Dear Rebecca,
                  Once again, like last year, Christmas was in jeopardy. Lots of stuff happened yesterday that could have potentially damaged my warm Christmas glow. First it was revealed to me that Aunt Mary wanted to bring her latest boyfriend with her for Christmas Eve and have him spend the night in our home and have him watch you open Christmas presents Christmas morning. I have never met her boyfriend; I don't know his name or anything about him. I really and truly do not want perfect strangers joining us on the absolutely positively happiest moment of the year. Christmas in general and Christmas morning in particular should be timeless. When you think back on it or look at photos from years gone by things should always be the same. The same traditions, the same scenario and especially the same people. If Mary brought her latest boyfriend he will be an anomaly in the Christmas Mornings that I want you to experience. Maybe if she brings a new guy every year we could consider the nameless faceless boys she brings to be the constant. That was a small joke. It sounded funnier when I thought about it in my head. Anyway, Mama has decided, on her own that the boy wouldn't be a great idea. I didn't like the idea from the very beginning. He's not going to be here at all for Christmas; unfortunately, while Aunt Mary is going to be able to be here for Christmas Eve she will not be able to join us for Christmas Morning. She says it's because she has to work and maybe that's true but maybe it's because she wants to spend Christmas with her latest boy. I don't know one way or the other. I am disappointed over the fact that Aunt Mary will not be joining us Christmas Morning but your Mom was absolutely devastated. She cried over that fact. I felt bad for your Mom. Papaw Lawrence is supposed to be joining us this year for Christmas eve. I don't know if he will or not. I certainly hope he does. He decided not to come last year and it tore your Mom's heart out.
      All of that was minor stuff compared to the next blow that our Christmas traditions suffered. This is the second Christmas disaster in as many years; last years being getting all of our gifts stolen by the scum of the earth. Sunday night the church in which you attended your very first service burned to the ground. Mortonsville Assembly of God is gone. The church has been there since 1835 according to the news and it's been an Assembly of God church since the 1930's. I attended that church for part of my teen years. I have a whole lot of great memories regarding Mortonsville Assembly of God. It will be sorely missed by many people for many reasons.
      As you know, for the last decade or so we have used the fellowship hall at Mortonsville Assembly of God for Thanksgiving and Christmas night celebrations. We were just out there a month ago for Thanksgiving. Everyone in our family who loves Christmas was excited about having a Christmas night celebration since we didn't have one last year. The church burning down threw all of that into turmoil. Aunt Lynn was extremely upset and I was beside myself. As you know I love Christmas and hate changes to my Christmas routine. Christmas night was on the verge of being cancelled. Last year it was your Mother who stepped forward and saved Christmas. She hosted a small gathering at our tiny apartment for anyone who wanted to come. It was nice but it wasn't Christmas night as we knew and loved it. I called it Christmas Lite, Aunt Lynn called it Christmas Crap, which is a bit harsh but I know where she's coming from. This year Aunt Lynn pulled Christmas from the brink of disaster. She has arranged for the family to use the fellowship hall at King's Way Assembly of God, the church in which I grew up in, on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve at Mamaw & Papaw's has been moved to Christmas night. I know this sounds like change but I believe it's more accurate to call it evolution. I don't have a problem with Christmas evolving over time because as things change so too does the way we must approach the Holidays. I just do not like drastic and sudden changes in the way things are done. I know that the Christmases I knew as a child will not be the Christmases you will know but I can do my best to see that they are as close as possible. I happen to think that switching out Christmas Eve and Christmas night is a fabulous idea. After I grew up Christmas night lacked that one special thing that made Christmas such a magical experience, PRESENTS. So Christmas night was always kind of a let down from the frantic opening of gifts of Christmas Eve and of course now that you are here and able to rip paper with the best of them, Christmas Morning. Now Christmas Night will be the beginning of the celebration and we can send Christmas out with a bang on Christmas Night. As a child I spent Christmas Night at my Grandparents house ripping into tons of gifts and so now so shall you. As I think about it nothing is really changing at all. I just want you to know the Christmases of my youth and really this is the best way to accomplish that.
      So as you can see Christmas is back on track and I think it's healthier than ever. This is going to be one fabulous Christmas. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                           Hello my sweet. Right now you are sleeping (I hope) in your room and Daddy was in bed but he got up to eat a brownie. He says he isn't having much luck going to sleep. However, he's barely been in there ten minutes. I can't go to sleep in ten minutes either. I think he caught me in the office with the door closed writing this blog to you and tried to sneak past me so he wouldn't have to deal with my grumpy behind. I have been grumpy today but I did not get enough sleep last night. Daddy has been grumpy too though because Daddy didn't get enough sleep either. He really ought to go back to bed. I think he is planning on taking you to church tomorrow morning. Possibly. Perhaps I can go, too.
      I missed you so much when I was at work today. Santa Claus was at work and I wanted so bad for you to get to come and see him. I had the truck though because my poor little car still is not running. Wahhh! I miss it so. Anyway, I don't really know if you would have went to see him or not. You were very leary of him the last time he was in the store. You wouldn't even take a candy cane from him until he pulled his beard down and showed you who he really was.. which was Jenny's (my co-worker's) Dad. You took it then but even then it was with caution. I think if you finally get to see Santa Claus this year that you might boo hoo and cry and not want to sit in his lap for any picture thank you very much.
      You did something so very cute a couple of days ago when I was wrapping presents. You sat and colored and watched Sesame Street for the longest time and were very good through most of it. When you got out of your chair though you wanted to be right in the mix of things. When I was loading up a box of presents to take down to Mamaw & Papaw's house, you grabbed one. I told you no and you cried. Then I looked around and you had another one and were trying to help me put them in the box. You are so very sweet and such a good helper. I let you put a few presents under the tree even and you thought that was such big fun. You do love the Christmas tree. I love Christmas but it's such a crazy time and everywhere is always so crowded that I get stressed out a little. Mommy just needs to take a chill pill sometimes, I guess. My favorite part about Christmas is Christmas morning. It's calm and quiet after all the gifts are open and everyone has a smile on their face. We're all getting ready to go to dinner and I can smell the food in the kitchen and it makes my mouth water. Then we get to go see everyone we care about and for a minute nothing is wrong in the entire world. Christmas was hard for me as a kid because I never had any real family to spend it with. As you know Mommy was raised in Foster Care and I didn't get to live with my Mommy and Daddy. Thanks to you & Daddy, and Mamaw & Papaw, I have a really family of my very own. I feel truly blessed. Well little one, I love you. I am tired and I think Daddy is waiting for me to go to bed so he can come in here and play on this thing. I love you, Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                     It's very late here on Sunday night or either very early here on Monday morning. It all runs in together sometimes. I stayed up late tonight because I needed to get started wrapping some Christmas gifts for our family & friends. I already wrapped almost twenty presents and it seems to me I have barely made a dent in it. That's because you got way too much this year. Who knows what Santa might bring so you will indeed get even more.
      You are such a sweet and darling little thing. We went to church this morning and you stayed in the play area with all the other children. You were a little fussy and didn't really want to go with all those people you didn't know. I don't really blame you there. We are going to have to take you more often so that you can get to know those people. You did enjoy playing with the other chiildren, as you always do, however. After the service we went out to see the tree in the narthex of the church. There was a really big tree and a small tree over in the corner with angels on it. You pointed to the tree and said "Sat?" (What's that) To which I informed you that it was an angel tree, with angels on it. And you said "Gels!" and pointed to it. So I took you over to see it and you plucked a little blue angel off the tree with a little girl's name on it. Her name is Jenny, and she is four. This year what Jenny really wanted from Santa was a purple dress, some boots to wear to a party and a baby doll. We went to Kmart to get all that good stuff and jetted up to KFC to get some fried chicken for dinner. We are going to have to take the dress back today or tomorrow (Daddy will drive us, it is snowing outside, you really do like the snow, you call it 'NO!") because I realized it was a size too small when I went to wrap it this evening. It's due Tuesday at the church so I reckon we'll have to talk Daddy into taking us tomorrow if it's not too bad when he gets off work. There may be an extension due to the bad weather.
      We had a real fine time today. You entertained us as usual with your antics, taking bows and doing spins and jumping. You have started trying to bite Mommy and Mommy doesn't really like that very much. We are going to work on that. Anyway, back to the story at hand. Daddy and I watched Tv and you poked about in your room doing whatever it is you do in there. You half watch Dora and Boots but I think mostly you plot and plan new ways to horrify me & your dear old Dad. That's what toddlers do I reckon.
         I am getting ready to end this post, get something to drink, and go to bed, but, before I do, I want to tell you my favorite moment with you this past week. Early in the week you were standing on the couch after Daddy left for work very early in the morning. You let out a little toot and made a little circle with your mouth like "Oh My!" and then you turned and looked out the window, stuck out your tongue, let out a bigger toot, turned and looked at me, eyes wide, and said, Momma, Poo Poo!" You hadn't pooped when I changed your diaper but I guess your little toot was so hard it felt like you did. You are so cute & sweet and smart and pretty. I even love your stinky little toots. I love you so much. Goodnight my sweet little baby. Mommy loves you!

Dear Rebecca,
                  Good morning, Rebecca. It's extremely early now, as it usually is when I post my blogs. Yesterday we all went to Lexington and had your 2005 Christmas pictures done. You are much less cooperative when we go to have professional photos made of you than you were when you were just a wee little lass. We got a few good ones of you I think and we got a family photo that your Mom hates. She thinks that you & I took good pictures but she's not real pleased with how she looked. We were going to take you to see Santa Claus but I would imagine that the line would have been a little more than you could bear so I think your Mom is going to take you early one morning this coming week. We also went to Nicholasville and at Sonny's Barbeque restaurant. We all really seemed to enjoy it.
      Well, I'm gonna let you go for now. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
         Hello my sweetheart. You are sleeping so sweetly with the baby doll you stole from Allison right now. Daddy is also asleep and I am sitting here, well obviously posting a blog entry. I didn't do much to the house today because neither your or I are feeling well. Mostly we laid around and watched TV and we played big time in the middle of the day, chasing each other up and down the hall and getting our exercise in. You are so very much fun. And such a sweet baby. I went and got chinese food tonight so I wouldn't have to busy myself with cooking and cleaning up and whatnot. We got pan fried chicken and it was really good. You shared my chicken and rice and had some peas to boot. You got a very very tiny amount of i-team to finish off your meal. You pitched a fit wanting it. We were trying to get you to say please but you were too excited. I gave in because I am a big sucker. Of course do not let your father fool you; he is just as big a, if not bigger, sucker than I am. Daddy thought he was going to be off Friday but he was mistaken. We had pictures scheduled for then but I called and changed it to Saturday. It works out better for me that way anyway because we can spend the day together as a family. And we won't be so pressed to get things done in a certain amount of time. Which I like. I love the Holiday Season but Christmas can be stressful. Joyful. And stressful. That's why I am fond of Halloween. Everybody dresses up and acts silly and the only thing you have to worry about buying is lots and lots of candy, It's like a miniature stress-free Christmas. To me it is, anyway. Daddy says that Halloween (All Hallow's Eve) is a Pagan Holiday. But he should remember that so is Christmas. That's why we have Christmas trees. Something to do with honoring mother nature and all that pagan nonsense. Anyway, enough of that.
      I got some really cute Christmas cards with your photos on them at work. They say "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" and "Love, The Littlest Lanham" on the signature part. I need to get busy sending them out. I will probably do that with the bills. I have most of the envelopes return addressed already. I need to call and get some addresses from Mamaw.
      Well little one, I think that I will sing off of here and play the silly game I sometimes play on this computer for about a half an hour and then go on to bed. Remember that I love you very much. I know that our family will have a wonderful and merry Christmas together. Stress included. Good night my darling. Mommy loves you!

Dear Rebecca,
               You are sleeping comfortably in your crib right now, Mama is at work, I am posting a blog, it's the Christmas season and all is right with the world. We had big fun this evening, as usual. I had to work over just a few minutes and your Mom had to be at her job in the Kroger photo lab at four o'clock so Cousin Allison watched you for a few minutes this afternoon. We had some supper and watched just a little television. You took a bath and splashed Daddy as we listened to Christmas music at a disturbingly high volume. We played a bit in the living room and then you went to bed. I think you had fun; I hope you had fun with your dear ole' Dad. Oh, your Mama brought you to see me at work during my lunch today. I always enjoy seeing you during lunch.
      You're getting so big. You're seventeen months old now and when your Mother or I refer to you as the baby we are more times than not reminded that you are no longer a baby, but a full blown toddler. You are turning into such a beautiful little girl. I'm trying to teach you how to say Santa. You're going to go see Santa this weekend I hope. You now say "mere", which means "come here". You are such a bossy little thing. Tonight when we had supper you told me you wanted an apple. I didn't think we had any apples so you then informed me that since we didn't have any apples that your preference for supper was "i-team", which is of course ice cream. Now, I am a push over when it comes to you but I draw the line there. Instead you had some pasta pinwheels and diced chicken with carrots. Only after you ate what I deemed an appropriate amount of your healthy food did I give in to your extreme cuteness and let you have a small cone of i-team. Your Mom called later and informed me that we did have one granny smith apple in the fridge. I gave that to you as a snack towards the end of the evening and you ate a whole lot of that thing. You do love apples; not as much as i-team but you do like your apples.
      Well, I'm gonna let you go for now, Little One. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                  Your poor mother just can't catch a break. Very early this morning, around midnight, she went to bed while I was going to stay up for awhile and post a blog and maybe play a little bit here on the computer. Not five minutes after she had laid down she burst into the computer room gasping for air. She was able to tell me that she had been bitten by some kind of bug while she was in bed. I ran out to the Explorer to get her epinephrine shot but the truck door was locked and I couldn't get in. I couldn't find the key right away and by the time I found the key and retrieved her shot she was almost passed out. Luckily the shot worked well for her, even though it made her violently ill. She has always been allergic to bees but we assumed that in the colder months we wouldn't have to worry so much about her having an allergic reaction. Well, it appears we were wrong. She must have been bitten by a spider or something. She's sleeping on the couch tonight. She says it's because her heart was racing from the epinephrine shot but I also believe that she might be a little frightened to go back to bed. Well, I told her that she needs to go to the doctor as soon as possible and get another prescription for an EpiPen which is what her shots are called. They're for extreme allergic reactions.
      It's been kind of a ho-hum week this week. Your Mom was at home most of the nights this week so that was nice. You are more entertaining every day so that also is nice. Thursday our garbage disposal died and I had to go purchase another one at Lowe's. Papaw helped me install it. What would we do without Papaw? You stayed right with us and watched everything that went on. Papaw said that Aunt Lynn was the same way but when the mechanical work was being done, I was nowhere around. Maybe that explains my profound ignorance of all things mechanical.
      We had big fun last night. I gave you a cookie and had one for myself. You took my cookie when I wasn't looking and took off down the hall. I jumped up and ran after you hollering "Cookie" and you just ran and laughed so hard. We danced to Christmas music, you had a nice long bath and we watched a Mickey Mouse Christmas program. We both rather enjoyed it. Then you got into an unattended bottle of my dip spit and poured it out all over the floor and yourself. While I was running around trying to clean the carpet you opened my brand new can of Copenhagen and spilled it all over the floor. It was all my fault. I shouldn't have left the bottle within your reach and you were only doing what babies are suppose to do, explore and learn.
      Mom finally came home and she had a surprise for you. She pulled out a box from a Kroger bag and you yelled, "I-team", meaning ice cream. You do love your ice cream. We don't give you as much as you would like to have but we don't want you ending up looking like Daddy so we only give you ice cream for special treats. I think we are doing a fine job. You got your fifteen and eighteen month shots Thursday as well. You weighed twenty-five lbs. and I forget how many ounces. You were in the 90th percentile for height, the 70th for weight and the 100th for big headedness, which is cranial circumference. So I think we are doing a pretty good job with you.
      Well, I am tired and I want to go to bed so let me wish you a very happy seventeenth month birthday today and say good-night. Daddy loves Rebecca!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Birthday Daddy
We Love You

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

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

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

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

Dear Rebecca,
                     My sweet, darling, wonderful child. We had such a good time together tonight on our very first trick or treating excursion. I was afraid that you would not enjoy yourself and that you were too tired to go. You were getting quite fussy to start with. You are not used to this daylight savings time business and no one told you that seven o'clock is now six. You are used to starting a bath and having your nightly date of Juice & Milk with Elmo by seven o'clock, which is actually six now. Silly world we live in.
         My worries were laid to rest when you got right in the swing of things and started singing "Teat Teat! Teat Teat!" - I am assuming you were saying Trick or Treat.. between every house we went to. When we would finally get to the house though, and the people would step outside with the candy, you'd shout "Thank YOU!" before they even gave us a piece. You really are such a sweet and wonderful well mannered little child. I m sure next year you will know how to spout out trick or treat at the right time with no problem. Daddy wasn't feeling well so he stayed here and handed out some candy which we overbought (the neighbors said we would run out? I really should stop listening to other people!) So anyway I reckon he had an alright time doing that. He sounds like he had the same thing I had Saturday night when I came home from work. I was was so very tired and just wanted to go to sleep. You my little munchkin head just kept waking up, however. You woke up once last night and we slept together on the couch forever. I usually don't sleep very well with you on or near me because I worry about you falling or getting squished but for some reason last night was an exception to the rule. I zonked out and we slept there a good long while. I finally put you back in your crib around four thirty and told Daddy he had better get up. He somewhat grudgingly told me it was four thirty and turned back over & went to sleep.
      We went trick or treating in your stroller this year. Next year you will be big enough that we can take your wagon. I believe you may enjoy that a little more. You didn't seem to fuss at all about being in your stroller once we got headed out. You are too little to walk in the dark and too hard for your poor ol' bent up Momma to keep up with. We had fun anyway though and that's all that counts. We finished handing out the candy Daddy started on and you got to look at a lot of costumes. You even helped me hand out some candy and you got to see some doggies from our neighbors around the corner who gave you raisins, too. Those raisins gave you a stinky poo. You were going at it on the stairs, grunting and groaning and I knew what you were doing. I asked if you were pooping and when you got done you smacked your tail and said POO POO! The very next set of diapers we buy will be pull ups and the next time I catch you grunting and groaning it's Potty time. I don't think you will be much trouble at all though. You are so smart that things seem to come very easy to you. Well little one, I am signing off and heading to bed. Happy very first trick or treating Halloween my baby girl, I love you, my little Becca Bumble Bee!

Dear Rebecca.
                     Lots of things to talk about with you this evening little girl. So many in fact that I don't know where to start. I guess I will take my mother's advice and begin at the beginning. As your Dad had previously told you, you had been feeling somewhat down and out. You had an ear infection and the pediatrician gave you an antibiotic called Amoxicillin and it has been making you feel all better. You take it most of the time but it's hard to coax it down you because it really is just very nasty thick liquid ick. You seem to be getting much better.
      Daddy and I both took ill ourselves this past week and Daddy had to miss work two days and Mommy one. That is hard on our wallets and I hope Daddy & I do not see many more sick days this year. Of course we sent fifty five dollars into the wind when we adopted your recently deceased very first doggie pet MiMi. She didn't last as long as your first Beta fish. Poor little old MiMi, God rest her. She's gone on to that big back yard in the sky. We will get you another doggie pet on your second birthday. You'll be old enough to learn how to help care for her then.
      Mommy had to take herself to the doctor Tuesday and so I had to bring you with me because I had no one to watch you. Everyone in the doctor's office thought you were adorable and you are of course. I am lucky you are a good baby or I would not have been able to stick around and see the good doctor for my appointment. You did of course run about and act a mite silly like all kids would but all in all you were excellent. A lady that pushed perscription drugs was there and she had a basket of halloween goodies and she gave you a SUUTTER! Which is the term you have coined for sucker. You held out your hand and said Thank You before she even had it out of the basket. You are such a sweet, silly, polite little child. And you were very stinky at the time. I had to go downstairs to get a diaper (which you call a diater) and and a changing pad so I could change you incognito in the doctor's office. You grabbed the pad out of the diaper bag and started yelling Poo Poo! Poo Poo! I thought that I indeed might shrink into my skin at that point as the whole waiting area was looking at us with a big grin on their face. But it was so cute I just beamed right back at them and smiled at you and told you how very smart you were. So smart in fact that very soon we will begin potty training. Yay! For Rebecca! And For Mommy Too...Especially Mommy! After I changed you in the office I had to dispose of the diaper in a plastic bag so it wouldn't stink up the room but it was too late so I grabbed out some of my perfume and spritzed it in the air. For such a little gal you sure can conjure up a big stink.
               You are saying lots of new words. Words like "Frog" and "Rug" and "Feet". You are so very smart and we are so very proud of you. You will also hop around the living room saying "Jump!" - only from you it sounds more like "Tump!" You have started saying Elmo and I believe that you have Dora and Boots mixed up because tonight you kept looking at your bedtime clothes and saying "Boots!" when it was in fact, Dora. Oh well, that is OK, you will figure it out soon enough. You are so very smart and bright. You love to bang things and shake things and make a tune, and then you will dance to it. This evening you mimicked some dancers you saw on a show Daddy and I were watching and you got it down to the beat & repeated nearly every move. Wow! I wish I could do that. You are something else.
               You and I went outside this evening and played on your swing set and played some with your ball. We got kinda bored with that so we took a walk down to the corner and turned around and came back. You did very good and you held my hand the whole way. I do believe however that we will still take a stroller to get our candy tomorrow evening. It just seems easier than packing your bucket and holding your hand. I think we will only go around once in the general vicinity and then come on home. I don't know how much people/excitement/freaky masks you can take so I don't want to shove too much on you at once. But you my sweet are going to be a very cute little baby bumble bee. I am going to call Sissy tomorrow and ask her to bring a black and yellow magic marker so that we can paint WC on your face and call you a little baby yellow jacket. But Aunt Mary bought you a very cute little costume and I told her you would be wearing it and you will. You were a duck last year and you were so very incredibly cute. I can't wait to see your very first trick or treating experience. This evening on our walk we worked on Trick Or Treat. You got the Treat (Teat!) part down... I figure we can just tell everyone you want a treat.. No tricks.. And no ifs ands or buts about it. Ha, Ha!
         Well little one I am going to finish my drink and then I am heading to bed. Remember that now and for always I will love you, my Wiggy. My sweet little baby bird.

Dear Rebecca,
                  You haven't felt very well the past weekend. Your Mom took you to the pediatrician this morning and it seems you have the beginnings of an ear infection and an upper respiratory tract infection. They gave prescribed some antibiotics for you so it shouldn't be long until you are feeling good again. Your Mom & I hate to see you feeling poorly. Yesterday when you woke up from your nap you screamed and cried so bad. There was nothing we could do and it broke our hearts. You feel okay now. You are in the living room reading your Olie & Spot book and watching Dora the Explorer. You do love your Dora; you also adore Elmo. We want to get you a stuffed Boots for Christmas but they are hard to come by. You can get a Dora anywhere but Boots is another matter all together. Of course I am also very proud that you love books as well. You know the word for book and you also know the word for read. You will bring us one of your books and say "Read". You are so smart
      Your Mom is napping before she has to go to work. She was up with you all night last night. I'm supposed to be watching you so I reckon I oughta go. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                  Bad news, Little Girl. Your new dog Mimi passed away this afternoon. He apparently got into the yard next door where there are two rather large dogs and through no malice, I am sure they were just too rough and Mimi was fatally wounded. We both are so sorry that your very first experience as a dog owner had to end like this. You only had Mimi for five days so none of us had a chance to really build a strong bond with him. I think we have decided to wait until you are a little older to get you another dog so for now you are just going to have to get along with just Baby Fish Dorothy.
      You swallowed a dime. I have no idea when you swallowed this dime because I didn't see you swallow it; apparently no one saw you swallow this dime but I found it inside your diaper nestled inside a stinky poop.
      Well, I'm gonna let ya go for now. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
      Oh me, Oh My, What a long day Mommy has had. I know Daddy did not mention this to you but Monday was my first day of real work at Kroger and it all went swimmingly. Today, however, on Tuesday, your poor dense old Mother broke the film machine. Yes, indeed, I did. My what an event. It took my co worker and I nearly two hours to fix the mess I made in less than two minutes. Sad but true. Anyway, enough about me, we are here to talk about YOU!
      Alicia and Tony stopped by with their kids today. You kept saying BABY! at Bryson, their littlest one, and you kept giving his little kisses on his nose. You are such a sweet little baby girl. You had fun playing with their oldest son, Brady too. You both played with toys and watched Sesame Street. You were really good about sharing your things this time; you even shared your bapple with Brady, who had his own bapple by the way, and you both shared your bapple with the dog. The dog loves bapples. Did you know that?
     After they left I spent as much time as I could with you, just you and me. We played Bouncy-Baby and Tickle-Tickle and we of course played chase. I am glad to have the little job I have got but I sure do miss you. You and Daddy are the loves of my life and it's hard being away from either one of you. But this money will help us with Christmas and other things that need to be taken care of like groceries and unforseen expenses. Of course, as always, a lot of it will be spent on you.
      Well little one it has been a long day and I am so tired. I want to go to bed but I need to wind down just a little bit so I might eat a sandwich and drink a soda and then I am going to hit the hay. I love you so much; you are my one true calling in life and as I promised you before I promise you now No job is going to get in the way of you.. You will ALWAYS come first. I love you. Good night baby girl.

Dear Rebecca,
               It's early Monday morning but it's really Sunday night because I haven't gone to bed yet. Your Mommy just now laid down on the sofa in the living room. We just now got finished watching Law & Order and before that we watched the latest episode of Lost. I know I said I would post more frequently but that just isn't working out, is it? Maybe when things settle down a little more we will both post here like we should. Your Mommy just doesn't have the time to post as much as she did before. She is still working very hard on getting the house in order. There's a whole lot involved in making a house a home.
      Well, Thursday before we all went to pick up my check we dropped by the Woodford Humane Society to browse at some puppies that your Mom had seen online. We were just going to look and see what kind of selection they had there in case we might want to adopt a dog for you from there in the future. We saw two of the three puppies that your Mommy had seen online. Peter and Mary were still at the humane society but Paul had been adopted already. They named the pups Peter, Paul and Mary; get it? Anyway you seemed to really like the puppies and so did your Mom. Both of you had that longing look in your eyes. I told your mom that we would discuss it later and we left. Your mom said that if we didn't act now those pups would be gone by tomorrow. I was feeling real guilty because I knew that your Mom wanted one of the little dogs and you were sitting in your car seat in the back just a bawling up a storm because you didn't want to leave all the dogs. I turned around before we got to the end of the drive and had a debate with myself as to whether I should go back and get one of the dogs or go on the Lexington and have a conversation with your mom later on in the day. I finally decided we would go back to go back to the pound and adopt a little dog for you.
      The friendliest of the two pups we saw was Mary. We both thought that Peter was the prettiest of the two dogs but Mary was the friendliest by far. I think the male was Peter; it could have been Paul, I just don't remember. That doesn't matter anyway because we chose Mary. We paid our Money; $55 for the adoption fee. It was adopt a dog month so it was forty-five dollars less than what it usually would have been. They told us that she would be taken to the vet to be spayed and have a complete physical and we could pick her up from the vet on Friday. We then went on to Lexington and had a rather nice day out.
      While we were grocery shopping I was pushing you around in the cart while your mommy searched for something. We saw another baby and you waved and said hello to the other baby. The other baby was eating what looked like a cookie and I commented on it. I then noticed that it was not a cookie at all. I was told that it was a bagel and the little boy's mother jokingly implored me not to mention cookies around him. I glanced inside the cart that the bagel munching baby was riding in and I saw soy milk, fresh spinach and all kinds of health food stuff. I told the baby he must be a health food baby and then I looked over at our cart and in it I saw chip dip, white bread, cake mixes, spaghetti-Os and a baby eating a sugar cookie and drinking an orangeade beverage. I thought to myself, there is a study in contrasts. Even though your Mom & I are not the skinniest people around and you don't eat like a rabbit I think you have a very healthy and balanced diet. I like to think that there's more to a balanced diet than just healthy foods. Sometimes a baby should have a sugar cookie or a lollipop just to make life a little more fun. You also get all your servings of fruit and veggies, you drink sugar free kool-aid and we're careful not to give you too much sugar. You really do enjoy fruit. As a matter of fact that very evening after you eaten your sugar cookie I noticed that you had started on the plums that we had in the shopping cart. We got that plum for free.
      The next day we went to get the Pup. We brought her home and she was so nervous and scared. We were afraid that you didn't like her at first because you just wanted to play in the dirt but eventually you warmed up to her. You figured out pretty quickly that it was your dog because you said, "Me dog", so we decided to change her name from Mary to Mimi. The dog whines like crazy in the night and she's not much better in the day. She nearly drove us all crazy as we tried to sleep in the early morning hours of Sunday. We all ended up getting out of bed. She kept getting on the deck and whining and scratching at the door. Every time I would block an access point she would find another. Eventually I think I got all points blocked and we all went to bed.
      Saturday night we went down to Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney's for a cook out. Allison put a motorcycle helmet on your head and even though it was so heavy that you could hardly stand up in it you didn't want anybody taking it off. So you ran around for part of the evening with a motorcycle helmet on your head. You tried to play soccer with Jon, Jacob and a friend of theirs that was over for the cook out. Your Mom and I rode you a little on Jon's little four wheeler. The main reason you were there though was to give Allison and a boy who just happens to be a friend, but certainly not a boyfriend, who was also at the cook out something to talk about. While we were down there it was pointed out that Mimi has very large paws which indicate that she will be a rather large dog. We were told at the pound that she wouldn't get over twentyfive pounds but of course when Aunt Lynn got Ruffy he was about the same size as Mimi and she was also told he wouldn't get very big. Ruffy is a very large dog so maybe Mimi will get bigger than we think.
      We are up in the air about whether or not Mimi should be a house dog or not. When I was growing up dogs were not kept in the house so that's kind of where I sort of stand on the subject. Your mom agrees with me but we have had her in the house the past few nights and she feels so much better when she is inside the house. She just doesn't want to be alone right now. She's scared because she is in an unfamiliar environment. If we decide to house break her she will eventually have to sleep outside and spend the lion's share of her day outside. We are still up in the air about that subject. She was inside tonight and the two of you played in the living room floor before you went to bed. Both of you had a grand time. You didn't want to go to sleep at all. You laid in your crib and just had a little fit. We got you back up and you wanted to play with the dog some more but she was sleeping. You kind of pestered the little dog so much she crawled under my chair to get away from you. Eventually we got you to sleep.
      Sunday I mowed the lawn and calked your window while your Mommy cleaned the house. Aunt Lynn & Allison came over for a visit and Mimi & I hung out on the deck with them and waited for you to wake up from your nap. Eventually you decided to join us. Aunt Lynn & Allison left and I finished mowing because I couldn't get Allison to mow the entire yard for me. She did mow a good part of the back but she said the my push mower was just way too much work. She had never used a push mower before. She's used to riding mowers. After I finished the front yard and used entire tube of calk on your window we decided to go to Lexington and eat at Cici's and browse around Walmart on the north side of town. We all had a fine time. We bought you another little jacket for the fall, some computer printing paper for myself and some dishwashing detergent for your dear old Mother. We stopped at Dairy Queen on the way home and your Mom had a small chocolate shake; I had a small chocolate malt and you had a cup of ice. We had a real nice trip.
      One day this past week I got up with you and fixed you breakfast. I prepared a fine breakfast for you. You has some dry cheerios, a slice of ham and I cut some slices off of an apple I was eating. I sat down with you to watch you enjoy the gourmet breakfast I had so painstakingly prepared. You didn't want to have anything to do with your apple slices; you wanted my whole apple. I gave it to you and you ate nearly all of it. I taught you the name for the apple and now you call an apple a bapple. Your Mommy said that when she asked you the other day what you wanted for breakfast you said you wanted a bapple. You are so cute and so smart.
      I have to go to bed now so I just want you to know that Daddy loves Rebecca.

Dear Rebecca,
               It's been a few days since my last blog and I have no reason for being so lax in doing this. Maybe it's because you are getting to be so entertaining that I just can't take the time to set down here and play on the computer like I used to. Everyday you amaze me a little more. Your vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds. You have always loved playing with phones and you know a phone when you see one but the other day the phone rang while you were getting your bath and you looked up at me and as casually as can be you said "phone". You know the sound of a phone even. Last night you decided you wanted to play where is Rebecca's nose. Usually the game goes where we ask you where your nose is or your eyes or ears or some other body part. Last night however you pointed to your eye and said eye. You then pointed to your nose and said eye again. I told you no and you gave me a mischievous grin like you knew good and well that that wasn't your eye and then you said nose. You then pointed to your ear and said ear and then you went back to splashing in the tub. I was so impressed.
      I baby proofed your room the other day and you have been spending a whole lot of time in there by yourself, much to your Mother's chagrin. She seems to already be getting a case of empty nest syndrome and you're just in the other room. We thought it would give us a little more peace when we opened up your room but I think the opposite is true because your Mom makes me get up out of my chair every four or five minutes to make sure you are okay alone in your room. Every now and then you'll check in on us as well just to make sure we're not getting into any trouble in the living room. You'll toddle into the living room and get a tickle and a hug and then you'll toddle back to your room and your books. You do love your books. I'm extremely proud of that.
      I went to work Monday morning and about ten 0'clock they told us we were going to go home at lunch and wouldn't be back for a week so I have had a nice week at home with you and Mom this week. I have greatly enjoyed it. I hated putting you to bed Sunday night because I knew I wouldn't see you again until I got home from work Monday afternoon. I was really kinda glad I got off. I love spending time with you.
      We've almost got the house like we like it. I have a few more things to do in your room, a few more pictures to hang in my office here and we still have to figure out how we are going to decorate the ducky bathroom. Everything else is done. Pictures are all hung in Mommy & Daddies bed & bathroom, in the living room, kitchen and hall. I had to rethink my office because Granny needed the twin bed at her place so I had to take it out of the office. I suppose that now it's just an office and not an office/guestroom. I'm kind of glad of that though. The bed really took up too much room in here. I need all the room I can get in here so the air can circulate because it gets incredibly hot in here with the computer on all the time. I think we're gonna have to start turning it off when we are not using it. Of course if gas gets too expensive this winter we can all pile up together in here and gather around the computer for warmth. I'm kidding by the way.
      Well, I've stayed up way too late and your Mom wouldn't be very happy with me if she knew I was up this late because we all have to go to work tomorrow to get my paycheck and go grocery shopping and I promised her I would get in bed relatively early because she said she didn't want to put up with me if I was grumpy because I was sleep deprived. I'll try to post at a more frequent interval from now on. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                  Hello, my pretty little baby bird. Right now you are taking a nap in your room. Or at least you are on your way. You woke up at five thirty this morning, which was very early. I was glad to see you though and we laid on the couch together for a little while until you wanted to get up and play. We had a breakfast of sliced apples and Kix cereal and you of course had your milk and vitamin. You are getting so big and strong. I am so proud of you. You only get prettier and smarter every day. You are indeed so very cute and sweet and smart and pretty.
      We all went up to Granny's for supper yesterday. Granny is not feeling very well so Mamaw was going to spend the night with her last night and she wanted to see you and I am sure Granny did, too. You of course were as sweet and friendly as you always are. Daddy brought some home movies for us to watch and Granny and Mamaw and Papaw enjoyed watching you playing in the tub. Papaw enjoyed picking on Daddy because Daddy was not helping Momma paint like he ought to. Everyone got a kick out of Momma complaining on video. It happens so very rarely you know.
      After Supper we came home and Daddy gave you your bath while your dear old Mom took herself a much needed shower. It has finally started to turn cooler outside so sometime soon you and I and Mamaw are going to head down to the Family Dollar and buy you a few fall outfits. We aren't going to buy too many because I am afraid if we do that you will grow out of them. You aren't supposed to grow as much as you did last year over the next year but still you will indeed be growing so I don't want to go buying a bunch of really expensive outfits when you will probably wind up wearing the ones I bought from the Family Dollar more often anyway. Of course you will get some nice dresses for church at Wal-Mart. I can't wait to get us back into church. It has been too long since we have gone.
      I don't know if Daddy told you but Pappy and Aunt Mary came up to see you last weekend. Aunt Mary bought you a very cute little bumble bee costume. We are going to get a little black sweatsuit to go underneath of it for you to go trick or treating. I hope I get to take you because I might be starting a little evening job at Kroger for some extra money for the three of us to do the fun things we like to do. If not I am sure that Sissy would be happy to oblige walking you around the neighborhood for some candy you both could split just once. And I know that Daddy will take lots of cute little pictures. Anyway that is neither here nor there right now. Where was I? Oh yes.
      After Daddy gave you your bath you went to sleep but not very willingly and I stayed up with Dad a little longer and watched some TV. Then I went to bed so that I could get up with you this morning and spend some time with you. We had big fun playing Tickle Bug on the couch and chasing each other up and down the hall. You are such a fun little baby to be around. God has really blessed us with you and we are so very lucky. Now of course you have made it to your nap and you are snoring softly. On that note I will let you go because I think I may try to lay back down myself. I love you my pretty little baby bird. You are and always will be Momma's pretty piggy.

Dear Rebecca,
                  I am so tired right now. It's almost five in the morning on a Friday morning as I type this. I am laid off tomorrow and that is why I am still up instead of about ready to get out of bed for the day. Speaking of which, I need to sneak into mine & Mom's bedroom so I can shut off the alarms. I'll do that now...... It's done with six minutes to spare until the first alarm was to go off. I have two alarms; one set for five in the morning so I can shut it off and lay back down for another half an hour and one set for when I really have to get out of bed, 5:30.
      I figured out a way to download my music again and it's faster than ever so I've been downloading songs all night. Well, not all night but for quite awhile. I spent some time organizing the songs I downloaded and setting them up in our iPod mini. I also had to update our iPod & item software so that took a few minutes. I had a pretty fun night on the computer tonight, or rather, this morning.
      I know it's been a few days since either of us posted a blog. We've been kinda busy hanging pictures and playing with you. You are getting so big and you are so smart and talkative that it's hard not to spend all the time we can with you. Let me tell you one thing that I'm sure you already know. You are one spoiled little princess. This past weekend you went to Kmart with your Mamaw and you both saw a big ole' swing set with a slide and a play house type thing. It cost way too much cash for your Mom & myself to buy it for you right now so Mamaw & Papaw bought you the fancy swing set. I put it together Monday and had Papaw come check my work and anchor the thing on Tuesday. You are one spoiled little creature but you are just so dad-blamed cute. It's hard not to spoil you.
      You have so many new words in your vocabulary that's it's really too much trouble to list them all. You say hat, tractor, bed, thank you and a couple of dozen other words. You speak to everyone you see. You are such a pretty little girl. Oh, you also have taken to running lately. You're getting harder and harder to keep up with. It's really no problem though because I always dreamed of having a little rambunctious toddler such as yourself. You are a dream come true for both your Mother and myself.
      Well, I'm gonna let you go for now because I am tired and I want to eat an apple and go on to bed. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                     It's Sunday morning and I was supposed to get up with you this morning and let Mama sleep in but she woke up shortly after we did so she has you in the living room and I am in here on the computer posting this blog, trying in vain to download some songs from the internet and attempting to put together your photo page for last month. We were so very busy that we really didn't get a chance to take too many pictures of you this month.
      Well, we now have some pictures on the wall in the living room and 99.99% of the boxes are unloaded so we are quickly approaching getting done. We have to touch up some paint in the ducky bathroom and hang up the rest of our pictures and figure out what I am going to do with the printer here in the office and then we will be done with everything we can do now. Everything else will have to wait until we have the cash to get them done.
      Pappy & Aunt Mary are supposed to come up to see the new house later today. I can't wait for them to see the new place. We are all very excited about our new home. You like the big doors in the kitchen that you can look out of. I like the fact that it's not an apartment and Mom likes the fact that you now have a backyard and you can one day have a puppy of your own. I think she is leaning toward getting you a full blooded corgi.
      Well, I'm gonna let you go for now because I need a shower and I need to see if I can grab some still shots of you from the video camera so we can have a decent pictorial record of your fourteenth month. Daddy loves Rebecca!