Dear Rebecca,
               Good morning to you, my little girl. I am incredibly worn out and tired right now and wish that I could go to bed right now but I don't know when I will have an opportunity to post a blog again. I was going to come in here long ago and blog this post and go on to bed but you woke up crying. I went into your room and you picked up your cup and said "drink". I assumed that the television woke you so I figured I would lay you on my chest in the living room until you drifted back to sleep. You did anything but drift off to sleep. You took your stuffed duck that you sleep with into the living room with you and played with him for a while and then you crawled all over your poor sleepy Daddy. You decided you were tired of being in the chair so you said "toy" in a questioning manner. After a few moments of thought you then said "ball" in a voice that told me that you had considered other toys to play with but had ultimately decided upon the ball. You played with the ball until I decided that I had better try to get you back to sleep. I changed your diaper that was very heavy with pee-pee and took you back to your room. I unplugged your monitor so as not to awaken your Mom if you had trouble getting back to sleep and laid you in your crib. I picked up your juice cup to hand it to you and that's when I realized that you woke up because you were thirsty and out of juice. I could probably have saved myself an hour if I had just refilled your cup from the beginning. I took the cup and sat it on your dresser and you screamed like a banshee. I was just setting it down monetarily so I could pick you up out of your crib. We went into the kitchen and fixed you a cup of orange juice and when I laid you back in your crib with your fresh cup of juice you seemed like the happiest little girl in the world. I haven't heard a peep out of you since. Daddy isn't too bright sometimes.
      We all had a big day yesterday. I woke up late from being at the hospital with Papaw. As your Mom has already told you I drove Papaw & Mamaw to the hospital. Papaw was hurting too bad to drive and Mamaw was freaking out too bad to drive so I drove. As I was waiting for them to show up in their van Mom told you I was waiting on Papaw and you came to the door and stared out with me and whispered the word Papaw over and over. It was so sweet. Papaw had a heart attack around the time your Mother & I met so we were all extremely worried about him. It turned out to be nothing more than a bad case of acid reflux. Everyone was so relieved. Anyway as I was saying about today. I woke up late and we all went to the Wal-Mart in Frankfort, but before we went to Wal-Mart we had lunch at Steak & Shake. You had a sprite and shared some of your Mom's cheddar fries. Your were saying the word fries as you ate. I had a burger & fries and chili. After we had lunch we decided to get a dessert. Mama told you that we were getting ice cream and you started yelling the word ice cream at the top of your lungs. It took them so long to bring us our shakes that I thought I would start yelling for my ice cream too. Finally they brought out my white chocolate/dark chocolate side by side milkshake and your orange freeze milkshake. We ate a little there and took the rest with us to Wal-Mart. We spent over $80 dollars on Christmas lights for the house. We never really decorated the outside for Christmas when we lived in our house on Powhatan Trail. I don't know why we never did but we just didn't.
      We came back to Versailles and only stopped long enough to get you some milk and juice from the house and then we drove on down to Mamaw & Papaw's. We decided that we really couldn't decorate for Christmas and keep you out of trouble efficiently so we decided to push you off on Mamaw & Papaw. Mamaw was cleaning, big surprise and Papaw was out in the garage watching Jacob shoot and old .22 rifle that I used to shoot when I was a wee lad. They were more than glad to watch you for a little while. We returned to the house and decided that we needed more than the $80 dollars in lights so your Mom went and bought some more. I hung the icicle light clips while your mom ran to the store. She came back and held the ladder and handed the lights up to me as I hung them. Dad's afraid of heights and that ladder was very wobbly with my tubby frame up there on it. After we finished with the icicle lights we draped mesh lights over four of our shrubs. We did a fine job, if I do say so myself. We then went inside and started decorating inside. We had the tree up and were just getting ready to put the lights on when Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney showed up with all their kids. Uncle Rodney helped us with the lights while I have no idea what Aunt Lynn did. We had one string of lights that didn't work. Luckily they weren't either one of my fancy expensive lights that have eight different lighting effects. It was only a cheap set and I suppose that's why they didn't work; they were cheap. As we began trying to figure out what the problem was with the string of lights Mamaw & Papaw showed up with you. I had really hoped to get the tree up while you were away so I could see the look on your face when you first saw the lit Christmas tree but they brought you back too early. Papaw & Uncle Rodney took over the job of trying to find the light trouble. I would have elected to go with a new string of lights much earlier if I had been in on it but instead they opted for the later option. I am going to keep the nonworking string to use for spare bulbs and fuses.
      Mama fixed everyone real hot cocoa, not that instant stuff but the real stuff made from actual cocoa powder. Rodney & I strung lights onto the tree. Mamaw came up with a good idea about how we could light up our long shrub out front so she and your Mom did that while Uncle Rodney, Papaw & I tried to get the tree looking just right. We got the lights up and got the tree into position and level. Uncle Rodney picked up the living room and I told him what a handy fellow he was. I was afraid we were going to have to draft Uncle Rodney into helping us with the icicle lights when I was wobbling on the ladder but we were able to do a fine job without his height. It seems that no one expected us to be able to put up the lights in an aesthetically pleasing fashion. I really don't know what that was all about. I had no doubts that we wouldn't have any trouble with the lights. I think they look fabulous and we are one of the brightest lit houses on the block. You were having a bath while all this was going on. I have no idea who was giving you a bath but you got a bath all the same. I don't think it was Allison because for some unknown reason you have taken to being very fussy around her and I think it's kind of hurting her feelings. I know it's hurting mine. I wish you would be nicer to your Sissy. After all this everyone left and it was just us three.
      We put you to bed and hung the ornaments, put up stockings, set up our indoor Christmas decorations and listened to Christmas music. We went outside since it was very dark out by this time and admired our job. I wanted to see what it looked like to people driving down the street so I jumped in the Explorer and drove down the road and back while your Mom stayed here just in case you needed her. After I returned your Mom took a trip up the road and took a gander at our lights from a motorist's point of view.
      We came inside and your Mom fixed us a frozen pizza to eat while we watched an episode of CSI. While we waited for the pizza we admired all the work we had done in the living room and just kind of soaked up the Christmas ambiance. We ate pizza and watched the television show and then your Mom went to bed. I had intended on getting in here right away but instead I sat down for a few minutes and looked at some television. By the time I was ready to come in here you woke. The reason you were so wide awake as I was trying to lull you back to sleep earlier this morning is because you were fascinated with the tree. You kept pointing at it and saying "tree". I don't think you know what to think of a tree with lights and round balls setting in the living room in the corner where all your toys used to live.
      Well, it's late and your Mom has to work tomorrow so I had best get off here so I can go to bed shortly. We've had a really great holiday weekend so far. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                           Hello my dearest love. Right now you are resting (comfortably, I hope) in your bedroom. You have one of your brand new fuzzy fleece footed pajama sets on that we bought for you today at the Magic Mart in Hazard. It really is a good place to shop for you; I have never seen the sleepwear that big like that anywhere else. Or that cheap, for that matter. We only gave $3.99 a piece for them. If I do say so, that is one heck of a deal. You got two of those and two little sweat suits that were only $4.99 each. They are all so very cute. Aunt Mary got you two outfits to go under the tree and we of course put in a special call to Santa about a gift we saw that would be perfect for you there. (NO hints!) Aunt Mary also bought you a dollar toy that is a musical noise making set which you love blowing the "flute" and whistle in. You learned to do it after I showed you only twice. You are so very very smart. I showed you off to some people I hadn't seen and really didn't care to see now in ages. That's a long story, but to make a long story short they are members of my family and the daughter of the woman was also supposed to be my friend and she betrayed me. I have a sneaking suspicion she has always been a little jealous of me because I got out of the Godforsaken place known as Hazard Kentucky, and when I wanted to come back she wanted me nowhere near her little corner of the earth. She didn't even smile at me. That's OK though because I secretly gloated how much luckier I am than she is and it gave me a huge smile. I have Daddy and a nice home and good friends and family where I live and most of all, I have the most beautiful baby in the world. You! We took you through the baby ailse and you were in hog heaven, so to speak. You were especially enthralled with this one little baby that sucked a bottle and made a suckling noise and when you took it away it said, "Momma, Hungy Momma". I wish we could afford to spend whatever the tag was on that baby but you are getting plenty for Christmas and it's too near to said Holiday to be buying babies willy nilly, no matter how much you like them. I was afraid you would scream when we took it away but you just grabbed your tambourine out of the noisemaker toy and went on about your business. I was so proud of you. You are such a good baby. We all had a really good time. It's always fun to go to Magic Mart. After Magic Mart, we went to Wal-Mart. We didn't spend nearly as much money there. However, that is a good thing. We only got batteries, a few sets of lights for my evergreen outside, some comb and brush sets that were only .92 for Christmas presents for Martin's daughters... and something I don't recall. Anyway, as I was saying.... I said we didn't spend nearly as much there but I fibbed. We put money on Aunt Mary's shopping card and bought gasoline at the Wal-Mart pumps. That means we spent almost forty dollars there! Gosh, gas sure is getting expensive.
      After we went to Wal-Mart we went to pick up Papaw Lawerence to go to the restauraunt called Ponderosa with us. He is sick right now so he really didn't feel up to going so we told him we'd definitely bring him something back. Daddy was tired and so was Mommy because we all got up very early (me at three thirty, you & Daddy at five thirty) this morning and hit the road. You fussed a long while until we stopped and took your coat off, gave you your juice and then you quieted down and drifted off to sleep. We drove a stupid way that took us almost an hour and a half longer. We went around London when we could have went straight through Jackson and been there in a flash. Oh well, hindsight is 20/20. At least we got to get some different scenery. That is until Mommy also fell asleep. We visited with Papaw Lawrence there a while before Mary got home and that's when we took off on our shopping excursion and to where I am now in our story, the restaurant.
      We all had a fine time at the restaurant. You didn't eat very much because you never do; when there is a crowd about you want to know what is going on. In addition to that you are just a tiny baby. No bigger than the day you were born, as Daddy would say. Just as we were finishing up dessert, along came Marietta, with her daughter, and your cousin who is one month younger than you, Arianna. Also Melissa, with her daughters who are also your cousins, but are much older than you. Those two are of course, my nieces by my older sister. So really all of their children are only your half cousins, since they are only my half nieces, but they are my nieces nonetheless. We were about to leave but we decided to stay and watch the two of you (yourself and Arianna) interact. Daddy wanted a camera so badly. I thought it was in the diaper bag but I had left it at Aunt Mary's house for some stupid reason. I guess I figured we'd go back to take Daddy his food and grab the camera before we went to visit anyone. It was a sight to see though, the show that you and Arianna put on. You both were kissing and hugging and loving all over each other. It was so very very sweet. I wish we had had the cameras too; both cameras. The video and the still. I felt terrible for leaving it. I also felt terrible for yelling at Aunt Mary after she gave you dark soda in your cup and you spilled it all over your CREAM WHITE and LIGHT PINK outfit. I apologized for snapping at her after I changed you. Then I snapped at Daddy for giving you chocolate ice cream in the clothes I had just put you in. Daddy says I am very grumpy lately. I don't think I get enough sleep. I really need more but it's difficult to juggle home, work, and sleep. Something has to be sacrificed. I guess I choose sleep. We need the money from my little job. We don't really need it but it is so nice to have and it has helped us tremendously. I want to hang on to it for a little while at least so we can start enjoying the benefits of the money actually being extra. Then we will take you to the zoo. How about that? Anyway, I guess that upset Daddy. I told him I was sorry. I guess maybe I am a little snappy these days. But when he saw your nice LIGHT PINK pants covered in chocolate ice cream, he was sorry, too. And I fussed at him when we got home and I was stain treating the pants for the third time. I think I may have actually gotten all the chocolate out this time. Maybe. We all enjoyed the rest of the meal with my nieces and great nieces and your cousins. We got ready to go and gave everyone a hug and we went back to Aunt Mary's trailer to spend some time with Papaw Lawrence and there we met his girlfriend mislay and she apparently had some friends come over. We stayed there for a little while longer. My back really started to hurt and in addition to that I had no idea what kind of people these friends of my Dad's girlfriend was so I felt inclined to not let Daddy take the nap he desired and asked him to take me home. He was glad to go. He wanted to get home too. We got here and got settled and I unpacked your stuff, gave you a bath, and then we all three enjoyed a television show together. I was just about to change your diaper and put you down when Mamaw called and said she was taking Papaw to the hospital and wanted your Daddy to drive. It seems Papaw was having terrible pains in his chest, shoulder, and stomach. So of course everyone was freaking out. I would have went with your Daddy but it was time for your bed and I have you to take care of. Besides I know Papaw. He would want you to be comfortable and not in a hospital waiting room, where there is chance of you getting sick, too. I have talked to Daddy since and the nurse said Papaw's EKG looked good. They are doing a couple of more tests just to be sure but I don't know what time Daddy is coming home tonight. I am going to Tivo the basketball game that is coming on for him tonight and then I might take the phone with me to bed. I am really sleepy.
         Before I forget to mention, you got a spanking tonight. You knocked a portable yogurt out of my hand trying to get it away from me and got it all over the carpet. I let you know that I was upset and it upset you terribly, which in turn upset me further, and all I wanted to do was wrap my arms around that sweet little body of yours and hold you close to me. I can hardly bear it to see you cry. But. You do have to learn, like Daddy says. Gosh, Daddy is so mean! On that note, little one, I will let you go. And now and for always, Mommy loves her baby bird.

Dear Rebecca,
               Happy Turkey Day once again. Today went swimmingly. Daddy made an apple baked bean casserole from a recipe I found on Paula Dean's Food Network site that was not liked by anyone, including myself. That recipe was a dud. I will not be doing that one again. Your Mother made a cranberry/strawberry jello mold. It was quite tasty from what I hear. I am ashamed to say it but Chris Robinson's wife makes the best cranberry chutney so that is what I ate as my Thanksgiving cranberry dish. I'll try some of your Mom's dish when I am done here.
      The turkey was delicious, as usual; the stuffing was a winner and all the rest of the dishes were as yummy as they always are on Thanksgiving, except for my apple bean casserole. You ran around and had big fun playing with Martin's kids and visiting all of your family. I looked at sale papers and pretended that I could afford some of the doorbuster specials that are going on early in the morning. I sat around with your Aunt Lynn and laughed and joked with her for a good long while. I let Allison and Jacob take pictures with my still camera and the video camera. They got some good shots but they also had more than their share of crappy images as well. It was a joyous family holiday experience.
      Your Mother & I had been planning on going to a movie like we used to before you blessed us with your presence. Mamaw & Papaw were going to watch you this afternoon and into the early evening. We were going to go to see the newest Harry Potter movie, "Goblet of Fire", but instead we decided to return to the house and watch some television from the TiVo. We watched CSI and an episode of Medium. We were both too tired to go all the way to Lexington to see a movie. Anyway when we went to see movies on Thanksgiving Day it was a family tradition but the family only consisted of your Mother & I;. We didn't feel right carrying on the family tradition if the whole family couldn't participate and since you are part of our little family and are too young to attend a movie we decided to wait maybe one more year and start going to see movies again when you are old enough to go with us.
      I got back from Mamaw & Papaw's not too long ago with you. I think you've begun calling Papaw Poppy, or maybe your saying puppy. You've been put to bed and our bags are packed for our early morning trip to Hazard tomorrow. Your Mom really didn't want me to post this blog because she wanted us all in bed by now but I wanted to tell you all about the holiday. We're not going to spend the night in Hazard tomorrow; we'll be returning when you start to get sleepy so you can nap on the way back. Your Mom isn't going to fix a big holiday dinner for them like she did last year because that's just a whole lot of extra work on her and she has you to worry about. You're a much bigger handful now that you are a toddler. You're into everything. Instead of preparing a Thanksgiving feast we are going to take them out to a restaurant, probably Ponderosa.
      I wish there was a Ponderosa around here. I used to go to Ponderosa with my Mom & Dad, who are of course your Mamaw & Papaw and Aunt Lynn when I was a child. I have fond memories of Ponderosa. Here's one silly memory, We used to always order the chopped steak dinner. One time I put my chopped steak on a roll and Dad got frustrated with me and said that if we were going to have hamburgers we would have went to a hamburger joint. Thinking back on that I can't help but wonder what is the difference between chopped steak and a hamburger? It's a silly memory that I wouldn't trade for all the tea in China. I hope your childhood is filled with great memories like that and bereft of hurtful memories.
      Well, I suppose I had better sign off and take the sleeping pill I got from your Mamaw before your Mom kills me. She's kinda grumpy this evening. I know what you are thinking, "When isn't she a little grumpy?". Stop that! Don't think such things about your sweet long suffering Mother. You had a really great Thanksgiving as did I. The thing I am most Thankful for this year is you. Nothing else even comes in close. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               Happy Turkey Day! We're all getting ready to go down to the church for Thanksgiving dinner. Years ago we used to go to Granny's house for Thanksgiving but the family got so large and Granny got to the point where she just didn't feel like she was able to clean up afterwards so we moved it to the fellowship hall at Mortonsville Assembly of God church. It's been at the church for years and years now. This is your second Thanksgiving.
      I'll post more later today but for now I suppose I had better get ready to go. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
Hello my sweet. Gosh, how I miss you when I am at work. I think of nothing but you; you are indeed the love of my life. Daddy made me feel badly about not posting any blogs this week or last so I thought I would sit down here and take a minute to do so.
      First of all, Daddy fibbed about the flu shut experience. That was your finger poke experience at the Health department that you did so well at and kissed the nurse. They poked your finger to check your iron. The nurse was very impressed with your iron and your demeanor. The flu shot experience was quite different. You did not stop crying until we got to the car. Then you fussed all the way over to Dada's work. I believe Dada had the two experiences mixed up. You are such a good baby though that I can see how that would happen. You perked up at Dada's work though. You love going there, I don't know why. People love you out there too. They think you are just the cutest. And I agree.
      We were playing on the bed today and you flipped off. It almost gave me a heart attack until I saw you land on your feet and your little mouth pop open in huge surprise. You were right tickled with yourself. Let's try not to give Mama a coronary any more though, deal?
      Well, little one, I just wanted to post that very short blog and correct Dads's misconception, mis-slick, or mix-up, whatever it may be. I promise to post more at a future date. I am off work Thursday for Thanksgiving so I will get to spend that with you and Dada. I am also off Friday and we are taking a day trip to Hazard to see Aunt Mary and Papaw Lawrence. Luckily, I am also off Saturday. That is when we are going to put our beautiful Christmas tree up. I hope we can keep your little paws off of it. I love you Rebecca, more than anything in this world. You are the reason I do everything I do. Goodnight, my princess.

Dear Rebecca,
               You were just so sweet this evening that I had to set down here and post a short blog. You were so talkative before your bath that I called Mamaw so she could here you; you jammered on and on. You were so cute and sweet and especially smart. You had a nice long bath. Recently you discovered that by blowing air while your mouth is underwater that you can produce bubbles. You love that. The first time you did it you giggled like there wasn't any tomorrow. Tonight you thought it was big fun to put your hair rinsing cup over the spout cover duckie's head.
      After your bath you got your Farmer Says See & Say and crawled up in my lap. I pointed out the animals on the toy for you and you knew exactly where all of them are and what they all are. I suspect that Mamma has been playing with you on that see and say. You pointed to the sheep, looked up at me and said "Baaa". How else would you know that a sheep goes baaa unless Mamma has been playing with you on your see & say? The most precious part was that every now and then while we were playing with the see & say you would crawl up my ample tummy and give me a big long hug. I nearly melted every time you did that. You eventually tired of the see & say so I put on an episode of Little Einsteins and you lay back in my lap and watched it with me. After it was over I got up and started getting some milk ready for you to take to bed. You started saying "night-night"; you knew exactly what was going on. I asked you if you knew what time it was and you said no; I asked you if you were sure you didn't know what time it was and again you said no. On our way to bed we took a tour of the pictures in the hallway which is something that I always do when I put you to bed. The first picture is our Christmas portrait from last year. You point out Mama and Dada and baby. Next we take a look at the teddy bear pictures we have hanging in the hall; then it's on to the dog pictures and finally a few more bear pictures. You tell me what every one of the pictures are. You are so very smart. You didn't fuss or cry at all tonight going to bed. You must be exhausted.
      Saturday evening when your mom was at work I babysat Jake & Jon. The three of us were wrestling in the floor and as long as I was whooping up on the boys you were fine with that but once I let the boys get me down and start beating up on me you got the most concerned look on your face. I got the boys off of me and you ran to me with your arms outstretched and gave me the biggest hug. Eventually you got in on the action too and pinned your poor old Dada for the wrestling championship of the world. Jon didn't like it that I crowned you the champion. He wanted to wrestle you so he could get the title but I told him that you were going to retire with the belt.
      Recently Mamma has been playing a trick on you to get hugs. She'll pretend to cry and sob and you will run to her and give her a big hug. I thought I might give it a try. I got in the floor and buried my face in my hands and begin to sob. You looked at me with the most concerned expression and promptly rushed toward me and handed me my can of Copenhagen. You assumed that that would make Dada feel better. You are such and empathetic little girl.
      Well, I still want to look at some television this evening while you are sleeping so I had better get off of here. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               Good Morning, Little Girl; I'm not at work this morning because we had a "lack of work day" at General Electric. It's nice to have a day off every now & then but I lose a whole days pay and that means a loss of nearly $100 per pay period. That stings. We had over three hundred dollars in insurance bills come out this month plus we have doctors to pay and our current cell phone provider, T-Mobile is still gouging us to who laid the rail. We have to pay what they say we owe even though we do not owe it because if we do not they will shut off our phones or should I say phone because we only have one that works. Plus we are trying our best to put away money for our property taxes.
      We are all going out to eat this evening. I had originally wanted to go to the Cracker Barrel but I think I have changed my mind and now I want to go to Golden Corral. It's cheaper for your Mom and you can eat for free there. Mamaw asked Mike and his wife, Chris to join us this evening. I hope Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney and the kids can join us at Golden Corral. They hadn't planned on going to Cracker Barrel because of the expense.
      You discovered drawing and coloring when we were down at Mamaw & Papaw's on November 6th. You have been using pens since then and we didn't like that so earlier this week your Mom went to the Family Dollar and purchased for you some crayons and some washable colored markers. You do love to scribble your pretty pictures. You got yourself in trouble with them a few minutes ago. You scribbled all over the kitchen floor and that about gave your Mom a fit. However what really sent her over the edge was the fact that while she was cleaning up the scribble markings on the floor you were decorating our walls with original works of art using your crayons.. She has declared that crayons will only be allowed while you are setting in your highchair; I don't know how long that edict will last. We're both such big suckers when it comes to you.
      You got a flu shot earlier this week. Your mom said that you did great. You gave the nurse that poked you with the needle a kiss as you were leaving and everything. After the visit to the doctor for the shot y'all met me at work and we went to see Papaw Lawrence at the UK Medical Center where he was having some work done on his colostomy bag. You really weren't too sure who he was. He was glad to see you though. You really brightened up his day. He was released from the hospital yesterday and you and your mom rode up to UK to get him. Your Mom had some trouble out of her car on the way home but I'll mention that in a few moments. Aunt Mary came over to our house with her new boyfriend, who is just a bit older than her usual boyfriends even though your Mom says he is just as ugly as they usually are, to get Papaw Lawrence.
      Your Mom stopped to get gasoline at the BP on Lane Allen Road. She shut off the vehicle, pumped her gas, started the car back up, put it into gear and pressed down on the accelerator and nothing happened. She didn't go anywhere. It would not go into gear. Papaw says he thinks it might be some kind of electrical problem and he doesn't have the knowledge or the tools to work on that so it looks like we have to take it into a garage somewhere. We'll do that when we have a little more cash on hand so until then we have become a one car family. I rode up to BP with your Papaw this morning and we loaded the car onto the trailer and brought it home. I hate having a non-working vehicle in the driveway.
      Well, I'm gonna let you go for now. Maybe Mom will get a chance to post a blog entry this weekend. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                     Happy 38th Birthday to me, your young and handsome father; okay, just young. Like I mentioned before I never set much stock in birthdays. I suppose it came from the fact that I was always told that my birthday was too close to Christmas to make a real big deal out of it. It's true that I am gearing up into my Christmas mood. We aren't doing anything today for my birthday but this coming Friday night I am being treated to my favorite restaurant, Cracker Barrel by your Mom, your Mamaw & Papaw and hopefully Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney. That would be great if they all could make it.
      Your Mom's at work right now and you are napping. You slept until 8:30 this morning and that is super late for you. I got worried about you and went to check on you. You awoke when you heard the door opening. Mom said that you sleep late when it's rainy and bleak like it is today.
      Well, I don't know what else to write about so I suppose I will let you go for now. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                  Today is Daddy's birthday. He is 38 years old today. He's still a young man. You probably won't think that 38 is young until you are almost thirty like myself. I keep trying to convince myself that 30 is the new 20. And you my sweet darling precious little munchkin are not even two yet. No hurry though; don't grow up too fast on me.
      We went to the grocery store this morning before I had to go to work. There were a lot of people there with samples and you tried a lot of them but absolutely refused to try any shrimp. Thanks but no thanks. You looked at that woman and shouted "NO!" before she even offered you a bite. The biggest thing that happened to you today though was that Santa Claus gave you a candy cane. Yep, he sure did. Only you wouldn't take it from him. I had to take it and give it to you. We made our way throughout the store and he showed up again to give you another one but you would still have none of that. You looked at him with big wide eyes and kept staring at him to see what he was up to. Best be good little girl, Santa Claus is watching you. Who am I kidding? You are always good. Unlike the little girl we saw in Family Dollar today who fell out because her Mommy wouldn't buy her an outfit she didn't have the money for. I can promise you right now that if you ever act the way that she carried on today, screaming and crying and shouting and kicking in the middle of the store that I will call and E-mail Santa Claus myself and tell him not to bring you one single thing on Christmas. You just might get your butt smacked,too. But I don't think I will have to worry about that with you. You are too good & sweet to be such a bad girl. You can be bratty I will admit. But you have never been bad. You and Daddy are the best things in my life and there is not a bad bone in either one of your bodies. I can't believe how lucky I am to have such a sweet and happy family. There were times that I thought I would never make it this far in my life when things were going poorly for me when I was younger; Now I am glad I held on to life (and most of my sanity-ha ha) to be with the loves of my life..You and Daddy. You might not know this about your Daddy but he believed in Mommy when no one else did. He cared about Mommy when she didn't care about herself. He stood by Mommy through some very hard times in her life and was waiting here on the other side for her. When I finally got over on the other side he took my hand and made me his wife and he's been with me through sickness and health and marital problems and he's always been the voice of reason behind every question; he's always been the soft place that I can fall. I know that he will do all of that and more for you my sweet so that has to make him the best husband and father that I know of. We bought him a little card today and I helped you sign it and he thought that was sweet. You also helped me make him cookies yesterday before I went to work. You were "rolling" them into balls and putting them on the pan. You kept trying to take bites out of the dough. You are so silly. You are also so smart. For the very second time today you did a number 2 in the potty. Daddy was thrilled with you, as was I. We did a dance and gave you two iced animal cookies., which you love. We are so very proud of you. I was trying to teach you to say Happy Birthday all week but all we could get past was Happy. I told Daddy that yesterday and I think it touched him a little. Your poor old daddy has a sensitive soul; that's part of what makes him the man he is. The man of my dreams. The husband I don't deserve. The father of my darling daughter. So let's wish him a happy birthday one more time, What do you say?

Happy Birthday Daddy
We Love You

That's from me & you kiddo. We love Daddy, And Daddy and I love you. Good night, my sweet.

Dear Rebecca,
               Good Morning, Little Girl. It's still relatively early in the morning right now. I promised your Mom I wouldn't be up too terribly late. I am experimenting with burning a music CD using iTunes. I've never used this Program before. I don't know if I like it or not. I have forgotten how many songs can go on a disc and this program doesn't tell you until after you've already made your selections. Of course it doesn't help when you accidentally select over 700 songs. I am in the process of making some Christmas discs for Aunt Lynn and an Eagles CD for Mamaw. Well, this is turning out a little better than I had originally thought. I like that I can search through the music easier using iTunes than I can using the Record Now software that came with the computer.
      You & I went down to Mamaw & Papaw's this past evening. Well, actually we spent most of our time at Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney's. You got to ride on the mower with Papaw and you tried to play football with Jon, Jacob and myself but the two boys just didn't want to let you play in their reindeer games. You then took off walking up the hill and I followed you. You walked all the way from Aunt Lynn's to Mamaw & Papaw's and then back down the hill again where you visited with the dogs at their kennel. Ruffie was in the kennel because he had tried to run after a car. You kept walking down the hill until Sadie decided to knock you down. At that time I picked you up and decided to let you play in the leaves on the trampoline. The boys came along and started bouncing high on the trampoline while you were setting in the middle. You were being bounced all around and you seemed to enjoy it but it scared the crap out of me. I thought the boys were going to fall on you and kill you. Maybe I am as crazy as your Mom.
      You had carrots, a half of a banana, a little piece of a breadstick and some pizza for supper. Aunt Lynn brought back pizza from town when she went to pick up Allison from church. Allison had been working at a concession stand or something at the UK football game. Kentucky lost to Auburn, but of course I knew they would. Kentucky has never had much of a football program, at least not in my lifetime.
      Mamaw walked up the hill with you while I stayed and visited with my sister, your Aunt Lynn for awhile longer. I then drove up the hill and hung out with Mom & Dad, your Mamaw & Papaw for awhile. We then drove back home where your mom was already waiting on us. She gave you a bath and put you to bed because by this time it was already past ten o'clock. Your mom & I watched a little television and then she went to bed. Here I am still on the computer. I am going to bed here in just a few moments. I have made six compact discs and labels and am very pleased with tonights work on the computer. Sometimes I just sit here and get nothing accomplished. I just hope these discs work.
      Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                     Hello my very smart & sweet and fantastic little girl. You are getting to be such a big little girl! You went Pee-Pee in the potty for real (not on accident, like you did the first time) for the very first time today! You never cease to amaze and astound me. You are the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me. I look back on my life that used to be so hard and painful and say "Wow, this must be the reward God had waiting for me". That reward is you. my sweet. And I feel so undeserving. I want you to know how very very proud I am of you, today and every day, you make the world seem like a better place. Any troubles or stress I have is eased when I look at you and you smile that silly grin with a wrinkled up nose and throw your arms around me and give me a sweet little kiss. You are by far the best thing I have ever done with my life. You didn't make me who I was... You made me someone better. And for that I am eternally grateful. I love you, Rebecca, so much!

Dear Rebecca,
                  Happy first of November, little girl. November is your Daddie's second favorite month. Fall, my favorite season, is in full swing; Thanksgiving, my second favorite holiday, is this month and Christmas is next month. That means I can begin listening to Christmas music this month without feeling like I am rushing things way too much. November is also my birthday month. I never put too much stock in birthdays though. As a matter of fact I could do without another birthday. I would really like to give away the last eight or nine birthdays I have had.
      As your mom wrote in her last post you had a great Halloween, your Mom's second favorite holiday. I wasn't feeling too great but I enjoyed seeing you all dressed up with a "sutter" in one hand and a Kit Kat bar in the other. I am just about candied out though. I'm ready for some turkey & dressing with all the fixings.
      I still haven't gotten my unemployment check from the week I was off last month. We sure could use the cash right about now. I'm having to drink tap water because all our money is earmarked for bills. I called the unemployment office today and they said they would e-mail someone and have them mail it on out. I am not holding my breath though. We really do kinda need that money though. I haven't mentioned anything about this before but I don't feel like that would be entirely honest to your grownups self to skip over minor hardships in your formative years because all that affects all of us right now will have lots to do with what kind of women you will some day become. We get my unemployment supplemental check from General Electric and your Mom's Kroger check Thursday so that will ease our burden quite a bit. I just hate not having extra cash in the bank. It makes things feel much too tight and I don't like tight. Enough of that.
      You escaped from the house yesterday. Mom was in the kitchen and you were in the living room. Mom had the front door open so you could see Papaw & myself when we pulled up outside but apparently the storm door was faulty. Your Mom had locked it but you got out anyway. We pulled up and you were setting on the step in front of the door. You saw us and stood up and waved and grinned. I told your Mom about it and she took it a whole lot better than I would have imagined. Papaw fixed that door and there will never be any little girls getting out of that door again, I guarantee.
      Mom has always called you her little Piggy along with about a thousand other little pet names but it seems that Piggy has stuck the most solidly. She's trying to break herself of that because she doesn't want to go around calling her tween daughter Piggy; it might damage your self-esteem. She has decided that Wiggy is the way to go. It also fits you so well because you have always been such a little mop headed girl. Maybe your mom will tell you more about her search for an appropriate nickname for you.
      Well, it's time I go to bed but I want to look at a little television before I do so I will let you go. Daddy loves Rebecca!