff member in the hospital comes to provide support, muscle, intimidation by numbers, additional security and the like. Such was the case with the belligerent parents stated in bullet #2.

Somewhere in all of this Dave has been getting signed off on necessary tasks and duties to achieve his Intermediate Paramedic license. Putting in many hours at the ICU, Labor and Delivery, and the ER. Good job, Honey!

Next comes ambulance ride alongs. Those should provide additional adventures as well. We’ll keep you posted.

Puppy Love

This is for all the canine loving children we know.

4th of July weekend we went camping with a great family. They brought ten puppies along with them. So much fun!

Sully found a unique chew toy while at our campsite. A turtle shell. Thankfully the previous tenant had long since relinquished it's claim to the external casing. I was trying to get a shot of him flinging the shell into the air, catching it with his teeth and then continuing to chew. He wasn't cooperative on that, however. He worked on it for two days off-and-on till it was obliterated.

There were 3 wave runners in attendance. One of which Dave managed to tip upside 3 times. Once with it still running. That was exciting! Even Sully got a ride on one.

On the actual 4th Dave went back to Ft Campbell because the Army had him pulling staff office duty all day and all night. He drew the short straw. It's not like someone is out to get him... maybe. That night I went back too and it was a good thing because there was all kinds of crazy storms and tornado's in the area. Our tent got blown over and filled with water. The people we were camped had a tree fall into the campsite. Thankfully nobody was flattened. And they had a kayak get blown away and sunk wherewith no amount of searching could discover. Lame. But Dave, Sully and I stayed high and dry. When we went back in the morning the party that stayed was soaked pretty good and ready to go home.