Dear Rebecca,
               As your Mom has already mentioned you didn't do so well with the movie yesterday. It was all Mamma & Daddy's fault. We tried the theater thing way too early. Your attention span isn't all that long yet. You were quite impressed with what you called the "Big T.V." though. You also seemed to enjoy the Curious George preview but after the preview was over you hopped down from your seat and informed us that you were done. Your Mom had a really rough time trying to wrangle you at the movie theater. She nearly bit my head off a few times later that day but I understood her frustration; it didn't make it any easier but I did understand it. We'll try another movie next holiday season maybe when you are three and a half or maybe around your next birthday. It all depends on when we think you will be able to handle it. Of course our judgement regarding that particular subject has now come into scrutiny because we thought maybe you would do okay yesterday.
      Before the movie we stopped off at Burger King on Clays Mill Road and had lunch. We ate it while we sat in the Explorer. You wanted a bite of our burgers so Mom broke you off a small piece of her sandwich and said, "Give her this" and then you said, "Give me this". It was so cute. As we stood in line for tickets to the film I heard some people behind us talking about how beautiful you are. It just filled my heart with pride.
      I'm sorry I haven't been posting to the blog more than I have in the past but as you get older and life evolves I am finding that I just don't have the time to set down here and share with you all the things I would like to. During the week you do and say a hundred cute things that I intend on putting in this blog but when I am finally ready to set down and write I draw a blank.
      You are at Granny's right now with Mamaw while Momma naps and I just enjoy some Sunday afternoon quiet time.
      Your birthday is next week and you will be two years old. We have a few really nice gifts for you. Your birthday is not nearly as extravagant as it was last year but it's still turned out to be a little bigger deal than either your Mother or I had planned. You are our only child, you know so you are getting spoiled and I don't really see that changing any time soon.
      You have fully gotten over your fear of riding with Papaw on the mower. We are all very glad about that. Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney got rid of Jon's ATV so that will never be a problem for you again.
      Well, I am going to close this post out. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                        Hello my little sweetheart. I know you really didn't have a very fun day today, although we definitely intended for you to. We took you to see the movie "Cars". You watched the previews and informed me that you were 'done'. So you and I spent the rest of the time outside in the hallway and lobby and you spent almost every minute of it getting in trouble one way or another. You tried to sneak into other movie theatres. We tried to go back into the Theatre where Cars was playing and you ran out of it and I had to jump up and run after you. We tried to switch seats but that didn't seem to help. You are just too little to be doing things like that I reckon. It really wasn't fair to you to stay but we payed almost eighteen dollars for the tickets and I know Daddy really wanted to see it. I really wanted someone to see it anyway. I was very upset after the movie; I don't like having to put you in trouble and I especially don't like spanking you. On this trip I had to do both. Bless your heart, you are so sweet. I am so sorry that I had to do that. You were trying to run out the door of the theatre into the parking lot. I about had a heart attack. I'd rather spank you so that you know better next time than to see you get hurt or worse. That would absolutely take the meaning from my life.
               Well, at least we had a better time when we got home. You and I went outside to set up your pool and fill it up with water. Then we both plopped in the ice cold water and swam around. We are silly, you and I. But we had a lot of fun. I love you so very much that I don't mind acting a little crazy with you now and then. You are such a good little girl. Even at the Theatre I know it was only you being two and not being bad. You could never be bad because you are just too sweet. I said you were bad but I was frustrated. I didn't mean a word of it, you are the sweetest best little child anyone could ever ask for.
                  Thursday you drug your stuffed Pooh, my bed blanket, your sippy cup, a fake piece of cake, a play bowl, and a pretend chicken leg into the hallway. You told me to come and sit down with you and your friends. I asked if you wanted to have a picnic. You said "YES!" and you had strategically placed the chicken leg in pooh's hand. You thought that was fantastic and had to get me to look. I stopped everything I was doing and sat down in the hallway and had a picnic with you and your Pooh Friend. You are so creative and imaginative sometimes that it's hard for me to think of you as still being a little baby. We tried to rush you into that movie today because we know you are smart and well behaved and you generally take directions very well but we forgot all about you just wanting to run and play and be a baby while you still can. I want you to be a baby while you still can, too; If I could freeze time and stay as long as I wanted in that moment where we were having a picnic on a blanket in the hallway I think I might stay there with you for years. I love you so much Rebecca and I want you to know that I will try to be the best mother I can to you.
                 That's all I have to say tonight because my eyes are filling up with tears thinking about how you will be two so soon and it seemed like only yesterday that I could hold you in one arm and rub your fuzzy little head and you'd lay on mine and Daddy's chest while you slept and you wouldn't roll over .... and then you did.... and then you crawled.. and then you walked.. it goes so fast that I don't want to push it anymore. I love you, my baby girl.

Dear Rebecca,
               We have plans to take you to the movie theater for the first time in your life in the morning. We are going to see Cars, the new animated film from Disney and Pixar. I hope you do okay with it. You are normally a very well behaved young lady but sitting in the same place for two hours might test your patience a bit though. We are going to the brand new AmStar theater between Lexington and Nicholasville.
      We had a buggy infestation this week. Your Mom woke up and said there was dozens of bugs in the kitchen. I said I would take care of it when I got up; this was around 4:30 in the morning. When I finally got up the bugs had multiplied like you wouldn't believe. There was hundreds of winged ants in the kitchen. We had some bug spray and we killed them all but we bought some heavy duty spray and I am going to spray the whole house and around the outside as well.
      I had a whole bunch of stuff to tell you but I can't think of any of it right now. Maybe I will try again later tonight and more will come to me. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               Yesterday was father's day. You and I fixed Daddy a big breakfast of pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs. It's what Moose from Noggin fixed his Daddy for breakfast, too. You woke him up excitedly and told him to 'Come Eat!' He came to eat and while we were all at the breakfast table you told him "Happy Faders Day". That touched his heart down to the core. Then you ran him his surprise which was a card with his mud jug receipt in it because it was on it's way here. He thanked you and gave you a big hug. Daddy is a good father to you and a good husband to Mommy. We are both very lucky to have him.
                 After our big breakfast, which was actually our lunch, you were tired and went down for a nap. You slept about two hours and during that time Daddy and I watched the tail end of a TV show he had been looking at. Then Daddy laid down just as you got up and I got you and your diaper bag ready to go down to Mamaw & Papaw's house. Daddy only slept about forty five minutes and then we went down to take Papaw the hat and T-shirt you bought him. The hat said #1 Grandpa and the T-shirt had a bunch of funny sayings on it about being a granddad. I wish we could have afforded to get him a little more because Papaw has been very good to all of us. He has been especially good to Mommy and he really didn't have to be. Sometimes when I hear a song by Brad Paisley called "Half The Dad He Didn't Have To Be" I think about your Papaw. He is a good man and I know where your own dear Dad gets a lot of his good qualities from. Mommy and her Daddy, your Papaw Lawrence, have never been very close. I don't know why it's just that a lot of things happened to get in the way of our relationship. Someday you will learn all about it but right now your only job is to grow up and enjoy all the love and affection that you get from a family who truly loves you deeply.
            When we got down to Papaw's his weed eater had gone whacky and he wasn't having too good of a Papa's day. We decided we'd take him out to the KFC buffet in Nichlosville for supper. We all had a real enjoyable time there in at the corner table in KFC, watching you put on a big show the way you always do. Papaw loves you better than a hog loves slop. And take it from a piggy, hogs love slop. After supper it started to rain and Daddy and I wanted to get you home and get you in bed because it was getting very, very late. You cried and cried because you wanted to go in with Mamaw and Papaw. Poor Mamaw's heart was breaking but I think she was making it worse by prolonging our departure. You cried until we got off Lillard's Ferry and then you settled down and started hollering bye-bye. When I took you there before work today you asked if you could "go in". I informed you that you indeed got to stay today. You were pretty happy about that. When it comes to loving Mamaw and Papaw, you also love THEM better than a hog loves slop.
            We spent the entire morning, you and I, doing nothing and hanging out. Around eleven o'clock we went to the grocery store. At first you were not too pleased because you expected to go down to Mamaw's house and we were no where near Mamaw's house. Then you got in the store and you were your normal friendly little self speaking to everyone and showing off the cookie you got a the deli. You felt the need to tell everyone in passing that you had a "Cookie!" Everyone thought that was cute.
               I had to leave you at twelve thirty today so I could be at work by one. I told Mamaw if the old Nuns I worked for didn't depend on me so badly that I would have called in sick today. I was so enjoying just being with my precious little girl. I got off work a little early though so I got to give you your shower and spend a few minutes with you before you went to bed. You went to bed at eight tonight because Mamaw said you did not have a nap today. You're getting older and getting wiser and not wanting to miss anything. If you miss anything, don't miss this: I want you to know that I love you more than anything in this world and I will try to be the best mother, friend, and confidant you will ever have. I love you, Rebecca.

Dear Rebecca,
               As you know, your Mom worked yesterday from seven to seven. We had a really great day together. You and I went to the pool at Falling Springs. It was your first trip over there this year. I don't think you can remember the trips you took last summer because you were very young. You really didn't know where we were going but you went right along with me like the trusting little angel that you are. You saw the water and all the other people out there having fun and you knew then that a day of fun was ahead. You had an absolute ball. You don't mind getting your head dunked at all. I worked my way up to dunking you though. After we had been there for a few hours you heard a train whistle and you lost all interest in the pool. You just wanted to know where the train was. We left a little while after that and had some lunch at McDonald's and we came home and since you were already in your swimming suit I dropped you in your little pool out back. You had big fun there as well. I did a little better job of sunblocking you yesterday but your Mom says I missed the area right under your eyes so that now you look like a football player with red under your eyes instead of black. I on the other hand forgot to use any sunblock at all and my face, tummy and upper back are all now the approximate shade of a coke can.
      That's it for this post. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               Monday I did something that may potentially be a huge giant big deal in our lives. I don't want to get into it too much right now because I don't want to jinx it but let's just say that I haven't been this excited about something since you were born and that includes getting this house. I just hope it all works out. I am so excited and also incredibly afraid that something will come along and dash my dream. Okay, I won't mention it again until we can get things under way and if you never hear about it again you can just assume that things went terribly wrong.
      It's been a real nice week. You spent lots of time down at Mamaw & Papaw's this past week while your Mom worked and I got to ride Papaw's dirt bike some this week. We got a few more items for your birthday. The plans for your birthday are shaping up quite nicely, by the way.
      Your Mom's Taurus needs another drive belt. That car has caused us more problems than any other automobile I have ever had. Your Mom doesn't like driving it while it has the old belt on it because it makes a loud squeaking noise and she is embarrassed by it so she has been driving my Explorer. I ride with Papaw to and from work most everyday so that's not a problem.
      We got your pool up and running and you absolutely love it. I got off work at noon today and you and Mom came to get me at work. Your Mom left for work as soon as we put you down for a nap. I filled up your neon green pool with fresh water while you slept. You got up with a dirty diaper and was extremely upset that you didn't get a chance to do it in the potty. You want to use the potty you just haven't mastered the art of holding it just yet. It won't be long before you get it; I know I have been saying that for a year now but I feel you are very close now. Anyway as I was changing your dirty diaper you wanted your swimming suit. I said yes and your eyes lit up like it was Christmas morning. We both went outside on the deck where we keep the pool and you and I both had a ball. You splashed in the water for two and a half hours. I even got in for twenty minutes or so because I got extremely hot. I even burned my big fat belly. You had big fun while I was in the pool with you. Your Mother and I both got in the pool with you the other day and I forgot to take my wallet and a brand new can of Copenhagen out of my pockets. This time I remembered to take those things but I left my belt on.
      Yep, all we had today was fun except when you got sunblock in your eyes. That was not fun for you at all. You cried and screamed like a crazy person. I thought maybe you were overdoing it just a bit until I got it in my eyes too and then I cried and screamed like a crazy person. That stuff hurts bad. And for all that I didn't get you sunblocked around the edges of your bathing suit legs and you got a little burn there. I am such a terrible daddy.
      After you had a shower I fixed you a supper of leftover salad, cottage cheese, pickles, cheese nips and grape drink. You seemed to enjoy supper so I reckon I did okay. After supper we had an oreo cookie and watched Little Bear until your Mother got home.
      You are most definitely a Mama's girl right now and I am perfectly fine with that. You have figured out that you and Mama have similar parts and when Mama is around she is the only one you want to change your diaper. You'll begrudgingly allow me to do it when Mama is at work but you most definitely prefer Mama over your poor old Daddy. Also you must be carried to bed by Mama; Daddy just will not do. You make sure that I follow the two of you into your room but Mama must be the one doing the packing. Yep, you are a Mama's girl.
      You have started doing something that just drives your Mother and I both up the proverbial wall. Everything you get your hands on that you like and do not want to part with has magically became your own personal property. "Mine! Mine! Mine!"
      I have a feeling that will soon become your catch phrase. This week when we were down at Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney's you got your hands on one of the boy's beach balls. You loudly proclaimed for the world to hear that the ball belonged to you. I informed you that the ball belonged to Jon but you would have none of that. You informed me that I was mistaken and that the ball belonged to you. Your Mom told me the other day that whenever you say that she informs you that whatever it is that you are talking about belongs to her and that she is graciously allowing you the temporary use of said object. I don't believe a word of it though. Your Mother would give you her right arm and left leg if she thought that would make you happy. Your Mother is a soft touch as I am sure you have figured out and used to your best advantage by now.
      Well, I have to get up with you tomorrow because your Mom is working from seven to seven tomorrow so I will close out this entry. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                                 What a good girl you were today! At the spur of the moment we decided to go to the Wal-Mart in Frankfort to replace the pool that daddy poked a hole in. You really love to play in the pool. You are a little water acrobat. Our water bill is gonna be sky high this month. Anyway, that's besides the point.
               We went to steak-n-shake for lunch and you had a grilled cheese and fries. You were very hungry and you kept hollering for the waitress to bring you your fries. You wanted them right then, no questions asked. You also had some cottage cheese. You love cottage cheese. You ate a lot of that. You ate pretty good and so did we. We had steak-n-shake hamburgers. They call them steak burgers but they are hamburgers. Anyway, after dinner we all shared a chocolate peanut butter milkshake. They call those sippable sundae's but they are milkshakes with hot fudge and chocolate chips on them. Come to think of it I don't think there was even a cherry in this one. If there was, we all missed it. Unless Daddy ate it. You really enjoyed dessert, as we all did.
            After dessert we went to Wal-Mart. You had a big time in Wal-Mart. We put you on your Elmo harness and let you run around the store. You found a huge ball and played with that for a moment, until I had to take it from you and put it in the cart because we were getting in people's way. You also found a baby, two puppies, seven or eight other items we had to put back on the shelf. You also rode a tiny little push button four wheeler on the floor of the Wal-Mart toy ailse. I was amazed you weren't afraid of it. However, it was just your size. You took off on it like you knew what was up. Then we put that up and your 'rode' a Dora bicycle which will probably be your next birthday present. Everyone thought you were adorable and so very sweet. You always get lots of compliments wherever you go. You're a good little girl.
         Daddy just informed me your new pool is full so I am going to go and heat some water up to dump in it so you can take it for a tiny test run. It's a bit cool out back but the deck is shielded pretty good from the wind and I know you're going to want to hop in it any old way. By the way, you're birthday is an Elmo themed party this year. I know you will love that. Mommy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               I was planning on doing a nice long blog regarding Mommy & Daddy's day out together yesterday but it's storming and lightening so I don't want my computer on during this so I will try to make this a short one.
      Mama took you down to Mamaw & Papaw's while I stayed here and got ready to go. We ate at Logan's and each had a yummy steak. We looked all over two towns, Lexington and Nicholasville for your playhouse and eventually found it at the Northside Wal-Mart. But they didn't have your basketball goal so we are planning on getting that next week. We got you a new pool as well. When we got home Mama went down to Mamaw & Papaw's to get you while I stayed here at the house so I could blow up your inflatable pool; I busted it. We are going to have to get you another one.
      I'm gonna close now. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               Auntie Lynn & Uncle Rodney sold the four-wheeler that has caused you so much trouble with loud engine noises lately. Mamaw convinced Aunt Lynn that Jon was just too wild on the thing. I have never been a big fan of four-wheelers. They turn over much too easily for my taste. It was okay while you rode it with someone who knew what they were doing but if you don't know how to drive one or if you do not respect the machine they can kill you.
      Granny, Mamaw & Papaw joined us for supper Thursday night. I mowed the lawn while you and everyone else stayed in the house and talked. Just as I finished up weed eating around your swing set your Mom informed me that supper was ready. We had Pizza Hut pizza and salad. We had a super supreme pizza, a pepperoni pizza and my personal favorite, cheese lover's pizza. It was fun. I know Pizza Hut is much more expensive than where we usually get our pizza from, Little Ceasar's, but we were in the mood for really good pizza and Pizza Hut is much better than Little Caesar's. The only reason we primarily order from Little Caesar's is because they are much cheaper; a one topping pizza costs $5. Later that same evening when it was time to start winding down you wanted the living room light off, as usual but this time you decided that you had watched Mom & Dad turn it off enough that you thought maybe you could handle it on your own. You fumbled around with it for awhile and Mama asked you if you wanted her to do it for you and you said "Becca do it" and sure enough you got the job done. I was in the kitchen sweeping the floor or maybe I was just making another mess so I didn't get to see you do this but I heard it all and Mama said that you were very proud of yourself. Mama & Daddy were proud of you too.
      This afternoon you and I had supper down at Mamaw & Papaw's house. Granny was there as well. We had white beans and greens. You absolutely love greens and that fact just fascinates Mamaw. You ate a whole plate of greens and a few beans.
      You and I took a walk down to Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney's after supper but it wasn't because you had any great hankering to visit with them. It was because that's where Jon & Jacob's pool is at and you wanted to "Play water", as you say. You've been spending quite a bit of time in their pool while Mamaw watches you. We got your pool you had last year down out of the attic this past week and discovered that you had outgrown it. You still love to splash around in it but you really do need a bigger pool and I think maybe you will get a little bigger one for your birthday.
      Your Mom & I are going birthday shopping for you tomorrow and we are going to go out to eat at Logan's Roadhouse. We are going to see if we can't get you a playhouse for the backyard, a toddler basketball goal because you love basketball, the pool, of course and a Cinderella DVD. We have already ordered the DVD from Amazon.com. It came out at Christmas and Disney only has their classic films on the market for a limited time so I was afraid that we wouldn't get it but apparently we did. I hope someone else gets you Dumbo. That one was released just this past week.
      This past week you rode with Papaw on the tractor of your own accord. I am so proud of you. Ever since the four-wheeler accident you have been afraid of it. I could see in your eyes that you desperately wanted to ride but were just too afraid. I think it was Wednesday we were down there and you saw Papoo on the tractor and you said "Papoo ride", I asked you "Becca Papoo ride?" and you thought it over a minute and you finally decided "kay" you would ride with Papoo. I handed you over to Papoo and you didn't fuss at all. You still looked a little worried but that lasted about as long as it took to get the tractor in motion and then you were just concentrating on having fun. I still don't think you are as comfortable with riding as you were before the accident but you are coming around and for that we are all very happy; well, maybe not Mama. I think she would be happiest if you never ever wanted to ride anything without a roof again. I'm just kidding. Your Mama loves seeing you happy and riding does make you happy.
      I have been using my trips to pick you up from Mamaw & Papaw's as an excuse to ride Papaw's dirt bike. I am jonesing hard for a street bike of my own. I would love to have one but right now we have other things to worry about. Your Mom has decided to get her CNA license so she will be able to get a better paying job in the healthcare field. Right now, as I am sure you know, she is a sitter for two elderly nuns at Taylor Manor. She does most of stuff that a CNA does but doesn't get CNA pay because she is not a licensed CNA. The plan is for her to get her CNA and then to go back to school and get a degree in nursing. Nursing pays very handsomely and there is always openings for qualified nurses.
      Well, I gotta start thinking about maybe getting ready to start getting ready to get in bed so I will close this post out. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
            I've just put you down for a nap. I don't think you've gone to sleep yet; I can still hear you 'talking' to your stuffed animals. I always think that is so cute. I had put some ice in your milk before I put you down today because it wasn't very cold. You heard ice rattling around in the cup and you were convinced it wasn't milk. I finally got you to taste it and you were satisfied that was, indeed, your beloved 'chocate miyuk'.
            You spent the day with Mamaw yesterday while Mommy was at work. She said the two of you, and Papaw, had lots of fun. You saw a frog, and a rabbit, but most of all, you got to see a baby deer. It was just born. Whenever I ask you if you saw a deer you reply, "Baby Deer!" You feel the need to stress that it was a baby deer. You and Mamaw are much more brave than I ever would have been. I know how protective wild animals are of their young; it's only natural. Humans are the same way. Of course, we are animals too. That's odd to me, but we are. Sometimes I think you are an animal. You are my little destructive darlin' today.
            Earlier today you dropped something you had been playing with behind the couch. I pulled the couch out so you could pick it up and you got excited the way you always do and you took off running. You smashed into the large picture stand Mommy has with your pictures in it in the living room and shattered one of the glass covers in the frame. I know that you were convinced that you were in big trouble because your eyes got really wide and you looked at me and said "Momma, Broken!" I know you didn't mean to do it so I told you not to worry about it and got you interested in the drink I had so that I could get it all cleaned up. I am pretty confident that I got most of the glass up; it didn't shatter too badly but I vacuumed all around the area just in case. I don't want you or Daddy getting your foot poked. I don't want to get my foot poked, either.
            Some time later after that incident I was on the phone with Mamaw and you were playing in the bedroom in the big blue rocking chair. You got up and wanted to look at your self in the 'miyyo" - the mirror, and you climbed up on the white wicker laundry basket we used to use when you were a tiny baby. Now I can barely put three or four outfits in it. You were doing alright on your knees looking at yourself but you decided you wanted that full-body view and stood up. Just as soon as you did you came crashing down and almost hit your head on the wall. Nearly scared me to death. We are getting rid of that basket today. Daddy is going to put it in the attic or the garage or somewhere. Somewhere out of your reach and temptation.
               After that incident. we went into the living room and tried to watch and episode of Bob The Builder to calm down. You really like that show for some reason. You weren't interested in today, however. You wanted to go in your room and climb in and out of your big grey toy bucket and dance on it and roll around in the toys inside it. Which also made me nervous. Sometimes I wonder why I haven't suffered a heart attack yet. You always seem to bounce back from your little bumps a lot better than I ever could these days. That's one thing that's good about being a baby; baby's heal fast. Sometimes babies don't learn though, but you're a pretty good remember-er. You won't go near the four wheeler to this day.
         After you were done fooling around in your room, we played some in the living room while we waited on your lunch to finish. You had your lunch and I put your clothes back on you and put you down for a nap. Which is where you are now, and I think you are finally asleep. Mommy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                  I'm not real happy with the picture I put up on your blog for your twenty-third month birthday. We really didn't get a good one today. Well, we got a lot of good ones but not one that shows you smiling from the front. I thought for sure we would get one today. I can get one tomorrow or the next day and use that one instead. It doesn't have to be exactly your birthday to be posted just pretty close.
      We all went to the park today after your nap. You swang forever. Mama said you were still kind of groggy from your nap. After you swinging we went and played on a balance beam with another 23 month old toddler. You loved bouncing on the beam. Then we took a little walk around the trail because you wanted to see the fishies. There was some young hooligans running their bicycles into the water at the first bridge so we didn't get to see any fish there so we went on to the second bridge. There you got to see some fishies.
      We continued our walk and a super skinny kitten came upon us. He was so friendly. Your Mom wanted to take him home but I didn't think it was a good idea. Eventually I agreed to take him to the humane society if we could get him to the car. The cat came almost all the way to the car with us but we he got nervous when some kids I don't think were all that bright tried to "help" us with the kitty. They made the poor animal so nervous that he just ran off. He was a very friendly kitten so I am sure he will be rescued. As we walked along you kept calling for the kitty to follow us. He would rub up against your legs and you would giggle and tell us how much that tickled. We had a real good time at the park.
      After the park we went to McDonald's for some ice cream or i-team as you like to call it. We ended up getting supper and shakes. You got a hamburger & fries and your Mom and I got one of their new asian salads. We both hated the salad. It was spicy. I really don't think that a salad should be spicy. I ate all of the chicken and mandarin oranges out of mine and your Mom went and got herself some fries and a double cheeseburger. You didn't touch your burger. You kept annoying your Mother by crawling into her lap. She was annoyed until she realized that you wouldn't always want to be crawling up in her lap forever. I could see the annoyance drain from her face and I knew what she was thinking. I know some of the most annoying things that you do now will probably be the ones that we will miss the most when you get too old to do them.
      There's one thing I will not be sorry to see you stop doing and that is pooping in your diaper. You have been sick the last few weeks and you have had some thin & toxic poops. I think you are feeling better from your virus but are having trouble getting over your diarrhea. Which is reason enough to go for another visit to your pediatrician. Your Mom doesn't think you are feeling better at all and the diarrhea is simply proof of that. Either way your Mom is going to make an appointment with your doctor Monday.
      We bought philly cheese steak subs and baked potatoes for Mamaw & Papaw at Arby's and took them down to their house so we could all visit for awhile. It was really just a ploy on my part to put off mowing the lawn and of course so I could ride Papaw's dirt bike. I rode the dirt bike for maybe an hour while Papaw mowed the back field and you, Mama & Mamaw stayed on the deck and talked. Eventually your Mom made me get off of the bike and we went home.
      I started on the yard as soon as I got home and you went in for your bath. You visited me once after your bath as I was finishing up the front yard. I was glad to see you because I knew I wouldn't get to be with you and your Mom when she tucked you in for the night. I finished up the yard at almost nine o'clock. I'm glad to have gotten that done. It was starting to look a little ratty. The weather people kept predicting rain so I didn't during the week. It didn't rain as much as they said it would. I could have mowed it during the week like most of our neighbors did but I just didn't. It looks okay now though. Except for the massive amounts of weeds that I just can't seem to get rid of. The weeds are driving me bonkers. I hate weeds with a passion.
      You did something so cute the other day. We were putting you to bed and you both were holding you and kissing on you when you started pushing Mommy & Daddy's faces together so we could kiss. You have been doing that for a long time now but the other day you pushed our faces together and you stuck your pretty little face into ours and we had a big family sugar and then you said "friends". That was so cute and so true. Through the years to come you will come to think of us not so much as your friends from time to time because we will make demands of you that will think unfair and maybe even cruel but everything we will do will be because we love you. Remember your Mother & I are the two greatest and most loyal friends that you will ever know in your life.
      Well, I think that I am getting up with you in the morning so I had better close out this post. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               Right now you are sleeping. At least I think you are. Shortly I will be joining you for your nap. We went to pick up my first paycheck at Taylor Manor today. I was expecting $240 dollars or so and I got $235. Pretty right on the money, wasn't I? We got to see Sister Agnes today, she thought you were the cutest little thing ever. When we finally got out to the car is when you started yelling "BYE!" at her. You are so funny. You acted all shy in the nursing home but everyone still thought you were very cute indeed. You wore the little skirt and shirt Mamaw and Aunt Lynn bought for you. I was going to put you in your yellow dress & put the yellow flower Sister Agnes gave you in your hair but I couldn't find it. (The dress, not the flower)
               We then set off to go to the cable company and the grocery store, in which at both places we spent most of Mommy's hard-earned money. Whoo,nothing like shooting the moon, so to speak. I want you to know that I had an extremely fun time with you today, as I always do. You are the sweetest and most wonderful company anyone could ask for. I love you dearly & am so glad that I have you. Mommy loves Rebecca!