Dear Rebecca,
                  Hello little one. This is the very last post of your first year out of my tummy with us. I can't tell you how very proud I am of you. My love for you only grows more each day. Just when I think I couldn't love you a smidgen more, my heart opens up and finds room for it to fill wth your smile and your kisses. You are the most wonderful blessing I have ever had.
      A whole one year old Sunday! My time has really flown. I can't believe it. You are getting bigger and bigger but you will always be my baby girl. Always. I don't care if you are eight months, eight, or eigthy. You will ALWAYS be my baby. I love you so much. I just wanted to let you know that. You are the best baby ever! And I wanted you to have this poem in additon to everything else you'll get for your birthday. I hope you like it.

Tiny

Tiny little kisses,
From your tiny little lips,
Tiny little touches,
From your tiny fingertips.

Those tiny little hugs you give,
From those tiny little arms;
They're the reason that I live.
Those and your childish charms.

The tiny little cry I hear,
In the middle of the night,
The way you smile when I near,
To turn on your tiny light.

Your tiny little toys,
That travel 'neath my feet,
They bring you tiny little joys,
And make you smile so sweet.

Your tiny little eyes,
And your tiny little nose,
Your tiny little ears,
And your tiny little toes.

It amazes me how something
So very tiny and so very small,
Is the one thing on this earth,
That I love the most of all.

I love you Rebecca
Love Mommy
6-30-05

      I love you Rebecca. I always have and I always will. You will always be my tiny baby.

Dear Rebecca,
               Greeting, favorite daughter of mine; we all had a whole lot of fun the past few days. On Sunday morning you and your Mother went to church and I slept in. I know I shouldn't have and I would have gone with y'all if your Mother would have gotten me up out of bed but she decided that I needed some more sleep. She finally did wake me up at around eleven that morning, we go to the early service at church, and told me to get a shower and get dressed because we were all going down to Hazard for a few days. This was the first I had heard of such a trip but I didn't have anywhere else to be and I had had a whole lot of sleep so I was more than happy to go see your family on your Mother's side. I got showered and dressed and then we were off. We stopped at McDonalds for a quick burger for the road and we filled up the Taurus at the new Convenient store; it's called the new Convenient even though it's been there for thirty years or so because the old Convenient has been there for thirty-five years; then we hit the road.
      We made pretty decent time and got there relatively early. Your Aunt Mary wasn't expecting us at all and she was so very glad to see us all but especially she was glad to see you. It was so very hot and humid in Aunt Mary's mobile home. We eventually decided to go to Walmart and purchase a small fan for you so you wouldn't be too hot. We also bought a whole lot of stuff to grill out while we were there. I tried to fix the grilled onions I had done such a great job at on Father's Day but we purchased cheap bullion cubes and onions that were much too big for our purpose. We also bought some burger patties, stadium brats, cheddar brats, chips, potato salad and assorted other items one may need to grill out. I started the grill and fixed the onions and then I went outside because it was cooler in the shade on the side of Aunt Mary's Trailer than inside of her Trailer. The temperature has been in the mid-nineties the last few weeks. I sat outside with your Papaw Lawrence who we have all decided will be called Pappy that day hence. We grilled the onions and enjoyed the nice view they have of the mountains rising up on either side of them. The onions didn't turn out because of the faulty materials I had to work with and the fact that it had been so long since I had built a charcoal grill fire that I had forgotten how to do it correctly. It was getting really late and everyone was hungry so I threw the hamburgers on the grill in the dark and tried to grill them up as best as I could. They actually turned out really good. Aunt Mary, your mama and I watched a new film on DVD called Hitch starring Will Smith. Pappy and you both had gone to sleep. The movie was really very good. We all enjoyed it very much. You had a hard time sleeping because you were in the kitchen in your pack N' play and Aunt Mary's kitchen really isn't separated from the living room. Eventually we all turned out the lights and your Mother took you in her arms as you both tried to get some sleep on Aunt Mary's chaise lounger. Meanwhile, I lied down on the sofa. You went to sleep and your Mom put you back in your pack n' play. We all went to sleep.
      The next morning we woke up relatively early for a trip to Carr Fork Lake. We packed up all of our picnic stuff; the grill, all the food, charcoal and everything else one might need for a beautiful day at the lake. We arrived at 10:30 or so that morning. You played in sand for the very first time in your life while your Mom and Aunt Mary waded into the lake to check out the temperature. The water was very warm because it had been so hot recently. We all waded into the water. You had a great time. At the deepest part of the roped in swimming area it was only up to my neck, of course we didn't take you out that far. I was about ready to go get the grill started for lunch when I noticed drops of rain on the water. We all hoped it would blow over so we stayed a few moments more but the intensity of the rain continued to increase. Eventually we decided that we had better call it a very short day at the lake. We had only been in the water for twenty minutes or so. So instead of getting grilled burgers and brats by the lake we had Hardees burgers in Aunt Mary's trailer. Aunt Mary went into her bedroom for a nap before she had to be at work at four. The three of us decided that we were going to go visiting your other Hazard relatives. We went and saw your Aunt Carolyn, your half first cousin Melissa and her girls which would be your half first cousins once removed and we also got to see Arianna who is also your half first cousins once removed. She is the daughter of your half first cousin, Marietta who we didn't get a chance to see while we were down there. You were born in early July of last year and Arianna was born in late July. I like to get pictures of you two together whenever I can so we can watch you two grow up together in pictures. Unfortunately, you and Arianna will probably never get to know each other very well but at least there will be lots of pictures of the two of you together.
      We decided to leave later that evening. We went back to Aunt Mary's place and we grilled out one last time with your Pappy and then we packed up and visited Aunt Mary where she works and we headed home. We arrived home around midnight and you and your Mom went straight to bed. I stayed up and worked on some pictures I took down there and played with some videos I got with our new digital video camera. I edited and burned a DVD of the video and images and if I do say so myself, it turned out quite nice.
      This morning your mother had some chores she needed to attend to so I looked after you until she returned. She had an idea about taking you to Jacobson Park for a picnic. I said sure at first but then decided that I had done all the driving I care to do for awhile while we were in Hazard so we stayed here at the house and had frozen pizza for supper. You went to sleep and your mother and I watched some television until she went to bed.
      The blog problem still isn't fixed but at least I know what the problem is now. It's not my fault or the fault of the program I use to post my blog but the fault of blogger.com, the blog hosting site. I will not go into specifics because I believe I would bore you and everyone else who might be reading this blog. I just hope it's fixed soon.
      This may very well be my last post of your first year. It's been a wild ride. We've had nothing but joy from you since the minute they sliced open your Mommy's belly and pulled you out. You have been an absolute joy of a child. Even from the beginning you never cried unless there was a problem. Mommy and Daddy may not have been able to figure out what that problem was right away but we always knew that there was one. You have never cried to hear your lungs work. You started sleeping through the night very early on and for that I'm sure Mommy is thankful. You have always been such a cheerful baby. A smile for everyone, even when most babies where entering their stranger anxiety stage you still loved to be made over by people who were complete strangers to you. You have not suffered from any great amounts of separation anxiety either. If we leave you with Mamaw & Papaw you remain just as happy as a lark and wave us goodbye with a smile on your face. You've changed our lives in ways that we could only imagine before. I know a love now that is absolutely 100% unselfish. I love your mother with all my heart and soul but it's really another level of love one feels for a creature such as yourself that I had a part in creating. I'm absolutely positive that your Mother would agree with that statement. I want to thank you for the last year and I know that the years to come will only get better. You have no idea how much love I have for you. I have always loved my parents and my sister but my love for you eclipses all other loves I have ever known. I will always be there for you and do what I can to help you succeed in life just as my own parents have been there for me. So I want you to always remember one thing and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               Hello, Little Girl. Your first birthday is only eight days away. We sure weren't expecting this at this time last year. All we could think about was how you were going to look when you were born. You were a beauty and you get even prettier every day. Your Mom has a real big party planned for you. You also have presents galore. I think you will have a grand time.
      I am off for my vacation now. I have two weeks of vacation and an additional week of lay off. I'm excited about that. I love getting paid for no work. I'll probably post a whole lot while I am off because I will have the time.
      You and your Mother got a brand new digital video camera for me for Father's Day, plus y'all got a huge 400 gig hard drive so we would have room to put all of your movies on the computer. I know you already know about the hard drive because I spent so much time telling you all about it last week.
      I'm gonna go play with the editing program that came with the video camera for a little while. I have to get in bed relatively early this evening because your Mommy has to work tomorrow and I have to get up with you. The two of us might ride up to Sam's Club with Mamaw & Papaw and Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney. We've been having a little trouble out of our blog today so I am going to publish this post and see if that cleans up our problem.
      Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                     Hello there my pretty little baby girl. Guess what? Today we got a big box of stuff from your brother, Dylan. Yep, he sent you some presents. You got a Neopet that looks suspiciously like Pokeman, you got a big stuffed white cat with oversized paws, a stuffed beanie seal, a stuffed beanie rabbit that says "My First Bunny" across it's belly, a pair of doggie slippers. three headbands and a pair of furry gloves that will surely fit you this winter. And you know what? Your brother picked it all out himself. He's really happy to have you, just like we are. He also sent us some pictures of himself and his brother and sister. But for now you are his only real blood sister. Until we have another one of course. If we have another one. If we never have another one, we are so very happy to have you. You'll be more than enough.
      I was really happy to hear from your brother. It has been so long since I have seen a picture of him. It was really hard for Mommy to give up your brother, but I was very, very young and it was the best thing I could have ever done for him. Someday I will explain all the particulars to you about why I had your brother so young; for now all you need to know is that my life was not nearly as good as it is now back then and I didn't have caring people in my life like your Daddy. Dylan is very happy with his parents and he's an amazing little boy from what I know. Someday I hope for the two of you to get to know each other very well.
      We took a little video of you opening all of your goodies. I tried to get some pictures of you playing with them but you were so busy playing with them you were highly unconcerned with the camera at that point. You really do like all of the little goodies that your brother sent you. I will print a couple of the pictures and burn the video to send to your brother. I know he will be happy to get it. I am going to try and put the little green headband in your hair in your next professional photo session, if you will leave it be that is. I already have a green outfit bought for your photos and it will match real nicely. In one of your photos you will hold your stuffed kitty cat. I know that will be real cute. Then I will write your brother a letter and send him all that good stuff with some photos of your up and coming birthday party.
      Right now you are sleeping in your crib upstairs. I expect you will wake up from this nap at any time though, because you have been asleep since one o'clock. I had to run off a couple of skaters from our porch and walkway because they were disturbing your sleep. I normally would not care but you need your rest and as much as I love playing with you and chasing you Mommy needs a break every now and then. I know, it's crazy isn't it? I am not the Superwoman you thought I was. Well little one, I am going to let you go for now. I love you, baby bird!

Dear Rebecca,
                     Hello my pretty little baby bird! Right now you are upstairs napping. You've been asleep for quite a while now; since two o'clock. I expect you will wake up at any time now. I am waiting on Daddy to call me back. He's off work now.
      You woke up last night at five 'til four for a bottle. I finally got you back to sleep around fifteen after, but by then I was wide awake. I decided to utilize the quiet time to get some cleaning done downstairs. I really blew through here; I had the whole downstairs clean by the time you woke up at six thirty.
      I was correct in my assumption that you would wake up at any time; you are now awake and playing in the floor. Anyway, back to today's extremely exciting events. After I got the downstairs cleaned and I got you fed and put in your playpen to watch Elmo's World, I went about cleaning the upstairs. You were pretty serene in your playpen until after I had cleaned the bathroom upstairs thoroughly and dusted Mommy and Daddy's bedroom. I had just started to change our sheets when you started to cry. I picked you up and brought you in the bedroom with me so that you could play with your stuffed animals in there. You didn't seem to be the least bit interested in your stuffed animals, however. All you wanted to do is play with the legs of the fan and try to crawl under the bed. I tried to hurry up and get done but that's a big bed and I had a big bird underneath my feet. Finally you discovered that playing with the handles on the drawers of the dresser made a funny clinky noise and that entertained you and made you laugh until I finished. Then I put you back in your playpen while I changed your bed and cleaned your room. I know, all of this is riveting. We came downstairs after that and you had some fruit and cereal and you played a while in the floor before you got very, very tired. I put you down in your crib for a nap and you hardly cried at all. Unlike now, you are crying. I think you are hungry. I shall have to pause this post yet again. Back soon!
      I was correct in my diagnosis. You were indeed, hungry. You gulped down four ounces in record time. From a Gerber bottle even. I think they are harder to suckle on than a Playtex. But you can hold them really good all by yourself. Anyway, where were we? Oh yes, you slept for only about an hour during that nap and while you did that I worked on the laundry and took a quick shower. My side is still hurting so I layed back on the bed with the heating pad for a bit while you slept. Then I went and made us some lunch because I could hear you stirring. I made myself a turkey sandwich and cheetos; you had peas with rice and a banana cookie for dessert. You love vegetables. Vegetables are very good for you. You especially love peas. Daddy loves peas, too. After you woke up and had lunch we went outside and you got into your baby pool for a while. I layed on the lounge chair and watched you play with one of your teethers, throwing it in the water. You splashed and splashed and had a lot of big fun the way you always do in the water. You kept trying to stand up though and that worries me; I don't want you falling onto the concrete from that pool. That would really hurt. I think I might wash a blanket and put it underneath of it whenever we use it, just in case. You were so sweet though; you'd keep standing up and reaching over to the chair where I was laying and giving me little wet hugs and kisses. You are the best baby ever. I don't care what anyone says. My baby is the best baby. Before I forget to mention it, you also like the taste of ants. You ate one and tried to eat another while we were outside. Ewww little girl. That is gross.
      After our little water wade, we came back in after an hour or so, because it was getting hot and I did not want either of us to get burned by the sun. The sun can do that even though we were both wearing lots and lots of sunblock, you know. I got you all dried up and into a brand new clean onesie and a diaper. You were quite tired from your little water works but none too ready for a nap just yet. You played and played in the floor a while with the phenomenal balloon we bought over a week ago at the Dollar Tree. That sucker is still up. Even after being beaten by our ceiling fan time and time again. Daddy says it must be a female balloon because it is drawn to things that hurt her. He thought that was funny. I however did not. It is sort of true though; most females are. At least initially.
      During your last nap I put the last load of laundry (your clothes) in the dryer and patted out some hamburgers for supper. I also finished watching Miss Congeniality 2, which I had started after our trip out back to the pool but really couldn't pay attention to because you were awake. It was a decent enough movie, but the first one was better. Of course they always are. Daddy is going to be late this evening because he stopped at Kroger to get veggies for our burgers. And he is going to make some yummy grilled onions as well. And you my sweet darling. You will get to go back out in your pool and play a while so we can grill our supper. I know you will love that.
      Well little one, I am going to let you go. I started this post at a little after half past three. Now it is twenty after four. It has taken nearly an hour. But worth every minute of it. I am going to go and fold your clothes now because I heard them buzz. I love you, baby bird!

Dear Rebecca,
               Well, your Mama lit into me in her last post, didn't she? It's just that I posted so much last month that I thought it might be fun for you to hear from your Mother a little more this month. That's why I haven't blogged as much this month as I have in the past.
      You have spent nearly the entire weekend with Mamaw & Papaw. Your Mom got a larger hard drive for the computer for me for fathers Day. She knew that I needed some quiet time to concentrate while I was backing up theold hard drive and installing the new one. So she arranged for Mamaw & Papaw to watch you Friday night. I ended up needing the quiet time too. I got all the stuff from the old hard drive copied over to the new hard drive without a whole lot of trouble. Then I had a bear of a time getting the computer bios to consistently recognize the new hard drive and the DVD burner which I had to put on the same idea cable. I flashed the bios and kept fiddling with settings within the bios. Nothing seemed to work. Finally I decided to swap out the hard drive as the slave and dafter drive as the master for a dafter slave and a hard drive master. That seemed to work after a little more tweaking of the bios. I worked on it for nearly six hours. I love to get into really difficult computer problems and then to successfully solve said problem. It gives me a feeling of triumph and jubilation.
      Anyway, your mom went to work this morning and I slept late because of my epic battle with the computer the night before. I eventually got down to Mamaw & Papaw's to spend the day down there with you. Your Mom called shortly after I arrived; she said she had taken ill and wanted me to come and get her from work. Mamaw let me drive her new van to Lexington to get your Mom. I love how Mamaw's new van drives. We arrived at your Mother's place of employment and she was already in the car. She had regurgitated her breakfast and lunch right outside the car. She was really sick and her tummy hurt in the region where her appendix is located. I had my appendix out when I was a wee lad and I remember being sick at my stomach and being in incredible pain in the same region your Mom was. I decided to take her to the emergency room in case it was her appendix. You went back home with Mamaw.
      Your Mother, thankfully,did not have appendicitis after all; she had colon spasms. It was so late when we got out of the emergency room there at St. Joe's that you were already asleep so we decided to leave you down there for the night. We want to get you pretty early in the morning though because we really have missed you over the last few days. It's nice to know that you have a place like that to go to. You absolutely love it down there and I'm getting a little jealous of Mamaw because you are all about loving up on her. You've begun walking behind your little block munching hippo toy lately. Slow and deliberate steps, that is until Mamaw came through the door here at our place. You flat took off across the living room faster than I had ever seen you move. I am glad that you love Mamaw & Papaw as much as you do. You also love the boys, Allison, the dogs and Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney very much. You always have a ball down there. There's fancy zero turning radius mowers, regular riding mowers, tractors, dirt bikes, motorcycles, ATVs, and go-carts down there and you certainly do love all of them. You get rides on the tamer vehicles and you love to watch the motorcycles zoom by you; you laugh and holler.
      We're going back down there tomorrow evening for a Father's Day cookout. This is my very first Father's Day as a father. I am so excited just to know that you havemade me a full participate in the whole Father's Day thing. I've already gotten a card and my gift but I am going to be happy about the day anyway, My first Father's Day. I had received Fathers Day cards from Allison and the boys as an uncle but it's still absolutely not the same. I've got my own child now.
      We gave Allison her iPod Shuffle last week. Her birthday wasn't until yesterday but she was going to be busy this weekend so we went ahead and gave it to her. She thought we were only getting her rechargeable batteries for her personal CD player. She cried to her Mom, Aunt Lynn, that if that was all we were going to be bringing she just wishedwe wouldn't even come. She literally shed tears about it. She put on a brave face when she opened her gift from us and when she finally realized what it was she was absolutely speechless. It's hard to really tickle Allison like that, being the so-called angst ridden teenager that she tries to be, but we were able to pull it off.
      Your first birthday is around the corner. We bought you a little wagon a long time ago and congratulated ourselves on our decision to get you nothing else for your birthday except some clothes. Well, that plan is out the door and lying on the other side of the road. Your mom has her new job and money of her very own so she has went out and bought you more stuff for your birthday than you got for Christmas. I hope and pray your birthday comes off without a hitch and everyone has a fabulous time. Your mom has put a whole lot of herself into your party and she deserves for you to have a really nice time.
      Well, I'm gonna let ya go for now. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                     Your Daddy made me feel guilty for not wanting to write out a blog tonight. I have lots of bills to pay and I was really just going to do that and then take myself on to bed. He said he guesses it was just his blog now, but it's funny that his last post was on June 8th and mine was just a couple of days ago. I know he was only kidding but as you will soon learn it is not a good idea to joke around with Mommy when she is tired. In addition to that I am in pain tonight with my side. Also not a good idea to joke around with Mommy when she is in pain.
         I do want to talk to you and let you know how your little life is going. I enjoy posting these blogs and talking to you. Daddy doesn't seem to understand that through the week, though, you are my main focus and I do not have the time to sit here and post in this blog like I'd like to. We are busy living our very full lives and we don't have the time to pause and write about it. Mommy's been working every Saturday for a while now so it is hard to get to it on the weekends too. I get to it when I can, and I love it when I can get to it. Don't think I am writing this just because I feel guilty or I am mad at Daddy; I want to talk to you about your little life. I guess being tired and having things to do is no excuse.
         I took you to the pool yesterday. You had lots of big fun. You were very fussy until we got there and you saw all the pretty water falling down from the mushroom in the middle of the outdoor splash pool. You were very excited and wanted out of your stroller very badly. I had to pause to take off my shorts and you did not like that. You were ready to swim, and I mean right now. We sat a bit in the very low water and you splashed and splashed. I waded you out in the big water a while and took you for a float ride in a tube down the whirlpool lane. You were OK with that for a bit but after a minute or so you wanted out of that tube and back in the water. I don't blame you. We dunked under the mushroom a few times, which you absolutely love, then we'd pull the 'shower' string and stand under it and let the water fall on our heads. People thought you were so cute and funny, dunking your head under the water and kicking your legs so very excitedly. You met a little boy named Cayden at the end of the shallow pool; he showed off big for you 'swimming' around and flexing his muscles. You just clapped and clapped and cheered him on like no tomorrow, which only encouraged him further. The two of you gave each other kisses and were quite lovey-dovey with each other. I thought that was so sweet. He was there with his granny and she asked if you were in the Woodford Co. Baby Pageant. I told her no because we knew it was rigged and your Daddy won't let me because if you don't win he says it would be a serious miscarriage of justice. I agree. That lady said she knew it was rigged too but she and his mother put him in it because it is fun for him to be around the other kids. I think we might put you in it next year. All of the kids get a ribbon and a silver dollar after all and I really do think it would be extremely fun for you. Right now you just aren't patient enough to last through such an event.
         Our visit to the pool went about like that, sitting in the shallow end then ventruing back out under the mushroom and the 'shower'. We waded around in the deep water a while and a little girl let you play with her toy fish. You kept throwing it out in the water though so we had to give it back to her so she would not lose it. She was a very cute little girl and she wore a Nemo bathing suit. Your little suit is purple and it has 'Dora the Explorer' and her pet monkey 'Boots' on it. Lots of people made a big fuss over how sweet and pretty you are. And as always they were exactly right; you are very sweet and pretty.
         This evening we went over to our next door neighbor's house for their grandson's little birthday party. He is a spiderman fantatic so today you and I went to K-Mart and bought him a HUGE spiderman ball. You were quite enthralled with it. You never know, you just might get one of your own... someday soon. Of course it would have to be a much girlier theme than Spiderman mind you. You did get a very cute little alarm clock radio at Kmart today. It says "Girlpower" and it is in the shape of a teacup with a lemon wedge night light on it with a little pink headed girl sticking up in the middle as the snooze button. Daddy says he wishes his snooze button was like that so he did not have to search for it. Daddy says we are going to have to stop spoiling you. Every time he says that I wonder to myself 'Now how do we plan to do that'? I don't know. Spoiling you is so fun. I love you so much little girl. And Daddy too. I'd do anything for either one of you. Anything at all.
         Well I am going to let you go and pay some bills. Remember that I will get to this when I can. I will do it as often as I can. I will try to make a point of doing it at least once a week. I won't make any promises because our lives are indeed very, very busy. Well I am off to go send some money away. That makes me sad. I love you, Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               Good morning my sweet little baby bird. I just woke up. Last night I went to bed at about six o'clock. I had worked hard on the house all day and I was very tired. I asked Daddy if I could take a nap and he said yes. Daddy did not wake me up though. Instead he took care of giving you your bath and your bottle and putting you to bed all by himself. Mommy is so very appreciative of your Daddy. He is a very good Daddy. Mommy also appreciates all the good sleep she got. I just wish I could have stayed in bed past two thirty. Oh well, when you're a busy Mommy you have to take what you can get when you can get it.
      Last night you stood up halfway on your very own. You did so to clap your hands at an animated teat bear on the Teletubbies, which is your new favorite show. I was very proud of you. Soon you will be walking. You are getting to be so big and strong.
      I had thought you had been saying Tinky Tinky (aka Tinky Winky) from the Teletubbies but I was wrong. Instead you are saying "Tickle Tickle" - which makes sense. You hear more of tickle tickle than you do Tinky Winky. You also say 'Dog' , 'Hi' , 'Bye Bye' , 'Bubba' (Bubbles), 'Good' , 'Pizza' and various other cute little words I haven't been able to make out yet. You are very smart. You even napped in your very own crib yesterday. I think now it's time to throw out the bouncer you have well outgrown. Mommy is so very proud of you.
      Only two more weeks until you are a whole one year old. Sunday Daddy and I went to Wal-Mart to order your birthday cake. It's going to be very pretty. It's has red, white, and blue airbrushing on it, and in each corner there are red white and blue tiny balloons in the shape of stars. It's going to read, 'Happy 1st Birthday Rebecca'. What do you think about that? I think it is just grand. We also got some red white and blue flag decorated plates, cake plates, and napkins. We already have some red and blue solo cups and some red blue and silver star tinsel to decorate the tables with. I even bought a big red white and blue flag bow to hang on the door. What a party this will be! I know you are too little to remember any of it but it's not about that; it's about you having lots of fun on your very special day! I surely hope you do.
      Well little one, I have just made some muffins so I am going to go and enjoy them with some coffee for breakfast. You've stirred a bit so I look for you to wake up for a bottle sometime soon. As always I can't wait to see you. I love you, little girl!

Dear Rebecca,
                     Hello my pretty little baby bird. Today has been sort of a long day, and you and Daddy were both very tired, so right now you are upstairs sleeping. Although I am tired as well, I wanted to come downstairs and post you this blog and relax a little bit before bed. In addition to that I had to pick up your toys. I always like to pick up your toys at night; I think I am going to start doing it while you are awake though. Maybe that will teach you how to help out when it is clean-up time.
      I took you and Allison to the pool this week. You both had a very good time. Allison (Sissy) loved carrying you around the pool and in and under the waterfalls and fountains. She is quite fond of you no matter what she says. Allison got tanned up and you my girly girl are quite the brown baby. However, at this point I am quite the Mauve Mamma. I am very sun burned from our aquatic excursion. I am very fair skinned and I was dumb enough to put on tanning oil. Auntie Lynn says I deserve everything I got. I think she is right. I was as red a cherry but now it's more of a dark mauve color. I am very sore from it. I kept you slathered up in sunblock. I should have kept myself slathered as well. I am a dumb Mommy.
      Like Daddy said yesterday I went out with an old friend while Mamaw watched you. Daddy was going to but he was very tired so Mamaw did instead. She is a very good Mamaw and you have also a very good Papaw and you are so very lucky to have them both. I never had a Mamaw and a Papaw at once. My Mamaw on my Mom's side passed away when I was younger than cousin Jon and my Mamaw on my Dad's side passed away when I was around cousin Jacob's age. Both of my Papaws died when I was very young. I think one even died before I was born. You even have a wonderful silly old great granny. And a silly old great Aunt named Louise. You are a very lucky little girly girl. You got to hang out with all three of them yesterday to take Granny to the doctor. And Mamaw bought you another outfit because you positively just had to have some capri pants. You're not even two feet tall but I guess that Capri's are all the rage right now and God forbid Mamaw letting you not be 'in style'. See, you are very lucky.
      I don't know if I told you or not but your very first birthday party is sure to be a bash. I have lots of stuff in lay-away for you even though I swore up and down you were only getting a wagon. I am weak when it comes to you and seeing things I think you want. Very weak. Very Very weak. It's funny how we have all of these here toys for you that we've spent a ton of money on but you'd rather play with a free balloon from Kroger. Heh. Anyway, we are having a pool party at Falling Springs and pizza from CiCi's more than likely. The pizza there is cheap and it is better than Little Ceasar's. I think so anyway. Those are two of your favorite things in the world at this moment; Water and Pizza. You even whisper "Pizza!" whenever you know we are having it. You are so cute.
      Your favorite new show is the Teletubbies. I believe it has superceded Baby Einstein and even Sesame Street. Yes even Sesame Street. You started saying Tinky Tinky ... the main Teletubbie's name is Tinky Winky. Guess ya don't have the Winky part down yet. I don't mind it though because it is educational and it teaches you to count and teaches you your colors and words. It's better than watching my favorite silly old cartoon, Lilo & Stitch.
      Well little one I just wanted to fill you in on some of this week's happenings. I had your boy cousins over here the other day and they sure loved playing with you. You have got lots and lots of people that love you. And I love you too. Very much. Goodnight baby bird!

Dear Rebecca,
               It's been a few days since my last post. I'm back to work now so that does slow me down a little bit. You're probably glad of that fact because when I'm posting nearly every day my posts probably do get a tad boring, or so Mamaw says.
      Saturday you & I went down to Mamaw & Papaw's while your Mother worked. I mowed Papaw's huge yard with his zero turning radius mower while you played with Mamaw, Aunt Lynn, Papaw, Allison and the boys. You had big fun. I'm sure I mentioned this already but Papaw hung a swing for you down at their place and you just love it. You especially like it when Jon or Jacob stands in front of you asyou are swinging and pretend to get knocked down by the swing. You just squeal in delight at the pain you are causing them. Mamaw & Aunt Lynn went to town and purchased a play yard for you to keep down at their place. Your Mother said you would hate it and would not use it at all. You loved it. Mama had to eat her words on that one. You could play with the dogs, Ruffie & Sadie without getting jumped on and mauled.
      We had a nice cookout after I got finished mowing the yard. We had hamburgers; the kids (including you) had hotdogs, beans, pasta salad, corn on the cob, cherry pie and ice cream. Your Mama came along shortly after we began eating. I hadn't eaten anything all day except two small Dove chocolate brand cookies and I was famished. I ate two hamburgers with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, Miracle Whip and mustard, two or three helpings of beans, one regular helping of pasta salad and another huge helping, three ears of corn, a small piece of pie and some ice cream. I thought about having another burger but that probably would have been too much.
      After we ate we took you down and put you in the swing and sat around you and admired your special brand of baby beauty. The boys had been riding their motorized play pretties all day. Jacob was on his dirt bike and Jon was on a four wheeler they are thinking about purchasing for him. Jacob goes way to fast and got in a lot of trouble. I got on Jacob's dirt bike, which is a real motorcycle, and after a brief lesson from Aunt Lynn on how to ride a motorcycleI took off and had the time of my life. Now I want a motorcycle of my own. Papaw & Uncle Rodney both have nice motorcycles and I want one too. I'm sure if I get one it will not be near as nice as theirs but it would be fun to hit the road on a bike. After that we came home and put you to bed.
      I don't remember what happened Sunday. It must not have been earth shatteringly exciting. Monday I went to work and your Mother met me at work with you and Allison. They had taken you to the outside pool at Falling Springs Recreation Center. You were all there for about three hours. I wasn't there so I can't tell you much about it but your Mama said you had a terrific time. Mama got herself a very bad sunburn while she was there. She kept you slathered up in SPF50 sun screen while she only wore SPF4 sun screen. After y'all got finished at the pool you came to Lexington to meet up with me at work. Mama, Allison, you & I all went to CiCi's for a quick and easy supper. Your Mama was going to get milk at the groceryso I took Allison and you on home. Mama decided she was also going to look for a Father's Day present for me at a store on Nicholasville Road during rush hour. You never want to be on Nicholasville Road during rush hour if you do not absolutely have to. Your Mama decided to wait for the traffic to clear a bit before she headed for home.
      I got home with you and Allison. I took a shower while Allison watched over you. After I showered and dressed we went to the little league baseball fields to watch Jon and his team, the Diamondbacks play their last regular season game of the year. If they won this game they would be undefeated for the season. They had to play the White Sox, a team with only one loss, that coming from the Diamondbacks. Jon's team jumpedout on them early. The score was 9 to 2 in the top of the fifth inning; White Sox up to bat and the bases were loaded. A kid hit a grand slam home run and they scored four runs; the score was now 9 to 6. Jon's team came up to bat. Jon hit a hard line drive down the center field line that was caught by the short stop. Jon was not pleased with how that turned out. I was surprised that that kid could catch a ball hit that hard. Jon's team didn't score any runs in the fifth. Top of the sixth; Jon's team has to get three outs before they can get three runs to tie the game. The White Sox score two more runs and are coming on strong. Finally there were two outs; tyingrun on third; winning run on second. The tension was thick. The White Sox kid hit a ground ball that was picked up and thrown to first and the kid was called out. Game over and Jon's team went undefeated for the season. It was actually a pretty good game. I enjoyed watching it. You didn't seem toointerested in it though. We came home and then I forget what we did.
      Tuesday I forget what happened and that brings us to today. You spent a great deal of it with Mamaw. She has you at this very second. That's why this post is so long. She bought you a new outfit; one with capri pants and a matching shirt. Your Mama is going out to dinner with a friend that she used to know when Mama's best friend Nancy Mangione was still alive. So she isn't here right now. I want to watch some television in peace without you or your Mama talking to me. Your Mama is worse than you are when it comes to interruptions during television. You may notice that I am single minded. When I am doing something I hate to be interrupted. So far you are the same way. I consider that an admirable quality. We focus all our attention on asingle task, whether it be working on the computer or playing with blocks. Just leave us alone, Except for you. You can bother me anytime you want to.
      I'm gonna go now. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                                       HAPPY 11th MONTH BIRTHDAY! I can't believe we've had the great privilege and honor and pleasure of having you for our daughter with us for almost a whole year now. You are a wonderful baby and we kept you alive. YAY for us. Most of all, YAY for you! I am going to write you a longer post later, but I wanted to say have a very happy, happy 11th month. You are almost one! I love you baby bird!

Dear Rebecca,
                  Last night you began pulling yourself up to a standing position on a regular basis. You had done it once or twice before but not with any regularity. Last night you pulled yourself up on the couch when you wanted a bag of animal crackers that were setting at the back of the couch. Later that same night you pulled yourself up on your walker. Your Mother thought you wanted to get in your walker but I thought you wanted your sippy cup of water. We gave you the water and you seemed happy and then we put you in your walker and you still seemed happy so I suppose it could be either one of those things that you wanted.
      You spent the day with Mamaw today. Your Mother had some things to take care of in Lexington. She didn't want to take you along with her because one of the things she had to attend to was looking into getting her cell phone fixed or getting another one. She didn't want to be out with you without her phone so she had Mamaw take you for the day. It turned out that you had slobbered on Mama's cell phone so much that you had gotten the keys stuck. The gentleman at the cell phone store took it apart and cleaned it up for her at no charge and now it seems to be working fine. Your Mother hung out at Wal-Mart for over three hours waiting for me to get off work so I could meet her there. The longer one stays in Wal-Mart the more one is inclined to spend. Your Mother had $200 worth of groceries in her cart when I arrived. After we checked out at Wal-Mart we went over to Chili's and had supper. I had a half rack of ribs and a piece of chicken and your Mother had a philly cheese steak sandwich. It was okay but I really don't care much for the bar & grill type restaurants. We like Cracker Barrel, Mi Mexico, Golden Corral, CiCi's and Outback. Those are our favorite restaurants.
      Today you are eleven months old. This is your last new month. Your Mother has big plans for your birthday party. I hope everyone she asks to attend can make it. She rented the party room at Falling Springs Recreation Center where we are members. Your first birthday party is going to be a pool party. You love water so much that we both think that would be something you will certainly enjoy. I tried to take your picture for your eleventh month photo on my web site but you were so tired when I got you home from Mamaw & Papaw's that you were not in a smiley mood at all. I put one up from a few days ago but I will get a better one tomorrow. All of your monthly pictures are not done exactly on the day you turned whatever month it may be, but it's within a few days anyway.
      I'm gonna let you go for now because your Mother has to go to work tomorrow and I have the privilege of caring for you while she is at work. She has to go in at seven in the morning and work until seven in the evening. Daddy loves Rebecca!