Dear Rebecca,
               It's really early in the morning on New Years Eve. I am staying up late tonight because I have to stay up late tomorrow night. We are going to that Montgomery Gentry / Lynard Skynard concert tomorrow night for New Years Eve. Your Mom is really looking forward to it. Your Mother & I have never really been out together on New Years Eve. We've had parties at our place, your Mother has gone out with her friends and we have just stayed home and ushered in the New Year by ourselves in the past. We have reservations at DeSha's restaurant at 5 o' clock and the concert starts at 7 o'clock. We're going to try to get there around 3:30 so we can try to get a decent parking spot. That's the big concern for me. I would absolutely hate to have to walk three miles to where we need to be. Well, we'll see how it goes. Plus when we head for the house there's going to be any number of drunks on the road and that can be dangerous. I also have a concern about the volume level in the concert. I have a constant headache the past few months. I suppose it's because I have a wisdom tooth coming in and it's destroyed one of my back molars. I'm sure we'll have a great time though. Like I say your Mother & I have never been out on New Years Eve.
      You are going to get to spend New Years Eve with Mamaw. She's coming here to babysit you while we are gone. She was going to keep you all night long at her house but they just painted the basement and the fumes wouldn't be good for you so you're just going to stay at your own place. You prefer that anyway.
      The unemployment got all messed up. I'm not even going to be able to file for this week until the tenth of January and I'm sure there will be a problem with filing so late after you have actually been off. It's been a royal pain in the back side. Also, the checks were late in coming so they had to reissue them through the office at work. I didn't get my check until Thursday. This whole holiday has been a royal pain. It was still the second best time of the year this year though; the first being your birth. That's the best ever. When your Mother & I became a couple is also high on the list but that happened one Holiday season so that one was especially nice.
      We bought your Mother a copy of the Sims 2 computer game. She loved the original Sims game. She played it for hours and hours and hours, just on the first day we had it. She would swill down her sugary sodas and smoke her menthol cigarettes. Yep, your Mother used to smoke cigarettes. I'm so proud of her for quitting. She quit when she had the accident. She was in a coma for all of her withdrawal time so she figured that was the time to give them up for good. I know she would have quit smoking when we found out about you anyway. That's when she gave up her soda habit. Now she just drinks diet pop. She says that the regular pop is much to sweet for her after so long drinking diet. You've only known your Mother since you were born but if you would have known her before you came you would not believe it was the same person. Since you came she has turned into Suzie Homemaker. I am so incredibly proud of your Mother.
      This will be the very last post of 2004. It's been a weird year. As Charles Dickens says in A Tale of Two Cities, "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times". We had you and that of course was the best of times but we've also had very stressful things happen to us throughout the year as well. I won't say it's been the most stressful year we've ever had but it's certainly in the top three. Hopefully 2005 will not have any of the nasty surprises that the past three years have carried with them. I'm confident that 2005 is going to be a fabulous year for all of us. Well, for the last time in 2004 I will sign off here and tell you that I love you.

Dear Rebecca,
               Greetings and salutations to you, my dearest daughter. We went to file for unemployment yesterday. I wish I had known that they were going to be off on a holiday. Christmas fell on a Saturday so they took Monday off. That means that we all have to go back a later this morning. Your Mother had a pretty good time today. We went to Wal-mart and got a few odds & ends and we ate at Mi Mexico just like I said we had planned on. Your Mother decided to feed you at the restaurant so I decided to get a fried ice cream for desert. I fed you a few bites and you just loved it to no end. I'm afraid it may have upset your tummy a little though so no more ice cream for you for a little while.
      I finally got the very first picture ever taken of you scanned today. I will never forget it. You had just been born moments before. The nurses cleaned you up and handed you to me and I showed you to your mother, she cried, and I exited through some doors. Waiting on the other side of the doors was all of my family. I think it was your Mamaw took your picture and when the flash went off you jumped and turned into my chest. I thought that was the sweetest thing I had ever experienced. Anyway, I got it scanned into the computer today and posted on the website where this blog is located. I also updated my music pages on my website. I hadn't done that since the 20th of December of 2003. It really wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. I suppose I will hook up the old computer Wednesday and get some stuff off of there that I will need. Maybe Friday or Saturday I will do a complete & total reinstall of WindowsXP and then take the old computer down to Papaw's. That's right I am using XP right now. I know that may seem like an ancient operating system to you as you read this in the future but it's the latest thing here at the end of 2004.
      Well, it's late and I am tired. I don't want to go to bed just yet though. I bought a larger binder for your blog so I think maybe I'll take the blog out of the old binder and put it in the newer one as I watch a little television and then go to bed. I love you, Rebecca. (Why won't this blog publish? It published finally.) Night, baby.

Dear Rebecca,
               It's really early on a Monday morning and I still haven't gone to bed yet. I will be going as soon as I finish this blog post and have myself a Pepsi. I don't have to go work tomorrow but I do have to go to the unemployment office because they gave us our vacation earlier in the year so we are officially laid off this week so I have to draw unemployment. I will get a supplemental paycheck from General Electric so it will not be to much of a burden. I would much rather be off for work and draw unemployment than have to work this week. After I go the the unemployment office we plan on going to Mi Mexico for lunch. We really like their lunch chimichangas; they're yummy and cheap.
      We were just kind of lazy today. We really didn't do to much around here and we didn't go anywhere with the exception of my little trip over to Granny's place to change out her water filter on her faucet. I stayed and visited with her for awhile and then came home. We ordered a pizza from Pizza Hut for supper. They were not offering any specials so I went to PizzaHut.com and downloaded a coupon for two mediums for $15.99. I got a Cheese Lovers on thin crust and your Mother got a Meat Lovers on thin crust. She really didn't want thin crust but they were out of the crust she wanted. I suppose a whole lot of people ordered pizza yesterday. Nobody really wanted to cook the day after Christmas. We watched a movie called Walking Tall this afternoon. Not the old one with Joe Don Baker, but the new one with The Rock. You probably will have no idea who the Rock is when you are able to read and fully understand this. He's a professional wrestler who had a few minor film hits.
      As you can tell, there's really not a whole lot to tell you this morning. I really don't even know why I am posting. This post may win a price for most boring. Well, I'm almost done with my Pepsi and I am kinda tired so I shall let you go for now. I love ya, Rebecca.

Dear Rebecca,
                     Happy Boxing Day, little girl. Daddy says that a long time ago in England & other various parts of Europe, the servants had to work on Christmas day. So the day after Christmas the servants got the day off & a nice big box of gifts. Sounds nice and all but I believe I would rather be off on Christmas day. I suppose that there are still some poor souls out there that have to work on Christmas but thankfully Daddy is not one of them. I must say despite some pretty bizarre circumstances that I have had a wonderful Christmas with you this year. You are so sweet & loving & simply put the best baby on the planet. I know that every parent says that but I have babysat a few babies in my time and let me tell you, you are BY FAR the most agreeable, sweetest, funnest baby to be around ever. There are some babies that just fuss and cry all the time. You're not one of those. Even if you were one of those, you'd still be the best baby. If only to Daddy & I.
   You must have been an awful good girl this year because Santa brought you so many things I don't know what to do with them now. Hopefully tomorrow Daddy will put your toybox together & I can start getting your room back into shape. The Holidays are over & Mommy still has lots to do. We have to take the tree down & put the decorations away until next year & we have to clean up from the little party we had here the other night. It's pretty straight in here but Mommy wants to clean her sink & counters really good & clean her living room up (dust) & clean all the floors. I've been working on laundry that backed up on us over the holidays all day & I can tell you that I do not care if it is Easter or Christmas or the fourth of July I will never let it get that backed up again. I don't care much for laundry.
   I am glad that everyone that came to our little gathering enjoyed themselves. As always you were the star of the show and everyone just made over how pretty you are. Cousin Lucas really loves holding you & talking to you & you are quite fond of him as well. Cousin Leah opened all of her presents from us & exclaimed how very much she loved them all ...right down to the pencils she will take to school. Next year I think I'll wrap up a package of toilet paper & watch her go *OH MY GAWSH! I LOVE TOILET PAPER! I USE IT LIKE, EVERY DAY!* She is awfully sweet & we are both very fond of her.
   Mommy got a lot of nice things this Christmas. Mamaw bought Mommy a really nice Jewelry Armoire & a nice cookie jar with biscotti in it & she helped you pick out some nice gloves for me to wear with my jacket. I can't remember what else she got me right at this moment because I am very tired. Cousin Allison got me a babysitter checklist (wow, if that was not a hint) & a very pretty cookie jar with grapes on it as well. Your Auntie Lynn got me some nice Bib overalls and I wore them last night to our Christmas gathering. They were quite comfy & I like them, a lot. They have an American flag embroidered on the chest & red, white & blue stars embroidered around the legs. Granny did not have the time or energy to Christmas shop for anybody but just her being there was gift enough for all of us because we love Granny very much. Cousin Lynn also got Daddy & I some birds eye cloth diapers for droolie rags for you because you are teething. And even though you are teething you are still a fantastic baby. Daddy bought Mommy lots of nice things like a freestanding mixer, a blender, some earrings, perfume, gourmet cocoa, a fancy broom & dustpan set, a very nice coffee pot, socks, & other various things that I cannot recall at this point because again, I am very tired. He also took Mommy to see Southern Lights when she wanted to go. I pitched myself a little fit because I really wanted to go, I have not missed a year at Southern Lights since I moved here. I did not want your first Christmas to be the first year I miss. If you miss one year, then you miss another. Then soon it becomes a habit. We have decided to go a lot earlier next year so that we can go into the building and see the pretty animals at the petting zoo. The buildings are closed December the 23rd through January 1st so people can spend the Holidays with their families. Next year you will be big enough to enjoy the lights & the zoo. This year you just slept. All in all I had a pretty good Christmas & got some pretty cool presents. The best present of all this Holiday Season though was you being here to spend it with us. I love you so much, little girl. Now Mommy is going to go so I can either go to bed or watch some more of this movie with Daddy.

Merry Christmas for the Last Time in 2004, Rebecca,
                     It's nearly 11:30 on Christmas Evening. The pretty packages have all been opened and the stockings have now been emptied of their hidden treasures. Everyone is worn out from the happy jolly day that we have all known. Kristie has gone to bed and you are sound asleep. I want to spend the next half hour soaking in every last moment of Christmas magic that I can. I will begin changing my computer from my jolly Christmas theme back to the regular old blue theme that we use for ten months out of the year after midnight. It's always so much work to change it back; and not nearly as fun as setting up the Christmas theme.
      We did have Christmas night down here this year. It went over pretty well. It was very crowded here but we all had a swell time. Leah was as entertaining as always opening her gifts. She absolutely loves every single last thing that we get for her. I suppose that's why she gets so much from us. I love to give to people who truly appreciate it. The food was just as tasty as always. Your Mother made the mashed potatoes and they were very good, but she just needs to learn that people like a little salt on their potatoes. Your Mother does not like potatoes unless they are fried in the french style and she's not a huge fan of salt.
      There was a little tiff towards the end of the evening. Your Mother really really wanted to go to Southern Lights after the gathering dispersed. Aunt Lynn & her crew were also undecided. I really didn't want to drive to Lexington to see the lights so I was kind of rooting for not going. Your Mother just absolutely had to go though and she had been so great over the Holidays that I was going to take her if she really wanted to go. We went and so did the Hoard crew. It was a nice capper for a nice Holiday season. There were glitches this Holiday season. There wasn't any one really huge crisis that faced us as in years past; just a whole lot of little annoyances that threatened my good Holiday cheer. The magic of Christmas won out though and we all had a splendid time. I wish that my schedule would have been more concrete at work, I wish we hadn't been robbed of all of those presents, I wish I had gotten paid when I was supposed to be paid and I wish that Granny had felt better over the Holidays; but all in all I can't complain. I think your first Christmas was a rousing success. I know that we will share many more great Christmases together and because of that my heart sings out in joy. I love you, My Little Snow Bird and I love Christmas. As Scrooge's nephew Fred said in the Christmas Carol Christmas is 'a good time, a kind, forgiving charitable time - the only time I know of in the long calendar of the year when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut up hearts freely. And therefore Uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good, and I say 'God bless It!" And I for one could not agree more whole heartedly with that sentiment. So, for the very last time I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and for the first time a most abundant and joyous New Year. I love you, Rebecca; even more than Christmas.

Merry Christmas yet once again, Rebecca.
               Maybe Christmas night will not be a total washout. Come to find out, there was a whole lot of the family that were not real excited about not having Christmas night. Your Aunt Lynn & I racked our brains for some way to save Christmas, mainly for us, but also for the family. She in an off hand kind of way asked why we didn't have a little thing here at our place. Well, I thought that was just grand. Not as grand as the church family gathering would have been but at least it would be something. I like to call it "Christmas Night Gathering Lite". The whole family will not be able to squeeze into this little apartment so we have invited a limited number of people. Your Mother always buys Leah lots of Christmas presents because she likes her an awful lot and Lucas has made special arrangements to get free from a previous commitment so we invited Linda and her tiny brood down and of course Aunt Lynn, Uncle Rodney & the gang, Mamaw & Papaw and of course the three of us will be here because we live here.
      Your Mother is going to a whole lot of extra work so Daddy can have Christmas the way he wants it and Daddy loves Mommy very much for it. I am helping as much as I can but I believe that I'm just getting in the way so she put me on mommy duty. You are sleeping right now. Mommy is upstairs taking a shower and I am typing out my third blog of the day to you.

Merry Christmas again, Rebecca,
               Here it is late Christmas morning. The presents have been opened and we're all feeling kind of sleepy eyed. You are snoring in your bouncy, Aunt Mary is taking a shower, your Mother is puttering around the house looking for something to clean. It would be a really nice moment if it wasn't for the fact that Christmas night has been cancelled. Granny is not feeling very well and that is terrible but I still don't think that Christmas night should be cancelled. Lots of people are upset about it. I know I am, Aunt Lynn and her kids, Linda and her kids and I'm sure we're not the only ones. I am sick to death over Christmas being cancelled. I kind of knew that the traditional Christmas night that I have always known has been dying for the last few years but I had hoped that it would have survived long enough for you to know at least one. I wanted to take lots of pictures of you Christmas night so you could see that you took part of a tradition that I have known since before I can remember. That hope is dashed. I am so very upset over this. It breaks my heart.
      I suppose the three of us are going to go to the Kentucky Horse Park to see Southern Lights tonight. We wanted to do something with Aunt Lynn and her family but there wouldn't be enough room for all of us in one vehicle; Plus I think they would rather go see a movie. I think they want to see Christmas with the Kranks. We would have to leave you with Mamaw and your Mother doesn't want to part with you on Christmas day. Yeah, I reckon we're going to go see the Christmas lights tonight. Your Mother just now told me that she wanted you to see the animals at the petting zoo and that will be closed because everyone else will be having Christmas their families. So I don't know if we'll do the lights or not. I just don't know what we are going to do tonight. Aunt Mary is getting ready to leave now. She's hugging and kissing you goodby right now. You're laughing up a storm at your Aunt Mary. You love your Aunt Mary very much. Everybody loves you so much; At least everyone who matters.Once again the powers that be have conspired to bring my Christmas down. We will find some kind of festive event to celebrate Christmas tonight; Even if we have to do something here with just the three of us. I am just sick over this whole thing. If it wasn't for you Christmas would have been kind of sorry, what with the scheduling mess at work, the robbery, no paychecks and now Christmas night being cancelled. It's still a very Merry Christmas because you are here.
      Santa brought you a pretty nice haul this year. You loved tearing the paper. You kept trying to put little pieces of Christmas wrapping paper in your mouth. We had to watch you very carefully. You got a bunch of rattles and teething toys, Rock & Play piano, a big tickle me Elmo, a Princess chair, Touch and Crawl Pooh, lots of books, an outdoor folding Disney Princess chair, a Disney Princess bank, tons of Sesame Street DVDs, a Disney Princess DVD player and a Disney Princess television. Mama got you a Disney Princess telephone and a couple of Baby Einstein videos. I got you Babie's first doll. Plus you got a few other little things from all of us. Even Mary got you some cool stuff. Daddy got a really cool atomic clock last night, a beautiful world globe, a super neat framed sketch of Pooh, a deep fryer, socks, fuzzy warm slippers, and some pajamas. I made it hard on your Mother and everyone else this year because your mother bought me every single thing I wanted over the past six months with the settlement money she got from the accident she was in. Your Mother got some really nice stuff too but I'll let her tell you about her haul.
      Well, I want to watch a movie or two before we decide what kind of second choice Christmas night we are going to have. Merry Christmas, Little Girl.

Merry Christmas, Rebecca.
                  Girl, you sure did clean up at Mamaw & Papaw's house last night. Well, really it was tonight because I haven't been to bed yet. I suppose I should go here shortly because I don't know if Santa will stop if he sees someone setting up. I sure would love to hang around and meet him. I think I should go to bed though. I'd absolutely hate for Santa not to visit you on your very first Christmas. Aunt Mary came up from Hazard and she's staying to see you open your booty from St. Nicholas later this morning. She's sleeping on the sofa right this very second. Papaw Lawrence didn't get to make the trip this year. We're still not sure why he didn't come up but I'm sure he has his own good reasons why he had to stay in Hazard.
      You're not going to get that white Christmas that the television weather people had promised. We had a little ice but very little snow. Louisville had a ton of snow but it just missed us here in Versailles. I would have wished that we could have had a very light dusting for Christmas morning but I certainly wouldn't have wanted a snow storm. Your Aunt Mary would not have been able to make the trip if it had been to snowy.
      You really had fun opening your presents. We know that you are still a little too young to understand what all this Christmas hoopla is about just yet; But you still had fun with the pretty wrapping paper. Allison helped you open your presents. You got a really huge stuffed horse from Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney, tons of Sesame Street & Baby Einstein DVDs from your Mother & I, a Disney Princess toy box & Disney Princess table and chairs from Mamaw & Papaw and a ton of other stuff from your cousins, Aunt Mary, Granny and everybody. You made out better than any of us; although the boys and Allison did pretty good for themselves too.
      I love having a child at Christmas. This has always been my dream and you are making it come true. Everything is right with the world tonight and I am the happiest man alive, if only for one brief day. I love you and hope that every Christmas you ever have is as happy and merry as you deserve. I love you and I love Christmas. I think I just heard sleigh bells outside so that can only mean one thing; Santa is in our neighborhood so I had better get to bed and as St. Nicholas himself once said, "Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night".

Dear Rebecca,
               Once upon a time, in a garage about three feet away, Mommy & Daddy got burgaled. Yes, burgaled. As the nice lady at 911 pointed out to Daddy on the telephone, there is a difference in being *robbed* and *burgaled*. Robbed is when someone grabs it out of your imediate posession. Burgaled is when they sneak in and steal it. Daddy & I have decided that it was a Robbery after all, because when we got it and you take it, by golly, you robbed us. Daddy was right; I have been too busy to post in this here blog. It's not your fault, though. The Holidays have kept Mommy very busy with cleaning & baking & doing all of the things Mommies do in the Holiday season. One day when you are older you will understand just what being a Mommy entails. Sometimes it is very hard work. It's long hours and little to no pay, but the rewards of seeing your child grow up healthy & happy are tremendous. I must say it's the best job I have ever had.
   As Daddy stated earlier, he is gone to get the local paper. Your pretty little picture will be in there this time around. It's called Christmas Angels & they display the local cute lil' babies pictures all over the overpriced rag. This year, though, it will be worth every penny of the .80 cents per copy we pay for it. I'd pay $80.00 to get one if I had to. Really, I would. It means that much to me that Mamaw thought to put you in the paper for your very first Christmas. We are getting a few copies...two for us & one for my Dad & one for Mamaw..in case she gets out too late to get it. The Woodford Suns go very fast in this town because the crotchety little old ladies want to know all the gossip that is worth gabbing about before the next crotchety little old lady knows it so they can talk about it in church on Sunday morning. I had to pause this post to put you to bed & Daddy just got home with the newspapers & he brought Subway Sandwiches for us. I guess I'm going to let you go for now. By the way, your picture in the paper is the prettiest one. I love you, little girl!

Dear Rebecca,
                  Well, it's Wednesday afternoon. I am off for the year. As you may have surmised by that statement, I got the last week of the year off. I didn't really know whether or not I would until just this afternoon. I really hated that. I was supposed to get paid today. The paychecks didn't come in today. Management said they would mail them to us. Isn't that just lamentable circumstance. We will be okay; Not great because we had to replace all of the Christmas presents that had been stolen, but okay. What angers me is how the people that were depending on this check to finish up their Christmas shopping are being put in a terrible position. When I go back at the beginning of the year I'm going to get direct deposit set up for my paycheck. I used to have it but for certain reasons I discontinued it. This is another reason you must go to college. When you have the power of a great education you not only get to name your own salary but you get it when you are supposed to. People with great education do not get jerked around like your father has this holiday season.
      I'm so happy to be off for the year. I always consider this time of the year to be the goal of the year. There's so much joy in my heart during the holiday season. I'm just a big softie when it comes to the holidays. From Thanksgiving on to the New Year, I'm just a big kid. Circumstances have tried to ruin my jolly disposition; First by messing up my time off, then by getting our Christmas presents stolen and then by not getting paid when I am supposed to be; But the magic of Christmas will not let me get down over these trifleing events.The only important thing is that this is your first Christmas and that is enough to fill even old Ebenezer's heart with the warmth of the season.
      Speaking of your first Christmas; It looks like it will be a white one. There's supposed to be a huge winter storm coming tonight. We're supposed to have four inches or so and lots of ice. Your Mother is worried that your Papaw Lawrence and Aunt mary won't be able to make it up here for Christmas Eve. I hope that turns into a yearly tradition. Not the winter storm, but your Papaw Lawrence and Aunt Mary visiting over the holidays. When I was growing up Mamaw Blanche used to come up every year on Christmas Eve and spend the night and watch your Aunt Lynn and myself open our presents from Santa Clause.
      Speaking of Santa Clause. We have heard that you are a on the nice list. We knew that you would make it. You are such a great baby. I don't know how he knows about you but he does. I suppose Santa scours the birth announcements every year to find out about the new stops on his route. It's been many years since I had a visit from Santa and I am so excited about it. It's such a magical moment when you come down the stairs and see all of the stuff left under the tree by the jolly fat man himself. I can't wait for the years to come when you realize more & more just exactly what is going on at Christmas.
      You my little daughter have discovered that you can roll over and you also have discovered that you don't like being on your stomach. Well, you have always known that you don't like being on your tummy. It's just that you love to roll over onto your tummy but once there you make a fuss until one of us roll you back over onto your back. As soon as we put you on your back you start to roll back over to your tummy and then we do it all over again.
      I thought that your Mother would post something about the burgary but I suppose you have kept her to busy too post. Well, I am off until the new year. I want to get my website set up at my new address and get some more stuff set up on this new computer but I will of course keep you up to date on all of the big Holiday happenings. I have mommy duty in the morning which means that I am going to have to get up with you. I kinda like it when it's just you and me. You are such a great baby that you really aren't that hard to look after. Well, your Mamaw put your picture in the Woodford Sun because it is your first Christmas and they have pictures of babies in it. Well, I reckon I had better get going. The paper comes out at seven o'clock. I love ya, you little Christmas headed monkey girl.

Dear Rebecca,
               It's Friday evening. We had a very stressful today. You are set to make your television debut tonight. We are going to be on the eleven o'clock news. It seems that someone thought our Christmas was turning out to be just a little to jolly. We were robbed last night. The news just came on and we were the "Big Story" on channel 18. They took over half of our presents. We made a police report and then went shopping and tried to replace what we could. Your Mother & I both felt very violated. Who would steal someone's Christmas presents? Your Mother looked fine on the television and you were as pretty as a big ole' flower. Your father, however, looked like a very tubby scuzzy scrub. Your ole' Daddy-O really needs to get his sorry posterior in the gym. Anyway, you looked fabulous in your television debut. On television your mother was quoted as saying it has ruined our Christmas but you know that could never be true. As long as we have you for this Christmas we'll be fine.
      You stayed with Mamaw & Aunt Lynn while we spent the entire day shopping for Christmas presents that we had already bought once. Well, It was a pretty evenful day. Your Mother is most upest over the loss of your big stuffed Elmo. It was just a big stuffed furry red monster that didn't do anything but look cuddly and was squeezable and we only paid ten dollars for it in Hazard the day after Thanksgiving but your Mom was excited about it. We bought an even bigger "Tickle Me Elmo" for thirty-five dollars but she's still not happy about it. She wanted the one that was stolen. Your Momma is rewrapping the kid's presents. They are coming over tomorrow night while Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney finish up their Christmas shopping. Allison is going to help your mother wrap all of the other stuff tomorrow while the boys & I watch movies on DVD.
      Well, I'm sure your mother will have more to tell you about our little brush with crime in days to come so I'll let you go for now. I love ya, Hon!

Dear Rebecca,
                  Big news, little girl. Today you got a package in the mail from your big brother Dylan. I know you know all about Dylan by now & what went on & the circumstances behind it so I will just skip right to the goods. He sent you some very cute baby things. He sent you two binkys (pacifers) that you will never use, but I will put them up in your keepsakes just the same. He also sent you a stuffed unicorn & a bib that says "I love Mommy" and some Link-a-Doos, which is a linking toy that we use frequently to help you reach your toys on your mat. Also in your high chair and sometimes in the truck, depending on what we take with us. He also sent you a very cute little pair of baby sunglasses. I am going to take a picture of you wearing them & send it to him as soon as I can. You are a real cute baby & they are real cute sunglasses so I am going to bet my bottom dollar that it will be a real cute picture. Dylan also sent a letter saying that his sister was very jealous that he had a baby sister & she didn't. I thought that was real cute. He also asked if we were allowed to have pets here because he wasn't thinking of sending you one of his two dogs or six cats but you might want your own pet. He said if they were not allowed her maybe he could send you a big stuffed dog or cat. I thought that was very sweet. You have a very sweet big brother. But I am sure that by the time you read this you will already know that. Mommy was really happy to get the package from Dylan. We are supposed to be getting pictures too so hopefully they will be here soon.
   Well as Daddy mentioned earlier, he picked up your very first Christmas pictures today. They are fantastic. You are gorgeous in them! Daddy & I don't look too shabby either but we pale in comparison to your pretty little face. I am sure that Daddy is going to put one of them up here in the blog for the world to see. I am going to send some to your big brother Dylan as well so he can have some. I am sure he will appreciate having a pretty little Christmas picture of his baby sister to look at.
   Well little girl Daddy wants to watch some TV tonight & it is already very late so I will let you go for now. I love you so much, my sweet little girl. I hope this first Christmas will be a very Happy Holiday for you. It will indeed be a very Happy Holiday for me. I have two beautiful & sweet children that I love very much. Those are the best Christmas presents in the world.

Dear Rebecca
                  Good afternoon, Rebecca. It's Tuesday afternoon to be exact. Well, once again not much happened between last post and this one. I went to work today and had to work a half an hour of overtime, but I did the exact same thing yesterday. You and your Mother went the Hamburg Pavilion with your Mamaw and Aunt Lynn this morning. She bought you a new snow suit. It's really cute and it appears to be very warm. You are growing out of your other one. She purchased a few more Christmas presents for a few more people. I don't know what all y'all did because I was at work. She told me that you started stage two food today. You had almost an entire jar of oatmeal with bananas and apples. You don't care much for oatmeal out of a box; you prefer rice from a box; but you really liked it out of a jar. She said she knew that you were ready for stage two because you didn't get sick last night when you had bananas after you had chicken. I suppose your digestive system is developing.
      You and I had big fun last night. I was changing your diaper and making noises and faces at you and you got so excited and tickled. The more excited and tickled you got the more excited and tickled I got. We had a grand old time. This was right before your bedtime and your Mother said you were all riled up and didn't want to sleep right away. You are napping in your bouncy right now. You are such a cutie when you sleep. Well, I wanna play on the computer while you sleep because your Mom won't let me watch television. So I suppose I will let you go for now. I have to go pick up your very first Christmas pictures tomorrow. They also serve double duty as our very first family portrait. I sure hope they are good. Love ya, Little One.

Dear Rebecca
               Monday afternoon. I reckon Monday afternoon is better than Monday morning. You just finished nearly a half a jar of chicken in chicken broth. You like the chicken, however you did not like the turkey in turkey broth. I thought they both smelled incredibly nasty. Now you are gonna have some bananas for desert. You really like bananas a lot. Mama just said that if you can go through life just eating chicken, green beans and bananas you certainly will be skinny. You wouldn't be very healthy but you would be skinny.
      I just finished changing you. You laughed at me big today. That made me very happy. That's really the first time that I've been able to make you laugh when you weren't laughing before. I made you laugh before, but you were already in a big time laughy mood.
      We all have been listening to Christmas music when we go out together. They are playing nonstop Christmas music on Mix 94.5 and Kiss 96.9. They are calling themselves Mixmas and Kissmas. That's real cute, I think. You know your father loves his Christmas music.
      Well, today was kin of a silly post. Nothing went on yesterday to mention. We just hung out at the house and looked at some television. I got up with you at 3:30 in the morning. Your mother told me to feed you in your room and you would go back to sleep. I didn't think I would be able to stay awake feeding you in your room so I took you downstairs and we looked at some Spongebob Squarepants while I fed you. I laid you down on your mat. You went to sleep but by that time I was into a movie. So while you slept for two hours on your mat I watched the movie 3. It was about the race car driver Dale Earnhart. I rather enjoyed it. Eventually your Mom got up and I went to sleep. I slept for 3 hours and then I got up and we all watched television.
      Now I'm gonna let you go. I think I might eat some supper. Your mother made me some chili Sunday and we still have some left. I think I'll have some of that. Love ya, Little Girl.

Dear Rebecca,
                     Hey Sweetheart.. How are you? I can tell you what you are doing at this very moment. You are sleeping up a storm. You were very tired from our
shopping trip today. The neighbors little grandson is going nuts next door & he is about to disturb you because I can hear you grunting. I can not really complain because he is just a little baby like you & he doesn't know any better.
   As Daddy told you earlier today, you got your photo taken with the Wal-Mart Santa Claus. That will be something to look back on and remember. It was fun even though the Santa was the WORST Santa I had ever seen. Hey, What do you expect from Wal-Mart? The Santa was TOO skinny. They had a butt-load of pillows at Wal-Mart. He could have borrowed one & stuffed it under his shirt or something. People just have no creative thinking these days. The neighbor lady's outside decorations are now slamming up against the pole of her porch. The wind is blowing them really hard and now that is disturbing you. All in all they are good neighbors but I must say it was much quieter when we first moved in here. Nonetheless, I like it a lot better than I liked our old place & you have a beautiful room to sleep in each night. Daddy & I made sure of that. I think one day Daddy is going to take a picture of it for your blog. Anyway...
   Cousin Allison came over tonight. She played with you some & helped me get your ready for bed. Well, she packed you up the stairs & proceeded to talk our ears off & make fun of me for you peeing all over me. You had a bath & you were naked and the cold air made you have to tinkle. Anyway we had all tried to watch Peter Pan earlier but you were fussy because now you are getting two beautiful teeth..another one has popped through at the bottom right next to the first one. You are getting to be such a big girl now. I think you need to slow down because you are growing up way too fast for Mommy's taste. One of Mommy's books said to start assisting you with a two handled sippy cup. Sigh. You are still so little, though. Mommy is so glad that she has you. As I was saying... Allison mostly played on the computer & listened to music and talked our ears right off while she was hear. Cousin Allison is a good girl and if you are half as good & sweet as she is when you grow up we will be very lucky. She talks a lot though. I mean a lot. I know she is reading this that is why I must say once again that she talks a lot. A LOT!
   Well little girl it's about time for Mommy to hit the hay. She finished wrapping some presents we already had today & wrapped a couple of new ones we got while we were out. Then I cleaned up from that and ran & emptied the dishwasher & did a load of laundry for you because you were nearly out of bibs downstairs. Needless to say after all Mommy did today, she is very wore out. I think Daddy is getting up with you in the morning so I will let you go for now. I am going to go crawl under the sheets & slip off to dreamland. I love you. little girl!

Dear Rebecca
                  Happy Saturday afternoon, Becca. I don't hardly ever call you that. I like Rebecca. Aunt Lynn calls you Becca Boo. Well, anyway, we just got back from Walmart in Nicholasville. We went to get your Aunt Mary an Ottoman to go with her chair. We ended up spending way to much cash. It was all your fault. Why was it your fault, you may ask. Well, it is very fitting that the first picture you've ever taken with Santa was at Walmart of all places. Well, he showed up in front of the seafood and we zipped over there. Well, we don't usually go to the Walmart in Nicholasville so we went in the wrong direction. Kristie asked, in desperation, where the seafood was. A lady heard her and told her where it was. I kinda always thought that seafood was in the sea. Oh, am I ever so clever?
      Well, that's it for today. Allison is coming over this afternoon. So I am gonna let you go for now. Love ya.

Dear Rebecca,
                     Hi there, you pretty little thing. Right now we are in the living room and you are watching a Baby Einstein video. I believe this one is Baby Shakespeare. You like it quite well. I think you like Sesame Street better than Baby Einstein, but I think that Baby Einstein is a bit more educational for you at this point. You like the Baby Einstein puppets, but lets face it, they are no Bert & Ernie or Elmo.
   We have had a good day today. This morning you got up shortly before Daddy left & he got to see you. He loves that. You are always all smiles in the morning. I gave you a bottle that you didn't finish & we played on the floor a while after Daddy left. Then I put you in your Bouncy and got you off to sleep for your morning nap. I layed on the Love Seat next to you & did not think that I would go to sleep but I did. You & I slept to almost 9:00 a.m. Thats a big deal for the both of us, that was nearly a two hour nap. Then we got up & I went to change your diaper because you had a big number 2 (I know you love hearing about this) and when I got you all cleaned up & the diaper off you peed everywhere. So needless to say I had to give you a bath & clean that mess up. Ok, you got your bath, which you loved as always and a nice fresh new suit of clothes on. I put you in your crib while I cleaned up our earlier mess & you played with the mirror Daddy bought you for your bed. You really love it. You like looking at yourself. I think you are struck on yourself. But I don't blame you. You are so very pretty that I am struck on you too. After I cleaned up and washed my hands I brushed your pretty little hair and brought you downstairs for your second feeding. It was a little late due to the earlier chaos but you did not fuss at all. You ate it all up & then had some oatmeal with apples. I don't think you care much for the oatmeal or the apples. You prefer rice & bananas. And I discovered today that you do not like your Turkey at all. Actually I discovered it yesterday but you made it known to me today by not eating any of it at all.
   Anyway. After your second feeding you sat in your high chair while I emptied the diswasher & then I took you to watch Kids Favorite Songs while you played on your Mat some. You were getting tired so I picked you up & got you off to sleep for your second nap. You napped a little while & then Aunt Lynn called asking if we could baby sit your cousins next Saturday & I said yes. They have to finish their Christmas shopping. Daddy & I are very nearly done. I have ordered a few more things that we needed off of the internet today (including gates for the stairs & into the kitchen-Mommy does not want you to get hurt) & tonight Daddy is going shopping for Mommy to get her some things for Christmas. Santa Claus is bringing you a lot of the things you need because you have been a very good girl. What Santa does not get I am sure Mommy & Daddy & Lynn & Rodney & Mamaw & Papaw will take care of. And all of your cousins, of course. Well little one I just bounced you to sleep for your afternoon nap & I do not want to disturb you so I will let you go for now. I Love You!

Dear Rebecca
                  Hey, Little Girl. Well, they changed my work schedule. As of this moment I don't get off until the 22nd of this month. According to the new post we are supposed to be off the week after Christmas but I wouldn't bet the farm on it. I heard that if we can get parts to run that we will and I am just assuming that we will get the parts. I'm real bummed out over this whole situation. We had planned on taking a day trip down to Hazard on the 18th but I reckon that's out now. I'm just a little sad right now but I will be fine. When I'm sad your mother is sad and when she's not happy no one is happy. Well, with the exception of you. You are always happy. You are a happy baby.
      Well, we got your brother's presents mailed today. It cost us 60 some dollars just to mail all his stuff. Your mother was real glad to get that done. Your mother just informed me that we have got to get some freezer bags. This is all important stuff that you'll want to know about when you grow up. That's why I'm telling you about it. I will be sure and let you know what happens with the freezer bag dilemma. Well, I'm gonna let you go for now. Love ya!

Dear Rebecca
                  Hey, Little Girl. I just got done changing the address of your baby blog on the internet. I had a free website when I was with the internet service provider, Mikrotec. Now I am with Adelphia. I now have cable internet as you well know. Anyway I have to move my entire website and since these pages are the most important to us I decided to do that first.
      You had your first meat tonight; turkey in turkey broth. Your Mommy says that you are not sure whether you like it or not. She says we can't really tell if you like something or not until the second time you try it. You also started on oatmeal today. You're getting so big. And Daddy is so proud of your pretty tooth.
      I think that the 17th of this month is my last day of the year. I sure hope so. that's what the board says. I reckon it's true. I am gonna read it again tomorrow just to make sure. I don't wanna get to excited. Just a short one tonight. I love ya, Hon.

Dear Rebecca,
                        Right now you are having your Daddy tend to you because you are fussy because you are tired. He is going to put you in your Bouncy & *Bounce* you to sleep. You laughed at Daddy for the first time tonight, That made him feel very good. Your Daddy loves you very much there, little one. Daddy is now looking at pictures of Thanksgiving Day dinner and talking about how hungry it makes him. He just ate, the silly man. Of course fish sticks and french fries is no comparison to a nice big Turkey Dinner. You had your very first green beans on Thanksgiving day. Your very first big people food, other than cereal, ever, as a matter of fact. As Daddy said before you prefer the green veggies like green beans and peas other than the fruits. You did not care much for squash or peaches at all. I mix bananas and pears in your cereal but you won't eat the pears by themselves.
   One of your little teeth has popped through. Now we are just waiting for it to grow bigger and you will officially have one beautiful tooth. I am going to record that it came in tonight in your Baby Book. I am trying to keep that up for you too. I want you to have lots of things to remember your childhood when you grow up. Mommy does not & that pains her. Most of Mommy's childhood pictures & keepsakes burned up in a fire. Daddy has lots of his pictures and keepsakes and Mommy is glad of that. Someday I am sure he will show them all to you.
   Well, you've been quite the little spitter-upper today and I am going to wager that you will need a bath tonight. So I am going to let you go for now and spend a few minutes with Daddy before I have to go and get you all ready for bed. I love you so much, little girl!

Dear Rebecca
                  Hello, Little Girl. It's Monday afternoon here at the old Lanham household. Your mother got me a new computer over the Thanksgiving weekend. I forgot to mention that. Well, not really a new computer. It's about two months old. She bought it off of one of her relatives in Hazard. It's much newer than our old one though.
      You had some peaches this evening. You didn't like them. You didn't like pears either. However, you did like peas. It seams that you prefer vegetables to fruits. That's cool with Daddy. You are a big fan of fruit juices though. Mommy says that your favorite is Banana-Strawberry and your least favorite is White Grape. You're doing great with your eating.
      I heard from a pretty good source that we will not have to work the week after Christmas. I won't believe it until I see it posted on the board. It should be posted tomorrow. I'll be sure to let you know how this turns out.
      Well, I want to watch some television with your Mommy before I have to take a shower and go to bed. You'll watch television with us. You like television. Your Mommy says we look exactly alike when we watch television. We've both got our leg cocked up and have the same blank stare on our faces. Like Daddy, like daughter. Guess what, Little One. Your Daddy loves you. I reckon you already know that.

Dear Rebecca,
                     Hey there little one. Right now you are sitting in Daddy's lap. You are very sleepy because you have not your afternoon nap. You are now tapping on Daddy's face. You are so sweet. Daddy is glad to be home and be with you. He won't let me concentrate on this because he wants me to look at this crazy man that has horns implanted in his head on the Maury Povich show.
   You had sweet peas for lunch today. I must say you did not care much for them. You ate them a lot better than you ate squash, but not as well as you ate the green beans. So far green beans are your favorite. You are one odd little munchkin. You didn't care for pears either but I am able to sneak those in on you in your cereal. You eat fruit mixed in with that awfully bland stuff they claim is cereal. So far it has been pears or bananas. I don't think you have a preference as long as the cereal tastes a little better than it does by itself. You are getting to be such a big girl now. And you have really been enjoying the Christmas tree Daddy & I put up for you. You like the colors and all of the sparkly lights. You are such a wonderful and sweet baby. Today you laughed and laughed while I tickled your belly & shook your arms back and forth.
   Now you are fussy so I am going to let you go and *bounce* you in your bouncy so that Daddy can play on the computer. I love you, little one.

Dear Rebecca,
                     Thursday afternoon and you are sound asleep. Thursday afternoon is not as nice as Friday afternoon but at least it's not Monday morning. You & Mommy went shopping this morning with Mamaw and Aunt Lynn. You never sleep really well when you go out so you are making up for it now.
      Your mother has been so busy wrapping presents the past week. She's wrapped right at 130 presents. We always go just a little overboard with Christmas. As you know, it is my favorite time of the year. We don't have room enough here to store all of the presents we have purchased so we took the majority down to Mamaw & Papaw's. Most of the ones we took down there are for your cousins anyway.
      We went to Sears and had holiday portraits made last night. You were dressed in the most darling little red dress with white fur trim and matching booties. I wore a blue shirt and my snowmen tie. I thought it was a black shirt but apparently I'm color blind. I didn't want to wear it because it wasn't what I thought it was. Your mamaw was over here and heard me complaining about the shirt and she went and told Papaaw and that got me in trouble with him. I'm beginning to suspect that my parents like your Mother more than me. Just kidding there, little girl.
      Well, I will find out officially Monday whether or not I have to work the week after Christmas. Just so you won't have to wait until then to find out i will go on and tell you that I am as sure that we are going to work as I am that I am sitting here right now. Gonna let you go. Love ya, Little one.

Dear Rebecca,
               Well, here it is at almost five a.m. on a Tuesday morning. You woke up for a bottle at three this morning. You must have been quite hungry because you stayed awake to finish nearly all of it. You usually fall sound asleep after four ounces and won't even give a good burp. Therefore, you usually spit up on me in the morning. Ha-Ha. You are so sweet. I tried going back to bed after you ate but I could not fall back asleep. I laid there for almost half an hour and then decided to get up. I will be tired later on today. The good news is, though, that most of the housework I have to do this week is now done. I just have to clean the upstairs sometime this week. So yay for me.
   You fussed a little bit last night. You were really tired and not feeling well & you were just so unhappy. It's ok if you want to fuss every now and then. You are such a good baby that you hardly ever do. However it breaks Mommy's heart to ever think that you are unhappy. I always want you to be happy & cheerful. I guess maybe I want too much. Babies & children have to fuss sometimes. I just want you to be as comfortable as possible.
   For now, you are still sleeping. It sounds like you are going to wake up any minute now, though. Daddy has to get up here in a bit and he always fumbles & stumbles around and makes a lot of noise when he rises so I would wager you'll be getting up then too. That will be pleasant for Daddy because he enjoys seeing you before he has to go to work. I don't blame him. He has to spend all day away from you. I don't think I could do that. If I were going to work it would have to be nights so that I could be here when you were awake. But it doesn't matter that is a moot point, I am not going to work. I'd rather be here with you all the time. You mean the world to me, little one.
   Well, this was just a quick post to tell you about some things. I am going to let you go so that I can get things ready for when you get up. I love you, little one!

Dear Rebecca,
                     Hello you little sleepyhead! You fell asleep so fast tonight, you poor thing. You must have been so very tired. I fed you two ounces of diluted juice with a teaspoon of cereal in it and two minutes after you finished it and burped you were out like a light. As Daddy has already told you, we have all had a very big weekend this weekend. Especially you. You've been passed around like a sack of taters. A very heavy sack of taters, but a sack of taters nonetheless. Daddy likes to say you're no bigger than they day you was born. (Or as he says, born-ded) Aunt Lynn cracked a joke about cousin Allison not being any bigger than the day she was born either and that really made Daddy laugh.
   Well as your dear old Dad told you we went to Hazard this weekend and spent some time with my family. I tend to do all of the cooking at our gatherings because well, to say it nicely, Aunt Mary cannot cook. To say it not so nicely, I don't trust the hospital in Hazard. I've never been there. Not the new one at least. I was born at the old one. Your Aunt Mary likes to send people to the hospital. She once gave Mommy a case of food poisoning on frozen fish sticks, if that tells you anything about her skills in the kitchen. All of the family we visited and talked to on the phone down there asked if she was cooking just to make sure that we were prepared to get ill and die. I reassured them that it would be MY PLEASURE to do all of the cooking so that would not happen to your dear old Mom & Dad. So anyway... we had a big feast and my Dad & Sister & her boyfriend & his sisters & Daddy & I really enjoyed it. But before the feast there was a trip to Wal-Mart.
   Mommy had a mini nervous break down at Wal-Mart. I sent Daddy to get an RC car for Dylan's brother Skyler & he left us standing at the jewelry counter. It took him nearly a half an hour to get back to the counter to get us. People were rushing by and almost running into you and I kept trying to keep you safe & away from crazy shoppers and also stay out of people's way. It got me really upset & I started to cry. I was afraid someone was going to run into you. Then I would have to kill them. And then Mommy would go to prison & Daddy would have to raise you all by himself. See why I got so upset? Ha-Ha. Just kidding. You have a fabulous Daddy. He really takes wonderful care of you. He & Mamaw & Allison watched you while I went to the grocery store today. It was supposed to just be him but they showed up. I am sure they had missed you & wanted to see you. You had on the little Christmas outfit Mamaw got you for Thanksgiving and she liked it. You won't wear the hat that goes with it though. You just do not like hats. Its ok, I understand. You want to show off your pretty hair. And I don't blame you, It is VERY pretty.
   Anyway, back to the point. Momma was having a nervous break down and Daddy finally found us. He looked at me wierd and well I guess it was a bit silly. I guess I just was tired & scared that you would get hurt by the single minded & determined mob of shoppers. In Hazard, Wal Mart is just about the only game in town. And EVERYONE in Hazard seemed to be there. Aunt Mary met us there and I had to stop what I was doing & go up & meet her. I nearly snapped her head off because I could not find what I needed & then I could not find Daddy. Aunt Mary tends to overlook Mommy when Mommy flips a wig. I guess she is rather used to it. Anyway, I survived the trip to Wal-Mart, but if there isn't something I REALLY want there next year, then I am just not going. If there is, I may just send Daddy. It's not worth losing my sanity, even if it is only temporary.
   Things worked out ok in the end though, and we all had a real nice Thanksgiving. As Daddy said before, we are most thankful for you, our beautiful baby girl. You are the most important person in our lives and we will always try to see to it that you are healthy & happy. I am thankful that God gave me a beautiful family with you and Daddy and I will always try in every way to make sure that we stay together. You and Daddy mean the world to me. I love you both so very much,.
   The Christmas tree really looks grand. I have wrapped nearly fifty presents tonight and barely put a dent in the heap that is here in the living room on the love seat. I am wore out so I am headed to bed after I check on you one last time. I love you, you beautiful little girl.

Dear Rebecca
               Here it is, early Sunday morning. We got back from Hazard around six Saturday evening. As you know this is the Thanksgiving weekend. I figured I'd take a few moments to fill you in on all the big happenings of the holiday.
      First, the dinner at the church from my, Dad's, side of the family was a smashing success as it has been since I can remember. All of your cousins thought you were the cat's meow. Your mother brought lots of food to the gathering. Everyone especially liked her mashed potatoes. Uncle Mike usually brings the potatoes, and he did this year as well, but your Mom's went much quicker than Mikes. That made your mother happy. She makes great mashed potatoes. I love them. Not to lumpy but just the right amount of solid tater bits to let you know that you are eating real mashed taters made from real potatoes. The kicker is, your Mother hates mashed potatoes. She also made a dish called cranberry freeze. Granny was the only person to try it and she really liked it. Everyone else kind of considered it a desert item and by the time everyone gets finished with their Thanksgiving meal there's really no room for desert. You had your first food other than cereal on Thanksgiving as well. You had some green beans. You seamed to like them quite well. Mamaw didn't think you would because I didn't like them as a baby. After a festive and joyous holiday celebration we went home to load up for our trip to Hazard.
      We got on the road at about the time we had wanted to. We had a nice leisurely drive down there. It's about a two hour drive. We listened to a couple of radio stations that were playing Christmas music until they got out of range then we searched for country music on the radio and talked. You slept all the way there, as you have every other time we've went. This makes your third trip down there. We finally arrived in Hazard. We decided to go to the hotel first and check in and then go visit your Papaw Lawrence and Aunt Mary. When we finally got there everyone was so excited to see you. Aunt Mary has a beagle pup that she calls Waddles and your Papaw Lawrence calls Pooch. You liked the dog but not as much as your mother. She just fell in love with the dog. Your mom worked in the kitchen all evening to get ready for the Thanksgiving feast that she was fixing for the next day. I tried to watch my Elf DVD but people down there seem to think that it's okay to talk while they are watching a movie or just get up and wander about for awhile. I couldn't really get into it because people wouldn't stay quiet and still. Eventually we went back to the hotel. We laid down at about nine that evening. All of us were very tired. Of course your mother and I are used to our Sterns & Foster mattress and this was not it. We had a terrible time getting to sleep. We finally did though. Of course you slept in your bouncy while we were down there and you slept like a baby, which of course you would seeing as how you are a baby and all.
      We all woke up at 4:30 a.m. the next morning. Actually you woke us up at 4:30 a.m. the next morning. We were gonna get up early anyway and hit Wal-mart for some Day After Thanksgiving sales. It was a mad house at Wal-mart. Your mother will tell you more about her adventures that day, I'm sure. I'll just say she didn't care much for the crowd. We got some decent bargains. Nothing earth shattering but decent. Mary showed up and hung out with us at Wal-mart for awhile before she went to work at the animal clinic. We left Wal-mart and went to get your Papaw Lawrence so he could show were Magic mart is. I've been there before but I'd forgotten how to get there. I'll remember next time. We went to Magic Mart and did a little more Christmas shopping and bought a neat little diaper bag for you. It was very tiny. Just enough room for a trip to the store or something like that. It'll be nice not to lug around your huge bag all the time. Then we visited a relative of your mother's and of you too, I would have to surmise. I don't know how she is related to y'all but she is. Anyway, Linda Gail is her name and she thought you were super cute as I knew she would. Then we went back to the hotel for something and we stopped at Taco Bell for lunch. Then back to Aunt Mary and Papaw Lawrence's home. Your mother spent the rest of the day cooking and I talked with your Papaw Lawrence, played with you and took a good long nap. Eventually Mary returned from work and her boyfriend was there, you really liked her boyfriend. He made you laugh so hard. Anyway, her boyfriend and some girls I assume were his sisters or his sister and her friends were also going to eat at our second Thanksgiving meal. Your mother fixed everything this time. Aunt Mary can not cook at all. We had a delicious turkey, some of those wonderful mashed potatoes, a fabulous sausage dressing, corn on the cob, candied sweet potatoes, home made Mac and cheese, watergate salad, green beans, cranberry sauce rolls, cranberry freeze, derby pie and pumpkin pie. Your mom really outdid herself. Then your hard working mother cleaned it all up after we ate while I watched a basketball game on television. Kentucky creamed Georgia State. Your Aunt Mary doesn't have cable so I had to watch it using bunny ears. I could hardly see a thing but I enjoyed it none the less. We returned to the hotel much later this night. Your mother was worn out and of course I'm sure you can understand why. I wasn't quite ready to sleep just yet so I stayed up and read some in the book your mother bought for me a few days ago, The DaVinci Code. I was afraid I was going to keep her awake with the light, but this was not the case. She fell asleep as soon as she hit the pillow. She said she only woke twice in the night to check on you. Just to make sure you were still breathing. I'm happy to report that on both occasions you were indeed still breathing. Your mother is a protective little mother hen in that way. Of course when I check on you in the middle of the night I also lay my hand on your little tummy just to make sure that I am still a daddy. I reckon I'm just as crazy as your mother sometimes. Anyway, I read 40 or so pages and went to bed. I also had no trouble falling to sleep.
      The next morning we woke up around seven or so. I went down to the hotel lobby and got us some coffee creamer for our coffee. We had some coffee and you had a bottle of Similac Advance with Iron. We then loaded up all of our stuff and checked out of the hotel. We had breakfast at Huddle House. We didn't like it last time when we had breakfast there with Mamaw and Papaw but it wasn't bad this time. It wasn't great but it wasn't bad. We stopped at the Big Lots next door to Huddle House and bought a few items. Maybe ten dollars worth. We then went back to Wal-mart to have a more leisurely shopping experience. We bought a few more items. You got a new carrying case for your wipes and some new onces. You are getting to big for your old ones. You also got a new pair of shoes. I'm wagering you'll never wear them out. Daddy also got a new pair of shoes, dress shoes. I'm wagering I'll never wear them out either. The Dollar Tree is next door to Wal-mart in Hazard so we decided to take a look in there. The Hazard Dollar Tree is not nearly as nice as any of the Dollar Trees in Lexington. We got some gasoline for the trip home and went to see your Aunt Mary and Papaw Lawrence before we left. Everyone was sorry to see us go. Who am I kidding, they were sorry to see you go. They didn't care if your mother and I stayed, went or jumped off a mountain. We then left Hazard. Your mother was hungry so we stopped in Jackson and got her a cheeseburger. We got back into Lexington around 4:30 p.m. so we went to the Fayette Mall. We got your first Christmas ornament, I got a bath scrubby, we bought some candles at Yankee Candle and your mother bought some smelly good stuff as presents and for herself at Victoria's Secret. After a quick stop at McDonald's for burgers we headed for the house.
      We got home and you were asleep so your mother and I unloaded the truck of all the Christmas presents we had bought over the weekend. We started to decorate the tree but you decided it was time for your bed so your mother took you upstairs and I stayed down to go through the bags in the kitchen. Your mother stopped me because apparently she has something for mew in there. If she does, I didn't see it. You went to sleep and your mother and I decorated the tree. It's a really pretty tree. It's nicer than any I believe we've ever had. I know it's the nicest tree you've ever had up until this point. Your mother cleaned up the living room and prepared all of the Christmas presents for wrapping and then she went to bed and I sat down and had some left over turkey, mashed potatoes, sausage dressing, cranberry sauce and I washed it all down with a Holiday Spice Pepsi.
      After I finished my little snack I began this blog and now I'm finishing this blog. I'm sure your mother will have something to say about our Thanksgiving weekend as well. I have so much to be thankful for during this holiday season. I have a lovely wife who works hard so I can have a lovely home. I have a really good job, even though I'm gonna have to work the week after Christmas. I have an extended family that loves and cares about me. But most of all I have you. You are the most special blessing I've ever known in my life and I love you so very much.

Dear Rebecca
               Happy Thanksgiving! Today, thirty seven years ago your Mamaw brought your Daddy home from the hospital. I wasn't a super healthy baby like you. I was very sick when I was born. The doctors said I probably wouldn't survive, but as is obvious, I did. Yippee! They also said I would be retarted if I did survive. And even though it's a hotly debtaed issue in some circles, I don't think I'm even a little bit retarted.
      Mama has been cooking for days and days. She's still cooking this late morning. She's getting ready to feed you just this minute. We're going over to the church, where we have our family Thanksgiving celebration, here in about an hour. You're gonna eat some green bean baby food today. You've been on cerealfor a little over a week and your mother and I feel it's time for you to step it up just a bit. After we eat and visit with all of our kin we're gonna hit the road to Hazard so we can all have Thanksgiving with your Momma's kin.
      Well, there's a few more things I need to take care of here on this old computer before we have to head out so I will let you go. I just want you to know, before I do, that this is probably my happiest Thanksgiving ever. The last few years have been real bad for your Mother and I, but all of that is over. You are here and have changed both of us for the better. So this Thanksgiving, you are the thing that both your Mother and I are the most thankful for. You are the answer to many prayers. We both love you so very much. Let me wish you one last time, Happy Thanksgiving.

Dear Rebecca,
               It's just you & me this morning, Little Girl. Your mother is sleeping upstairs. She gets up with you just about every day of the week so I'm letting her sleep on this Sunday morning. I'm supposed to get up with you on Saturday and Sunday mornings but your mom gets up with you anyway on Saturdays. We've had lots of daddy and daughter time this weekend. Yesterday afternoon just as we were about to settle down for some weekend tivo watching your mamaw called and told your mom that she was going to join them for a girls night out. In our family girls night out means fast food and Wal-mart. Anyway. I took care of you all night last night. I was kinda apprehensive about it. I'd never watched you by myself for any great length of time. As a matter of fact I've never looked after any baby for a length of time. We did real good together. You watched some Sesame Street videos as I played with your blog.I fed you a bottle then you took a nap as I watched the Kentucky Wildcats stomp Coppin State in basketball. Then I gave you your bath. I'd never given you a bath before. We did great though. I used a vapor type bath soap because of your cold. By the way, you've given me your cold. Then I put you in your sleeper bag and fed you a few ounces and rocked you to sleep for the night. That's the first time I've ever done that as well. Mamaw rocked you to sleep last weekend when your mother hurt her arm and we had to go to the hospital but every other day of your life your mother has rocked you to sleep. After you went to sleep I worked on getting together some Christmas music so I can put them on a cassette for our trip to Hazard Thanksgiving day. Eventually I hope to put a compact disc player in the Explorer. Your mom got home from a big Christmas shopping spree and we watched some television and went to bed.
      Your mom woke me up and told me that you were awake so I rolled off of our super comfy new Sterns & Foster mattress and changed your diaper and fed you your breakfast bottle. You took a nap and I talked to you a bit. Now you are watching one of your Sesame Street videos. It seems that Snuffy's meatball nearly rolled over Elmo. It was a giant meatball and Elmo is such a tiny red monster. That's all for today. Love ya, Little one.

Dear Rebecca,
                        Hi there, gorgeous! Right now you are sleeping so sweetly (with a scowl on your face I might add) in your bouncy in the living room here. I am, clearly, posting a blog and Daddy is reading a computer magazine. I just totally spaced out for a minute because I am, as always, tired. We did some shopping today as Daddy told you earlier, and neither one of us (you or I) slept very well last night. Anyway... I want to tell you about the day I found out I was pregnant with you.
      Daddy was at work and Mommy had worried about being late for a visit for a while. Mommy was still awfully hurt from the accident and thought maybe that was why her visit was late. I waited nearly two weeks before I even thought about buying a test. I wanted to be sure I wasn't just being a hypochondriac -I can be one of those sometimes- and so I waited. Mommy's friend Belinda came over and sat and talked to her for a while and then said she had to go to the Family Dollar. I asked if I could ride with her because I really was growing suspicious that I might be pregnant. Of course she was excited to find out but not really as excited as I was. I went and got the test. The top of the box is in your baby book. It only cost four dollars. I know, we are cheap. Live with it.
      Anyway, by the time we got home Daddy was there. He was busy playing on the computer and so I went into the bathroom and tinkled on the stick. Belinda hung around a minute to find out the results. The results really did not even take a minute. Those little lines started to turn as soon as I tinkled on the stick. My suspicions were confirmed. I was pregnant. You were no bigger than a pea then. Now you're no bigger than a giant pea.
      Daddy wasn't really all that excited at first. It kind of hurt my feelings but we had been unlucky with pregnancies before. So I could understand. I was worried myself. Especially after you gave us a scare that night. I started spotting a little and we went to the ER. But everything was OK, and after we saw you on the first ultrasound at 7 weeks, and heard your little heartbeat, we knew you'd be OK and Daddy got real excited. He started buying you little baby accessories that very next week. I can't remember what, but he did. We bought all the stuff for your room before we knew if you were a boy or a girl. And I think it turned out great. It's really cute!
      I am so proud of you for eating all your cereal this afternoon. Sometimes you spit it out because you really don't want it or aren't hungry. You feeling bad probably doesn't help either. Mommy's sorry you don't feel good but tonight I am going to give you some tylenol and a vapor bath then slip you down in a nice warm baby bag blanket and rock you to sleep in your room where I am running your cool mist vaporizer. Maybe then you will feel better and tonight you can get some sleep. I love you so much little girl.
      Well, Daddy filled you in on everything else. I'll let you go so that scowl will disappear. I love you, Rebecca Lynn!

Dear Rebecca,
                  You are 20 weeks old today or five months. We went to have breakfast at McDonalds this morning and then we went to the Kroger store to purchase some stuff for Thanksgiving and some stuff to eat until then. We also went to K Mart for some pampers and stuff. The three of us are going down to Hazard for your third visit on Thanksgiving day, after we eat with all of my side of the family. Your Mother is going to do most of the cooking down in Hazard because your Aunt Mary is not much of a cook. We're gonna be staying at the Super 8 motel while we are down there. We're gonna get up early Friday morning and hit Wal-mart. Then we're gonna show you off to some more people and we want to see your half first cousin, once removed, Arianna. Your half Aunt Carolyn hasn't had the extreme pleasure of seeing you yet so we want to take you over to her so she can see you. I'm gonna take the DVD of Elf with me to Hazard so your Papaw Laurence, Aunt Mary & I can watch it while your mother fixes our turkey and fixings.
         You have a cold today. You don't feel very good at all but you are still a fantastic baby. You are not over fussy at all. You wheeze and cough all the while you are laughing and grinning. One of the things we went to K Mart for was a cool mist humidifier. They didn't have one there so we had to make a quick stop at CVS. We got it there. You had some more cereal today. You like it with just a touch of prune baby food. The first time your mother fed you the cereal with prunes you didn't take to it very well. Then your mother took a big bite of your cereal and prunes to show you how yummy it was. She said the taste nearly killed her but she put on a big show of how much she loved it and after that you liked it to. You're getting to be such a big girl.
      I posted your five month picture today. I took it as you sat in your high chair just before you had your cereal. I tasted your prunes and they weren't half bad. Your mother wanted me to taste the cereal but I don't think I want to do that.
      Well, that's all for today. We are gonna look at television today. Your mother and I don't get to watch much television during the week because we are so captivated with watching you. Of course we don't do so well during the weekend either because you are just as cute and sweet and smart and pretty, as your mother likes to say, on the weekend as you are during the week. We both love you, Rebecca.
      I was talking in the last few posts that we found out about you on my birthday. I was wrong. We found out about you one year ago today. I'm sure your Mother will, or rather has, fill you in on all that. When there are two posts on the same day they are in the wrong order in the hard copy of this blog. I suppose I could take the time to edit that manually but I just don't want to.
      Your Mother just made me get up and stand on the other side of the room because she was trying to get you to go to sleep but you were to interested in watching me that you wouldn't. I walked over there and less than a minute later you were sound asleep and still are. Well, I'm gonna let your mother poste her blog now I suppose. Your mother just got on me because I am pressing the keys on the keyboard to loudly. Your mother is one crazy bird. A fabulous crazy momma bird. You have a great mother and I have a great wife. I just wish I was a better husband. Love ya, Little One

Dear Rebecca,
         Gee, I am sorry that we didn't get a chance to post a blog on the one year anniversary of finding out that Mommy was pregnant with you. It was just such a hectic day. Your mother ordered Montgomery Gentry New Years Eve concert tickets for us as a birthday present. Lynard Skynard and Trace Adkins are also going to perform at the show. I was a huge fan of Lynard Skynard when I was in high school. Your mom really likes Trace Adkins. She likes that song of his that's real popular right now, Rough & Ready. Your mother & I have never been out on New Years Eve. She's gone out with her friends a time or two and we've hosted a party a few times and we've just hung out together alone a few times. It'll be fun to be out on New Years Eve. You're gonna bring in the New Year at Mamaw & Papaw's.
      Mamaw & Papaw, Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney, Allison & Jacob, and Granny went with the three of us to Cracker Barrel for my birthday dinner. We were really late because we had to wait at the church for Allison to get back from the UK-Vandy game where she was working at the concession stand with others from her church youth group. UK won this time. Kentucky has been having a typically terrible year in football. Luckily basketball season is just about here and Kentucky always has really great basketball teams. Anyway we finally got to Cracker Barrel and I had country fried steak with mashed taters and a double orders of carrots and corn muffins with a coke to drink. I also had a piece of chocolate pecan pie with vanilla ice cream and coffee for desert. Your mother had chicken fingers, mac & cheese and apple with biscuits and a diet coke. We then all went to the Wal-mart on the north side of town. We all prefer the south side store but we just happened to be on the north side that night. So we went there. We spent a whole lot of money, as usual. We did get you a very cute Christmas dress while we were there.
      Sunday night your mother passed out because she was not feeling very well. She hurt her arm real bad so we went to the emergency room at Central Baptist, where you were born, but as we were walking in the electric went out. We figured that it would take forever to get all their computers back online so we went to St. Joseph's Emergency Room, where Granny went after she broke her hip, instead. They got us in and out a whole lot quicker than I thought they would. It was still eleven o'clock at night by the time we got home. Mamaw came over before we left and stayed with you while we went to the hospital. We stopped at Frisches for burgers before we came home because we were hungry and knew we wouldn't want to cook when we got home.
      Monday night we watched you try to roll over for an hour and a half. You finally did and Mommy got so excited but she decided it didn't count because you pushed off of your play mat support thingy. Then you did it for real while I was in the kitchen making you a bottle. You are so entertaining for your mother & myself. Your mom took you up to bed after you rolled over and you went straight to sleep because you had worked so hard at rolling over. After you went to sleep your mother & I went right after you because we had stayed up so early the night before with the hospital thing.
      Tuesday I had to go to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned and then we all went to the grocery store, Long John Silver for Mommy and Arby's for Daddy and then to the drugstore to get some medicine for your mother. While at the drugstore, your Mom also bought herself an elf hat complete with ears and she bought me a copy of the new movie Elf with Will Farrell. It was released this week. Then we came home and ate and watched a little television and went to bed. Your mother chatted my left leg nearly off as we lay in bed so we didn't get to sleep until nearly eleven. That's why I am so tired right now.
      Today you had your very first bite of solid food. Well, I don't suppose it was actually solid. You had some rice cereal. I don't think you knew what to think about it. You ate it all up, three teaspoons of cereal with two teaspoons of water. Your mother seems to think that you were interested in the cereal but unsure of it. In a few more weeks we'll give you some peas. Daddy loves peas. He really didn't care much for them when I was a child but I love them now. You just finished a bottle and now your mother is cuddling you. Mamaw dropped by and watched as you took your last bite of cereal.
       Well, I'm just about done with this blog post. I'm gonna set down and watch some television with your mother and watch you play in the floor on your play mat. Love ya, Little One.

Dear Rebecca,
                     I can't believe I forgot to mention that you rolled over for the very FIRST time on your own Monday. Daddy & I were so very proud of you. Of course if you never rolled over we'd still be very proud of you. You're doing great little girl. We love you!

Dear Rebecca,
                     Hey there, Becca Bird. That's what I have been calling you lately. Becca Bird. Becca because well, that is your name, (well technically it's Rebecca, but you know) and Bird, because when you were very little I called you my baby bird. You used to open up your mouth like a little bird when you were hungry. Now you just chew on your tongue or suck your fist really hard.
Mommy is having a hard time typing this because her arm is very sore. Mommy has a throat infection and it made Mommy dizzy and made Mommy faint the night before last and twist her arm. Daddy took Mommy to the hospital and they ran lots of tests but nothing was broken so that is really good. They gave Mommy an antibiotic and I am hopefully going to get it filled today. They gave me a prescription for Motrin too but I can just take regular old ibuprofen and keep my money in my pocket for that. Mamaw kept you here at the house when Mommy and Daddy went to the hospital. She says the two of you had lots of fun. You were sound asleep by the time Mommy and Daddy got back from the Emergency Room. It was very, very late. We all went to bed early last night because we were all very, very tired.
      You just had a bath. That was a bit of a struggle with a sore arm. It had to be done, though, because you were getting kind of stinky. You are quite the little spitter-upper and you had spit up on yourself some. The spit-up is milk and it sours after a while. So you can see the need for a bath. They had given Mommy a sling but she got disgusted with it today and just took it off. I wore it for almost two days. If my arm gets really bad sore again I will put it back on. The worst part is Mommy is all coughy, sneezy, & stuffed up. That's what the antibiotic is for. You look so cute in your little pink suit watching your movie. You really are such a fantastic baby. I love you so much.
      We all went to Cracker Barrell for your Daddy's birthday Saturday. You were such a wonderful & fantastic baby and everyone made a big fuss over you like they always do. You are such a sweet and friendly little thing. Mommy bought Daddy concert tickets to Montgomery Gentry on New Years Eve for his birthday. Of course Mommy is going with him. He could take someone else if he really wanted to but I think he wants to take me. Your Daddy loves me. We are staying at the Super 8 in Lexington after the concert. Mamaw is going to keep you overnight and I will miss you terribly but I know that she will take wonderful care of you. Of course you are such a good baby it's very easy to take care of you. The Super 8 is where we stay when we go to Hazard. We are going to Hazard with you on Thanksgiving Day and you will stay at the Super 8 there again. Sometimes we stay with Aunt Mary in the summer but there is no heat in her trailer and Mommy doesn't want you to freeze your little baby buns off. Heck, Mommy doesn't want to freeze her big Mommy buns off.
      Well, it's time for you to eat and you are starting to let me know. So I am going to let you go for now. Just wanted to fill you in on the eventful and somewhat stressful weekend. I love you, little girl!

Dear Rebecca,
               It's Friday. I like Friday afternoons probably the best of all. The hope & promise of a brand new weekend is still fresh. Work was not as bad as I had feared today. Still, I had a little scare. They have told units 10 & 11 that they will be working the week after Christmas and they said that they were thinking about requiring others to work as well. I am on unit 1. I would hate that more than even I could fathom at this time. I really really don't wanna work the week aster Christmas. I have decided that I am going to boycott the holiday lunch that General Electric has every year. If they care no more for the holidays than that I can not pretend that they do. This is why I am so adamant about you going to college. I want you to have the power, that only a good education can provide, to make your own rules for your life and not have to bow to the whims of other people.
   You had your very first juice today. You loved it. You sucked down about two ounces in record time. It was pear juice. We also have white grape and apple juices for you. We've also discovered that you think the word turd is hilarious You're in the kitchen with your mother right now. You don't like being away from your mother very much at all. Your mom is cooking our supper. We're having bacon & eggs. Sometimes Daddy likes breakfast for supper.
   And what is it with you always having your tounge stuck out these last few days. You are as cute as a button with your little tounge poked out and making rasberries at us.
   Well, I'm gonna go play with my new cable internet connection. They just found Scott Peterson guilty of killing his wife and unborn child and I wanna watch the video over the internet because I can now that I have high speed internet. Love ya!

Dear Rebecca,
           Hey there little one. How are you today? You seem to be doing just fine. Right now you are sitting in your high chair and playing with your attatched teething toy and watching one of your Sesame Street Movies. I think this one is about Kid's favorite songs. You really seem to like it. You especially like Bert and Snufalufacus. I don't know if I spelled that right but it's close enough. You also enjoy cookie monster quite a bit.
   You may be wondering why you are sitting in your high chair when you aren't even eating baby food yet. Well, I will tell you. Even if you are not wondering why. We are trying to get you used to sitting in it before we give you solids. That way you won't have to adjust to two things at once. I don't know if it is going to make any difference or not but I am trying really hard to make things easy for you. I always want you to be happy.
   You aren't going to get solid foods until you are six months old. Some people start at four months but I was reading up on it and waiting reduces the risk of heart disease, child and adult onset diabetes, obesity and other things. I don't want you to have any of those things. Not only do I want you to be happy, I want you to be healthy. You seem to be doing really well over there in your high chair. That makes me happy.
   Well tomorrow is your father's 37th birthday. Can you believe that Daddy had to wait so long to have you? And Mommy had to wait a while, too. Just not as long as Daddy. I suppose your Daddy told you we are going up to Cracker Barrell for his birthday tomorrow night. Mamaw and Papaw and I think Aunt Lynn and Uncle Rodney will be meeting us up there. I know that you will be good because you always are. Even when you have had shots and are cranky you still manage to smile and be friendly with everyone. You really are a super-fantastic baby. We are so lucky to have you.
   Well it's time for me to go and feed you now so I'll let you go. I love you little one!

Dear Rebecca,
                     Hello my sweet lil' baby girl. Right now you are napping here in the living room in your bouncy. You woke up at 3:10 a.m. this morning for a bottle. You usually sleep through the night, or at least until 5:00 a.m., so you must have been really hungry. Ok, back from being on the phone with Mamaw. It looks like we are going up to sit with Granny for a while today. Granny thinks the world of you, little one. I know she will be excited to see you. Everyone always is.
   Well, this was just a quick note to tell you I love you. I was going to write a longer post but now I have to get my butt in gear and go and finish up my housework so we can go and sit with Granny today. I love you, little one!!!

Dear Rebecca,
                  Hooray! Daddy just got connected to cable internet. He had a little bit of trouble because he tried to hook it up with the router from Tivo connected. It didn't work. I have to fix all that tomorrow but I don't forsee any problems. Or rather much of a problem. It is so very fast. I know you don't care about any of this. I know your mother doesn't. She got cable internet for me for my birthday. I'm gonna be 37 years old. I am so very very young.
   Well, you went to the doctor yesterday. I took a half day of vacation so I could be there with you. Before we went to the doctor though, your mother & I went to the courthouse to renew the registration on the crappy Ford Escort and renewed my driver's license. Then we got my hair cut. It was a kinda crappy haircut. I used to have a guy named Gary Campbell cut my hair, He had been cutting my hair since I was 18 or 19. He unexpectedly passed away last year and I haven't been able to find anybody that can cut my hair worth a diddle squat since. It was really sad when he passed away. He was so very young. I think he was in his mid-fourties.
   Okay, after I got my very crappy hatchett job we went to the dentist. Daddy had his teeth cleaned and Mommy had a meeting with the doctor regarding all the work that is going to have to be done to repair her teeth from the accident. Before the dentist Daddy had a Mocha Moolatte from Dairy Queen.
   Then off to the baby doctor. You weighed 15 pounds and 15 ounces. You were 23 inches long and your noggin was 42 and a half centimeters in diameter. You are still so little. You rolled over from front to back for the very first time in the doctor's office. You did it twice. Your mother was so excited and you laughed and laughed. Then it was time for three shots. They poked your little legs and you screamed. Your mother balled her eyes out. The nurse looked at her like she had lost her ever loving mind. You were real healthy and we were real happy.
   You are getting kinda fussy and I've been on the computer way to much tonight so I am gonn let you go and spend some time with you and Mommy. Love ya, Rebecca.