Dear Rebecca,
               Christmas is almost upon us and everyone is very excited. However, if I have to look at The Spongebob Squarepants Christmas Special much more I will go flat batty. That's the only program you have any desire to see and it has been for the past two weeks. Occasionally you'll have a hankering for Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer or as you call him, The Big Nosed Reindeer. You are quite the Christmas nut. I wonder where you got that from? You can sing along with a dozen or more Christmas songs and you can sing two, Jingle Bells and Here Comes Santa Claus all by yourself. You mangle the words or rearrange them to suit your own whims.
      As you already know your Mom is going to school this week and most of next week so I am the primary caregiver right now. That's why your hair has looked like crap all week and so has the house. I intend on really getting into cleaning up real nice tomorrow. I am very proud of your Mother. She is frightened to death that she will not pass this course or pass her state exams. I tell her she doesn't have a thing in the world to worry about because she is a very intelligent lady who has actually had experience as a nurses aid. She took a test yesterday and had the highest score in all of the class. She thinks her weakness is making beds but she came closest of anyone else in her class to getting it right. You and I know that she is doing great in her class; now if we could only convince her we'd be in good shape.
      She's been studying her lessons and reading her text book so much in the past week that she has begun to miss the two of us. She asked if we could meet her in Lexington yesterday afternoon after she got out of class. We all met up at the Wal-Mart on the north side of town and then we went to The Golden Corral for supper. We all had a real nice time and you were very well behaved. We then went over to Hamburg so your Mom could do a little bit of last minute Christmas shopping and then you and I went to Garden Ridge while your Mom went to Kohls so she could get something for me. We also went to Baby's "R" Us to purchase a new car seat for you. We had originally went over there so we could finish paying for our bedroom dresser at Value City Furniture but we were all so tired that we plum forgot about it. We went back to Wal-Mart to pick up the Explorer and we all went home. You watched a few minutes of The Spongebob Christmas Special and then both you and your Mamma went to bed. I stayed up and picked up the living room a little bit, fixed your Mom's lunch and set her coffee for in the morning. I also watched a couple of episodes of Criminal Minds, that's a show about F.B.I. criminal profilers and then I came in here to sit down and play on the computer. We had fun last night but I am afraid it might have wiped your Mom out because she practically fell asleep before I could kiss her good-night.
      Yesterday morning you woke up very early indeed. Your Mom was up getting ready to go to school and she brought you into our bedroom and laid you down with me. You kept crying for her not to leave. She felt very guilty about having to leave you but she's going to school so she can get a better paying job so we can all be just a little more comfortable and for that I admire her. After she left we both began to drift off to sleep. When I was just about out you told me in your little stern voice to quit it. I didn't know what you were talking about. I once again began to drift off when you once again told me to quite and then you said in an exasperated voice that I was making you crazy. Once again I had no clue what you were talking about. I was just about asleep for the third time when you once again told me to quit. This time when I asked you what you wanted me to quit you said that I was snoring. You are such a funny little monkey.
      We heard from the insurance company this week. They decided to total your Mom's car. We want to keep the car so they gave us a check for almost three thousand dollars for the car and sold us back the car for four hundred and fifty dollars. I am shocked that we didn't get ripped off. They also gave us another check for eighty dollars and told us that we needed to purchase a new carseat and bring the carseat that was in the car at the time of the accident back to the insurance office. We got a whole lot better car seat than the one we had.
      As a result of getting this big windfall we were able to purchase three tickets to see The Doodlebops in concert in Louisville on April Fool's day. I hope you like it. You were very well behaved when we went to see Disney Princesses on Ice but you didn't do so well when we went to see Cars at the movie theatre. I'm sure you will be just fine. You'll be almost three when we go so you will be a big girl by then.
      The day we picked up the check you and I went out Christmas shopping. We went to The Dollar Tree so you could pick stuff out for everyone on your list. You didn't do so well in there. You were very tired and you got two time-outs while we were in the store. During the first time-out when you were almost done You pushed yourself away from the wall I had you facing and announced to me that that wall had germs. You got another half minute for that even though it was cute and probably true. I told you that if you got a third one you would get a spanking. We went over to The Dollar General Store because i know how much you like it there. You forgot Granny at The Dollar Tree so you splurged a little on her and bought her a six dollar smelly candle, sweet pea. Lo and behold you got in trouble for the third time. Third strike and you get a spanking. You got three little swats once we got to the car. You and I went to Fazolis for lunch and then we went to Wal-Mart to get a few grocery items and then we came home. I had fun and even though you were such a tired and grumpy little girl I think you had fun as well apart from your two time-outs and your spanking.
      Gotta go to bed because you don't know the definition of sleeping in. There's three days, twenty-one hours thirty-four minutes until Christmas. Daddy loves Rebecca and Christmas.

Dear Rebecca,
                  You're not feeling very well right now. You had an extremely high temperature last night. You were staying with Mamaw & Papaw while your Mother and I took care of some Christmas shopping. We got down there and you were curled up in Papaw's lap and just totally out of it. Papaw would go to pat your leg and you would brush it away you were in so much pain from your high fever. We brought you home and took your temperature; it was 102 degrees and you were actually screaming. Your Mom wanted to take you to the emergency room but instead we gave you a nice long cool bath and that seemed to make you feel a whole lot better. After your bath you went to bed with Mama in our big bed. That's where you are at right now. I hope you start to feel better very soon.
      Last weekend, as I mentioned we would, we went and saw The Gospel According to Scrooge at King's Way assembly of God. Sissy was in the play. When we walked through the door she was waiting on us in her costume for the play. She saw you and put out her arms and asked you for a hug and a kiss. You hesitantly approached her and gave her your most prim and proper stranger kiss. She put you down and we walked on a few steps and then you looked up at me with a look of shock and realization, "I saw Sissy!" you exclaimed. Kristie & I both enjoyed it greatly.
      This past week was the last week I had to work for 2006. I am so glad to be off for the rest of the year. I was late to work Wednesday for maybe the second time ever in almost twenty years. I got up to go to work and gathered my clothes together and went into the living room and sat down in my chair and turned on the news and promptly went to sleep. I woke up an hour later at 6:30. I have to be at work by 6:54 so I knew I was going to have to move like the wind to get there on time. I failed miserably. I thought I was driving very fast but cars were still blowing by me so maybe I wasn't as moving as fast as I thought I was. Friday the powers that be out at General Electric let me leave an hour early and that was nice. I was supposed to leave three hours early but at the last moment they changed their minds and I was fit to be tied. At least I made a few extra dollars.
      I don't think we have mentioned your Mom's car wreck. She was waiting to turn onto Berry Avenue where Taylor Manor Nursing Home is and she was rear ended by a young girl from out of town. The car looks like crap and the insurance company, both your Mom and the girl have Kentucky Farm Bureau are dragging their feet. I would love to look into changing companies but I don't believe we would be able to get comparable rates from any place else. The car may be totaled And I don't know how that would eventually play out. We'll get screwed some way, some how, of that I am sure. Your Mom was okay and thankfully you were not with her but I hated it that it happened.
      Your Mom signed up for school to become a certified nurses assistant this past week and she had her orientation Friday night. The class is in Georgetown. She was so excited Friday night when she got out of orientation. She was bouncing all over the Explorer. I know your Mom is going to do fabulous in the class. She already is a nurses assistant but isn't certified by the sate so she is not able to get the higher paying opportunities. I am very proud of your Mother. She wants to eventually go back to college when you start going to school so she can become a registered nurse. I am glad that your Mom has found a field that she excels in and enjoys. I am glad that from now on your mom will have a career instead of just jobs. There's a huge difference in the two. I make more money than your Mom does and I have been with the same employer my entire adult life but what I have is a job and certainly not a career. That's why both your Mom & I are so adamant that you excel in school and attain a college degree in a field that you enjoy and one that will be able to support you in a comfortable manner.
      Well, it's late and I want to do a few other things here on the internet and maybe watch a little television and then I reckon I will lay down on the sofa so as not to disturb you and Mamma. There's only eight days until Christmas. I have heard that Santa is probably going overboard with your Christmas presents this year but you have been such a good girl all year that I think you probably deserve everything that Santa has for you. Daddy loves Rebecca & Christmas!

Dear Rebecca,
               It's already getting very late and your Mom just poked her head in the office and asked me when I was coming to bed. I told her shortly so this one has to be a quick one. We are going to Kings Way Assembly of God in the morning to see Allison in a play, Scrooge.
   You and Mom picked me up at work Wednesday and we went to the Fayette Mall and there you got to sit on Santa's lap and have a little conversation with him. You jumped right up there with him and had a pretty good time, I think. You had an even better time playing with all of the kids that had just seen Santa. After that you and Mom had pizza and I had Gold Star Chili at the food court there in the mall. After we ate you and I had a cocoa while your Mom had a caramel cappuccino or some such drink. You have come to love cocoa. We left the mall and went to Wal-Mart after that and then on to the house. You had a pretty good time. We all did.
      Well, I know there's more to write about but I am going to have to close this post out before your Mom comes in here again and ends up killing me. There's fifteen days until Christmas. Daddy loves Rebecca and Christmas!

Dear Rebecca,
                                    Hello my little sweetie bird. Right now you are sleeping. That's a good thing since you've been in bed for almost twenty minutes already. You definitely hate going to bed.
                  Friday afternoon you were sick so I called my co-worker and asked her if she'd be willing to trade with me for Tuesday so that I could take you to the doctor if need be. I didn't think it was necessary for you to go to the doctor with a lot of diarrhea, but I wanted to stay home and monitor you anyway just in case. Your tummy was upset so I really wasn't keen on giving you much lunch, so we spread a blanket out on your bedroom floor and made a pallet, got a few pillows, popped a big bowl of popcorn and poured us some lemonade. We popped in Rudolph The Rednosed Reindeer
and watched the whole movie from one end to the other. We had a grand time you and I, eating popcorn and watching the reindeer movie. Then I tried to put you down for a nap but you weren't having any of it. So I got you up and we watched Spongebob Squarepants in the living room and fiddled around until it was time to go pick Daddy up. We stopped at Subway and got us some sandwiches and we ate them on the way home we were so hungry. When we got home we fiddled about and Daddy gave you a bath and put you to bed. I went to bed myself as we got home because I was so very tired. I had to work Saturday morning and I got to see you for a few minutes before I had to leave because you woke up for a little bit. I held you and we watched half an episode of Spongebob. You're big time into Spongebob Squarepants now little girl. I don't know why. I always thought that cartoon was just dumb. It can be funny, but whoever thought up a cartoon about an underwater sponge? I don't know.
                     Saturday evening Daddy called me at work wanting me to pick up some popcorn for Allison because she was in the mood to string popcorn. I got off a few minutes early and I went to the store to get some. I got some and I was on my way back to work to pick up another co-worker and a car rear-ended me in the behind. It shook us both up pretty bad, the driver and I, and I went to the hospital and got checked out because I have some previous back injuries. You stayed here with Sissy, Mamaw, and Papaw. We didn't get home until almost midnight and you were still up and bouncing around. You were having a grand time with Sissy and playing big. You always have a good time with your cousin Allison, whom you call Sissy. She's a sweet girl and she is so good with you. I was drugged up from the morphine and nausea medicine they had given me and you asked me if I had a cold. You can be so funny sometimes. I just thank God that you weren't in the car with me, that would have worried me like crazy. You are so much tinier than me and it could have jarred you a lot worse than it did me. It just made my middle back very, very sore.
                  You are super excited about Christmas this year, little girl. You are just like your Daddy in the regard that you love all things Christmas. Christmas is indeed a very special time of year for good little girls and boys, and it looks like you have made the nice list. I know one certain jolly fat man that has had his elves make you way, way, way too many gifts & presents. You an extra special little girl though and I am sure that jolly fat man wants you to have an extra special Christmas. Just tonight you asked Daddy if Santa was going to get you up in the morning and when he said "No, not in the morning. You still have twenty more days" you threw an ever loving fit. You are ready for it to be here. Just like Spongebob, you're ready. I think Daddy got you started way too early with all the hoopla. He had you psyched up for it two weeks before Halloween. Poor Daddy, he gets excited about Christmas in August. Well little girl, I want to fiddle around on here a bit before I hit the pillow myself. Mommy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               Well, here it is, December already. This is the month that Santa Claus or as you call him, much to my chagrin, Ho Ho comes to see all of the good boys & girls of the world. The Holiday Season is in full swing now and I couldn't be happier. I look forward to Christmas Day so fervently every year but I also realize that the big build up to the day is just as fun as the actual day.
      You have been a little sick the past couple of days. You don't seem to feel bad but you have had some diarrhea. The other night your cheap pullup wasn't up to the challenge of a night time episode of diarrhea. You woke up at 2:30 in the morning calling for Mama and she came to you and she called for me. I came into your bedroom and you were absolutely covered in poop. It was all over your bedsheets, your stuffed animals, your bed and everywhere else you can imagine. You hollered out in your most over the top voice, "Monster Poop! Yay me!"
      Poor little girl, you were afraid that you were going to get into trouble so you decided to put a positive spin of the whole situation. There's no way we could have even remotely been even a little put out by that situtation. We were mainly concerned with your well being and making sure that you didn't feel bad about the incident. Mama took you into your bathroom and you had a very nice shower/bath and you got to play in the tub awhile. While Mom was cleaning you up I was trying to clean up your room. I took your bed sheets and stuffed animals out of your bed and then I took your bed apart so I could scrub it down with disinfectant. We all got finished with the cleaning so we stayed up just awhile longer so you could watch a few minutes Spongebob and then all three of us were ready to get back in bed. We all got settled back down an hour after you first woke up.
      You still have the diarrhea. Mom called the pediatrician and she said that you were either getting too much protein or not enough protein. I don't think that makes much sense. We try to feed you a very balanced diet but you really don't care much for meat products. You drink plenty of milk and eat plenty of cheese though so I don't know what could be the problem. I hope you get back to normal pretty soon though.
      You seem to have a favorite Christmas song; at least it's the one you sing the most. It's Here Comes Santa Claus. It's so sweet hearing you sing that song.
      It's late and I want to watch some television so I will close out this post. Daddy loves Rebecca and Christmas!

Dear Rebecca,
               Apart from one very minor incident we had early this morning, we had a wonderful day together. Early this morning you were tired and you got mad at me because I wouldn't let you use my good perfume. I pay almost fifty dollars a bottle for the stuff and I don't have very much of it left and I like to wear it when I go out somewhere nice with Daddy. I have all kinds of perfumes that I will let you use though, and it's not because I was being mean. It's because I am almost out. But you didn't like that answer so you decided that you would come over and scratch my leg on purpose. You scratched it hard, too. I smacked your hand and gave you a time out on the couch. After I hung up with Mamaw, I went ahead and put you down for your nap. I knew that you were probably just tired and that's why you reacted in such a fashion. I had already given you your cold medicine and that stuff makes you tired anyway. I put you down in your bed and you went to sleep in no time.
      When you woke up, we drove over to Granny's house and spent most of the afternoon with her. We ate a lunch of pizza and raisins here, and when we went to Granny's, She and Linda were eating Chili from Wendy's. You played beggar girl for some of Linda's and she shared it with you. Then Linda went off to work and you and I stayed with Granny. You watched some cartoons for about an hour and Granny and I watched Doctor Phil after. Granny wanted to watch Oprah afterward and you were getting bored so I took you to the potty (you pooped in it, littlun! Good Job!) and we went outside to play. We took a walk around the neighborhood and saw some puppies; we also went over and looked at an old school friend's of Daddy's tacky Christmas Lights. She's a sweet lady but I swear, the Christmas Lights and decorations were ... well, tacky. Anyway, after that we went back in to Granny's and got us a drink of water. Then I asked Granny what she wanted for Supper and she said a baked potato. So we went to Arby's and got Granny a baked potato and a milkshake; I also split my sandwich with her and you and I had soda and curly fries. We had a good time eating with Granny. You said we were having a picnic. You're so cute and funny.
      You were getting tired and bored after that, so after I picked up Granny's house and did her dishes, we bid Granny farewell and got on our way to see Daddy. Daddy was just then taking Allison to church and said he was going to McDonald's, so we decided to drive around and see the neighborhood Christmas Lights. You oohed and ahhed at all of them; you were amazed by all the brightness and colors. We saw a carousel with Santa, a snowman, Rudolph, and a teddy bear in it and you informed me that you needed that. We saw a couple of the grazing deer in some yards and I asked you what they were and you said that they were Kangaroos. You are so funny. We went across the bypass to South Hill because we seen a bunch of lights on the end of the street over there but as we got further back there were none. I said there weren't very many lights there so those people must be Jewish. As we rounded a corner, we saw a couple of houses really done up and you hollered "They're NOT Jewish!" Again, you are one funny Monkey.
      After we got back we decided to make some hot chocolate on the stove. We had fun stirring the chocolate into the milk and heating it up. We were sitting at the table listening to Christmas Music and drinking it when Daddy got home. Then you took a shower with Mommy and played pillow fight with Daddy on the bed. You two have been watching Spongebob but now you are all concerned with where Mommy is and what she is doing so you are in here pestering me. You just now tried to plug in the snowflake I decided to take down out of the office window.
      Two more things to tell you before I end this blog; 1. You helped me wrap Granny's Christmas present yesterday, and you told me that you were going to 'neak' it on Granny. You are silly. And number 2: Aunt Mary is having a girl! YAY! A little girl cousin for you to play with and terrorize. I think she is going to name it Desiree Paige. I hope not, but I am not allowed to choose. Oh, well. It's her baby. I am extremely happy for Aunt Mary; I honestly thought she would never have any kids. I thought I would never have any, either. But I reckon God showed us, now didn't He? We are all so very blessed to have you in our lives, and now there is a new life coming into our family and we feel blessed to have her, too. I know this baby will complete Mary's life the way you have completed mine. I love you, Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                  We had loads of fun yesterday. I am afraid that this was probably our last extended family Thanksgiving and I am okay with that. There's people there I don't know and even a few that I know but really don't care much for. One thing that really ticked me off was people trying to give me advice on a subject that they have absolutely no knowledge of whatsoever and thinking I am foolish for the informed decisions that I make. Well, that wasn't fun but all in all we had a grand time. You played with the kids in Chris and Mike's exercise room, you played the piano in Mike's music studio, we all watched Cars on a huge screen television and you got made over by everyone in attendance. You did get in trouble one time though. I told you to come with me back upstairs so we could watch Cars and you ignored me to the point of letting me count all the way to three. I put you in a corner for a time-out and you cried and hollered for Mike. You also apologized and told me you wanted to go watch Cars. After two minutes your time-out was over and by that time you were more than willing to do as I said. You are a very well behaved little girl but I suppose you must test your limits from time to time.
      Mom had to leave early so she could go to work. She made up a plate each for Mother Ellen and Sister Agnes and they really enjoyed their Thanksgiving meal. Your Mom is a very sweet person to think of the nuns like that. She also took them some of our extra Christmas decorations to make their rooms a little more festive. She did that last week and they said that it was sweet but it wasn't even Thanksgiving yet; well now it's Thanksgiving and their rooms are already decorated.
      When we went outside to go home Papaw took you over to have a look at Chris and Mike's horses. These are real horses, not ponies like you rode in Hazzard. Mike gave you a carrot to feed one of the horses and you thought that was a big trick. This horse nuzzled right up to you. The horses head was as large as your whole body. You didn't want to go home with me; you wanted to stay with Chris.
      We came home and colored in the floor for awhile and then your Mom got home from work. We watched some Little Bear and you went to bed early because you didn't get a nap today. I went to bed the same time you did because I was zonked out for some reason. I suppose it must have been the tryptophan in all of the turkey I ate today. I got up at around 2:30 this morning though. I am going to be pooped today, I just know it.
      Your Mom came to bed at the time we normally go to bed during the week and she woke up early as well. She left to go shopping about a half hour ago. Thankfully she said she was just going to stay here in Versailles and maybe head on over to the new Wal-Mart in Lawrenceburg. Your mom is found of the new Wal-mart. It's a whole lot closer than Lexington and while it's not as big as the Lexington stores she says that serves her well because she can get in there and get out quick.
      I am going to go watch some television before you wake up because I know you will want to watch either Spongebob or Jimmy Neutron when you do get out of bed. Daddy loves Rebecca and Christmas!

Dear Rebecca,
                                This is just a quick blog to tell you that Mommy is very thankful for her family. I married into a wonderful family when I met and married your Daddy. Everyone in this family has been so good to me that I no longer refer to them as "My husband's family" - I just say "My Family"- because they all have made me feel that way and I feel so very blessed. Now you're here and my family has gotten even bigger. I couldn't be any luckier because I have you and Daddy in my life. On this Thanksgiving Day, You're what I am most Thankful for. I love you both beyond measure. Happy Turkey Day, Little Girl!

Dear Rebecca,
                  Happy Thanksgiving, little girl. Thanksgiving is when most people mistakenly believe that the holiday season begins. You and I know that the holiday season begins on my birthday, November 13th. I love Thanksgiving because I consider it a dress rehearsal for Christmas. I had a short week this week because of Thanksgiving weekend. The week kind of flew by and for that I am so very thankful. I suppose it's fitting I be thankful being as how Thanksgiving is the time for thankfulness.
      Both you and Mom met me at work after I got off yesterday afternoon. I always enjoy that. You told Mom that you wanted to go to Cici's and since you are a spoiled child she decided that we would indeed go to Cici's after I got off from work. We first went to Professional Optical to order a new pair of glasses for myself. I think I chose a rather nice pair. It wasn't the cheapest but I liked them much better than the cheaper ones. Of course it wasn't a real expensive pair either. The frames were about $119 and the cheaper ones ran $80 to $100. There were some out there that ran two and three hundred dollars. There's no way I would even consider for one moment paying that kind of money for a pair of frames; and that doesn't even include the lenses. I should get them back Monday but your Mom doesn't want me to pick them up until she gets paid Thursday.
      Then we went to Cici's for supper. You ate more than your Mom thought you would. We all enjoyed our supper and you enjoyed playing in the arcade. Arcades are very affordable for us now because you are perfectly satisfied to set behind the wheel of a driving game and pretend you are driving. Later on I'm sure you will want us to sock some money into that driving game.
      We then went to Wal-Mart to pay on our layaway and get some goceries and some Thanksgiving stuff. Your Mom is fixing a turkey when she gets up later this morning. I wanted us to all hang out together while we were in Wal-Mart but you knew exactly where we were at and you had your quick little mind set on going to the toy department. You had no desire to wander the grocery aisles with Mom & Dad. I took you over to the toys while your Mom finished up with the groceries.
      We then had to drive all the way back to General Electric so we could pick up the Explorer. We came home and we all had some fun playing for awhile and then you went to bed and Mom stayed up with me for an hour or so and then she went to bed and I came in here on the computer.
      I filled out something on the internet that has to do with the big announcement I mentioned months and months ago. I hope it happens. On the registration site it asked me if I used tobacco products including smokeless tobacco and, of course, I do and I answered truthfully. I hope that honesty doesn't come back to bite me in the keister. If all goes well I should be able to make my announcement by late March or early April.
      We saw today where the Doodlebops are coming in concert to Louisville. We plan on getting three tickets to the concert if they're not all sold out by the time we have and extra hundred dollars. We have decided not to mention anything to you about it until we know for sure that we can get the tickets. The venue is pretty small so they may very well be sold out by the time we are ready to buy. I hope not though because you do love the Doodlebops.
      Although you don't love the Doodlebops more than you love Spongebob Squarepants. You still love Jimmy Neutron but I do believe that Spongebob has supplanted Jimmy as your favorite animated program. Lately you have been enjoying a new game of your own invention where you assign all the people you love with the names of the characters in your favorite television show; for example, you are Spongebob, I am Patrick Starfish, Mom is Pirate, Mamaw is Squidward, Granny is Sandy Squirrel, Papaw is Mr, Crabs and Sadie is Gary the Snail. Then Mamaw & Papaw bought you a new pair of boots and then you declared that you were Boots and Mama was Dora the Explorer; I am Tico, Mamaw is Isa, Granny is Map and Papoo is the Grumpy Old Troll. You think Papoo being the troll is funny. Just today you declared that Mama is Donald Duck, you are Daisy Duck and I am Mickey Mouse. You have quite the imagination.
      I'm sure I will be able to post again before the long weekend is over so I will close this one out. Daddy loves Rebecca and Christmas!

Dear Rebecca.
                                    Hello sweetie! Right now you are sleeping in your bedroom. You 'helped' Mommy clean the house today, which means you basically got in the way a lot, but we had a big time nonetheless. You watched Spongebob and Max and Ruby on the TV for a little bit because you were getting pretty tired coming on 11:30. I fixed your lunch and took you to take a shower with me after I got a NASTY poo-poo diaper off your butt and then you jumped on the bed and flopped around while I brushed my hair and put my house dress on. I put you down for your nap after that and that is where you are now. After I finished up the housework I couldn't do while you were awake, I came in here to write you this blog.
                                    Yesterday morning you woke up at six thirty. I thought I would die when you woke up so early. You looked out the window and saw the snow on the ground. You then informed me that it was "Nowing!"- Which of course, means snowing. You would have nothing but to go outside and play in the snow, even though it was bitter cold. You don't have any mittens so I bundled you up in your clothes and your coat and I put a pair of socks on your hands. We went out front first and made snowballs on the truck and had snowball fights. Then we went out back to see what it looked like back there and we had a few more snowball fights. The snow packed really hard so once when I threw it at you you said that it hurt. I didn't throw it that hard anymore. You kept chasing me with the same snowball. You'd throw it at me as I would run and then you would pick it up and throw it again. It was lots of fun. Then we balled some snow up and made a tiny little snowman on top of your playhouse. Then we stuck a leaf on top of his head for a hat and you thought he was something else.
                                    You'd already told me you were cold twice and I decided if you said it one more time we were going in. We flopped down and made some pitiful snow angels on the ground as there wasn't that much snow to do it with. After that you said you were cold again so we came inside and you wanted to wash your hands. You said "Nowman hurt me" which meant your hands were really cold and they were very red so I let you run the warm water over them to heat them up. Then I got you snack and you snuggled under your blankey on the couch and watched a Jimmy Neutron. Then I put you down for a nap because I could tell you were SUPER tired. You went to sleep and so did I.
                                       We got up at around ten thirty and I decided to heat the oven up to bake us a pizza for lunch. When I went into the kitchen, you just couldn't resist plucking one of the ornaments off the tree. I went back into the living room to give you your cup after I turned the stove on and you knew you were busted, so you threw it. It landed on the parquet in the living room and it shattered. You got a great big old whipping from Momma and a sit-down on the couch. You were super upset and I swept up the glass and showed it to you and told you that was the whole reason you couldn't bother the tree; It's dangerous. There is glass and electricity and the thing is heavy and there are tons of things that could hurt you. If not for all that, I wouldn't care if you tore it apart. Really. Then I told you that you had lost your orange present, that Santa wasn't going to bring it to you anymore, and that set you off on another crying jig. You finally calmed down when I came and hugged you and tried to explain again that the tree was dangerous. They are just to look at; not to play with. Daddy has been letting you kiss the ornaments and I think that was a mistake from the get go. You should NEVER be that close to a lighted, decorated Christmas tree. I know you love them and I am only trying to keep you safe.
                                       You've done pretty well with it today. I caught you trying to touch it twice but you never actually made it. I told you that you will get a spanking if I see you touch the tree anymore and I mean it. Daddy said he is going to start telling you that you lose a present every time you do it, too. I know that sounds cruel but we have to think of some way to keep you from doing it. You are just too enthralled with it. I guess you can't handle it to tell you the truth.
                                       Other than that, you had a good day yesterday. You got to go out with Mamaw & Papaw and they bought you a new pair of boots. I came and picked you up after work and we went and got some chicken and ate a bit with Daddy. As I was cleaning up after supper, you ran around with a blue lid in front of your face. I asked if you were blue and you informed me that you were white. You are so very smart, kiddo. Daddy said he read something on Baby Center about a woman who's two year old had a hundred word vocabulary. I think you use a hundred words per minute. You love to talk, little girl. At the store, You also got to pick out a bottle of candy that you kept spilling everywhere so I had to take it away from you. Then you went to bed and Daddy and I watched a show about the death of Billy the Kid and went to bed ourselves. And you know what happened today, and now you are awake from your nap. Mommy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               We had a big day yesterday, you & I. First you woke up to a newly erected Christmas tree. You wanted to know, "Where presents on tree?"
      You loved the balls most of all. You kept saying how "pitty" the tree was. Then we went to church and you did not want to go to the daycare area but you ended up having a great time or that's what you told me anyway.
      We then went to the McDonald's on Nicholasville Road so you could play in the Playland area they have there. You had a big time there until a little boy terrorized you. We left and went to The Dollar General Store where you got a Precious Moments coloring book. Your Mom told me to quit buying you coloring books because you had enough. We then came home where after you had a real long nap we played blocks in the floor and you pretended I was a doggy.
      All last year you and I listened to Christmas music during your bath and we started up the Christmas music again last night. You told me that you liked Christmas tree music. I had a grand time with you yesterday.
      I would love to go into detail about everything and explain how you got a total stranger to help put your jacket on at McDonald's and all about my frantic search for decorative Santa plates at Dollar General but your Mom is due home with you at any moment. You spent the day with Mamaw and I had an appointment after work that ran long so she is picking you up tonight.
      I'll have to talk Mama into posting a blog and telling you all about the two of you playing in the first snow of the year this morning and about your spanking you got for breaking a Christmas ornament.
      Gotta go. Daddy loves Rebecca and Christmas!

Dear Rebecca,
               We all had a very busy day yesterday. First we all woke up early to get our Christmas family photos done. Our appointment was for 9:50 a.m. and your Mom had to get all of us ready so she woke up extremely early and you woke up around your usual time. I got out of bed around 8:30 or so and once we were all dressed up real pretty like we all piled into the Taurus and away we went to Portrait Innovations in Hamburg. It was absolutely crammed packed with families getting Holiday pictures done. You played with some other children on the big duplo block table they have there to entertain all of you rug rats. You had a great time. You told us you were making a train. You have been into trains lately and I really have no idea why. Our turn came exactly when it was scheduled to. I was surprised by that because usually when places are that busy there is a rather substantial wait. We posed for our family photo and then you and I had some pictures made together. Then it was your turn to have pictures made by yourself. You were so good with the photographer. You did everything she asked you to do and you smiled big for her and even told us you were having fun. Both your Mother & I were very proud of you. We then went back to waiting so they could show us the pictures they made and tell us about the packages available. You went back to playing at the block table while your Mom & I watched you. Once again we were called back up very quickly and your Mom & I went over to one of their huge computer screens to preview the photos. You stayed at the block table. Your Mom did most of the choosing because I wanted to keep an eye on you to make sure you weren't going to be bullied by some of the bigger kids. We eventually chose the $100 dollar package and the special $9.95 package which is what we always do.
      I really like Portrait Innovations because all of the photographers we have worked with out there have been very professional and also very talented, plus they never actually try to talk you into buying more than you want. They let the wonderful photos do that. The prices there are also very competitive. We started out with Olan Mills and we didn't care much for them; we tried Sears and they were okay but I thought they were kind of expensive and they charged you a sitting fee and then there was the one time when we had a picture taken of you and your half first cousin once removed, Arianna at Wal-Mart and that was an absolute disaster. The pictures came out okay but the photographer got so frustrated with you and Arianna because you were both toddlers and didn't want to do what the snotty lady told you to do.
      Portrait Innovations usually have your package printed in about an hour. That's another reason why I like that place better. However when we went in we saw a notice posted on the door that there photo printer was having some problems and that the printing time might be delayed. I decided that you & I would drive up there today and pick up the pictures.
      It was now almost 11:00 a.m. and we were all hungry. We had planned on eating at Steak & Shake because we had some coupons but we left them at the house by accident so we decided to try a restaurant we had never been to before called Qdoba Mexican Grill. It was right next to Portrait Innovations. We had to wait about five or ten minutes for the restaurant to open. We went in and you had a taco kid's meal and your Mom & I had a queso burrito and we all shared some queso and chips. It was pretty good food I suppose but the price for it was way out of whack with the quality of what we got. We won't be going back to Qdoba's again. After lunch your Mom said she was going to check and see if our pictures were done. I told her not to waste her time with it because it hadn't even been an hour and anyway the printer was acting up on them. As usual your Mom didn't listen to her dear old husband and she went back into the portrait studio while I got you loaded into your car seat. Your Mother walked out of the portrait studio with a look of absolute triumph and joy. Lo and behold our pictures were done and there they were being raised above your Mom's head in victory. She was right and I was dead wrong. For once I am glad that your Mom didn't listen to me. We were both tickled pink to get the pictures back so soon. The photographs were fabulous. Even the pictures of me were pretty darn good and I have only taken a handful of good pictures in my entire life and the majority of those were taken when I was your age.
      We then went to Wal-Mart on Nicholasville Road to pay some on our layaway. Your Mom went back to pay on the layaway while you & I went to check out the toys. You always have such a big time looking at the toys at Wal-mart. I think you love Wal-Mart as much as I do. When we told you we were going to Wal-mart you hollered out that you were "cadets; which is how you pronounce excited. I think excited is an very big word for a two year old but you use it all the time. It doesn't take much to get you excited. Anyway you told us you needed a certain toy and maybe Santa might be able to get it for you but if it's too late for him maybe your Mom & I can get it for you or maybe you'll just have to do without. We looked around the Christmas stuff and then we bought a stick of chap-stick for you, one for Mom and a bottle of gummy vitamins for you and went home.
      All of us were beat when we got home at around two in the afternoon so your Mom and I plopped you in your bed for a nap and then we both crawled into bed and we all took a two hour nap. I don't know about you but your Mom & Dad loved that two hour nap. It's so rare that we get to take us a nap in the middle of the day.
      We woke up at around four o'clock and I went down to Mamaw & Papaw's to show them the pictures and to get a ladder. I had orders not to give any pictures away just yet and to not dawdle. You stayed here with Mom and I don't know what the two of you did while I was gone. I got the ladder and went upstairs and Mamaw looked at all of the photos. She said they were real good of all of us. Your mom called to tell me to get my butt in gear and I had a cup of diet orange soda and headed on back.
      Your Mom and you were outside when I got back. You were riding your tricycle that Aunt Mary gave you for your second birthday and Mom was trimming the bushes. I reckon that's what y'all did while I was away. I didn't even go into the house; I unloaded the ladder and proceeded to begin the task of putting up our hanging Christmas lights. Papaw had went up into the attic on Friday and got all of our Christmas stuff down for us. I would have done it myself but I weigh way too much for that attic ladder. I broke Papaw's attic ladder once so I am a little hesitant about getting on another one. Maybe I'll be able to go up there next year and get the stuff down myself. We'll have to see.
      I got all of the clips put up and then I wanted to stop because by this time it was dark. Your mom said that we have lights on the outside of the house and that we were absolutely going to hang the Christmas lights. You and Mom went inside to make us some hot cocoa while I unwound the lights from the reel I had wound them up on last year. The cocoa really hit the spot because by this time it was pretty cold outside. Every single strand of those lights had about half of the bulbs out. I tried in vain to fix the strings of lights but I just couldn't make any of them work. Luckily, last year we had purchased four new boxes of lights with the intention of putting lights around the side of the house this year. We threw out the old lights and used the brand new ones. We got the lights put up and I announced that we would finish up with putting lights on the bushes at a later date and once again your mom vetoed that proclamation as well. She said we were going to finish tonight. We put the light nets on the four bushes in front of your room and the office and we put a light net over the bush at the entrance way of our porch, we draped a number of strings over the bushes in front of the living room, we put up a spiral lighted Christmas tree that we bought after Christmas last year and some lighted candy canes that we also bought after Christmas last year in front of the bushes in front of the living room. We had done it all in one night. Your Mom commented on the fact that if we hadn't had our nap none of this would have gotten done and she is 100% correct. I was actually glad to have it done. Your Mom made all of the right calls yesterday. During this whole time you played in the yard and in the garage and you let us go about our work with minimal interference. You were a very good girl all day long. I still don't know what people are talking about when they talk about terrible twos. You are two and you are a perfect little angel.
      We went inside and your Mom fixed us a simple supper of pizza rolls. We ate our pizza rolls and your Mom bathed you off and brushed your teeth just a little bit before we had our nightly Little Bear episode. We put you to bed and you didn't put up any fuss at all. After you had gone to bed your Mom and I rearranged the furniture and moved all of the toys out of the living room and then I went out to the garage to get our Christmas tree and all of our indoor decorations. We put up the Christmas tree and draped the lights over it and decorated it. We hung up the stockings and our new picture of Santa and hung our decorations in the window. We got all of that done around maybe ten o'clock last night. It looks fabulous. Last year we had the tree in the corner but this year we totally rearranged the living room a few weeks ago so we could put it in front of the window. Both your Mom and I are very proud of the tree. I can't wait for you to see it when you wake up later this morning. Next year you will be able to help us. We were afraid that you would be more interested in examining and man handling all of the delicate lights and ornaments than in actually putting up the tree. I think you are at an age where it would be more fun to wake up to a Christmas tree than to actually put one up and decorate it. I missed having my Christmas music this year though. We didn't play any because we didn't want to wake you up.
      We picked up the living room from the Christmas mess we made and then your Mom got herself some ice cream and she ate it while we sat in the living room and admired our Christmas tree. She went to bed and I went and tucked her in. I rearranged some of the pictures in the living room and ended up breaking the glass in one of them. I put a picture from each of your three Christmas photo shoots in the photo stand we have in the living room and one of me and you. I hung a few of our family photos and replaced the big 10x13 family portrait hanging in the hall with one of just you we had done yesterday. I will absolutely switch some stuff around again but I'll have to wait to see what your Mom's ideas are.
      I finished up with the pictures and came in here on the computer. I uploaded the compact disk they gave us of all of the pictures they took at Portrait Innovations onto the computer. The compact disk is another reason why I much prefer Portrait Innovations and then I started this blog. And that is what happened today.
      As usual I don't remember much about this past week. As you know my birthday was Monday and I had a fabulous birthday. It is really much too late. Your Mom works tomorrow and we have to go to church tomorrow so I had better close out this post. Daddy loves Rebecca and Christmas!

Dear Rebecca,
                     Happy Birthday to me! I'm thirty-nine today. I had a very average day at work today and then I got home and had a wonderful supper of bacon, eggs, biscuits, gravy, pork chops, hashed brown potatoes and orange juice.
      I just wanted to say post a blog on my birthday. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
I have to post this on the blogger.com website because my w.bloggar program does not want to work today. Your Mom and I went out today and did a little Christmas shopping and we purchased a new mouse for the computer for my birthday because our old one had been driving us crazy with unintentional double clicks. We also went to a nice new Chinese buffet on Nicholasville Road. Kristie then bought something for the nuns she works for. She'll be reimbursed for what she spent. Your mom and I had a real nice mini-date. You went to church this morning with Mamaw. I had promised Allison that I we all would go but I stayed up too late and overslept so I regrettably wasn't able to keep my promise to my niece and for that I feel like such a big heel.

You just woke up from your nap and are drawing on a piece of paper here in the office as we speak. Your mom is taking a nap of her own. All in all we have had a pretty good day thus far. The rest of the night should hopefully be filled with lazy relaxation.
Yesterday you got a flu shot. You did very well. When they stuck that needle in your leg you crinkled your face up like you were going to cry but you never did. You laid your head on my shoulder all the way out to the Explorer and then you were fine. We went to Burger King for lunch where you informed me you wanted a burger with lettuce and ketchup. I had a quad stacker which is a burger with four hamburger patties, four slices of cheese and lots of bacon. I also had some onion rings and a soda. After we had all of that food we decided to get some more so we stopped at Baskin Robbins and we each had a peanut butter and chocolate ice cream sundae with hot fudge. We went next door to the Dollar General Store after our ice cream and you really enjoyed checking out all of the toys and I enjoyed checking out the Christmas stuff. We bought two Christmas story books, one about Santa and another about the birth of Jesus, we bought a Christmas coloring book and I decided I wanted some crayons of my own to color Christmas pictures because all of yours are broken and worn. I wanted some nice neat crayons of my own but once we got them home you informed me that they were your crayons. I also saw a super nice set of decorative hanging plates with Santa Claus on them out there. I'm gonna go back and get a set of them very soon.

Tomorrow is my thirty-ninth birthday. I got my nice new mouse for my birthday. It's wireless. I thought it would be neat to have a wireless mouse but you have already tried to pack it off twice so I don't know if wireless was the best route to take.
All of Granny's kids had a meeting this past week and decided we would have Thanksgiving at Chris and Mike's new house on Scott's ferry. I am glad we are going to have a big Thanksgiving but I had resigned myself to a smaller Thanksgiving this year. I am pretty sure that this year will be the last extended family Thanksgiving. Like I said before, Things change and even though we may not like it the newer traditions soon become just as special as the old ones. Your Mom has to work Thanksgiving so she won't be able to eat turkey and dressing with us. I intend on fixing her a big plate and taking it out to her later that day. I hope we also have a nice big Christmas Eve extended Christmas celebration. I like the smaller family get together better on Christmas night.

You just now informed me that you had to go the potty but when we got there you had a poop in your pull-up. You are doing great with your potty training. We've kind of quit trying to actively get you trained and are just kind of taking our cues from you and I think things are going much better.

You're watching Spongebob Squarepants right now. You have gotten into Spongebob lately. You still prefer Jimmy Neutron but Spongebob is a welcome change from Jimmy all of the time. You have taken to calling yourself Spongebob and you insist that my name is Starfish and Mama is Pirate. You are such a cutey.

Well, that is all I've got for the moment. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                                       Hello my little sweetie bird. I know it has been a VERY long time since I have posted a blog, and for that I apologize. I worked a lot of extra hours last month before Halloween and then I got sick. We all got sick and we were all pretty big babies. You were the least of the big babies of the bunch. Even with the Croop and an ear infection you wanted to run and play, whereas Mommy and Daddy felt like we had been run over by a steam roller. Mostly Mommy. Daddy got Bronchitis but whatever Mommy got was "flu-like". Well, you won't be getting anything flu-like I hope because tomorrow at 12:30 Daddy is taking you to get a flu shot. We want to protect you from the outbreak of that icky virus. It can be very dangerous but mostly it just makes you feel like dirt.
                                       I want you to know I had an extra fun time with you on Halloween. Like Daddy said, once you got the jigged of it down you were ready to roll. You did a really good job trick or treating for a two year old. I think next year you will have an even bigger time. You looked super cute in your puppy dog costume.
                                       I was off work Wednesday and we spent most of the day together. We went outside after your nap and we raked leaves. Well, I raked them and you un-raked them. I spent nearly two hours raking and tossing and raking and tossing, while you had a big time jumping and throwing and jumping and throwing. You also found a great big long worm outside and named him "Wormy" like the worm you saw Patrick and Spongbob playing with on TV. You inform us frequently that you are "Pongebob" and Daddy is "Tarfish" and Mommy is a "Pirate". I don't know how you figure all that, but that's what you say and I guess what you say goes around here. At first you wouldn't touch Wormy until I did. Then you couldn't get enough of touching the big long worm and all of his tiny friends. We found them under your basketball goal when we moved it so I could get into the garage. Worms like it where it is wet. You had a big time laying there on the ground poking and prodding at the poor creatures. You kept telling me that they tickled your fingers. When we finally went around back to get the trash can to throw out the leaves. Wormy hightailed it for safety. You cried after that for a bit but then set out on a new task of looking for Wormy. You looked everywhere for your friend, on the porch, in the leaves, in the trash can, even under the car. You kept yelling "Wormy! You in Dere?"
                                          Daddy got home shortly after Wormy took off and helped you find him. He was under the concrete slab beneath the gutter. I do believe that Daddy murdered Wormy moving it. Your father is a worm murderer. He said he felt terrible but I know the truth. He frequently commits wormicide. Ha, Ha, I know you know I am only kidding.
                                          After Daddy got home on Wednesday I fixed us all a big supper of seasoned pan fried chicken tenders, macaroni & cheese, stuffing, green beans, sliced pears and kool-aid. We were all ravenous from our hard days work and ate with gusto, even you. Mommy and Daddy seem to always eat with gusto. Speaking of that, the other day when I was walking around on my knees you decided to join me. You did it for a bit and then you hopped up and informed me that it was "too fat me". Which meant that you were too fat to do it. You are a funny little Monkey sometimes and I don't know where you come up with things. The other day you told me that a toy you saw on TV was awesome and then you fixed your chair and informed me that it was perfect. You seem to pick up a new word or phrase every day and Daddy and I - and everyone are constantly entertained by your growing vocabulary and intelligence. Mamaw said you told her that you said a Santa Claus on a Motorcycle "Bow Me Way" - which meant it 'Blew you away.' All jokes aside- I am very proud of your astounding vocabulary and the ability to articulate for a two year old. You're very, very smart. And I am not just saying that because you are my daughter. I've been around a lot of two year olds and you take the cake, kiddo. Most of the two year olds I've been around barely said Boo- you learned to talk and I mean to tell you that sometimes I wish you'd learn to be quiet. When you get going you can go a mile a minute. I guess you got that honest though because Mommy is a lot like that. It bugs your father to no end that I like to talk and all he really wants to do is watch TV.
                                       Well what else. Daddy already told you that I took you out to the Halloween party at Taylor Manor. You spent the day with Mamaw and Papaw yesterday and got to ride on the tractor a lot with Papaw, or 'Papoo' as you call him. You do love to ride that tractor. You also spend the day with them today and Mamaw bought you the cutest little pink jacket. It looks very warm. It is Salmon colored and has a multicolored fleece lining in it. A lady at Daddy's work sent you two books she bought for you at the Dollar Tree and the other day at the Family Dollar I got you a piano. For you not to be getting anything else until Christmas, as was per Daddy's new rule, you sure are getting a lot of stuff lately. You are one spoiled little Monkey. Speaking of that- I call you my Pig Wig and you will inform me that you are NOT a Pig Wig. You are Daddy's Chunky Monkey. Oh. Of course. How Silly of Me.
                                        You sure do love your Daddy, little girl. Tonight I came home from work a big early and after I played with you a while in the floor and got you laughing like a mad child I decided I would cuddle up to Daddy and love on him a while. You would have none of that. You told me that he was YOUR daddy. I said why yes, he is your Daddy, but he is MY husband. You informed me that he was not my 'hutband'- Just your Daddy! And he has a Monster Belly! Oh. Once again, of course. How silly of me.
                                          I gave you your bath tonight and I enjoyed it immensely. I was glad I got to come home early enough to do it. I am not going to see you for twelve whole hours tomorrow and though that bums me out, I know that we could use the money and I also know that you would never begrudge me taking care of Mother Ellen and Sister Agnes, as you love them both very dearly and they both love you. And you all three need me. Sister Agnes jokes and said that I have two babies- her and Mother Ellen. I had to inform her that I had four - She and Mother - and You and Daddy. She got a big tickle out of that. She said to tell your Daddy that he's a henpecked husband. I think Daddy would agree with that assesment. She is a sweet lady and she sends you something whenever she can. She always sends you a piece of peppermint but I don't always give it to you because I am like Mamaw-I can't stand to hear you crunch that stuff. You love to crunch it though.
                                          Well little one. I know there are thousands more things I want to tell you but I am so tired I can't think of any of them now. I suppose I will let you go with the promise that I will do at least one more blog this month, hopefully two. I love you so much! And even though I don't get to write here as much as I used to, rest assured my days off with you are filled with fun and the mornings we have together before I go in- I cherish them. I wouldn't want to spend my time with anyone or anything else but you and Daddy. I am so happy that we have our little family. Mommy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                  This past Tuesday was Halloween. You had a fabulous time. You got lots of candy and a few good frights along the way. What more could a little girl ask for in a Halloween. You've been pretending to be frightened all week. You'll ask either your Mom or myself to scare you and we'll growl at you and you'll give out one of your cute little screams and go running to the person who growled at you and you will hug us up and pretend to shiver in fright and then you want to do it all over again. You went as a pink poodle this year as I am sure you already know. You wouldn't keep your dog head on so I told your Mom to put you in some doggy looking pig tails and to draw a nose on you. You looked absolutely frightening in your ferocious pink poodle costume. There's a picture of you in the hard copy version of this blog that will sum up perfectly how you felt about your do head on that costume. You absolutely loved Halloween which made your Mom as happy as a pig in slop because she also loves Halloween. Allison, Mamaw & Papaw came to our house to pass out candy. When we got home you wouldn't let any of us near your candy stash. You eventually decided to "share" a small piece or two with us. Earlier that day your Mom took you to Taylor Manor where she works so the two of you could attend a Halloween party there. All of the elderly residents where dressed up in costume and you thought that was the neatest thing you had ever seen.
      You didn't go to daycare any this past week. I know it's good for you to be around other kids but I know you would rather hang out with Mamaw and sometimes Granny than be away from people that really and truly love you so I wouldn't have a problem if you never went back. Anyway Mamaw is much cheaper than daycare. Next year you will more than likely be starting preschool and that's way more socialization than I ever got. I was thrown into first grade at the too early age of five with really no previous contact with any other children my own age. Needless to say I failed first grade; Not the proudest moment in my academic career.
      Lately when you don't think a piece of clothing fits you or is hard to get on you tell us that it is" too fit". You can talk extremely well but sometimes you have a little problem with certain concepts and that is perfectly fine with us because we still miss words like "fundy" for funny and "flafu" for flower. Also when you think we need a certain tool or assistance from a certain person you will suggest that, for example "stool help us". One day last week or so you spent the night down at Mamaw & Papaw's and the electric went out and you asked Papaw, "Can Santa help us?". You're talking better and better every day which is a very good thing because you are turning into quite the chatter box. One day last week as you were riding the mower with Papaw as he mowed the lawn he said you talked and sang the whole time you rode. He said he couldn't hear exactly what you were saying over the sound of the engine but he could here you jabbering away.
      We plan on going to Wal-mart tomorrow in Lawrenceburg. Tyrone bridge has been closed for the last few months but now it's back open and we want to see if the Lawrenceburg Wal-Mart is any more convenient for us than the Lexington Wal-Marts. Plus the Frankfort Wal-Mart is not to far down the road from the Lawrenceburg Wal-Mart. We'll see how it all works out tomorrow. You are excited to be going to Wal-Mart. Your Mom said it was because you are your father's daughter and I do love to go to Wal-mart as well.
      We got our Santa Claus art print in the mail this past week. I plan on putting it on the wall every year when we decorate for Christmas from now until I die and then you can take it and do the same thing with it or maybe not. If you are anything like me you will have a deep love of tradition and you will want everything to be as much the same next year as it was last year. I have to admit the Holiday traditions that I have come to know and love are changing. I don't even know if we will have an extended family Thanksgiving, let alone an extended family Christmas celebration. I do know that we will have a smaller family Christmas with Mamaw, Papaw, Auntie Lynn, Uncle Rodney, the kids and us. We have always done that. Maybe when the extended family thing goes away we can get Aunt Mary up here with the child she is pregnant with now and maybe David, the father of the child if she stays with him and you can have Christmas from both sides of the family. I know if I was you I would love that. Like I said traditions are changing but it's not all bad. We have a whole slew of brand spanking new traditions now that you have joined our little family and I am sure that over the years we will add new ones. It is a shame that you will never know some of the great traditions that I grew up with though. I remember when we used to have our extended family Christmas at Granny's house down on Lillard's Ferry Road back when Bambi Dee was still alive. I was talking to Allison who is fifteen now and she has no memory of having Christmas at Granny's house in the country or of Bambi Dee who died five years before she was born. I wish you could have all known him.
      As I mentioned in the previous blog, last week we set our clocks back an hour but I must have forgotten to tell you because you got up an hour too early. Of course I did the same thing that Monday morning.
      Well, I'm gonna let you go and watch some television. I really need to make you some picture DVDs of the thousands of pictures I have of you but I am just not motivated to do that tonight. I reckon I will wait until I get my new printer to do all of that kind of stuff. I will want to print DVD labels and I need to print out over a years worth of blog book photos. I can't believe my printer hasn't been able to print pictures for over a year. I suppose that is a testament to my new found fiscal responsibility because there was a time in my life that if my printer went down I would have been out there the next day getting a new one. Thankfully those days are over and done with. Gonna go now. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                  Halloween is only a few days away and everyone has you practicing your "Trick or Treat" style. I'm afraid that when the big time comes you will tell your potential candy benefactor to have a sniff of your feet. You are going as a pink poodle dog this year. You originally said you wanted to be a trampoline but I didn't know how we would have pulled that one off but luckily you changed your mind and told us you wanted to be a dog. I've probably already mentioned all this elsewhere in our blog. Your Mom has always been a big fan of Halloween and now that you are a little bigger it's a little more fun for me as well but it's still not anywhere near my favorite holiday. My favorite would be Christmas, of course, followed by Thanksgiving and then any holiday I get off of work for and I don't get off of work for Halloween.
      Once again the week has become a blur to me. I do remember that your Mom and I went shopping last Saturday while Allison, or Sissy as you call her, babysat for us. It had been awhile since she had spent any length of time with you so she was quite taken aback at how well and how much you talk. You are a little jabber jaw. I'm amazed at how much you know. You got a spark of static electricity tonight and you informed Mom that she shocked you and we were puzzled at how you knew the definition of the word "shocked" let alone how to use it in conversation so effortlessly. The biggest word you are using these days is the word "excited". Usually it's used in reference to the impending visit from St. Nick. I suppose we should just get over our amazement at every little thing you do or say but we are both so extremely proud of you that every time you do something new or unexpected it just sends shivers of joy through us. You are without a doubt the crowning achievement in the lives of both your Mother & myself.
      We hadn't intended on buying you any more stuff because Santa is on his way in a few months and we don't want you to get too spoiled; although I think you already are much too spoiled already. Luckily we couldn't stick to our guns on the not getting you anymore stuff. You have been desperately wanting an umbrella; I don't know why you wanted an umbrella so bad but you did. Mom asked you if you thought maybe Santa might bring you an umbrella for Christmas and you told her that it wasn't going to be Santa that brought your umbrella instead it was going to be Wal-Mart. So we saw the cutest little Disney Princess umbrella at Wal-Mart as we were shopping and we decided that we would get it for you. When we returned home you were happy to see us both as you always are but when I pulled that umbrella from behind my back your eyes lit up with the most fabulous joy that I have ever seen in my life. I don't think I will ever forget that look on your precious little face when I presented that umbrella to you. Those are the kinds of moments that make for a happy life.
      Just as your Mom was recovering from whatever she had before she came down with some new kind of bug that put her out of work for the better part of the week. She's back to work now and is trying to make up her lost hours by working all weekend. She still doesn't feel 100% though. She went to bed very early this evening, even before you went to bed. Before she went to bed I could sense the frustration she must be feeling regarding being so sick lately. Your Mom has been through a whole lot these last few months and I am sure that her immune system has suffered because of it. The two of us had fun tucking her in for the night though.
      Earlier today we both had a day of shopping. We started out around eleven o'clock this morning. We went to cabbage drugstore and bought your Mom some store brand benedryl for an allergic reaction she had to something; Poor Mommy. We took it by her work and we hung out for a little while there. You got to visit with Sister Agnes and you gave Sister Rebecca a big hug. We stopped by McDonalds and the tobacco store for a roll of Copenhagen on our way to the Home Depot in Lexington. You had a chicken McNugget happy meal and I had a Double Quarter Pounder value meal dressed up like a Big Mac from McDonalds.
      At Home Depot I finally purchased the vapor seal plastic I have been meaning to buy ever since we moved into our charming little house. I also purchased two sets of knee pads knee pads to use while we are putting the plastic down, some weed eater string, a cable face plate for the new outlet we want in the living room, a cable face plate for your room because you don't have cable in your room yet and a couple of switches for the light in the kitchen. We thought the switches were bad because the light acted so funny. It turns out that it wasn't the switches at all but instead it was a bad light bulb. Oh well, at least we have new switches and you got to play with Mamaw & Papaw when they came over to help me work on it.
      I wanted to stop by Big Lots next but we were already well on our way to Wal-Mart by the time I remembered so we skipped Big Lots. At Walmart we bought a whole bunch of canned veggies for you and some canned fruit for my lunches, a package of cheese slices, some new sippy cups, a cheap set of spoons because the spoon fairy seems to be stealing all of ours, some medicine for my cough, a few Christmas presents and that may or may not be all I bought because I just don't remember. We also paid on some layaway we have out there. I suppose you probably don't even know what layaway is because after the eighteenth of November Wal-Mart will quit offering layaway. Layaway is a method of paying for stuff over time. You go shopping and take all of your stuff you want to buy to the layaway desk and they keep it for you while you pay on it a little at a time. Your mom & I just recently discovered the joys of layaway and now they are taking it away from us.
      We came home after Wal-mart and you went down for a short nap and then Mamaw & Papaw came by to help with the switches. They left and we played in the floor and watched your absolute favorite cartoon, Jimmy Neutron until your Mom got home. As I mentioned earlier she went more or less straight to bed while we sat up and watched some more Jimmy Neutron or Jimmy Twotron as you call him. You stayed up an hour later tonight because our time changes in the morning. Everyone will get an extra hour of sleep.
      That's all I have for tonight. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                  It looks like your Mom finally got around to putting up a post. She was very busy the last few weeks. I think she worked herself ragged because now she is very sick. She probably just wore herself out. She made a nice piece of change as a result of all of her hours. Your Mother & I plan on going to Lexington tomorrow while you are babysat by Allison so we can spend all of her hard earned cash. I'm very proud of your Mom for working so many hours but I know that one of the primary reasons she is doing it is so that you will have a nice Christmas and we won't be pinched in December. She told me the other day that she really doesn't enjoy Christmas if she has to worry about financial concerns. I don't think that will be a problem this year. Fiscally, we are in the best shape of our marriage and we owe it all to your Mother and I only see it getting better because we are designing an actual budget and we intend on using it. I'm excited about it.
      Your Mom filled you in on most of the happening this past weekend in Hazard. She forgot to mention the huge rats that lived in the holler where you rode the pony. They didn't dart away like rats are supposed to do but just hung out near where all the people where standing. Your mom nearly blew a gasket and I kept super close to you in case one of those rats decided he wanted a bite of little girl. I am glad that I was raised in the relatively progressive area that we live in. You too will have much more advantages than the poor children you played with this past weekend and I hope you take those advantages for all they are worth.
      While we were in Wal-Mart your Mom purchased a Disney Princess bedroll for you. You absolutely love it. Everyone has been calling it the magic bedroll. In the past you have been reluctant to sleep anywhere else but your own home but with this bedroll we can lay you down anywhere and you are ready to slumber. We used it at Aunt Mary's and you practically ran to her bedroom to get in your bedroll; you used it at daycare and slept for almost two hours and you used it at Mamaw & Papaw's the other night and they were amazed at how easily you went down. Your mom is one smart lady.
      On the way home we stopped in Campton and got some gasoline and your Mom bought you some toots roll suckers but you didn't like them at all. You much prefer the smaller dum-dum pops. You kicked your DVD player out of its cradle and you lost that for the trip. You kept saying that you lost your favorite toy. Then you started kicking the back of your Mom's seat. She told you to quit and you told us that you were not going to quit. I promised you a spanking when we got home and I didn't let you forget about it. I gave you your spanking and we sent you to bed early without watching Little Bear which you usually watch every night before you go to bed. I know that you were tired and not feeling very good but I couldn't let you show your Mother that kind of disrespect and get away with it so you got your little bumbum in trouble. That's the biggest trouble you have ever been in. Wouldn't it be nice if you never get in any worse trouble but I am willing to bet the farm that you will one day top that minor infraction in a glorious manner.
      I was off Monday for our floating holiday. We take it in early October because most everyone likes to attend a fall festival in Mount Sterling called Court Days. I have never been and really don't plan on ever going. Instead you and I went and visited with Granny while your Mom worked.
      You have been quite sick your self. I think it was Wednesday or Thursday that you were as cranky as I have ever seen you. We decided to take you to the doctor. We got an appointment right away. We stopped by K-Mart on the way up there to fill some of your Mom's prescriptions, she went to the doctor too, and I purchased a Bob the Builder coloring book and some crayons for you. That seemed to quieten you down a little bit. We got to the doctor and you enjoyed looking at the fish tank in the waiting room while we waited to be called back. The doctor said you had an ear infection and the croup. He gave you a dose of steroids for your vocal cords and two prescriptions. After the doctor we stopped off at McDonald's for supper because it was getting kind of late. You wanted a milkshake and since you were a poor sick child as well as spoiled rotten you got one. Your mom went back to K-Mart and filled your prescriptions and bought you a couple of surprises while you and I played in the backyard. Mom brought you back a huge bag of dum-dum pops and some toy finger rings; like I said you are one spoiled little princess.
      As you know, Daddy dips Copenhagen smokeless tobacco. The other day you announced that you had some dip as well. You were carrying the little compass that came in your Dora the Explorer backpack that Aunt Mary got you for Christmas last year and you pretended to get yourself a big old pinch and stuff it in your lip. Your Mom and I both thought that was extremely funny. I know you will never take up my bad habit because girls just simply do not dip, at least not around here. If you had been pretending to smoke a cigarette then we would have had a different take on your game of pretend. Your Mom used to smoke, you know. She smoked Newports and Marlboro Menthols. I am so glad she quit. I don't think you would have been nearly as healthy as you are now if she had have kept on smoking. Never ever start smoking. Nothing looks as tacky as a female puffing on a cigarette.
      Well, I am going to close out this here blog post. I wanna watch some boob tube before bed. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                           Hello my little sweetie bird. I know it has been a long time since I posted a blog to you. Mommy worked over a hundred and six hours over the last two weeks and I have been very busy with work, the house, Daddy and you. I am sorry that it's taken me so long to write.
      You are the sweetest little baby. But sometimes, when you are tired, you get yourself in trouble. This weekend Mommy had off and we went to Hazard. We were going down to visit Aunt Mary and Papoo Lawrence, or Wawence, as you call him. Mamaw and Papaw followed us down there with you in their car so Mommy could learn her way to Hazard if and when she needed to go.
      We all stopped for breakfast at Golden Corral first and then we were on our way. When we got down there we all went to Aunt Mary's and sat around and talked. Then Mary called her boyfriend and her boyfriend said he had a baby pony you could ride. We all went up to David's house to watch you ride the pony and then of course so we could prove to Mamaw that people still lived like crazy hillbillies in certain parts of Eastern Kentucky. I think your poor old Mamaw was rather horrified at the conditions in which the people, let alone the pony, lived. You did have fun seeing the chickens and watching them 'spar' the roosters - what a horrible and inhumane thing to do, but at least they were sparring and not fighting. Fighting would have killed them. And you had fun riding the pony, You were extremely good and after that we went to Magic Mart to poke around where everyone found a few things but not a lot because it isn't Christmas time yet. Then we went to Wal-Mart in Hazard and everyone there agrees that the Wal-Mart in Hazard is a really great one. We got bananas on sale for twenty five cents a pound 'down yonder'. Listen to Mama, you'd think I grew up in Eastern KY or something.
      After the Wal-Mart trip we went to Burger King for supper and then we went back to Aunt Marys and watched Jimmy Neutron for a while. While we were at Wal-Mart I bought you a Disney princess bedroll, which is kind of like a sleeping bag without zippers. It also had a nice round pillow included. We told you that you got to sleep on the bedroll on Mary's bed that night and when it was time to turn off the TV and go to bed you hopped right up and went to sleep easier than I have ever seen you do it before, even at home. You really like your new bedroll.'
      You and Mary slept together and Daddy and I tried to sleep in the living room but he couldn't get comfy in the chair so I gave him the couch and then I couldn't get comfy in the chair so I joined you and Mary in the bedroom. You slept well but I didn't have much luck because I didn't go to sleep BEFORE Mary put the dang space heater on and make so much noise kicking off and on in her room. You rolled all over the bed and all over us but slept well nonetheless.
      The next morning I took you to Daddy and he and Papaw Lawrence took care of you while I tried to get some more sleep. I couldn't particularly fall asleep because of the dang space heater once again and so I got on up and we got dressed and set out to go see people. We saw my great niece Melissa, whom we call Tweety, and her stepdaughter because the other girls were at church. We tried to go see your Aunt Carolyn but she was at church with them. Then we went down the hill to my other niece's Mother In Law's trailer and saw her two kids, Arianna and Eric. Arianna is your age and Eric is brand new, only four months. He is a sweet little thing and you and Arianna have always gotten along except you don't usually have enough time to warm up to each other. Then we went and saw my other niece, their mother, Marietta, whom we call Smurf, at her work. We also saw some really sweet mentally challenged people she works with. Then we went home to Aunt Mary's where Aunt Mary made us Spaghetti and garlic bread with salad and broccoli and cheese and then we visited with Papoo Lawrence a bit and got on the road. All in all we had a nice time.
      When we first got in the car you informed us you wanted a bunny foo foo song so I sang it to you, You were being very pleasant and happy. Then you started to get sleepy and started kicking your dvd player and case. When Daddy took those away, you started kicking my chair. I repeatedly asked you to stop and you then informed me that you weren't going to stop. That made Daddy very angry and he tapped your leg. He told you to apologize to me and you said you weren't going to tell me sorry. That's when Daddy decided you would get a worse whipping at the house and go straight to bed after your bath with no Little Bear. You tried to turn it around on Daddy and make the impending spanking threat a game but he would have none of it. You indeed got your spanking when you got home and cried very hard. Then you got a hug from me and from Daddy both and then got a fun shower and sure enough, bed with no Little Bear.
      You were just tired but that is no reason to talk back to your mother. Now that you are two you are going to start having age appropriate consequences for your actions. One day when you read this this statement will stick out in your mind: You choose the behavior, and you choose the consequences. It's all up to you. Good behavior has good consequences, and bad behavior has bad ones. I know that mostly you will choose the good, however. And remember - no matter what choices you make, I will always love you, Rebecca.

Dear Rebecca,
               I think that maybe we have jumped the gun, or rather, I have jumped the gun in getting you all excited about the impending visit from good old Saint Nick. You have been talking about it for days now. When I asked you what you wanted Santa to bring you you told me you wanted three presents, green ones and you later told Mom you also wanted a blue one and a yellow one. We'll have to pass that information on to Santa. When Mamaw asked you what you wanted her to get you for Christmas you put her in her place right away and told her that she wasn't going to be bringing your presents, Santa was. When you play with your shaving cream in the bath you give yourself a nice white beard and declare that you are Santa. I do enjoy the Christmas season and it looks like you will be following in the footsteps of your old man. Your Mother is a huge fan of Halloween and we really should be getting you excited about that but Halloween hasn't really ever been one of my favorite holidays. I've always thought that the only thing good about Halloween was the fact that when it was over the Christmas stuff starts to hit the stores. Of course it's really a whole new ball of wax now that I have you and get to see you dressed up in your Halloween garb.
      Your Mom has the next two days off and we are leaving for Hazzard later this morning. Mom is driving this time because she has never done it and she wants to know how to do it in case Aunt Mary needs her with her pregnancy. Mamaw & Papaw will be going down with us; as a matter of fact you will be riding down with them in Papaw's little blue Corolla while your Mom & I drive down in the Explorer. We're all going to stop somewhere and have breakfast on the way down there. Mamaw & Papaw are returning later this evening while we are going to be spending the night.
      Your Mom is really looking forward to our trip. She deserves a nice little break after having worked a hundred plus hour the past two weeks when she thought she was being hired for eighteen hours per week. Your Mom works hard to make sure you and I can have everything we need and some stuff we want. You have a very good Mommy and I have a very good wife. We're both so very lucky.
      You went to work with your Mom yesterday morning and slept in Mother Ellen's bed while she and your Mom sat outside in the hall. All the nuns were really glad to see you. You stayed out there until ten or eleven o'clock and then Mamaw came and got you. Y'all went over to Granny's house and I was told that you sat in Granny's lap for a long time and the two of you colored pictures.
      Well, it's getting late and while I don't have to get up as early as I usually do I still have to get up earlier than I want to so I had better close this post out. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                  Your Mama is smack in the middle of her marathon work stretch. She's worked the last nine days straight and she has four more to go but they will be ten and twelve hour days. She took off early Wednesday afternoon to go to the doctor but that is the only break she has had. She's very tired and not feeling very well, Aunt Flow is visiting her currently, but she is holding up surprisingly well.
      What did we do this past week? Well, Sunday night I think it was you told your Mom you wanted to sleep on Daddy's chest instead of going to bed and for some reason we agreed to let you do just that. You fell sound asleep on my chest and I sat in the dark for an hour just watching you sleep. It was a pretty special time for me. I loved it more than you will ever know.
      Wednesday you and Mama came to work and picked me up so we could all go to the Cracker Barrel. You were very tired and didn't act like your angelic self at all. I think from now on whenever we take you out with us we will only eat at Cici's and McDonald's. As a matter of fact you told us you wanted to go to McDonald's as we drove to Cracker Barrel. We should have listened.
      I now a lot of great stuff happened this week but I can't recall anymore of them at all right now. I had such big plans for a great big long blog this morning but I don't suppose that is to be.
      Granny went into the hospital this week. At first it was believed that she had pneumonia but it turned out to be a milder respiratory disorder but it would have become pneumonia if she hadn't have gotten to the hospital when she did. I was kind of nervous there for a little while.
      Yesterday was Papaw's birthday. and you helped him blow out his candle on his cake four or five times. You do love to blow out birthday candles.
      You are doing great with the potty. You can peepee in the potty whenever you are asked but you still are having trouble going poopoo but you will get there in your own time and that will be good enough for your Mom and myself.
      Well, I am closing out this post. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                  Well, at least I got to put up a midweek post this week. I had to miss work to do it but I got it done. Once again not a very exciting week here at the old Lanham homestead, which is just the way I like it. I have no idea what happened Monday. I know you were sick Tuesday. You still are feeling a little crummy but you aren't nearly as bad as you were. Last night you woke up coughing your sweet little head off though. We watched an episode of Jimmy Neutron and then I put you back to bed.
      Thursday, I think it was, you got to go to Harrodsburg to visit Mamaw Blanche with Mamaw. She had only seen you once before. I can not imagine having a great grand child like you and not seeing her at every opportunity. Mamaw said that you seemed to like Mamaw Blanche but she will never be able to put up any competition to how you feel about your other surviving great grandparent, Granny. You love that old lady so very much. Whenever you are visiting Granny with Mamaw or any of us you love nothing better than to help Granny get around on her walker. She will be moving along slowly on her walker and you inform us all that you are going to help Granny and you start to pull on Granny's walker. Sometimes you get to moving a little too fast for Granny. Mamaw told me about one time when you were "helping" Granny go from the bathroom back to her chair. Mamaw said you ran over and grabbed onto the front of Granny's walker and then Mamaw turned around. She said when she turned back you were pulling the walker across the floor but Granny wasn't with it. She looked into the doorway of the bathroom and there Granny stood. You had went off and left Granny behind. I remember one time when Mamaw went and got Long John Silver's for us all and you sat right up one Granny's chair and the two of you shared your food together. I'm so glad that you love Granny so much because I love her just as much. When I was growing up down on Lillard's Ferry Granny and Bambi Dee lived right next door for my entire childhood. Granny was like a second mother to me. I will always cherish my memories of growing up so close to my grandparents. I hope you are able to have memories of Granny.
      I wish you could have known Bambi Dee, as I called my grandfather. He was such a fun, knowledgable and tough old man. He would have loved you to death. His hobby was raising goats. Stinky old goats. I had lots of fun playing with the baby goats. He passed away when I was a senior in high school. Up to this present time he is the only person who I have ever been really close to to have passed away. I have been extremely lucky in that regard.
      Friday after I got off from work your Mom called me and told me that we all had to go to Lexington to pay on our price hold for the dresser drawers to match our new bedroom suite and to pay on your layaway at Wal-Mart. I got home and you were with Mamaw so I waited for you to get home. After you got home you and I headed on up to Lexington by ourselves. We stopped at Wendy's and I got us both a soda and you a small order of fries. We paid on the price hold at Value City Furniture, got you a vanilla frozen custard shake from Culver's next to Value City in Hamburg, stopped at Burger King where I got myself a triple whopper meal and then we went to Wal-Mart to get out your layaway. They wouldn't let me have the layaway because it was in your Mom's name. I called your Mom at work and since she was just getting off work she drove up to Wal-Mart and got the layaway out herself. We also got you two turtle necks and looked at all of the toys. We saw a whole bunch of the toys that Santa Claus intends on bringing you this Christmas. Then we all headed for the house. Your Mom stopped off on the way home at McDonald's for supper because she hadn't ate yet. We got you home and dropped you into bed.
      Your Mom started her killer work schedule Thursday. She worked from seven to seven yesterday and she has to do it again this morning and she is scheduled like that for a lot of the next two weeks so she may not be able to post here on the blog for the next little bit. All of that extra money will come in handy though because of all of the doctor bills we have, upcoming auto insurance and of course Christmas shopping. We are really going to try to be as frugal as possible this year. Santa Claus takes donations from parents with well behaved children and we plan on donating around three hundred dollars to the jolly fat man this year. That eats up a huge chunk of our gift giving budget so everyone else will just have to settle for less than they are used to getting from the jolly fat mean known as your Daddy this Christmas.
      Well, I have to get up with you in the morning so I had better close out this blog because I would really like to watch some television. As always, Daddy loves Rebecca!