Dear Rebecca,
There's only a couple of hours of 2005 left. Like Daddy said, it has been a very good year. We had all kinds of good things happen to us this year. Daddy said to tell you he loves you very much and has had a very good year with you. He says he knows 2006 will be even better. I am so glad things turned out the way they did for us; as you well know Daddy and I have had years in the past that weren't nearly as wonderful as the one we've spent with you. You turned our whole lives around for the better. You are the sweetest most precious gift we could have ever asked for and we love you so very dearly. I know the the three of us together will have a very Happy New Year. Daddy is in bed already and he thinks he's pathetic for going so early on New Year's Eve.. I told him that he wasn't pathetic. He was just a grown up. Only kids stay up and hoop and holler all hours of the night in the middle of the winter. Kids or people with no sense.
You poor thing, you are ringing in the New Year with one ringer of a cold. Yes indeedy, you are all stuffed up, with a runny nose. You have big red poofy eyes to match. And your little cough sounds so pitiful. Mommy's poor baby. You've kept right on smiling and being your cute and sweet self. However. You have never really been what I would deem a "fussy" baby. You get a little upset for a few minutes then you get over it. The only time I heard you fuss for longer than ten or fifteen minutes is when you had a really bad ear infection in both ears when you were just a tiny baby. I can't say as I blame you there though; ear infections are so very painful. I'd probably fuss and cry all day and night too. I hear you coughing in your room right now. You sound so sick my baby bird. I do hope you feel better soon.
I have to say, though, that the best New Year I have ever spent is right here at home. With you and Daddy. There is no other place I'd rather be tonight. You two are the loves of my life. That being said, I think I will get off here and head to bed real soon myself. Thanks for everything this year, Rebecca. You made it the best year of our lives. We love you!
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Friday, December 30, 2005
Dear Rebecca,
We're almost through with this year. It's been a very good year for the three of us. You turned one and from a beautiful smart baby you turned into a gorgeous intelligent toddler, your Mother got her very first car, we were able to purchase our beautiful house and all kinds blessings. It's been one of our better years.
You & I went to Lexington with Mamaw & Papaw and Allison Tuesday to purchase the shades for the kitchen doors. We all loaded up into Mamaw's van and rode up there. We got the blinds and crammed them into the van; we then met up with Aunt Lynn, Uncle Rodney and the boys for a late lunch at Fazoli's Italian fast food restaurant. Everyone likes Fazoli's except for your Mom, who thinks the spaghetti is overcooked. It's a good thing then that she stayed at home to clean up the house from all the gaiety of the Christmas Season, plus she had to go to work later that evening. We then went to a Goodwill store in Hartland and browsed around. I really didn't browse so much as chase you around the store and try to keep you from breaking things. We then returned to the house where Papaw helped me put up the blinds while you played with your new toy kitchen with Jon. The blinds look great. It will be so nice to be able to eat at the dinner table and not have to shade our eyes from the sun. Papaw & Jon left and we played awhile and you had a very late supper and went to bed at 8:30. As soon as I put you down I went to bed myself.
We both woke up at eight the next morning so we had eleven and a half hours of sleep. I can't remember the last time I slept that long. I fed you your breakfast and put on an Elmo or Dora DVD for you, I can't remember which one. After awhile I decided to start taking down the Christmas Tree by myself because your Mom did it all by herself last year. It was quite the undertaking because everything I took off of the tree you found incredibly interesting. I would put something into the storage boxes and you would pull it right back out. Your Mom woke up just as I was finishing up with the tree. As I organized the last few remaining gifts for your Mom's family in Hazard I stumbled upon one last remaining gift to you from Santa that we had overlooked Christmas Morning. It was an Elmo's World DVD.
We decided on the spur of the moment to go to Hazard that afternoon. First we got together some of your old toys that you really didn't need anymore and some clothes you had outgrown and we headed off to the Goodwill Store to donate them to charity. After we dropped the stuff off we went to the Golden Corral on the north side of Lexington. It was pouring down the rain on our way to Lexington but it seemed to clear up quite a bit while we ate.
We left for Hazard in overcast but relatively decent weather. As we approached the halfway point, Campton, the weather took a drastic turn for the worse. It began to pour; I mean absolutely Pour. I continued to drive through the terrible weather because I wanted to get down there so we could get back that night. We eventually made it to Aunt Mary's place on Coal Ridge Rd. but the rain still failed to abate and I wasn't going to venture out on visiting trips in weather like that so we considered getting a hotel room for the evening but eventually decided we would save our cash and sleep at Aunt Mary's. Your mom washed some sheets so we could have fresh linens on the bed and we all bathed in Aunt Mary's nice big garden tub. We finally went to bed. Aunt Mary's furnace doesn't work and hasn't worked in years so they use space heaters. I tried to turn one on but it had a short in it so I became afraid of using any space heaters because I know how easily those trailers can burn. Your Mom & I were extremely cold during the night but we kept you warm and snugly between the two of us, but even you became uncomfortable when you woke up because you looked at your Mom and said "Cold!"
We should have gotten the hotel, but we saved $50 by freezing our tails off. We got dressed shortly after we woke up and went to Hardee's for breakfast where I had a Steak & biscuit, your Mom had a chicken & biscuit and you had tater tots. We then went to Magic mart where we purchased a winter hat for you. You love playing with hats but you are not too keen on actually wearing one. We will insist that you wear this one, at least while you are outside in the cool air. We then visited your Aunt Carolyn which is your Mom's much older half sister. That was only the third time you had ever seen her. You loved their little dog.
After we left Aunt Carolyn's we headed over to Aunt Carolyn's oldest daughter's trailer to visit with her family for the Holidays. She has two girls of her own and one stepdaughter. We got all of them Christmas gifts. Melissa, or as your mother calls her, Tweety wasn't feeling very well and I think maybe your Mom caught something from her because she isn't feeling very well now either. We called Aunt Carolyn's other daughter, Marietta from Melissa's place and arranged to meet her at Wendy's so she could take us to see Arianna. Melissa and Marietta are your Mom's half nieces so that makes them your half first cousins and that makes Arianna and Melissa's daughters Carol and Amy Ann your half first cousin-once removed. Marietta took us to see Arianna and the two of you got on like I wouldn't believe. The both of you were super well behaved and very affectionate and gentle with each other. It was so sweet.
However, there was another little girl there as well. This little girls name was Lisa Marie and she was 23 months old. She had been in an abusive home and had been in the foster care system much of her short life. Even though she was nearly a half year older than you and Arianna the both of you were much bigger than she was. She tried to hug you and she just bowled you over. I was appalled and your Mother jumped to your rescue. There was no harm done because the poor little girl was just trying to give you a hug. As you and Arianna were setting on the sofa hugging and kissing this little girl became jealous and began to hit at the both of you. This little girls Mother didn't seem to be moving to stop her daughter from striking you or your cousin so your Mom once again intervened and pulled this child off of the two of you. It doesn't stop there. You had a toy phone and this little girl, Lisa Marie grabbed it away from you in a violent and angry manner. You just looked at her like she had lost her ever loving mind. Later when you got the phone back and you could see that Lisa Marie really wanted it you walked up to her and just handed it to her. You were so sweet. I then had to show off just how empathetic you are by going on a fake crying jig and getting a hug from you to make me feel better. You responded like a champ. I was so proud of you. Even Arianna has been conditioned to think that rough play and hitting is acceptable behavior for a little girl. Maybe I am wrong but I believe that in order to raise you into a proper young lady we must instill in you the gentle graces instead of violence. Nope, I am not wrong and anyone who would say so would be off of their ever loving rocker. You are very lucky indeed to have two such well adjusted and reasonably intelligent parents as your mom & I. I was proud of your mom and myself as well because we had done such a fine job with you.
We took some pictures of you and Arianna while we visited and Marietta wanted a copy of them so we went to the one hour photo lab at Wal-Mart. We browsed some while we were there. I purchased an electrical cord reel for the outside Christmas lights and some windshield washer fluid because I had used so much of it on the trip down there and in running about Hazard. Your mom purchased a cheap $5 35mm film camera and of course the photos. We filled up the Explorer with fuel at Wal-Mart because we get three cents of if we use our shopping card and we went and had lunch with Aunt Mary. Aunt Mary paid for our lunch and that was very kind of her. We then went back to Aunt Mary's place and gave you a bath, waited for your hair to dry, stuck you into your car seat, turned on Elmo's World on your new portable DVD player and headed back to the house. We eventually got home and you were so excited to be back. You were just bouncing off the wall. We finally got you down at around ten p.m. or so and then your Mom took a shower to wash the smell of cigarette smoke off of her; it seems everyone in Hazard smokes cigarettes; and then she went to bed. I am staying up to post this blog and edit our Holiday DVD.
All in all, we had a very enjoyable trip. Your Mom isn't feeling very well right now but I have insisted that she see a doctor tomorrow and maybe they will be able to fix her up. Poor Momma, she has a ton of stuff wrong with her right now. I hope she feels better soon. Well, I am going to let you go for now. I hope to post at least one more blog this year but if I don't get to I want to thank you for being such a special child all year long. No wonder you got so many presents from Santa this year. You have been an angel all year. Of course you turn two in July and they say children get unruly when they turn two. You may just show us what a hellion you can be yet. Well, no matter what happens in the year to come Daddy loves Rebecca!
We're almost through with this year. It's been a very good year for the three of us. You turned one and from a beautiful smart baby you turned into a gorgeous intelligent toddler, your Mother got her very first car, we were able to purchase our beautiful house and all kinds blessings. It's been one of our better years.
You & I went to Lexington with Mamaw & Papaw and Allison Tuesday to purchase the shades for the kitchen doors. We all loaded up into Mamaw's van and rode up there. We got the blinds and crammed them into the van; we then met up with Aunt Lynn, Uncle Rodney and the boys for a late lunch at Fazoli's Italian fast food restaurant. Everyone likes Fazoli's except for your Mom, who thinks the spaghetti is overcooked. It's a good thing then that she stayed at home to clean up the house from all the gaiety of the Christmas Season, plus she had to go to work later that evening. We then went to a Goodwill store in Hartland and browsed around. I really didn't browse so much as chase you around the store and try to keep you from breaking things. We then returned to the house where Papaw helped me put up the blinds while you played with your new toy kitchen with Jon. The blinds look great. It will be so nice to be able to eat at the dinner table and not have to shade our eyes from the sun. Papaw & Jon left and we played awhile and you had a very late supper and went to bed at 8:30. As soon as I put you down I went to bed myself.
We both woke up at eight the next morning so we had eleven and a half hours of sleep. I can't remember the last time I slept that long. I fed you your breakfast and put on an Elmo or Dora DVD for you, I can't remember which one. After awhile I decided to start taking down the Christmas Tree by myself because your Mom did it all by herself last year. It was quite the undertaking because everything I took off of the tree you found incredibly interesting. I would put something into the storage boxes and you would pull it right back out. Your Mom woke up just as I was finishing up with the tree. As I organized the last few remaining gifts for your Mom's family in Hazard I stumbled upon one last remaining gift to you from Santa that we had overlooked Christmas Morning. It was an Elmo's World DVD.
We decided on the spur of the moment to go to Hazard that afternoon. First we got together some of your old toys that you really didn't need anymore and some clothes you had outgrown and we headed off to the Goodwill Store to donate them to charity. After we dropped the stuff off we went to the Golden Corral on the north side of Lexington. It was pouring down the rain on our way to Lexington but it seemed to clear up quite a bit while we ate.
We left for Hazard in overcast but relatively decent weather. As we approached the halfway point, Campton, the weather took a drastic turn for the worse. It began to pour; I mean absolutely Pour. I continued to drive through the terrible weather because I wanted to get down there so we could get back that night. We eventually made it to Aunt Mary's place on Coal Ridge Rd. but the rain still failed to abate and I wasn't going to venture out on visiting trips in weather like that so we considered getting a hotel room for the evening but eventually decided we would save our cash and sleep at Aunt Mary's. Your mom washed some sheets so we could have fresh linens on the bed and we all bathed in Aunt Mary's nice big garden tub. We finally went to bed. Aunt Mary's furnace doesn't work and hasn't worked in years so they use space heaters. I tried to turn one on but it had a short in it so I became afraid of using any space heaters because I know how easily those trailers can burn. Your Mom & I were extremely cold during the night but we kept you warm and snugly between the two of us, but even you became uncomfortable when you woke up because you looked at your Mom and said "Cold!"
We should have gotten the hotel, but we saved $50 by freezing our tails off. We got dressed shortly after we woke up and went to Hardee's for breakfast where I had a Steak & biscuit, your Mom had a chicken & biscuit and you had tater tots. We then went to Magic mart where we purchased a winter hat for you. You love playing with hats but you are not too keen on actually wearing one. We will insist that you wear this one, at least while you are outside in the cool air. We then visited your Aunt Carolyn which is your Mom's much older half sister. That was only the third time you had ever seen her. You loved their little dog.
After we left Aunt Carolyn's we headed over to Aunt Carolyn's oldest daughter's trailer to visit with her family for the Holidays. She has two girls of her own and one stepdaughter. We got all of them Christmas gifts. Melissa, or as your mother calls her, Tweety wasn't feeling very well and I think maybe your Mom caught something from her because she isn't feeling very well now either. We called Aunt Carolyn's other daughter, Marietta from Melissa's place and arranged to meet her at Wendy's so she could take us to see Arianna. Melissa and Marietta are your Mom's half nieces so that makes them your half first cousins and that makes Arianna and Melissa's daughters Carol and Amy Ann your half first cousin-once removed. Marietta took us to see Arianna and the two of you got on like I wouldn't believe. The both of you were super well behaved and very affectionate and gentle with each other. It was so sweet.
However, there was another little girl there as well. This little girls name was Lisa Marie and she was 23 months old. She had been in an abusive home and had been in the foster care system much of her short life. Even though she was nearly a half year older than you and Arianna the both of you were much bigger than she was. She tried to hug you and she just bowled you over. I was appalled and your Mother jumped to your rescue. There was no harm done because the poor little girl was just trying to give you a hug. As you and Arianna were setting on the sofa hugging and kissing this little girl became jealous and began to hit at the both of you. This little girls Mother didn't seem to be moving to stop her daughter from striking you or your cousin so your Mom once again intervened and pulled this child off of the two of you. It doesn't stop there. You had a toy phone and this little girl, Lisa Marie grabbed it away from you in a violent and angry manner. You just looked at her like she had lost her ever loving mind. Later when you got the phone back and you could see that Lisa Marie really wanted it you walked up to her and just handed it to her. You were so sweet. I then had to show off just how empathetic you are by going on a fake crying jig and getting a hug from you to make me feel better. You responded like a champ. I was so proud of you. Even Arianna has been conditioned to think that rough play and hitting is acceptable behavior for a little girl. Maybe I am wrong but I believe that in order to raise you into a proper young lady we must instill in you the gentle graces instead of violence. Nope, I am not wrong and anyone who would say so would be off of their ever loving rocker. You are very lucky indeed to have two such well adjusted and reasonably intelligent parents as your mom & I. I was proud of your mom and myself as well because we had done such a fine job with you.
We took some pictures of you and Arianna while we visited and Marietta wanted a copy of them so we went to the one hour photo lab at Wal-Mart. We browsed some while we were there. I purchased an electrical cord reel for the outside Christmas lights and some windshield washer fluid because I had used so much of it on the trip down there and in running about Hazard. Your mom purchased a cheap $5 35mm film camera and of course the photos. We filled up the Explorer with fuel at Wal-Mart because we get three cents of if we use our shopping card and we went and had lunch with Aunt Mary. Aunt Mary paid for our lunch and that was very kind of her. We then went back to Aunt Mary's place and gave you a bath, waited for your hair to dry, stuck you into your car seat, turned on Elmo's World on your new portable DVD player and headed back to the house. We eventually got home and you were so excited to be back. You were just bouncing off the wall. We finally got you down at around ten p.m. or so and then your Mom took a shower to wash the smell of cigarette smoke off of her; it seems everyone in Hazard smokes cigarettes; and then she went to bed. I am staying up to post this blog and edit our Holiday DVD.
All in all, we had a very enjoyable trip. Your Mom isn't feeling very well right now but I have insisted that she see a doctor tomorrow and maybe they will be able to fix her up. Poor Momma, she has a ton of stuff wrong with her right now. I hope she feels better soon. Well, I am going to let you go for now. I hope to post at least one more blog this year but if I don't get to I want to thank you for being such a special child all year long. No wonder you got so many presents from Santa this year. You have been an angel all year. Of course you turn two in July and they say children get unruly when they turn two. You may just show us what a hellion you can be yet. Well, no matter what happens in the year to come Daddy loves Rebecca!
Monday, December 26, 2005
Dear Rebecca,
Happy Boxing Day, Little Girl. Well, Christmas was a smashing success. Christmas Morning you woke up and ran to see your toy kitchen that Santa had already set up. I'm glad that he did do that because I imagine that it would have been a bear for your dear ole' daddy to put together. You also got an Elmo purse, Elmo and Dora DVDs, a potty book, a doll baby with doll accessories, a dolly high chair & carriage, a play food set,, a Golden Book about God, a cleaning set with a broom, mop, buckets, a vacuum cleaner and a cart for all of the cleaning stuff; you also got a DVD player carrying case, a 7'' portable DVD player for the vehicles, new sippy cups, shampoo & conditioner, soap, forks & spoons, a Disney Princess flashlight, and a cartridge for a toy that we were going to give you later that evening. I have no idea how Santa knew we had that particular toy but Santa seems to know all. You must have been an extra special good girl this past year. After opening up all of your presents Mom & Dad opened up our presents we had for each other. I got some socks, a ratchet set and a battery booster. Your Mom got a set of brushes, a book by Dr. Phil called Family First, a waffle maker and a set of earrings. Mom fixed us all a big breakfast of sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, biscuits, gravy and we washed it down with milk and coffee. You didn't get any coffee.
Time for a nap after our late breakfast. While you napped your Mom & I watched some of the new Dukes of Hazard movie. It wasn't nearly as good as the old television show. I took a nap myself halfway through the movie. Your mom cleaned up the living room as best she could while you & I napped. After we woke up we got ready to go down to Mamaw & Papaw's.
We got down to Mamaw & Papaw's and I had to go back to town to get a can of Copenhagen. Jacob rode with me. We ate when I got back. Your mom was supposed to fix meatballs but she had forgotten them so we went to Dairy Mart and got some chicken. Everybody seemed to love the chicken. We had a yummy Christmas dinner. Then we opened up more presents. You got clothes and more toys plus a Little Touch Leap Pad with a cartridge from Mom & Dad and a cartridge from Mamaw & Papaw. Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney got a Dora sit n' spin for you. Granny got you some stuffed toys and we all had a great time.
You went straight to bed when we got back to the house and Mama & I watched Cinderella Man with Russell Crowe and then we went to bed and then Christmas was over.
We went to Lexington to buy some cheap Christmas stuff for next year and to get you a big toy box. We also had planned on going to Home Depot to get some blinds for the big french doors in the kitchen that Mamaw & Papaw were going to buy for us for Christmas. Mamaw wasn't feeling so good so it was just the three of us at lunch at O' Charley's and then we went and looked at the blinds and then we went home. I think we are going to get them tomorrow. We got home and Mama took a nap while you & I watched Sesame Street. Eventually Mama woke up and went to work, you took a nap and I came in here to upload the videos I took and post this blog.
I love Christmas and I love you. The two of you together make me so very happy. This has been such a fabulous Christmas. You were quite a bit more into Christmas this year than you were last year and it was a thrill to see the look of shock and joy on your face when you saw all of your new stuff. I know that next year will be even better when you truly know what is going on with all of the Christmas regalia. Daddy loves Rebecca!
Happy Boxing Day, Little Girl. Well, Christmas was a smashing success. Christmas Morning you woke up and ran to see your toy kitchen that Santa had already set up. I'm glad that he did do that because I imagine that it would have been a bear for your dear ole' daddy to put together. You also got an Elmo purse, Elmo and Dora DVDs, a potty book, a doll baby with doll accessories, a dolly high chair & carriage, a play food set,, a Golden Book about God, a cleaning set with a broom, mop, buckets, a vacuum cleaner and a cart for all of the cleaning stuff; you also got a DVD player carrying case, a 7'' portable DVD player for the vehicles, new sippy cups, shampoo & conditioner, soap, forks & spoons, a Disney Princess flashlight, and a cartridge for a toy that we were going to give you later that evening. I have no idea how Santa knew we had that particular toy but Santa seems to know all. You must have been an extra special good girl this past year. After opening up all of your presents Mom & Dad opened up our presents we had for each other. I got some socks, a ratchet set and a battery booster. Your Mom got a set of brushes, a book by Dr. Phil called Family First, a waffle maker and a set of earrings. Mom fixed us all a big breakfast of sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, biscuits, gravy and we washed it down with milk and coffee. You didn't get any coffee.
Time for a nap after our late breakfast. While you napped your Mom & I watched some of the new Dukes of Hazard movie. It wasn't nearly as good as the old television show. I took a nap myself halfway through the movie. Your mom cleaned up the living room as best she could while you & I napped. After we woke up we got ready to go down to Mamaw & Papaw's.
We got down to Mamaw & Papaw's and I had to go back to town to get a can of Copenhagen. Jacob rode with me. We ate when I got back. Your mom was supposed to fix meatballs but she had forgotten them so we went to Dairy Mart and got some chicken. Everybody seemed to love the chicken. We had a yummy Christmas dinner. Then we opened up more presents. You got clothes and more toys plus a Little Touch Leap Pad with a cartridge from Mom & Dad and a cartridge from Mamaw & Papaw. Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney got a Dora sit n' spin for you. Granny got you some stuffed toys and we all had a great time.
You went straight to bed when we got back to the house and Mama & I watched Cinderella Man with Russell Crowe and then we went to bed and then Christmas was over.
We went to Lexington to buy some cheap Christmas stuff for next year and to get you a big toy box. We also had planned on going to Home Depot to get some blinds for the big french doors in the kitchen that Mamaw & Papaw were going to buy for us for Christmas. Mamaw wasn't feeling so good so it was just the three of us at lunch at O' Charley's and then we went and looked at the blinds and then we went home. I think we are going to get them tomorrow. We got home and Mama took a nap while you & I watched Sesame Street. Eventually Mama woke up and went to work, you took a nap and I came in here to upload the videos I took and post this blog.
I love Christmas and I love you. The two of you together make me so very happy. This has been such a fabulous Christmas. You were quite a bit more into Christmas this year than you were last year and it was a thrill to see the look of shock and joy on your face when you saw all of your new stuff. I know that next year will be even better when you truly know what is going on with all of the Christmas regalia. Daddy loves Rebecca!
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Dear Rebecca,
Merry Christmas little girl. Yesterday was Christmas Eve and Aunt Mary and Papaw Lawrence came up to celebrate Christmas with us. What a grand and wonderful time we all had, watching you be in awe of present after present that they had brought for you. You got quite a nice little stash; You had 2 teletubbies, La La and Tinky Winky (you tried to push La La's belly to make her talk the way the Po teletubby you got for your birthday does, everyone thought that was so cute) that you loved very much. You also got a nice big Dora The Explorer's Back Pack set from Aunt Mary with things to put inside the back pack and she really talks. You really loved that toy. She brought you a small Dora Doll; a talking Elmo, a talking Elmo phone, and a giggle gabber Elmo. You also got two outfits and tons of other crap that makes a whole bunch of noise so we cannot have any sort of peace in the house. You always love the presents Aunt Mary brings you. She does a really good job picking them out for you.
As Daddy told you previously, we did the extended family Christmas dinner yesterday evening at the Kingsway church. I just had to pause my post for a minute because you had woken up from your nap. I took you in the living room and gave you some of your brand new toys that you got for Christmas to play with and you are busy being entertained with those and a Dora episode called "A present for Santa". Anyway, everyone at the dinner thought you were OH so cute, as they always have. You wore your little Christmas skirt that Mommy picked out for you and everyone thought that was really cute too. You are always the life of the party. Mary and Papaw Lawrence even decided to join us at the church for the dinner and I was so happy. It was so nice of Mamaw and Papaw to invite them. They were really happy to be there and get such a good meal. They left before we did the gift exchange but we all had a lot of fun doing that and watching Mamaw get the crappiest gift of all, the Executive Saucer Shooter. She was none to pleased with that.
Well you just wandered in here demanding my full attention and wandered back somewhere else and caused a crash of something so I better get off of here and pay attention to you. I will let Daddy tell you all about your wonderful Christmas morning and presents from Santa and of course we have a big Christmas this evening too. I love you, little girl. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas little girl. Yesterday was Christmas Eve and Aunt Mary and Papaw Lawrence came up to celebrate Christmas with us. What a grand and wonderful time we all had, watching you be in awe of present after present that they had brought for you. You got quite a nice little stash; You had 2 teletubbies, La La and Tinky Winky (you tried to push La La's belly to make her talk the way the Po teletubby you got for your birthday does, everyone thought that was so cute) that you loved very much. You also got a nice big Dora The Explorer's Back Pack set from Aunt Mary with things to put inside the back pack and she really talks. You really loved that toy. She brought you a small Dora Doll; a talking Elmo, a talking Elmo phone, and a giggle gabber Elmo. You also got two outfits and tons of other crap that makes a whole bunch of noise so we cannot have any sort of peace in the house. You always love the presents Aunt Mary brings you. She does a really good job picking them out for you.
As Daddy told you previously, we did the extended family Christmas dinner yesterday evening at the Kingsway church. I just had to pause my post for a minute because you had woken up from your nap. I took you in the living room and gave you some of your brand new toys that you got for Christmas to play with and you are busy being entertained with those and a Dora episode called "A present for Santa". Anyway, everyone at the dinner thought you were OH so cute, as they always have. You wore your little Christmas skirt that Mommy picked out for you and everyone thought that was really cute too. You are always the life of the party. Mary and Papaw Lawrence even decided to join us at the church for the dinner and I was so happy. It was so nice of Mamaw and Papaw to invite them. They were really happy to be there and get such a good meal. They left before we did the gift exchange but we all had a lot of fun doing that and watching Mamaw get the crappiest gift of all, the Executive Saucer Shooter. She was none to pleased with that.
Well you just wandered in here demanding my full attention and wandered back somewhere else and caused a crash of something so I better get off of here and pay attention to you. I will let Daddy tell you all about your wonderful Christmas morning and presents from Santa and of course we have a big Christmas this evening too. I love you, little girl. Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Dear Rebecca,
Hello, little girl, and a very Merry Christmas to you. It's Christmas Eve. Momma is zonked and ready to shout Bah Humbug! But I don't really mean it. I am just tired I reckon. I am so excited to see you open your gifts on Christmas morning and watch everyone be in such awe of you on Christmas Eve that I can hardly stand it all. I know that you won't understand a lot of what is going on but I know you will think it is all very very fun. I love to see you have lots of fun.
Last night when Mommy and Daddy went to pick you up at Mamaw & Papaw's you ran right past Mommy and straight to Daddy. That touched Daddy's big ol' soft teddy bear heart and made him melt. He loves you so much. I don't think he ever really expected you to be here. We had a long wait for you. But what a wonderful gift when you finally came! You're the best Christmas present of them all. I love you, Rebecca. Merry Christmas, my precious baby. You will always be my baby... I don't care how old you get. And I promise that every year I will say to you the same words I said just now "Merry Christmas, my precious baby". Even when you hate it. I love you, baby girl.
Hello, little girl, and a very Merry Christmas to you. It's Christmas Eve. Momma is zonked and ready to shout Bah Humbug! But I don't really mean it. I am just tired I reckon. I am so excited to see you open your gifts on Christmas morning and watch everyone be in such awe of you on Christmas Eve that I can hardly stand it all. I know that you won't understand a lot of what is going on but I know you will think it is all very very fun. I love to see you have lots of fun.
Last night when Mommy and Daddy went to pick you up at Mamaw & Papaw's you ran right past Mommy and straight to Daddy. That touched Daddy's big ol' soft teddy bear heart and made him melt. He loves you so much. I don't think he ever really expected you to be here. We had a long wait for you. But what a wonderful gift when you finally came! You're the best Christmas present of them all. I love you, Rebecca. Merry Christmas, my precious baby. You will always be my baby... I don't care how old you get. And I promise that every year I will say to you the same words I said just now "Merry Christmas, my precious baby". Even when you hate it. I love you, baby girl.
Friday, December 23, 2005
Dear Rebecca,
Christmas is getting closer and closer. It's the day after tomorrow. I am excited about the new format; Doing Mamaw & Papaw's on Christmas night instead of Christmas Eve. We've heard from Santa and he has all of your presents ready to go and he says you have been a very good girl this past year and we were so proud to hear that.
We went to Southern Lights Tuesday evening. We all went last year but it was on Christmas night when all of the indoor attractions were closed, anyway last year you were too little to really get anything out of it. We decided that this year you would go when we could go inside. First we went to Cracker Barrel Restaurant. I had what I always used to have and that is a chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes with gravy, two servings of green beans, corn muffins, a coca-cola and a chocolate cobbler; your Mom had grilled chicken strips with fries, mac & cheese, baked apples, a diet cola, and for desert she had a piece of pecan pie; and you had a hamburger with fries, a lemonade and a scoop of ice cream. It was a very yummy meal. I have a feeling we will not be making so many trips to Cracker Barrel in 2006. Your Mom & I have decided to really concentrate on getting healthy in 2006 and that means eating healthy and while you can eat healthy at Cracker Barrel it's not the easiest thing in the world to do so we will more or less avoid that place. We might go a time or two but not nearly as many times as we did in 2005.
After we ate it was pretty dark so we went to Southern Lights. We got the around seven o'clock which is pretty early so we were able to more or less drive right in. We paid our fifteen dollars and started the drive, You absolutely loved the lights. You clapped and laughed and gasped in amazement at the sights you saw. You especially liked the horses they had rigged up to simulate motion. You had a fabulous time on the drive through the lights. Your Mom decided to get in back with you before we started the tour and she is so glad that she did. She loves Southern Lights but I think she enjoyed watching you and your reaction to the lights more than anything else.
We got to the Horse Museum where all of the indoor attractions were. It was extremely cold so we put you in your umbrella stroller and wrapped a shirt around the stroller so you would stay warm. You had the coat that Mamaw & Papaw bought for you a month or so ago but the zipper busted so you weren't bundled up as we as we would have liked. We made our way to were Santa was seeing the children. We knew you wouldn't be too keen on seeing the jolly fat man, and when I refer to the jolly fat man I am talking about Santa, not Daddy, but we wanted to give you the chance to see him and we wanted to watch your reaction to him and get a picture. You really enjoyed looking at the Christmas trees as we waited in the queue but you also seemed kind of nervous about what was going to happen because you saw all of the children in front of us going to see Santa and you figured you would eventually have to do it too. Well, eventually you did. You would not go to him at all. He reached for you and you shrank into your Mama's bosom. She climbed up on the sled with you and you had your picture taken and then you reached for me with all you were worth. Next we checked out a talking Christmas tree that you seemed to like at first until it started singing. You then took off. You didn't want to have anything to do with a talking tree; I can't say as I blame you.
After that we went to the petting zoo where you saw tons and tons of goats; of course you saw a baby goat the day before in the parking lot of the Dollar General Store in the back of an SUV. My Bambi Dee, your great grandfather, used to transport baby goats in the cab of his old red pick-up truck so seeing such a sight was not a big deal for me. You also saw a big ole camel that at all of my animal feed cone in one bite. You thought he was very funny. You giggled at him like the little girl that you are. We saw some giant rats known as a Patagonian Cavy. They looked like rats at the petting zoo but I just now looked them up online and they look more like rabbits there. You actually touched a kangaroo on the nose; you saw wallabies, a zebra, a tiny miniature donkey, a calf and some more goats. We washed your hands real well with the provided hand sanitizer and we went home. We all had a grand time.
yesterday your Mom & I went to Lexington so you spent the day with Mamaw & Papaw. You had a lot of fun and got a new coat.
Well, I'll let you go for now because you have awoken from your nap and you don't think it's a good idea that I be on the computer. You require my attention. Daddy loves Rebecca!
Christmas is getting closer and closer. It's the day after tomorrow. I am excited about the new format; Doing Mamaw & Papaw's on Christmas night instead of Christmas Eve. We've heard from Santa and he has all of your presents ready to go and he says you have been a very good girl this past year and we were so proud to hear that.
We went to Southern Lights Tuesday evening. We all went last year but it was on Christmas night when all of the indoor attractions were closed, anyway last year you were too little to really get anything out of it. We decided that this year you would go when we could go inside. First we went to Cracker Barrel Restaurant. I had what I always used to have and that is a chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes with gravy, two servings of green beans, corn muffins, a coca-cola and a chocolate cobbler; your Mom had grilled chicken strips with fries, mac & cheese, baked apples, a diet cola, and for desert she had a piece of pecan pie; and you had a hamburger with fries, a lemonade and a scoop of ice cream. It was a very yummy meal. I have a feeling we will not be making so many trips to Cracker Barrel in 2006. Your Mom & I have decided to really concentrate on getting healthy in 2006 and that means eating healthy and while you can eat healthy at Cracker Barrel it's not the easiest thing in the world to do so we will more or less avoid that place. We might go a time or two but not nearly as many times as we did in 2005.
After we ate it was pretty dark so we went to Southern Lights. We got the around seven o'clock which is pretty early so we were able to more or less drive right in. We paid our fifteen dollars and started the drive, You absolutely loved the lights. You clapped and laughed and gasped in amazement at the sights you saw. You especially liked the horses they had rigged up to simulate motion. You had a fabulous time on the drive through the lights. Your Mom decided to get in back with you before we started the tour and she is so glad that she did. She loves Southern Lights but I think she enjoyed watching you and your reaction to the lights more than anything else.
We got to the Horse Museum where all of the indoor attractions were. It was extremely cold so we put you in your umbrella stroller and wrapped a shirt around the stroller so you would stay warm. You had the coat that Mamaw & Papaw bought for you a month or so ago but the zipper busted so you weren't bundled up as we as we would have liked. We made our way to were Santa was seeing the children. We knew you wouldn't be too keen on seeing the jolly fat man, and when I refer to the jolly fat man I am talking about Santa, not Daddy, but we wanted to give you the chance to see him and we wanted to watch your reaction to him and get a picture. You really enjoyed looking at the Christmas trees as we waited in the queue but you also seemed kind of nervous about what was going to happen because you saw all of the children in front of us going to see Santa and you figured you would eventually have to do it too. Well, eventually you did. You would not go to him at all. He reached for you and you shrank into your Mama's bosom. She climbed up on the sled with you and you had your picture taken and then you reached for me with all you were worth. Next we checked out a talking Christmas tree that you seemed to like at first until it started singing. You then took off. You didn't want to have anything to do with a talking tree; I can't say as I blame you.
After that we went to the petting zoo where you saw tons and tons of goats; of course you saw a baby goat the day before in the parking lot of the Dollar General Store in the back of an SUV. My Bambi Dee, your great grandfather, used to transport baby goats in the cab of his old red pick-up truck so seeing such a sight was not a big deal for me. You also saw a big ole camel that at all of my animal feed cone in one bite. You thought he was very funny. You giggled at him like the little girl that you are. We saw some giant rats known as a Patagonian Cavy. They looked like rats at the petting zoo but I just now looked them up online and they look more like rabbits there. You actually touched a kangaroo on the nose; you saw wallabies, a zebra, a tiny miniature donkey, a calf and some more goats. We washed your hands real well with the provided hand sanitizer and we went home. We all had a grand time.
yesterday your Mom & I went to Lexington so you spent the day with Mamaw & Papaw. You had a lot of fun and got a new coat.
Well, I'll let you go for now because you have awoken from your nap and you don't think it's a good idea that I be on the computer. You require my attention. Daddy loves Rebecca!
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Dear Rebecca,
Once again, like last year, Christmas was in jeopardy. Lots of stuff happened yesterday that could have potentially damaged my warm Christmas glow. First it was revealed to me that Aunt Mary wanted to bring her latest boyfriend with her for Christmas Eve and have him spend the night in our home and have him watch you open Christmas presents Christmas morning. I have never met her boyfriend; I don't know his name or anything about him. I really and truly do not want perfect strangers joining us on the absolutely positively happiest moment of the year. Christmas in general and Christmas morning in particular should be timeless. When you think back on it or look at photos from years gone by things should always be the same. The same traditions, the same scenario and especially the same people. If Mary brought her latest boyfriend he will be an anomaly in the Christmas Mornings that I want you to experience. Maybe if she brings a new guy every year we could consider the nameless faceless boys she brings to be the constant. That was a small joke. It sounded funnier when I thought about it in my head. Anyway, Mama has decided, on her own that the boy wouldn't be a great idea. I didn't like the idea from the very beginning. He's not going to be here at all for Christmas; unfortunately, while Aunt Mary is going to be able to be here for Christmas Eve she will not be able to join us for Christmas Morning. She says it's because she has to work and maybe that's true but maybe it's because she wants to spend Christmas with her latest boy. I don't know one way or the other. I am disappointed over the fact that Aunt Mary will not be joining us Christmas Morning but your Mom was absolutely devastated. She cried over that fact. I felt bad for your Mom. Papaw Lawrence is supposed to be joining us this year for Christmas eve. I don't know if he will or not. I certainly hope he does. He decided not to come last year and it tore your Mom's heart out.
All of that was minor stuff compared to the next blow that our Christmas traditions suffered. This is the second Christmas disaster in as many years; last years being getting all of our gifts stolen by the scum of the earth. Sunday night the church in which you attended your very first service burned to the ground. Mortonsville Assembly of God is gone. The church has been there since 1835 according to the news and it's been an Assembly of God church since the 1930's. I attended that church for part of my teen years. I have a whole lot of great memories regarding Mortonsville Assembly of God. It will be sorely missed by many people for many reasons.
As you know, for the last decade or so we have used the fellowship hall at Mortonsville Assembly of God for Thanksgiving and Christmas night celebrations. We were just out there a month ago for Thanksgiving. Everyone in our family who loves Christmas was excited about having a Christmas night celebration since we didn't have one last year. The church burning down threw all of that into turmoil. Aunt Lynn was extremely upset and I was beside myself. As you know I love Christmas and hate changes to my Christmas routine. Christmas night was on the verge of being cancelled. Last year it was your Mother who stepped forward and saved Christmas. She hosted a small gathering at our tiny apartment for anyone who wanted to come. It was nice but it wasn't Christmas night as we knew and loved it. I called it Christmas Lite, Aunt Lynn called it Christmas Crap, which is a bit harsh but I know where she's coming from. This year Aunt Lynn pulled Christmas from the brink of disaster. She has arranged for the family to use the fellowship hall at King's Way Assembly of God, the church in which I grew up in, on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve at Mamaw & Papaw's has been moved to Christmas night. I know this sounds like change but I believe it's more accurate to call it evolution. I don't have a problem with Christmas evolving over time because as things change so too does the way we must approach the Holidays. I just do not like drastic and sudden changes in the way things are done. I know that the Christmases I knew as a child will not be the Christmases you will know but I can do my best to see that they are as close as possible. I happen to think that switching out Christmas Eve and Christmas night is a fabulous idea. After I grew up Christmas night lacked that one special thing that made Christmas such a magical experience, PRESENTS. So Christmas night was always kind of a let down from the frantic opening of gifts of Christmas Eve and of course now that you are here and able to rip paper with the best of them, Christmas Morning. Now Christmas Night will be the beginning of the celebration and we can send Christmas out with a bang on Christmas Night. As a child I spent Christmas Night at my Grandparents house ripping into tons of gifts and so now so shall you. As I think about it nothing is really changing at all. I just want you to know the Christmases of my youth and really this is the best way to accomplish that.
So as you can see Christmas is back on track and I think it's healthier than ever. This is going to be one fabulous Christmas. Daddy loves Rebecca!
Once again, like last year, Christmas was in jeopardy. Lots of stuff happened yesterday that could have potentially damaged my warm Christmas glow. First it was revealed to me that Aunt Mary wanted to bring her latest boyfriend with her for Christmas Eve and have him spend the night in our home and have him watch you open Christmas presents Christmas morning. I have never met her boyfriend; I don't know his name or anything about him. I really and truly do not want perfect strangers joining us on the absolutely positively happiest moment of the year. Christmas in general and Christmas morning in particular should be timeless. When you think back on it or look at photos from years gone by things should always be the same. The same traditions, the same scenario and especially the same people. If Mary brought her latest boyfriend he will be an anomaly in the Christmas Mornings that I want you to experience. Maybe if she brings a new guy every year we could consider the nameless faceless boys she brings to be the constant. That was a small joke. It sounded funnier when I thought about it in my head. Anyway, Mama has decided, on her own that the boy wouldn't be a great idea. I didn't like the idea from the very beginning. He's not going to be here at all for Christmas; unfortunately, while Aunt Mary is going to be able to be here for Christmas Eve she will not be able to join us for Christmas Morning. She says it's because she has to work and maybe that's true but maybe it's because she wants to spend Christmas with her latest boy. I don't know one way or the other. I am disappointed over the fact that Aunt Mary will not be joining us Christmas Morning but your Mom was absolutely devastated. She cried over that fact. I felt bad for your Mom. Papaw Lawrence is supposed to be joining us this year for Christmas eve. I don't know if he will or not. I certainly hope he does. He decided not to come last year and it tore your Mom's heart out.
All of that was minor stuff compared to the next blow that our Christmas traditions suffered. This is the second Christmas disaster in as many years; last years being getting all of our gifts stolen by the scum of the earth. Sunday night the church in which you attended your very first service burned to the ground. Mortonsville Assembly of God is gone. The church has been there since 1835 according to the news and it's been an Assembly of God church since the 1930's. I attended that church for part of my teen years. I have a whole lot of great memories regarding Mortonsville Assembly of God. It will be sorely missed by many people for many reasons.
As you know, for the last decade or so we have used the fellowship hall at Mortonsville Assembly of God for Thanksgiving and Christmas night celebrations. We were just out there a month ago for Thanksgiving. Everyone in our family who loves Christmas was excited about having a Christmas night celebration since we didn't have one last year. The church burning down threw all of that into turmoil. Aunt Lynn was extremely upset and I was beside myself. As you know I love Christmas and hate changes to my Christmas routine. Christmas night was on the verge of being cancelled. Last year it was your Mother who stepped forward and saved Christmas. She hosted a small gathering at our tiny apartment for anyone who wanted to come. It was nice but it wasn't Christmas night as we knew and loved it. I called it Christmas Lite, Aunt Lynn called it Christmas Crap, which is a bit harsh but I know where she's coming from. This year Aunt Lynn pulled Christmas from the brink of disaster. She has arranged for the family to use the fellowship hall at King's Way Assembly of God, the church in which I grew up in, on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve at Mamaw & Papaw's has been moved to Christmas night. I know this sounds like change but I believe it's more accurate to call it evolution. I don't have a problem with Christmas evolving over time because as things change so too does the way we must approach the Holidays. I just do not like drastic and sudden changes in the way things are done. I know that the Christmases I knew as a child will not be the Christmases you will know but I can do my best to see that they are as close as possible. I happen to think that switching out Christmas Eve and Christmas night is a fabulous idea. After I grew up Christmas night lacked that one special thing that made Christmas such a magical experience, PRESENTS. So Christmas night was always kind of a let down from the frantic opening of gifts of Christmas Eve and of course now that you are here and able to rip paper with the best of them, Christmas Morning. Now Christmas Night will be the beginning of the celebration and we can send Christmas out with a bang on Christmas Night. As a child I spent Christmas Night at my Grandparents house ripping into tons of gifts and so now so shall you. As I think about it nothing is really changing at all. I just want you to know the Christmases of my youth and really this is the best way to accomplish that.
So as you can see Christmas is back on track and I think it's healthier than ever. This is going to be one fabulous Christmas. Daddy loves Rebecca!
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Dear Rebecca,
Hello my sweet. Right now you are sleeping (I hope) in your room and Daddy was in bed but he got up to eat a brownie. He says he isn't having much luck going to sleep. However, he's barely been in there ten minutes. I can't go to sleep in ten minutes either. I think he caught me in the office with the door closed writing this blog to you and tried to sneak past me so he wouldn't have to deal with my grumpy behind. I have been grumpy today but I did not get enough sleep last night. Daddy has been grumpy too though because Daddy didn't get enough sleep either. He really ought to go back to bed. I think he is planning on taking you to church tomorrow morning. Possibly. Perhaps I can go, too.
I missed you so much when I was at work today. Santa Claus was at work and I wanted so bad for you to get to come and see him. I had the truck though because my poor little car still is not running. Wahhh! I miss it so. Anyway, I don't really know if you would have went to see him or not. You were very leary of him the last time he was in the store. You wouldn't even take a candy cane from him until he pulled his beard down and showed you who he really was.. which was Jenny's (my co-worker's) Dad. You took it then but even then it was with caution. I think if you finally get to see Santa Claus this year that you might boo hoo and cry and not want to sit in his lap for any picture thank you very much.
You did something so very cute a couple of days ago when I was wrapping presents. You sat and colored and watched Sesame Street for the longest time and were very good through most of it. When you got out of your chair though you wanted to be right in the mix of things. When I was loading up a box of presents to take down to Mamaw & Papaw's house, you grabbed one. I told you no and you cried. Then I looked around and you had another one and were trying to help me put them in the box. You are so very sweet and such a good helper. I let you put a few presents under the tree even and you thought that was such big fun. You do love the Christmas tree. I love Christmas but it's such a crazy time and everywhere is always so crowded that I get stressed out a little. Mommy just needs to take a chill pill sometimes, I guess. My favorite part about Christmas is Christmas morning. It's calm and quiet after all the gifts are open and everyone has a smile on their face. We're all getting ready to go to dinner and I can smell the food in the kitchen and it makes my mouth water. Then we get to go see everyone we care about and for a minute nothing is wrong in the entire world. Christmas was hard for me as a kid because I never had any real family to spend it with. As you know Mommy was raised in Foster Care and I didn't get to live with my Mommy and Daddy. Thanks to you & Daddy, and Mamaw & Papaw, I have a really family of my very own. I feel truly blessed. Well little one, I love you. I am tired and I think Daddy is waiting for me to go to bed so he can come in here and play on this thing. I love you, Rebecca!
Hello my sweet. Right now you are sleeping (I hope) in your room and Daddy was in bed but he got up to eat a brownie. He says he isn't having much luck going to sleep. However, he's barely been in there ten minutes. I can't go to sleep in ten minutes either. I think he caught me in the office with the door closed writing this blog to you and tried to sneak past me so he wouldn't have to deal with my grumpy behind. I have been grumpy today but I did not get enough sleep last night. Daddy has been grumpy too though because Daddy didn't get enough sleep either. He really ought to go back to bed. I think he is planning on taking you to church tomorrow morning. Possibly. Perhaps I can go, too.
I missed you so much when I was at work today. Santa Claus was at work and I wanted so bad for you to get to come and see him. I had the truck though because my poor little car still is not running. Wahhh! I miss it so. Anyway, I don't really know if you would have went to see him or not. You were very leary of him the last time he was in the store. You wouldn't even take a candy cane from him until he pulled his beard down and showed you who he really was.. which was Jenny's (my co-worker's) Dad. You took it then but even then it was with caution. I think if you finally get to see Santa Claus this year that you might boo hoo and cry and not want to sit in his lap for any picture thank you very much.
You did something so very cute a couple of days ago when I was wrapping presents. You sat and colored and watched Sesame Street for the longest time and were very good through most of it. When you got out of your chair though you wanted to be right in the mix of things. When I was loading up a box of presents to take down to Mamaw & Papaw's house, you grabbed one. I told you no and you cried. Then I looked around and you had another one and were trying to help me put them in the box. You are so very sweet and such a good helper. I let you put a few presents under the tree even and you thought that was such big fun. You do love the Christmas tree. I love Christmas but it's such a crazy time and everywhere is always so crowded that I get stressed out a little. Mommy just needs to take a chill pill sometimes, I guess. My favorite part about Christmas is Christmas morning. It's calm and quiet after all the gifts are open and everyone has a smile on their face. We're all getting ready to go to dinner and I can smell the food in the kitchen and it makes my mouth water. Then we get to go see everyone we care about and for a minute nothing is wrong in the entire world. Christmas was hard for me as a kid because I never had any real family to spend it with. As you know Mommy was raised in Foster Care and I didn't get to live with my Mommy and Daddy. Thanks to you & Daddy, and Mamaw & Papaw, I have a really family of my very own. I feel truly blessed. Well little one, I love you. I am tired and I think Daddy is waiting for me to go to bed so he can come in here and play on this thing. I love you, Rebecca!
Monday, December 12, 2005
Dear Rebecca,
It's very late here on Sunday night or either very early here on Monday morning. It all runs in together sometimes. I stayed up late tonight because I needed to get started wrapping some Christmas gifts for our family & friends. I already wrapped almost twenty presents and it seems to me I have barely made a dent in it. That's because you got way too much this year. Who knows what Santa might bring so you will indeed get even more.
You are such a sweet and darling little thing. We went to church this morning and you stayed in the play area with all the other children. You were a little fussy and didn't really want to go with all those people you didn't know. I don't really blame you there. We are going to have to take you more often so that you can get to know those people. You did enjoy playing with the other chiildren, as you always do, however. After the service we went out to see the tree in the narthex of the church. There was a really big tree and a small tree over in the corner with angels on it. You pointed to the tree and said "Sat?" (What's that) To which I informed you that it was an angel tree, with angels on it. And you said "Gels!" and pointed to it. So I took you over to see it and you plucked a little blue angel off the tree with a little girl's name on it. Her name is Jenny, and she is four. This year what Jenny really wanted from Santa was a purple dress, some boots to wear to a party and a baby doll. We went to Kmart to get all that good stuff and jetted up to KFC to get some fried chicken for dinner. We are going to have to take the dress back today or tomorrow (Daddy will drive us, it is snowing outside, you really do like the snow, you call it 'NO!") because I realized it was a size too small when I went to wrap it this evening. It's due Tuesday at the church so I reckon we'll have to talk Daddy into taking us tomorrow if it's not too bad when he gets off work. There may be an extension due to the bad weather.
We had a real fine time today. You entertained us as usual with your antics, taking bows and doing spins and jumping. You have started trying to bite Mommy and Mommy doesn't really like that very much. We are going to work on that. Anyway, back to the story at hand. Daddy and I watched Tv and you poked about in your room doing whatever it is you do in there. You half watch Dora and Boots but I think mostly you plot and plan new ways to horrify me & your dear old Dad. That's what toddlers do I reckon.
I am getting ready to end this post, get something to drink, and go to bed, but, before I do, I want to tell you my favorite moment with you this past week. Early in the week you were standing on the couch after Daddy left for work very early in the morning. You let out a little toot and made a little circle with your mouth like "Oh My!" and then you turned and looked out the window, stuck out your tongue, let out a bigger toot, turned and looked at me, eyes wide, and said, Momma, Poo Poo!" You hadn't pooped when I changed your diaper but I guess your little toot was so hard it felt like you did. You are so cute & sweet and smart and pretty. I even love your stinky little toots. I love you so much. Goodnight my sweet little baby. Mommy loves you!
It's very late here on Sunday night or either very early here on Monday morning. It all runs in together sometimes. I stayed up late tonight because I needed to get started wrapping some Christmas gifts for our family & friends. I already wrapped almost twenty presents and it seems to me I have barely made a dent in it. That's because you got way too much this year. Who knows what Santa might bring so you will indeed get even more.
You are such a sweet and darling little thing. We went to church this morning and you stayed in the play area with all the other children. You were a little fussy and didn't really want to go with all those people you didn't know. I don't really blame you there. We are going to have to take you more often so that you can get to know those people. You did enjoy playing with the other chiildren, as you always do, however. After the service we went out to see the tree in the narthex of the church. There was a really big tree and a small tree over in the corner with angels on it. You pointed to the tree and said "Sat?" (What's that) To which I informed you that it was an angel tree, with angels on it. And you said "Gels!" and pointed to it. So I took you over to see it and you plucked a little blue angel off the tree with a little girl's name on it. Her name is Jenny, and she is four. This year what Jenny really wanted from Santa was a purple dress, some boots to wear to a party and a baby doll. We went to Kmart to get all that good stuff and jetted up to KFC to get some fried chicken for dinner. We are going to have to take the dress back today or tomorrow (Daddy will drive us, it is snowing outside, you really do like the snow, you call it 'NO!") because I realized it was a size too small when I went to wrap it this evening. It's due Tuesday at the church so I reckon we'll have to talk Daddy into taking us tomorrow if it's not too bad when he gets off work. There may be an extension due to the bad weather.
We had a real fine time today. You entertained us as usual with your antics, taking bows and doing spins and jumping. You have started trying to bite Mommy and Mommy doesn't really like that very much. We are going to work on that. Anyway, back to the story at hand. Daddy and I watched Tv and you poked about in your room doing whatever it is you do in there. You half watch Dora and Boots but I think mostly you plot and plan new ways to horrify me & your dear old Dad. That's what toddlers do I reckon.
I am getting ready to end this post, get something to drink, and go to bed, but, before I do, I want to tell you my favorite moment with you this past week. Early in the week you were standing on the couch after Daddy left for work very early in the morning. You let out a little toot and made a little circle with your mouth like "Oh My!" and then you turned and looked out the window, stuck out your tongue, let out a bigger toot, turned and looked at me, eyes wide, and said, Momma, Poo Poo!" You hadn't pooped when I changed your diaper but I guess your little toot was so hard it felt like you did. You are so cute & sweet and smart and pretty. I even love your stinky little toots. I love you so much. Goodnight my sweet little baby. Mommy loves you!
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Dear Rebecca,
Good morning, Rebecca. It's extremely early now, as it usually is when I post my blogs. Yesterday we all went to Lexington and had your 2005 Christmas pictures done. You are much less cooperative when we go to have professional photos made of you than you were when you were just a wee little lass. We got a few good ones of you I think and we got a family photo that your Mom hates. She thinks that you & I took good pictures but she's not real pleased with how she looked. We were going to take you to see Santa Claus but I would imagine that the line would have been a little more than you could bear so I think your Mom is going to take you early one morning this coming week. We also went to Nicholasville and at Sonny's Barbeque restaurant. We all really seemed to enjoy it.
Well, I'm gonna let you go for now. Daddy loves Rebecca!
Good morning, Rebecca. It's extremely early now, as it usually is when I post my blogs. Yesterday we all went to Lexington and had your 2005 Christmas pictures done. You are much less cooperative when we go to have professional photos made of you than you were when you were just a wee little lass. We got a few good ones of you I think and we got a family photo that your Mom hates. She thinks that you & I took good pictures but she's not real pleased with how she looked. We were going to take you to see Santa Claus but I would imagine that the line would have been a little more than you could bear so I think your Mom is going to take you early one morning this coming week. We also went to Nicholasville and at Sonny's Barbeque restaurant. We all really seemed to enjoy it.
Well, I'm gonna let you go for now. Daddy loves Rebecca!
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Dear Rebecca,
Hello my sweetheart. You are sleeping so sweetly with the baby doll you stole from Allison right now. Daddy is also asleep and I am sitting here, well obviously posting a blog entry. I didn't do much to the house today because neither your or I are feeling well. Mostly we laid around and watched TV and we played big time in the middle of the day, chasing each other up and down the hall and getting our exercise in. You are so very much fun. And such a sweet baby. I went and got chinese food tonight so I wouldn't have to busy myself with cooking and cleaning up and whatnot. We got pan fried chicken and it was really good. You shared my chicken and rice and had some peas to boot. You got a very very tiny amount of i-team to finish off your meal. You pitched a fit wanting it. We were trying to get you to say please but you were too excited. I gave in because I am a big sucker. Of course do not let your father fool you; he is just as big a, if not bigger, sucker than I am. Daddy thought he was going to be off Friday but he was mistaken. We had pictures scheduled for then but I called and changed it to Saturday. It works out better for me that way anyway because we can spend the day together as a family. And we won't be so pressed to get things done in a certain amount of time. Which I like. I love the Holiday Season but Christmas can be stressful. Joyful. And stressful. That's why I am fond of Halloween. Everybody dresses up and acts silly and the only thing you have to worry about buying is lots and lots of candy, It's like a miniature stress-free Christmas. To me it is, anyway. Daddy says that Halloween (All Hallow's Eve) is a Pagan Holiday. But he should remember that so is Christmas. That's why we have Christmas trees. Something to do with honoring mother nature and all that pagan nonsense. Anyway, enough of that.
I got some really cute Christmas cards with your photos on them at work. They say "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" and "Love, The Littlest Lanham" on the signature part. I need to get busy sending them out. I will probably do that with the bills. I have most of the envelopes return addressed already. I need to call and get some addresses from Mamaw.
Well little one, I think that I will sing off of here and play the silly game I sometimes play on this computer for about a half an hour and then go on to bed. Remember that I love you very much. I know that our family will have a wonderful and merry Christmas together. Stress included. Good night my darling. Mommy loves you!
Hello my sweetheart. You are sleeping so sweetly with the baby doll you stole from Allison right now. Daddy is also asleep and I am sitting here, well obviously posting a blog entry. I didn't do much to the house today because neither your or I are feeling well. Mostly we laid around and watched TV and we played big time in the middle of the day, chasing each other up and down the hall and getting our exercise in. You are so very much fun. And such a sweet baby. I went and got chinese food tonight so I wouldn't have to busy myself with cooking and cleaning up and whatnot. We got pan fried chicken and it was really good. You shared my chicken and rice and had some peas to boot. You got a very very tiny amount of i-team to finish off your meal. You pitched a fit wanting it. We were trying to get you to say please but you were too excited. I gave in because I am a big sucker. Of course do not let your father fool you; he is just as big a, if not bigger, sucker than I am. Daddy thought he was going to be off Friday but he was mistaken. We had pictures scheduled for then but I called and changed it to Saturday. It works out better for me that way anyway because we can spend the day together as a family. And we won't be so pressed to get things done in a certain amount of time. Which I like. I love the Holiday Season but Christmas can be stressful. Joyful. And stressful. That's why I am fond of Halloween. Everybody dresses up and acts silly and the only thing you have to worry about buying is lots and lots of candy, It's like a miniature stress-free Christmas. To me it is, anyway. Daddy says that Halloween (All Hallow's Eve) is a Pagan Holiday. But he should remember that so is Christmas. That's why we have Christmas trees. Something to do with honoring mother nature and all that pagan nonsense. Anyway, enough of that.
I got some really cute Christmas cards with your photos on them at work. They say "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" and "Love, The Littlest Lanham" on the signature part. I need to get busy sending them out. I will probably do that with the bills. I have most of the envelopes return addressed already. I need to call and get some addresses from Mamaw.
Well little one, I think that I will sing off of here and play the silly game I sometimes play on this computer for about a half an hour and then go on to bed. Remember that I love you very much. I know that our family will have a wonderful and merry Christmas together. Stress included. Good night my darling. Mommy loves you!
Monday, December 05, 2005
Dear Rebecca,
You are sleeping comfortably in your crib right now, Mama is at work, I am posting a blog, it's the Christmas season and all is right with the world. We had big fun this evening, as usual. I had to work over just a few minutes and your Mom had to be at her job in the Kroger photo lab at four o'clock so Cousin Allison watched you for a few minutes this afternoon. We had some supper and watched just a little television. You took a bath and splashed Daddy as we listened to Christmas music at a disturbingly high volume. We played a bit in the living room and then you went to bed. I think you had fun; I hope you had fun with your dear ole' Dad. Oh, your Mama brought you to see me at work during my lunch today. I always enjoy seeing you during lunch.
You're getting so big. You're seventeen months old now and when your Mother or I refer to you as the baby we are more times than not reminded that you are no longer a baby, but a full blown toddler. You are turning into such a beautiful little girl. I'm trying to teach you how to say Santa. You're going to go see Santa this weekend I hope. You now say "mere", which means "come here". You are such a bossy little thing. Tonight when we had supper you told me you wanted an apple. I didn't think we had any apples so you then informed me that since we didn't have any apples that your preference for supper was "i-team", which is of course ice cream. Now, I am a push over when it comes to you but I draw the line there. Instead you had some pasta pinwheels and diced chicken with carrots. Only after you ate what I deemed an appropriate amount of your healthy food did I give in to your extreme cuteness and let you have a small cone of i-team. Your Mom called later and informed me that we did have one granny smith apple in the fridge. I gave that to you as a snack towards the end of the evening and you ate a whole lot of that thing. You do love apples; not as much as i-team but you do like your apples.
Well, I'm gonna let you go for now, Little One. Daddy loves Rebecca!
You are sleeping comfortably in your crib right now, Mama is at work, I am posting a blog, it's the Christmas season and all is right with the world. We had big fun this evening, as usual. I had to work over just a few minutes and your Mom had to be at her job in the Kroger photo lab at four o'clock so Cousin Allison watched you for a few minutes this afternoon. We had some supper and watched just a little television. You took a bath and splashed Daddy as we listened to Christmas music at a disturbingly high volume. We played a bit in the living room and then you went to bed. I think you had fun; I hope you had fun with your dear ole' Dad. Oh, your Mama brought you to see me at work during my lunch today. I always enjoy seeing you during lunch.
You're getting so big. You're seventeen months old now and when your Mother or I refer to you as the baby we are more times than not reminded that you are no longer a baby, but a full blown toddler. You are turning into such a beautiful little girl. I'm trying to teach you how to say Santa. You're going to go see Santa this weekend I hope. You now say "mere", which means "come here". You are such a bossy little thing. Tonight when we had supper you told me you wanted an apple. I didn't think we had any apples so you then informed me that since we didn't have any apples that your preference for supper was "i-team", which is of course ice cream. Now, I am a push over when it comes to you but I draw the line there. Instead you had some pasta pinwheels and diced chicken with carrots. Only after you ate what I deemed an appropriate amount of your healthy food did I give in to your extreme cuteness and let you have a small cone of i-team. Your Mom called later and informed me that we did have one granny smith apple in the fridge. I gave that to you as a snack towards the end of the evening and you ate a whole lot of that thing. You do love apples; not as much as i-team but you do like your apples.
Well, I'm gonna let you go for now, Little One. Daddy loves Rebecca!
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Dear Rebecca,
Your poor mother just can't catch a break. Very early this morning, around midnight, she went to bed while I was going to stay up for awhile and post a blog and maybe play a little bit here on the computer. Not five minutes after she had laid down she burst into the computer room gasping for air. She was able to tell me that she had been bitten by some kind of bug while she was in bed. I ran out to the Explorer to get her epinephrine shot but the truck door was locked and I couldn't get in. I couldn't find the key right away and by the time I found the key and retrieved her shot she was almost passed out. Luckily the shot worked well for her, even though it made her violently ill. She has always been allergic to bees but we assumed that in the colder months we wouldn't have to worry so much about her having an allergic reaction. Well, it appears we were wrong. She must have been bitten by a spider or something. She's sleeping on the couch tonight. She says it's because her heart was racing from the epinephrine shot but I also believe that she might be a little frightened to go back to bed. Well, I told her that she needs to go to the doctor as soon as possible and get another prescription for an EpiPen which is what her shots are called. They're for extreme allergic reactions.
It's been kind of a ho-hum week this week. Your Mom was at home most of the nights this week so that was nice. You are more entertaining every day so that also is nice. Thursday our garbage disposal died and I had to go purchase another one at Lowe's. Papaw helped me install it. What would we do without Papaw? You stayed right with us and watched everything that went on. Papaw said that Aunt Lynn was the same way but when the mechanical work was being done, I was nowhere around. Maybe that explains my profound ignorance of all things mechanical.
We had big fun last night. I gave you a cookie and had one for myself. You took my cookie when I wasn't looking and took off down the hall. I jumped up and ran after you hollering "Cookie" and you just ran and laughed so hard. We danced to Christmas music, you had a nice long bath and we watched a Mickey Mouse Christmas program. We both rather enjoyed it. Then you got into an unattended bottle of my dip spit and poured it out all over the floor and yourself. While I was running around trying to clean the carpet you opened my brand new can of Copenhagen and spilled it all over the floor. It was all my fault. I shouldn't have left the bottle within your reach and you were only doing what babies are suppose to do, explore and learn.
Mom finally came home and she had a surprise for you. She pulled out a box from a Kroger bag and you yelled, "I-team", meaning ice cream. You do love your ice cream. We don't give you as much as you would like to have but we don't want you ending up looking like Daddy so we only give you ice cream for special treats. I think we are doing a fine job. You got your fifteen and eighteen month shots Thursday as well. You weighed twenty-five lbs. and I forget how many ounces. You were in the 90th percentile for height, the 70th for weight and the 100th for big headedness, which is cranial circumference. So I think we are doing a pretty good job with you.
Well, I am tired and I want to go to bed so let me wish you a very happy seventeenth month birthday today and say good-night. Daddy loves Rebecca!
Your poor mother just can't catch a break. Very early this morning, around midnight, she went to bed while I was going to stay up for awhile and post a blog and maybe play a little bit here on the computer. Not five minutes after she had laid down she burst into the computer room gasping for air. She was able to tell me that she had been bitten by some kind of bug while she was in bed. I ran out to the Explorer to get her epinephrine shot but the truck door was locked and I couldn't get in. I couldn't find the key right away and by the time I found the key and retrieved her shot she was almost passed out. Luckily the shot worked well for her, even though it made her violently ill. She has always been allergic to bees but we assumed that in the colder months we wouldn't have to worry so much about her having an allergic reaction. Well, it appears we were wrong. She must have been bitten by a spider or something. She's sleeping on the couch tonight. She says it's because her heart was racing from the epinephrine shot but I also believe that she might be a little frightened to go back to bed. Well, I told her that she needs to go to the doctor as soon as possible and get another prescription for an EpiPen which is what her shots are called. They're for extreme allergic reactions.
It's been kind of a ho-hum week this week. Your Mom was at home most of the nights this week so that was nice. You are more entertaining every day so that also is nice. Thursday our garbage disposal died and I had to go purchase another one at Lowe's. Papaw helped me install it. What would we do without Papaw? You stayed right with us and watched everything that went on. Papaw said that Aunt Lynn was the same way but when the mechanical work was being done, I was nowhere around. Maybe that explains my profound ignorance of all things mechanical.
We had big fun last night. I gave you a cookie and had one for myself. You took my cookie when I wasn't looking and took off down the hall. I jumped up and ran after you hollering "Cookie" and you just ran and laughed so hard. We danced to Christmas music, you had a nice long bath and we watched a Mickey Mouse Christmas program. We both rather enjoyed it. Then you got into an unattended bottle of my dip spit and poured it out all over the floor and yourself. While I was running around trying to clean the carpet you opened my brand new can of Copenhagen and spilled it all over the floor. It was all my fault. I shouldn't have left the bottle within your reach and you were only doing what babies are suppose to do, explore and learn.
Mom finally came home and she had a surprise for you. She pulled out a box from a Kroger bag and you yelled, "I-team", meaning ice cream. You do love your ice cream. We don't give you as much as you would like to have but we don't want you ending up looking like Daddy so we only give you ice cream for special treats. I think we are doing a fine job. You got your fifteen and eighteen month shots Thursday as well. You weighed twenty-five lbs. and I forget how many ounces. You were in the 90th percentile for height, the 70th for weight and the 100th for big headedness, which is cranial circumference. So I think we are doing a pretty good job with you.
Well, I am tired and I want to go to bed so let me wish you a very happy seventeenth month birthday today and say good-night. Daddy loves Rebecca!
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