Introducing...???

Here is the latest addtion to the Stanfill family. You will quickly notice that this puppy is not the same one as pictured earlier on the blog.  I called about "little miss pound puppy" on Monday and was told that she was still under veterinarian care and I would be informed when she was released.  She's been under vet care for 2 weeks now.  I had already started questioning whether she was supposed to be our puppy, but that pretty much gave me the answer I needed.

I have been following the ads in the daily paper for puppies, and I saw an ad some time ago for puppies.  It interested me, for some reason.  Yesterday I decided to call about the puppies not really expecting much since the ad had been in the paper for weeks.  The gentleman said he had some puppies available and explained that he usually has a new litter ready every other week or two.   That, in itself, concerned me a little because of all the bad things you hear about puppy mills and bad breeders, but I decided to go take a look anyway.

This morning I took Ryan to Baptist Hospital for some blood work (for the immunology testing--we should know the results in a couple weeks).  Ryan didn't even cry!  But anyway...after our visit with the lab vampires Ryan and I took a road trip (I thought it was going to be a short one, but it ended up being a bit longer than expected).  We met Marvin (the breeder) at a designated meeting place off I-40 west of El Reno a few miles.  

Marvin was the nicest man!  I could tell that he just absolutely loves his dogs.  He is one of the best breeders I've ever met.  I could tell he doesn't breed just for the money, but for the love of the breed and the dogs.  And trust me...no one in his/her right mind would ever breed without some thought of $$; it's just too much work!  He showed me two of his sweet little girls (he had more I imagine, but I had specified color preferences).  The first one...our new baby girl...was so sweet.  The clencher that made me say "yes" was when I put her in the backseat of the car with Ryan and she immediately climbed up in his lap.  Both of them were smiling from ear to ear. And for the record...yes I believe dogs can smile.  

Baby Puppy (no that's not her name, and no we haven't named her yet...we're too indecisive) stayed in Ryan's lap for most of the trip back home, and since we've been home she has not left his side!

So without further ado...her she is!

Oh...yeah...she's a Miniature Australian Shepherd. She will probably be about 14-18 inches tall and weigh somewhere between 20-40 pounds when full grown. We are planning to start obedience training as early as next week.  I have hopes and dreams for this little sweetie, but I'll talk about that another day.

A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words

Independence Day Festivities

It just wouldn't be right if I didn't mention the weather. This is Oklahoma you know.  Our Independence Day Celebrations were, for the most part, unaffected by the...shall we say...variety.  
Friday:  Hot, Temp--105
Saturday Morning:  Cool, rainy, Temp--78, rainy
Saturday Afternoon:  Cool, drizzle, temp--climbing slowly
Saturday Late Afternoon/Early Evening:  STEAMY, so hot and humid it was unpleasant.  Ryan didn't even want to be outside and that's saying something
Saturday Night (In time for fireworks):  Cool, breezy, wished I was wearing a little more clothes for the fireworks display.  :)

It was definitely the oddest Independence Day, weatherwise.  

Gammaw and Pappaw came up from Texas to spend the long weekend with us, arriving Friday morning.  Pappaw was a little later getting here because he took the "scenic route" on his Harley. Ryan is very fascinated by Pappaw's bike, but he's a little less enthused by it when the motor is started.  

We went to the parade in the rain.  It was actually a really good parade for our little town, and it seemed to be well attended despite the rain.


Of course what kid can attend a parade without loading up on candy.  Ryan and I stood under an umbrella out in the street for the last half of the parade.  He was quick to learn that 'what is thrown must be retrieved because it usually involves forbidden good stuff'.  Check out those hands.  He had a death-grip on his candy. 

Despite the rain we still had a big family gathering, and...yes...I still grilled burgers and brats and hot dogs on the grill...in the rain.  Oh...IT WAS GREAT!  The food was good too.  We really enjoyed having family over for the afternoon.  Here is Ryan with his two grandmothers, Nana and Gammaw.  He's one lucky kid.  He has not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 grandmothers!  Can we say *spoiled*.  (I wouldn't have it any other way)

This is not one our better pictures, but here we are--"My Man and me" 

We can take a ride on my big green tractor...  Oh sorry, couldn't help myself.  Ryan enjoyed riding around on his green tractor.  He was really funny this weekend.  He provided all the entertainment we could have ever needed.   

We even played a little music of our own (without stealing lyrics from someone else). 

All in all it was a great weekend. It ended way too soon.  We weren't ready for the family to leave.  We weren't ready to return to work today.  We ARE ready to do it again!

What's In A Name

Okay, okay, okay. I'm absolutely horrible when it comes to secrets. I love surprises, and I love to pull one over on (surprise) those I love, but in all honesty they drive me crazy. I'm so excited that I just want to tell. I love surprising and being surprised, but the likelihood that I can keep something quiet for any length of time is...awww...well...you're getting ready to find out.

In reference to this post...YES! IT'S THE PUPPY!!! Lizzy was hoping/planning to surprise me with her yesterday when she came into town however the puppy was still receiving a little extra care at the vet. She isn't "sick", but she's had a little bit of a rough start as far as adjusting to the pound especially since she started her imprisonment so early. I'm not sure how old she is exactly, but from what the pound attendant said last weekend I got the impression that she is very young.

Hopefully if all goes well she will be joining our family early this coming week...say maybe Monday or Tuesday!

For some of you it may seem a bit silly to be so excited about a dog, but that's just how I am. I respect animals as just that...animals, but I also love them. They can become some of the best of friends and when you truly care for a pet the way they should be cared for they become part of the family.

Some of you may also find this rather ridiculous, but that's okay too.

Let's Name Her!

I realize most of the time a poll/survey like this is done when someone is expecting a baby, but since I'm not pregnant right now (and possibly never will be again) I think naming the puppy is an okay thing to talk about. (Besides...this is my blog, and I can do whatever I want...I'm the only one who has the password.)

So here's the rules:

Number 1: She's a she! Keep that in mind, please.
Number 2: It has to be a name I (preferably even Ryan) can actually pronounce.
Number 3: I get the final say. (Well...I guess I'll let my hubby have a small word in the matter)

I can't imagine what's going to happen if I actually have another child. My poor kid...I can't even decide on a name for a dog!

Have a great and safe Independence Day weekend!

Birthday Presents

I know what I'm getting for my birthday from my sister. I'm so excited. I hope I get the call today that everything is ready!

That's all I'm sayin'...

Weekend With Lizzy

Finally!...get ready...this is going to be long, but definitely worth reading in my opinion. :)

Ryan and I left for Aunt Lizzy's Friday evening about a quarter 'til 6. Upon our arrival in Lawton we were greeted by Bradford's (Lizzy's friend) cats. He has 2 cute little kittens with somewhat "original" names...Orange Cat and Grey Cat.
The plans for the evening included going to the park for "Movie Night". For the summer the City of Lawton is hosting movie nights on the weekends...free for any and all who come. Concessions available for $$. By the time we made it to the park Ryan was already pretty tired, and I was hoping that he would go to sleep in the stroller during the movie. No such luck...he got his second wind when we went outside and especially when he saw all the people. We stayed for about 30 minutes or so and then decided it would just be best to leave and get some sleep so the following day could be better enjoyed.

Saturday we got up and made some chocolate chip muffins. Mmmm...yummy! The forecast for the day was "HOT", and sure enough it turned out to be the hottest day of the year so far. We decided to limit our outdoor fun to the cooler morning hours. We went swimming right after breakfast. The water was perfect...not too cool, but oh so refreshing.
Ryan was a little apprehensive at first. This was only his second time to be in a big pool this year. His fear was short lived and within moments he was thoroughly enjoying the water.
Many of you know that we I have been looking for a new puppy for our family. I noticed one of interest on petfinder.com and had mentioned it to Lizzy the evening before. The location...Duncan. Lizzy took no time in suggesting we go look at it since Duncan was only 30 minutes away. I had no idea Duncan was so close to Lawton. So after our refreshing morning swim we changed clothes and headed to Duncan. Of course, now, just the thought of seeing this little beauty made me love her even more. I had no intentions of bringing home a puppy last weekend, but I also knew myself well enough that as soon as I saw her, all caged up in the pound, I'd be bringing home our newest addition.
Isn't she just the cutest! She's an Australian Shepherd/Border Collie Mix less than 12 weeks old. Everything about her fits within my list of requirements/wants. Well...I'm VERY sad to say that we don't have a new member in the Stanfill family. The attendant at the pound explained that she was at the vet that weekend for shots and a check-up, but would be back at the pound on Monday.

(I'm so sad. I've even dropped several VERY LARGE hints to family members that if anyone wanted to go on a road trip I had a great idea. Since I work 8-5 M-F and the phones have been busy, busy, busy, it wouldn't be all that wise for me to go without someone to help me either drive or answer the phone. Not for a 2-hour drive.)

We had lunch while in Duncan. Duncan seems to be one of those "cute" little backwards, hometown places that I could feel quite comfortable in. After our excursions in Duncan we went to the mall in Lawton. Lizzy and I took advantage of an awesome sale at Bath and Body Works. (I'll smell good for awhile now). Before leaving the mall we stopped at the Play Area to let Ryan run off some energy. Run he did! Of all the *many* moms/dads/caregivers watching their precious little children play, I was the only one who had to chase their kid down the mall because he kept escaping. Escape attempts: 4!
I don't get mad. I'm so excited about his energy. I just love his little personality, and escape artistry has become a game between the two of us. I must say, though, that everyone, in and out of the play area, was laughing at me.

After the mall...Wal-Mart. No story there. It was uneventful.

Since the thermometer was climbing on up towards 110 degrees we decided it was time to spend some time indoors. We rented a couple of movies, Marley and Me and The Pink Panther 2, and headed back to Lizzy's apartment. I put Ryan down for a nap and Lizzy and I stretched out in front of the air conditioner to watch a movie.

Did I mention that Saturday was the hottest day on record for the year! After the movie Lizzy fixed taco salad (great for a hot day). Since it was still soooo hot after dinner we decided the best thing to do was to jump in the pool again!
Yeah...that's a camera...and...yeah...someone's going to be laughing hysterically when they see what was recorded. Ryan was fascinated by it, so he did everything to it but touch it! He would have if it had not been for the glass protecting it from his nosey little hands.
Here is Ryan noticing water dripping from his shorts. Yes...he tried to catch it! He's too funny.
This time in the pool Ryan had no reservations at all. This is what he thought of the new game we created where I would toss him in the air and catch him as he entered the water.

I just love this boy!

After our evening swim we went back to the apartment. Lizzy now has new appreciation for Dr. Seuss. She also understands how I have so many children's books memorized. We read them over, and over, and over, and again, and again, and over, and over...

Lizzy and I watched the other movie and Ryan went to sleep.

Sunday! Wow...Sunday had some interesting events. Lizzy wanted to take us to breakfast that morning at Atlanta Bread Company. We loaded in the car, and...nothing! My car wouldn't start. It did finally start, but after several attempts where it almost didn't, we stopped at Wal-Mart for what we determined to be a failing battery. Wal-Mart didn't have the battery I needed! Don't worry though Sam's, next door, did! Car fixed. No other problems. Whew.

Breakfast was great and after our scrumptious muffins and coffee we went to the park.

Feeding ducks/geese.

What better things to do at a park than to feed ducks and explore.
I bet you didn't notice the slick sludge at the bottom of those drainage pipes. Sure enough! Ryan found it!

Walking around with Aunt Lizzy. She's the greatest!

We did a little rock climbing too. Unfortunately...
...the rock didn't play nicely. Not really. Ryan woke up sleepy on Sunday, so while at the park we had quite a number of falls (indication that he's sleepy).
Swinging makes everything better, so that's what we did.
Before leaving the park Ryan said good-bye to the geese and signed his name in the sand so everyone would know he was there.
And proof that the weekend was wonderful, amazing, and exhausting for a little two-year-old.

He took a short little nap at Lizzy's while I loaded the car to leave. Of course he woke up right as I was loading the last bag, and he didn't sleep one wink the entire drive back home.

We had a great time, and we can't wait to do it again. We love you Lizzy!!!

Weekend Glimpse

Like all good photographers, my sister, an aspiring photographer, took A LOT of pictures (close to 400). That being the case I'm finding it incredibly difficult to pick just a few for the blog and then re-size them so they will actually load (in my lifetime). In the meantime......here is one of my favorites just to keep you interested in what in the world we did this weekend.

Perhaps tomorrow I can get all the pictures sorted AND edited AND get all of the weekend details (and I mean all...because I'm a girl who likes details and can't ever tell a short story) written up in a terrifically exciting post for you to enjoy!

Where I Come From

For this post I really wanted to share with you all about our weekend (this weekend), but it's just not going to happen. I have sooooo many pictures to sort through and edit and since it's already almost 9 p.m.....yea...you get the point...it's not going to happen. Besides, I have last weekend to talk about...as well as last week's update.

As you remember, last weekend was a special weekend to celebrate DADS! On Sunday afternoon Ryan and I went to spend a little time with my dad (Ryan's Grandpa Yogi) while Wade spent some time with his dad (doing some boring important tasks like mowing). My dad is a farmer. He's a hard-working honorable man, and I love my dad.

Ryan and I enjoyed spending time doing some "farming". It's harvest time around here, so we spent a few hours harvesting wheat with Grandpa. Being out in the field brought back lots of memories and a reminder of Where I Come From.

I come from a farming family. My most early, and some of the most formidable years of my life were spent, literally, on a farm. I lived in this house on our family's farm... It's pretty run down now. In fact, it's un-inhabitable and probably forever will be, but back in the very early 80's this is where I called home. I have so many memories in this house, and the funny thing is...I only lived here for about 3 years...from 3-6 years of age. I remember the leak in the roof and the sound of the rain gently tapping the buckets strategically placed around the house. I remember birthday parties with friends. I remember swimming in a stock tank every summer and coming inside with bleeding toes. I remember running in circles around the house because in this house there were no halls. All the rooms were somehow connected and you could make a complete circle by going through all the different rooms. I remember being forbidden to go out on the front porch because...well...it was just about to fall in at the time. Needless to say...the porch is gone now. I remember Christmas time. I remember family times.

"The Barn"

Dad and grandpa worked the cattle in this barn. I remember playing in the barn a lot with Dad or Grandpa around, but I don't remember exactly what "farming chore" happened here. I do remember feeding the baby calves in this barn...the bottle-fed ones. I remember finding a litter or kittens in this barn that Mom and I rescued and bottle-fed. My childhood kitty, Whiskers, was one of the litter and she became my best-kitty-friend as a kid.

"The Shed"

This is the shed that housed all of the "small" tools and equipment that Dad and Grandpa used. For me...it's where I remember all the cats liked to hang out. I also remember that this is where the cubes where kept (Cubes=cattle feed). I loved feeding the cows with Dad and/or Grandpa. They usually let me ride in the back of the pickup where I could toss the cubes out the back and "feed the cows".

Harvest time was one of my most favorite times of the year. It seemed to last forever, but I now know that it usually was only a few short (3 or 4) weeks. Dad drove the combine as well as Uncle Marvin who usually came to help and Grandpa while he was still alive and well enough to do so. Mom and us kids drove the wheat-truck. While the combines where gathering the wheat we tossed a blanket under the back of the truck and played with toys. Sometimes we would go exploring down the dirt roads (with Mom of course) to see what type of wild creatures could be found (usually lizards, turtles and the like). Our favorite thing to do was "swim" in the wheat, occasionally eating a few kernels and chewing on the straw.

Farm life...hot, never-ending, hard-working, and wonderful. I miss those days sometimes.

And...that...is Where I Come From.

I really enjoyed taking Ryan out to the field to enjoy some of the things that made the fondest memories for me. Here are the pictures...

The Combine

Riding in the combine with Grandpa Yogi. Grandpa already had about 1/2 a bin full of wheat, so we finished out that bin with him. Ryan was mesmerized by the workings of this massive piece of equipment. I think he really enjoyed it.

Driving the Wheat Truck. After the combine emptied the wheat into the wheat truck it was time to go to town to dump the truck. Ryan and I rode along and, again, Ryan thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. It was loud, bumpy, dirty and great!

Here are just a few pictures of Ryan in the field because I think wheat fields, flowing with the golden heads of wheat, are beautiful.

Here is Ryan "swimming" in the wheat. He didn't get nearly as carried away with the "wheat swimming" as we did, but I figure he'll figure it out as he gets older. (We literally went from one end of the truck to the other...in and out of the wheat.)

Have a great harvest. Be thankful for all the blessings in life.

...Until next year.

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This Past Week
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This past week was crazy!!! We were so busy, but it was a good busy. Monday night we went to a NICU graduate meeting after which we went up to the NICU to visit our nurses. We always love visiting our nurses.

Tuesday night we went to our friend's, the Rosackers, house for an evening of fellowship and fun. It was really enjoyable to watch the boys play together. They have 3 boys. Their oldest is 5. He was born the same year and same month as Brandy. He also was born with a heart defect. In fact, we met them in the hospital and have been good friends ever since. Their son is doing amazingly well. Praise Jesus for his awesome healing! They have 2 other, ornery, boys. Their middle is 3 and their youngest is just 2 months older than Ryan. All four boys played together and enjoyed each other (for the most part). It was a great evening.

Wednesday...nothing!

Thursday afternoon I had a doctor's appointment with my OB. We're still trying! I have endometriosis and it has started giving me a little trouble, and it could also be hindering our efforts. I will be having surgery (sometime soon) to remove all the extra unwanted (bad) tissue. This should help with some pain issues as well as clear everything out and offer a better chance at conceiving. It's no guarantee, but it *will* help with other problems. I'm not looking forward to surgery, but it probably needs to be done anyway. To some degree I view this as our "last ditch effort" as far as major interventions in this whole pregnancy thing. It's not being done specifically for that purpose...it just might be of benefit. I don't want to go through a bunch of "procedures" and "treatments" to have another baby. I am at the point now where if it doesn't happen after this...I'm not "working" at it anymore. If it happens okay...if not...okay. Sorry...that was a long detailed rant without much of a point. Oh well. Thursday evening I went out with some friends. We try to get together once a month. It also gives Ryan and his Daddy some much needed and enjoyed time together...just the boys!

Friday evening we left for Lawton to spend the weekend with Aunt Lizzy.

That was our week! This week...nothing...yet!

Packing

You've probably noticed that the blog has been somewhat neglected this week. Last week we had absolutely nothing extra going on. This week, on the other hand, has been busy, busy, busy. I think we've had one evening spent at home this week. The week isn't even over...Ryan and I are spending the weekend in Lawton with my sister. I'm super excited. It will be lots of fun, and more than likely I'll have lots of new pictures and stories to share. Stay tuned for more....

Since next week is much like last, with nothing extra planned, I'll have more time for catching up on all of the news and stories from this week as well as a post I've been working on from last weekend.

Swattin' Flies

I hate flies. I've killed so many today it's unreal. Ryan is my helper. He likes swattin' flies too!

Harvest