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

Tiny

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

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

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

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

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

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

I love you Rebecca
Love Mommy
6-30-05

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dear Rebecca,
               Hello my pretty little baby bird. Right now you and Daddy are sharing a Mocha Moollatte', which you really shouldn't be drinking because it is filled with coffee and sugar, and oh happy happy joy joy, I will be up til five am. Oh well, a little bit won't hurt. It's just that you have already had too much. Daddy is right. I did not get to post nearly enough while he was off and I was working. Right now Daddy is telling you No to playing in your clothes which is something I let you do so I told him to zip it. Well little one I just wanted to let you know I was still around and I love you so very much. You are getting into things you should not so I am going to play with you a bit and I will post more at a later date. Bye for now baby bird! I love you!

Dear Rebecca,
               I went back to work today. It wasn't too bad. I certainly didn't like getting out of bed at 5:30 in the morning and I had to learn a new job because we were on unit eighteen, but all in all it wasn't too terribly terrible. I certainly missed you though. All day long I thought about you and just how much fun we had together over my three week layoff. I feel that we really got to know each other while I was off.
      Your Mother locked herself out of the house today. She decided that since she couldn't get in the house she would go to Wal-Mart in Lexington and put some stuff for your birthday on lay away. She said that all you were getting from us was your wagon and clothes but your over protective Mother spoils you.
You two then met me when at work when I got off. We went to CiCi's Pizza Buffet and had a really good supper. I came on home with you while your Mom stayed in Lexington to get the oil changed in the Taurus.
      You've begun trying to manipulate your way out of trouble. The other day, I don't remember exactly when it was you were fooling with a remote, which you love to do and I hate for you to do, and I told you no but you didn't let go. I told you no again in a sterner voice but you still didn't seem to hear me. I then told you no in a very stern voice and gave you a very light smack on your fingers. You stated to tune up for a good cry when you leaned over and gave me a kiss. It worked that time because it was the first time you had ever attempted to worm your way out of trouble but your free passes are over. Ain't I a stern task master of a Daddy? Naw, I'm a sweet Daddy.
      Well, I'm gonna let you go for the May of 2005. The next post a write will be in June of 2005. We had a very fun month. Your Mom will post more in the month to come, I'm sure. She had to work so much that she just couldn't get around to it as much as she would have liked. Every available moment she had she wanted to spend with you and I don't blame her one iota. Remember, Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               My layoff is over now. I have Monday off but that is because of Memorial Day. It will be good for you when I go back to work so you can get back on a regular schedule. It seems your Mother has worked the whole time I've been off. It was just the last two weeks but I miss her being around when I am off from work. She's a nice person to be around and she's also a lot of fun. Tonight I got you in bed just before eleven in the evening and it's been like that for two weeks. You need to go to bed earlier. It's just that we both have enjoyed our really long visits with Mamaw & Papaw, Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney and the kids. They are all a whole lot of fun to be around.
      You & I spent a very long time down there today. Today, May 28th is Aunt Lynn's thirty-something birthday and Mamaw & Papaw's wedding anniversary. I don't remember hardly anyone's birthdays or anniversary but I have always remembered Lynn's birthday and my parent's anniversary because they fall on the same day. You were almost born on our wedding anniversary. Ours is the sixth of July and you were born on the third of July. To be honest with you I never really could remember when our anniversary was until you came along and now I just think that our anniversary is twice your birthday and two times three equals six, so our anniversary is the sixth. I always knew it was either the sixth or the seventh but I never could be sure which one it was. I have a system for that date now anyway
      Your Mother had to go to work today. She called in this morning because her sides have been bothering her but her boss called and told her that she could not find anyone to work for her and your Mother agreed to go on in. While your Mother slept her boss called again and told me that she had found a replacement for your Mother so she did not have to go in. I was very excited to be spending the day with you and your Mother. Then she found out that Jessica, Lucas's girlfriend, the one we went to the comedy club with a few weeks back, was going to be pulling a double shift in order to cover for your Mother's shift. Your Mother felt guilty so she went on in and let Jessica go on home to spend time with Lucas and her children. You have such a sweet Mom.
      Well, Nothing else of note has happened recently so I will let you go for now. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               I got two unemployment checks this week. One for the first week I was off, I got that one today and one for last week, I got that one yesterday.
I will be getting my check for the current week next week. I go back to work Tuesday because Monday is Memorial Day. I only have five or six more weeks until I get my regular vacation so that will not be so hard.
      Your Mother has decided not to take the full time position she was offered. Have we even mentioned that she was offered a full time position? Well, she was and she just couldn't stand to be away from you for such a long period of time so she decided she would just work Saturdays. That's still an extra $200 per month so that will really help out and she'll get to spend lots of time with you and me.
      I got in a whole passel of trouble yesterday. Your Mother had to go into work at seven in the morning and you were going to spend the day with your loving Dad. I put you down for a nap around 11:30 or so and I figured I would lie down on the twin bed in your room and grab a nap myself. I figured that if you woke up and cried I would surely hear you being as how I would be in the same room with you. I woke up around one in the afternoon by your Mother who wasn't supposed to be off until three. Apparently she had been trying to call since we were napping. She was holding you with a furious look upon her face. She pointed to the bouncer you still sleep in and it was turned over. Your Mother said that when she arrived you had tipped over the bouncer and was playing with a blanket. I'm sure you cried when you woke and I felt and still feel terrible for not hearing you when you woke up in the first place, let alone when you tipped over. I had a terrible day yesterday. I felt like such an awful father. I love you so much and would never do anything to harm you. I will never nap when you take a nap because I do sleep a little too soundly. I am so sorry. The only person that didn't seem angry and disappointed in me was you. You grinned and smiled at me just as you always do. That should have never happened and it will never happen again.
      Aunt Mary showed up today for about an hour. It seems that she's having trouble with her boyfriend, Scotty. It has something to do with something Papaw Lawrence said to Scotty and the extreme devotion that Aunt Mary has shown to her father, your Papaw Lawrence. I really don't understand it and I don't think I want to. I've often thought Aunt Mary needs to come back up here to Central Kentucky from the mountains and poverty of Eastern Kentucky. As your Mother says, there's a better class of loser up here. She talked with your Mother for a long while about her problems. She wanted your Mother to go back to Hazard with her and talk to Scotty but she was scheduled to work this afternoon so she couldn't do it. I don't think she would have done it even if she had been off. She has spent so little time with you the past couple of weeks because of this new job she has that I'm sure that every available moment she gets goes to you.
      Well, you are taking a nap and probably getting ready to wake up any moment and I don't want you tipping over so I had better sign of for now. We really shouldn't be using that bouncer still but you sleep so well in it. I reckon you're just going to have to get used to napping in your crib. Remember, even though I let you tip over in your crib and slept right through it that Daddy loves Rebecca.

Dear Rebecca,
               It's 8:32 in the morning as I begin this post. You are still asleep. You woke up in the night and apparently you stayed up awhile because some of your toys are scattered out over the floor this morning. Your Mother got up with you I suppose because I know I didn't. Actually your Mother and you came into the bedroom and woke me up at around three this morning for a few moments, so I reckon I did wake up with you.
      Your Mom had to work last night for a few hours. She thought she had to work until seven this morning but someone made a snafu on her schedule so she came back home at eleven last night. She does have to go in this evening though. We've missed quite a bit of church since I have been off. I'm going to try to go with you in the morning because I know your Mom will not feel up to it. She's not used to third shift.
      I had to go to the unemployment office yesterday. I haven't gotten my unemployment check for the week before last yet. I hope I got it straightened out. They had it in their records that I haven't worked since December of 2004. I can attest that that is absolutely 100% not the case. I got a few unemployment checks when I was off in April so I just don't understand what happened. I certainly hope we get this taken care of because two or three weeks without any money coming in would be rather difficult on us. The unemployment office just this second called and confirmed that I was off the week of the eighth. I sure hope that this all works out. I am nervous about this whole unemployment thing. I'm certainly glad we have already taken care of rent for June.
      This was just a quick post as I wait for you to get up so I reckon I will get off of the computer and call my Mom, your Mamaw and tell her what's been going on with my unemployment. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               I hope you are doing well there in the future, Rebecca. I sit here in the past writing a post to you and wondering what you will be when you grow up. You never cease to amaze us. We have discovered that you are quite stubborn though. You love giving kisses because you get so much praise when you do but you rarely ever do give kisses. You know exactly who Mama & Daddy are, and we know this because the other day when I asked where Daddy was you pointed right at me and when I asked where Mama is you pointed directly at her. However, today when we asked the same questions you pointed at every object in the room except for the correct ones. You are testing your limits with your parents already. The other day you were trying to pull down some books off of my recliner table and when I told you no, you stopped only briefly. I said no again but much firmer this time. You quit and then you proceeded to touch the books with your fingertips as I sat there staring at you. You got another no and a gentle swat on the offending fingers. You then tuned up and started to cry. I then lifted you up in my lap and tried to cuddle with you some but you are still not a cuddle baby.
      Your Mom had to work third shift Friday night thru Saturday morning. She was tired when she got home but she has missed you so much over the past week that she stayed up with you for a few hours. She stopped on the way home and got a few groceries and she got you a helium balloon. You have been playing with it all day. You love balloons. She then woke me up and we spent a good part of the day together. Your Mom woke up and we took a film that your Mother & Father watched called "White Noise" starring Michael Keaton back to the Movie Gallery in Lexington. We used to rent films here in Versailles but the Movie Gallery has a much better selection, you rent the films for five whole days and it's right on my way home from work.
      Saturday before your Mother went to work we drove out to The Lexington Green and let you see all the huge gold fish and cute ducks and geese they have on the little lake they have over there. We then sat down to eat at Ruby Tuesday's next to the lake but your Mamaw called and asked if we wanted to join them in Nicholasville at The Golden Corral. We decided to make the short trip over. When we were packing you and all of the accessories that you have to travel around with I asked the questions about where is your parents. You blew us away with how smart you are. That was a pretty big moment for Daddy. You actually understand that I am Daddy. When you see me you think to yourself, "There's Daddy" and that was probably one of the most precious moments of my life. Mamaw had already purchased our buffets for us so it was free and free is always better than not free. After we all parted ways in the parking lot we all headed over to Wal-Mart in separate vehicles. We saw Aunt Lynn and them park but we never saw them in the Wal-Mart. We purchased an affordable car seat for my truck so that we won't have to switch out your huge really nice one from the car every time we end up using the truck instead of the car. We hardly ever drive with you in the truck so we decided to get a basic one because you have your luxurious one in the car.
      That's it for tonight, little one. Remember, as always, Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               Hello my baby bird. Right now you are upstairs sleeping very soundly; you have woken up once tonight and I got to hold you. You are a very sweet little baby indeed. Nothing makes me happier than holding you in my arms. Except maybe your precious little goofy grin. I am so truly blessed to have you.
I do like the job that I have now; it's good money and the work really isn't all that hard. Some days are harder than others. Today a very rude lady looked at your Mommy outside the dining room and asked her if she was waiting for a hand out. To which your Mommy responded that she was indeed waiting for them to hand out Mrs. Longyear's food. So she was in a way waiting for a hand out. I guess it's because Mommy doesn't have very nice clothes to wear or very expensive make up or jewelry like those rich elderly folks that live there. Mommy doesn't care though because Mommy is richer and more satisfied than any person has a right to be whenever she comes home and sees you smile at her. I just hope some day that you can have all the nice things I never did growing up as a child. And when I say nice things I don't mean Nike shoes or expensive perfume; I mean a deeply caring environment with a wonderful family element and lots of friends and neighbors who love you. Of course I hope to be able to afford some Nike's and perfume for you now and then, too.
Mommy doesn't feel very well tonight. My ears are stopped up, my throat is sore, and my nose is stuffy. In addition to that my eye is very pink and itchy and kind of sticky right now. I hope I do not have anything contagious as far as the illness; I truly hope I do not have pink eye. I would hate for you to come down with either one. You are such a good baby though that it is really no trouble to care for you when you are sick, it's no trouble at all. It's just that I hate for you to feel badly. You are too sweet and precious and you don't deserve it.
      All has went well with my job except for breaking one of Mrs. Longyear's what-not's while I was dusting for her. She was very sweet about it and told me not to worry about it so I played a mean trick on Daddy and told him I had broken a five thousand dollar family heirloom. Daddy was a little distraught for a moment so I couldn't keep the joke going. I hate to see your father get upset; I really do. He's too sweet for that. I could never have replaced the trinket that I broke for I had no idea where it came from, so instead as a "make-up" (to say I am sorry!) I bought her a little blue elephant at the dollar tree. I had heard she liked elephants. I showed it to her and she really liked it. I sat it on her shelf for her. I was thinking sometime that I would like for you to meet her. I know she'd derive a lot of joy from seeing your precious little smile. Today she said she wanted her Christmas tree back in her window so the girls on first shift put it back. She didn't want it taken down at all this year; I don't blame her. I'd like to have the beauty of Christmas all year round as well. She has a lovely tree but the beauty of Christmas is in our hearts and I know it's in hers. She's a very wonderful lady.
      Well I thought that I was finished staying up for now but maybe I have caught my second wind. Tomorrow night I have to work third shift. I am doing this for you and for Daddy. I want my family to live in a nice home with a back yard and to have a yard and room to play and have a puppy. Mostly I want you to have a place to call your own. Apartment living is not necessarily a bad thing but it feels too temporary to me. I want things in your life to be constant, consistent, permanent. That's something I never had. I am going to use part of my first check for your birthday party though. I know it's a ways off but I can get some decorations and supplies and such; things that don't cost too much. Well little one, I was wrong, My second wind did not come after all. I think I have made it as long as I can. I am tired and I want to rest. My back is hurting a lot right now and I don't know why. Maybe it is going to rain tonight. Anyway, you don't care about any of this. Just remember this; I love you. I treasure you. You are the most important thing in the world to me. Everything I ever do will be for you. Will be for Daddy. Will be for us and our family. You are so special to us. Mommy loves her baby bird. Goodnight, Becca Bird!

Dear Rebecca,
               Things worked out for the best regarding the house mentioned in the previous post. The owner would not negotiate and the interest rate on the loan would have put our mortgage payments over $1,000 dollars per month. We're going to wait and bide our time until the perfect situation presents itself to us. We may have to look for the perfect situation but we will find it. I wish we could have done this deal but we're all happy here for now and if it ain't broke, don't fix it. We still have our original plan and our original goal.
      You and I spent a long time down at Mamaw & Papaw's discussing different strategies that we may employ to get into a house. You had a bath down there as well. I had supper over at Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney's house. We had chicken nuggets, spicy steak fries, squash and baked beans. It was very good and I was very hungry. We then came home and you fell directly asleep. That's it for this post.
      Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                  It is a dark and stormy night and your Father sat at the computer in the corner of the living room while your Mother toiled at her job as a sitter for an elderly woman named Mrs. Longyear. She seems to enjoy her new job. She's doing it all for you, you know. We want you to have a nice place to live and this place, while it is not a ghetto hole, it's still not want we want for you. We want you to have a nice fenced in backyard so that you may have a puppy. We want you to live in a nice neighborhood. We want you to be able to play in the yard without fear of you running out into traffic. We want you to have a little vegetable garden so that you may see the wonder of nature. We want you to have a place for a swing set. We want you to live in a good school district and so much more.
      Aunt Lynn called an hour or so ago and I've been talking to her during that time between this paragraph and the last one. Let's talk about today, shall we? Today I don't remember what we did earlier in the day. After your Mother went to work you and I went down to Mamaw & Papaw's. While we were there Aunt Linda and Granny came over. You had a great time with everyone. You loved being around the dogs. You watched Papaw play catch with Sadie for nearly an hour. You just sat there and watched so intently. We all had a supper of grilled chicken salad. Aunt Lynn came home from a meeting she had in town and she said she saw a house in the Colony for sale and she called about the house right then and there. The house sounded fabulous so we all went to take a look at it. I don't want to get any ones hopes up but if the house looks as nice on the inside as it did on the outside Mamaw & Papaw may help us purchase the house. I know I said I don't want to get any ones hopes up but I'm afraid it's too late for your Mother and myself. We would love to have a house for you.
      Remember Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                  Some preliminary decisions were made yesterday. We have a basic plan but plans must be fluid in order to survive any obstacle that may present itself. Already we have had to alter our plan and I'm sure there will be additional hindrance in our way but we will, of course, adapt to whatever may come our way without losing sight of the goal. Your Mother, Kristie first brought up the possibility of her working full time for a year or maybe a little longer so that it will be easier to purchase a home for us all. I was at first kind of leery of this prospect because I know how much you love being with your Mother and of course she lives to wipe your stinky little butt. We talked about it for awhile and decided that it could be done if Allison would take you on as her responsibility while your Mother was at work. We drove down to Mamaw & Papaw's to talk over our plan with them. Also we wanted to talk to Allison and Aunt Lynn about Allison being our babysitter for the summer. Allison was all for it because we offered her $75 dollars per week but Lynn said that she was going to be much to busy with other things to take on such a job. Already we had to come up with a alternative plan. After we returned home we decided to check into the daycare option. This is a small town and it's no problem to find references for the daycare centers in this town. Plus your Mother has spent nearly your entire first year with you and we both absolutely do not want you growing up in an apartment. You love children and babies and you are such an outgoing child that we feel that you probably should be exposed to as many as possible. I never had much exposure to other children in my preschool years other than my sister, your Aunt Lynn. I wish I had been around other children because I don't think I have very good social skills and that may heave made the difference.
      So the plan now is to put you in daycare as little as possible. While we were down to Mamaw & Papaw's they advised that we look into a modular home or a really nice double wide mobile home and place it on there property. I never really cared for the idea of living in a mobile but I would so love for you to grow up next door to your grandparents just as I did. It would also be nice to live that close to my sister. I am excited about that prospect. We are very excited about our plan and we will make it happen. Maybe not exactly as I laid out but we will have a house of some sort somewhere before you start school.
      Your mother started her job today. She works for a company called Comforts of Home. Her job is to sit with elderly individuals and to do a little light house work for them. Your Mother adores elderly people so I am sure she will excel at this job. This is the first job your Mother has had since before her accident when she worked as a grill operator/waitress at Waffle House here in Versailles.
      I'm going to let you go for this post because your Mother gets off work at eleven tonight and it's after ten. I want to watch a little television before she gets home because as much as I love your Mother she is not a very good TV watching companion. She's always up and down all night and when she finally gets settled she wants to talk and everybody knows that men do not like to talk while they are watching television. Remember, Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               Your Mother got on me today because I haven't posted much on the blog while I've been off the last week. I probably haven't posted as much this past week of layoff because the last time I was laid off in early April I blogged everyday about silly mundane stuff that everybody said would bore you when you get old enough to read it. I, personally think they are full of number two.
      Aunt Mary came over yesterday for her birthday which was actually the day before yesterday. We had a little cook out which was not actually a cook out because it was raining so hard. I pulled the grill into the garage and opened all the doors and grilled in there. It came off quite well. Mary had a real good time and so did everyone else that attended. Mary brought you a little stuffed beanie dog and you loved it. You seem to love everything that your Aunt Mary gets for you. Aunt Mary loves you a whole lot and you enjoy seeing her too. She doesn't get to see you as much as we all would like because, as you know, she lives in Hazard.
      After the cook out Aunt Mary & your Mother got dressed up to go out to karaoke. Aunt Mary loves karaoke almost as your Mother does. They sang eight songs together and one apiece for a total of ten songs. They then went to White Castle for a late supper. While they were off having a good ole' time at the karaoke place you and I stayed home. I fed you a jar of pears, which was a good thing for me to do and I shared a piece of Aunt Mary's birthday cake and a big ole' glass of milk with you, which was not a good thing for me to do. I think I sent you into sugary hyper mode. I tried to get you down for the night and you didn't want me holding and rocking because it's so hot in your room in the early evening hour. Your room is pointing west and the sun goes down in the west so you have sunlight and the heat generated by said sunlight right up until sunset and your bedtime is shortly after sunset. I finally laid you down in your crib and went downstairs. You cried for about five minutes or so and then you were out. I thought you were out for the night but when I put you down it never seems to take.
      Your Mother and Aunt Mary came through the door and you started up crying. Aunt Mary slept on the small twin bed we have in your room. Your Mother rocked you back to sleep while Aunt Mary fell asleep in the bed. After a little while you woke back up and Mama told me to take you downstairs and let you play your hyperness out. She said she couldn't understand why you were so sleepless until I told her about the cake we had shared earlier in the evening and then Daddy got a good scolding and was educated in the lack of wisdom that is displayed when someone, namely me, feeds a baby so much sugar right before bedtime. I knew it wasn't right but you were looking up at me with those pretty blue eyes and reaching and pointing and I haven't yet developed the ability to deny you anything. I know it will come eventually but for now I enjoy spoiling my little princess. You were up forever but you were no problem because you sat in the floor and played with your new blocks we got at Joseph-Beth's Booksellers Friday night. I'll tell you more about Friday night in a second or two.
      I took you upstairs and tried to rock you to sleep in your bouncer that we put in our room but all we ended up doing was waking your. She told me to go back downstairs and she would get you to sleep in the bouncer, which she did. You woke up one more time in the night and Mama took you to bed with her.
I was downstairs downloading music for Cousin Allison's birthday in June. I have a total of 125 so far and I think that is plenty so all I have to do is burn them to CD for her. Eventually it became daylight on me so it was around seven a.m. that I finally laid down. You and Mama were hogging the bed so I slept on the very edge of the bed. I was awoken around nine, after only two hours of sleep by little hands patting my face. You didn't think I needed to sleep anymore. You thought that my time would best be spent playing with you. Normally I would whole heartedly agree but after I woke up your Mother wanted to chat with me while we played with you on the bed. Let me be honest here, little girl, I just wanted both of you to leave me alone so I could get back to sleep. Does that make me a terrible Daddy or what?
      Your Mother woke me around one o'clock or so this afternoon because she had fixed pizza for lunch. Aunt Mary ate with us and then she left. Your Mother then went down to Mamaw's to get a movie we had loaned them called Fat Albert, it's a live action version of the cartoon I used to watch back in the 1970s' when I was a wee lad. She had planned on returning to the video store in Lexington by herself but she had a close call with a bee, which your Mother is very allergic to so she was very nervous when she got back home. She asked if I would drive with her to Lexington. I didn't have any problem with that. We returned the film and drove back towards home. You had fell asleep in the car so we decided that instead of making you a grumpy little girl by waking you up we would take a nice Sunday drive. We headed out the Bluegrass Parkway and turned around at the Lawrenceburg-Harrodsburg exit. We got back to the Versailles exit and you were still sleeping peacefully so I decided to head out into the country. As we drove we decided to go to Nicholasville for supper at the Golden Corral. We all had a grand time eating out. We then returned home and watched a little television and now here we are.
      Friday night your Mother and I had our very first double date ever or at least our very first double date with a couple that we actually enjoyed being around. Cousin Lucas has a new girlfriend named Jessica. She's very pretty and she seems very nice. Your Mother & I asked them last Sunday at the Mother's Day outing if they would like to go to the comedy club with us and they agreed that it would be a capital idea. We met them at Ruby Tuesday's in the Lexington Green. Your Mother & I had coconut shrimp and steak. Lucas had a chicken stacker or something like that and all that Jessica had was a cheeseburger. We ordered some appetizers and Lucas, your Mother & I ate like we were famished. Jessica said she didn't want any. Your Mother said in the joking way that your Mother has that she's paying for the appetizers and that Jessica had better eat at least a cheese stick. Jessica ate the cheese stick. It was kinda funny watching Lucas around his new girlfriend. He was pulling out chairs and opening doors and everything I did for your Mother when we first met. Your Mother warned Jessica that all of that chivalry would end after a few months so she had better enjoy it while it lasts.
      After supper we browsed Joseph-Beth Booksellers. Lucas and I went off in our own direction and Jessica and your Mother stayed in the children's section. Jessica has three children of her own. That's where your Mother bought the new blocks that you love so much. I bought a copy of Diabetes for Dummies and a diabetic's nutrition counter book. I also had picked out a diabetic cook book. I told Lucas that your Mother wouldn't let me have all three and sure enough she went through them and discarded the cook book. While we were there Lucas asked me how to get rich. With my vast knowledge in personal finance I told him the secret; He was to observe everything that I had done in the past five years and then do the exact opposite.
      We then went to the comedy club. We all had a grand time. The comedians were funny and we had two very nice people to hang out with. I hope we all get the opportunity to do something like that again. While all this was going on you were staying with Mamaw & Papaw. Mamaw kept you overnight and into the next day. She brought you back home when it was time for Aunt Mary's birthday cookout.
      It seems that you have been talking and I didn't even realize it. I just thought that you were babbling and making rudimentary sounds that sound like certain things but the more I observe the more I am led to believe that these sounds that sound like fragments of certain words are indeed language. Your first words according to your Mother were "I good" which you have been saying since your third month. Unlike your Mother I consider that to be mocking sounds and not actual language at all. However you have begun saying "Dada", "ba" for ball, "baba" for bottle, "da" for dog, "Mama", "du" for duck and your all time favorite word right now is "uh-oh". Your Mother & I are so very proud of you. She insists that you have been speaking since forever. Your Mother is a glass half full kinda gal and I am, of course, a half empty guy so I usually need more convincing. You are trying very hard to communicate with us and we can't wait to see your vocabulary grow as you yourself grow.
      It's getting late and I want to watch a movie, "National Treasure" with Nicholas Cage before I go to bed so I am going to close this blog post out. I want you to know, as always, that Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                  I would say that today you got your very first haircut, but since it is now after midnight, I suppose that makes it yesterday. We had an appointment scheduled for you at COOKIE CUTTERS, which is a kid's hair care salon. Daddy and I had an appointment for our hair as well. at JC Penney. We left a little early so that we could eat lunch at the food court in the mall. We all had a big time eating our Chao Cajun Chinese food. We all like the burboun chicken, including you. You sat and ate your chicken and rice and you waved and waved at the people next to us. They thought you were just the cutest thing. When we all got done eating we went upstairs to get mine and Daddy's haircut. I let Daddy go first while I fed you your fruit in your stroller. You and I had a very big time eating applesauce and playing tickle while Daddy was busy with his hair. After you were done eating, the lady there working said that she could gladly cut your hair. Daddy and I thought that would be OK and it would save us from going all the way across town again, because we would not have made your appointment anyway. Daddy sent me out to get the camera so we could record your big day with photos.
   When I got back upstairs the lady (her name was Junisha) gave me a card to fill out with your name, the date, and her name on it, a place to put your photo, and a little plastic baggie to slip it into. I wonder how much that cost. I'll never know, I didn't even bother to ask. It was probably a fortune. Anyway, you sat on my lap and the lady commenced to cut your bangs. You wiggled and squirmed as babies do and mostly looked in the mirror at yourself and threw kisses and waved. She was done in no time and Daddy and I both think to ourselves now "We could have done that!" But somehow I guess it just didn't seem as special. I had a lot of fun holding you on my lap while you got your pretty little haircut. It was time for my trim after that and Daddy brought you over to watch. You just sat there and played and played and talked and also spun around with Daddy in the chair. You both looked very dizzy and very very silly. The man cutting my hair commented on how good a child you were. And you really are. We are so very lucky. We paid the outrageous bill of sixty freakin' dollars for our tiny little haircuts and proceeded on our way to Kohl's where we were going to buy Aunt Lynn a very, very secret birthday present. Only they didn't have the particular secret she wanted, so she told us to go ahead and get another style of secret. Your Daddy is awful at keeping secrets. We got Aunt Lynn's very secret birthday gift and headed to the front of the store, where I saw some nice Flip Flops for Daddy on sale for seven dollars. His sandals are too big so we decided to go ahead and get them. Then we mosied on up to the counter where they had a display of hats for five dollars each. We got Daddy a really nice golf type hat and a really nice ball cap. We got all that good stuff for a very reasonable price. I think I will go back to Kohl's again. I liked it.
   After Kohl's we made our way down Nichlosville Road to the doctor. You were very sleepy and you fussed most of the way until we stopped for a Gatorade and Daddy turned the radio on. You fell asleep so when we got to the doctor I stayed in the car with you while Daddy got all of his tests ran and his check-up done. He was in there quite a while and Mamaw called to tell me about a job Aunt Linda's friend might have for me that I could do. Right now it may only be on weekends because we don't want to send you to daycare and we really can't afford to at that. I'd rather you stay with Daddy. I know he loves you and takes good care of you. And not too much is involved, we just sit with and tend to elderly people. You woke up just before Daddy got out of the doctor and we met him at the door. We went in to get your diaper changed and you had a big number two in it and when I folded your diaper under you peed on your little outfit. I had to change you into a onesie. We left and went to DQ in Lexington to get Daddy something to eat and a MOOLATTE which he SHOULD NOT be drinking and they didn't take debit cards of all things. We hunted down an ATM machine and got some cash. Then I went in and got some food and our Moolattes and I got for you a Watermelon Mr. Misty for your brand new insulated straw sippy cup I bought you. You really like it because you are very good at drinking from a straw. You were very fussy though and you were tired and did not seem to want it. We had to skidaddle and get to church because we have that Wednesday night class at seven and it was already six thirty seven. So we ate our food on the road and you fussed almost all the way to the church. When we got you out though, you were just fine and dandy. We dropped you off at the daycare and watched you play for a couple of minutes and then Daddy left for the class before I did. I wanted to watch you play some more with a little nine month old baby in there named Mikayla who is much much smaller than you. You do love other babies. When we picked you up they said you had been good as gold. Then again you always are so it was no surprise to us. They said you only cried when you were getting your diaper changed. You really don't like being held down. You like to scoot about and play. In addition to that I don't think you really care for strangers doing that.
   When we got home you were so very very tired that we decided not to put you through a bath and just to put you down for night night. You were so overstimulated that you woke up a few times and then I decided to put you in your bouncer and kind of 'bounce" you to sleep. That worked and you were out like a proverbial light. You have been asleep ever since. Daddy and I watched a movie called SAW which is a scary movie about a serial killer. I hope you are not like me in the fact that I do love myself a good scary movie. Daddy said he really wishes I'd like to watch bunnies and care bares floating on fluffy clouds and such. Poor, Poor Daddy. Mommy has a twisted up taste when it comes to movies.
   Well, little one, I am going to let you go for now. I wanted to tell you all about your big day and your very first haircut. You were so good and Daddy and I are so very, very proud of our precious little girl. Mommy loves her little baby bird! I love you, Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               Yesterday was a very special day for me. Your Mother went out and had lunch with a friend of hers and it was just you and me all alone for the early afternoon. Your Mother left around eleven o'clock yesterday morning. She said that you were ready for a nap and a bottle after your nap. I took you upstairs and you went quickly to sleep. I came downstairs and installed an updated version of the TiVo Desktop software on our computer; as I was just finishing up I heard you over the monitor as you began to cry very loudly. I assumed that you had just awoken from your nap and as soon as I went to get you all would be well with the world. I picked you up and you continued to bawl at the top of your lungs. You were ready for a bottle. I figured after the bottle we would get in the floor and play. As soon as the bottle was empty you snuggled into my chest just as you did when you were first born and you commenced to sleep another two hours. My most favorite thing about raising you, so far, is watching you crawl but for the longest time it was the memory of those days when you would sleep all day on my chest as your Mother & I watched episodes of American Justice and Cold case Files. You gave me a brief chance to relive those halcyon days and for that I want to thank you. You woke up just five minutes or so before your Mother arrived back home.
      We then decided to go down to Mamaw & Papaw's place for a visit. You sat on the deck out back and played with Aunt Lynn's huge dog, Ruffie. You showed no fear of him at all. He's three times the size of you and you just pulled on his fur and kept trying to stick your fingers in his mouth, Ruffie was so very gentle with you. Once he accidentally brushed you with one of his massive paws and that upset you for just a second, but after your Mother quieted you just a bit you were ready to get back on the floor of the deck so you could play more with Ruffie. Sadie, Papaw's dog, eventually decided to join us all on the deck. Sadie likes you just as much as Ruffie does but he is a Jack Russell Terrier so she is extremely hyper when there's a crowd of people around. You wanted to play with her and she wanted to play with you but she tried to keep jumping on you so we had to watch you extremely well as you sat with those two dogs; plus Sadie is a bit jealous when Ruffie gets a little more attention than she does and she's liable to try to whoop up on Ruffie. Ruffie is five times as big as Sadie but that never seems to discourage her at all.
      I got a call out there from Lynn Rolland at my work and she told me that we were going to be off for another week. I don't know why she called me at Papaw's house. It was just lucky that we had decided to visit on that day and at that hour. I would have eventually gotten word from Papaw I suppose. I'm happy about being off for another week so I can spend it with my two best girls, you and your Mother.
       Aunt Lynn, Jacob, Allison, Mamaw, Papaw, Mama, yourself and I then all had supper down there. Uncle Rodney still hadn't returned from work and Jon was busy playing on the computer. We had salmon croquettes, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, cucumbers and onions in salt water, beets, salad and rolls. It was a very delicious meal. You really liked the mashed potatoes. After we ate I went over to Papaw's garage where Papaw and Uncle Rodney were trying to get a little four wheeler to run. The man who owns the four wheeler said that if they could get it running he would sale it to them for $200 and if they couldn't just bring it back. If they get it running it will be Jon's four wheeler. Jacob has a dirt bike and now Jon wants a four wheeler.
      While all this was going on you were playing with Allison and the boys. You all piled into the car that Papaw just recently purchased from Aunt Linda and pretended that y'all were on a road trip to Dairy Queen for blizzards and after that y'all planned on heading out to California. Eventually I joined you in the car along with your Mother so we too could go to Dairy Queen and California. After it was apparent that an imaginary Mocha Moolatte isn't nearly as good as a real one we decided to head home.
      We got home and your mother immediately left for the grocery store. She wanted me to try to keep you awake so she could see you before you went to sleep.You had four onces of formula and played in the floor but eventually you became extremely fussy. I tried getting in the floor and playing with you, that worked for a little while. We watched your beta fish, Spike for a few minutes but nothing really seemed to make you happy. I fed you two more ounces; that didn't work. I changed your diaper; that didn't work. You were sleepy and wanted to go to bed. Aunt Lynn called and heard you crying so she jokingly threatened me because I had upset you. I finally decided that Mama wasn't going to get to see you before you went to bed. I picked you up and carried you in the kitchen and fixed you a juice bottle with cereal while I was holding you. It seemed that you knew what was going on because you quit crying after you saw the juice bottle being prepared for you. Just about the only time you get a juice bottle with cereal is bedtime. We went upstairs and into your nursery; we didn't have to take a bath because you had had one earlier at Mamaw & Papaw's house. I closed the door and fed you your bottle and then you fell asleep on my chest in record time. I placed you in your crib and filled up your cool mist humidifier and came downstairs. I was so proud of myself because I hardly ever put you to sleep because I have never been very successful at it. I ran all of your bottles through the dishwasher, picked up a little around the living room and watered the flowers. Your Mother returned from the grocery store with two weeks worth of food. We unloaded her car, put away the groceries and sat down for an episode of my favorite sitcom, Scrubs. About the time the show was going off you woke up. I hadn't put your pajama bottoms on or any socks on your feet. I had screwed up putting you to sleep again. I can get you to sleep but when I do it you never seem to stay asleep. Eventually after it was apparent
that you were having trouble getting back to sleep your Mother took you into our bedroom so you could sleep with her and eventually me when I finally go to bed.
      Sunday we had a Mother's Day cookout at Mamaw & Papaw's house. Granny was there as was Mamaw & Papaw, Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney, Uncle Donny & Aunt Martha, Aunt Louise & Uncle Tommy, Allison, Jon, Jacob, Nathan, Aunt Linda, Lucas and his new girlfriend, Jessica as well as two of her children. Plus the three of us, of course. We left early because Kristie was talking to Aunt Lynn, Mamaw & Papaw about the bold faced lie that the property manager had told us about the carpet and she got so very angry that she just wanted to go home. We didn't go home, of course. We drove all around Versailles and looked for new places to live. We didn't find any so we started heading back to our home but decided that since you were sleeping so soundly in the backseat of the car that we would take a little drive. We drove over to Lawrenceburg via the Bluegrass Parkway and then home via Tyrone. Eventually your Mother calmed down and decided that we didn't have to move right away. I was kind of glad about that. This place is pretty nice and I really like it here. Of course, it's not worth what we pay for it but we are all pretty happy here.
      Monday we went out to Wendy's for lunch and then took Granny to her physical therapy session. I really don't remember what else we did on Monday so I suppose it couldn't have been very noteworthy. Tomorrow I have doctor's appointment at four in the afternoon so we have decided to go out for lunch and then we're all going to get our hair cut, even you. Yep, you are about to get your very first haircut. We wanted to wait until you were a year old but your bangs are always falling in your eyes these days and your mother has fits with all of your unruly baby hair so we're going to do it a little early.
      I'm gonna let you go for now but I want you to know that, as always, Daddy Loves Rebecca!