Dear Becca & Grant,
            This is the post that I have been dreading for the longest time. Yesterday morning, July 5^th, our beloved Granny, Annetta Robinson went to claim her reward with Jesus. I've known and loved Granny all of my life. I love her like the two of you love your dear Mamaw. It's a truly sad time for all of us. Granny is now enjoying the vast treasures she most assuredly amassed in heaven. Catching up with her Mom & Dad who are my own Mamaw & Papaw, her first husband Harry Bowman, her second husband who was the man named Bambi Dee in the stories I relate to y'all on occasion, and all of her brothers and sisters who have one on ahead of her.
      Becca, we haven't told you yet that Granny has passed. We thought we would do it after you get up later this morning. I don't know if you're really truly going to understand that you will never see your Granny Grunt, as you call her ever again. I know it would break my heart if you was to ask to go see Granny. I truly do hope you are able to remember your dear old Granny. She dearly loved you. I know for a fact that toward the end of her earthly journey you were the light of her life.
      Grant, I really feel sorry for you because you will never know the sweetest woman God ever deemed fit to put upon this earth. I have never heard her mention a negative word about anyone ever. You will no doubt hear wonderful stories about this saint we refer to as Granny and you will wonder if ever a creature so gentle and kind could ever have existed. I want you to know that she was every bit as wonderful as the stories you hear reflect.
      To write about your birthday party seems kind of frivolous in light of Granny passing yesterday but you did indeed have a little party the day before Granny passed so I will fill you in on some of the events of that party. You and I left early for Mamaw & Papaw's to give your Mom a chance to bake a birthday cake for you and one for Jacob. Jacob's birthday is very close to yours so we have been celebrating them together. You and I swam for a little while but you haven't been feeling all that well since you went to the dentist. It seems that while your mouth was numb you ended up chewing on your tongue and it is hurting you something fierce. You crawled out of the pool and played with Jake & Jon for awhile. You helped me shuck some corn for the party and then we watched as Papaw boiled the corn in his big turkey fryer down in his garage. Sissy came up the hill and you asked her to swim with you so she did. You swam awhile longer while I loaded up your piñata with candy. Mom came with the cakes and Papaw began to grill the hot dogs. As he did it began to sprinkle a little. Auntie Lynn and I moved the table with all of the food to the garage in front of the house. We all gathered in there as it began to pour the rain; so much for a pool party. As we were getting ready to eat Mamaw received a phone call from Mike stating that Granny was coughing up blood. Mamaw became very upset and Mamaw & Papaw headed up to Granny's. We all stayed at the party. We ate hot dogs and all of the things that go with it on the 4th of July. You sat right in front of Uncle Rodney and ate. You have such a toddler crush on your Uncle Rodney. All Auntie Lynn has to say about it is that you have great taste in men and I have to agree. If you wind up with a fellow anything like Uncle Rodney I will be happy. Eventually Mamaw & Papaw returned. It was thought that it was an old ulcer bleeding and not life threatening at the moment. I am glad she didn't pass on the 4th because that would have cast a shadow over the holiday for a long long time. Mamaw & Papaw ate while everyone sat around and waited.
      Eventually they finished and it was time to beat the living snot out of your Dora the Explorer piñata. You beat and beat that thing but nothing happened. Eventually you enlisted the aid of Jake & Jon who were all too happy to help you whack away at poor Dora. Papaw had hung Dora from the garage door and as y'all were beating her she decided it was time to get away. The garage door slammed shut and took Dora with it. It was initially kind of scary but funny afterward. Y'all eventually got the piñata open and all of her candy spilled onto the floor. You really enjoyed your piñata.
      Now it was time for presents. Auntie Lynn & Uncle Rodney got you some cute outfits. Sissy got you a christian toddler book. Mamaw & Papaw got you one of those balls with a handle that you jump with, Jon & Jake got you a toy golf set, Auntie Mary sent you some more side walk chalk and your Mom & Dad got you a little pink scooter, a new helmet for when you ride your scooter or your tricycle or whatever, a Disney princess baseball and bat, and an electric scooter. I think you had a pretty great birthday party as far as your presents are concerned. You played golf with the boys for the longest time. We saw a frog hopping along and I picked him up and you touched him. I didn't think you would but you did. I was so proud of my fearless little girl. On the way home I asked you what your favorite part of the party was and you said that playing golf with Jake & Jon was your favorite. Your Mom has noticed that when you are with a bunch of kids you would much rather play with the boys of the group and we attribute that to the fact that your primary playmates since birth have been Jake & Jon. You do love them silly boys.
      When we got home we watched the fireworks as we drove through the neighborhood. When we got home you didn't want to stay outside because all of the noise of the fireworks kind of frightened you and I was so proud of my frightened little girl. You heard a rocket go off and you told us you heard a scary bird. We went inside and Mom opened the shades and the two of you watched fireworks from the safety of the sofa while I went to bed because I had to be at work early the next morning.
      Work was incredibly crappy after I found out about Granny. You and your Mom picked me up because she had a doctor's appointment close to where I work. I walked into the cafeteria and there you were bouncing on the ball Mamaw & Papaw got for you. That was your favorite gift of your birthday I do believe. We went to Mom's doctor and you and I stayed out in the waiting area where you looked at fish in an aquarium and told the office workers all about your birthday party. You informed me you wanted to go back to the aquarium and see a shark. You were referring to the Newport Aquarium and I want to go back as well because I think sharks are cool too.
      We then planned on going to CiCi's but I knew the only reason you wanted to go was to play and I knew you would have more fun at the McDonald's Playland so we went there instead. You did indeed have a wonderful time.
      Well, that's my post for today. By the way, today is your Mom & Dad's 9th Wedding anniversary. Your Mom has another doctor's appointment tomorrow and since I am off work for bereavement leave due to Granny's passing I am going with y'all. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Rebecca,
          Happy birthday. You are the big THREE YEARS OLD today! Yayyyyyyy. Mommy's heart breaks that you are growing so very fast. Just the other day we were watching videos of you as a baby and I must say, you are a big girl now. But, you will ALWAYS be my baby girl.
     We're having your party at Mamaw's tomorrow. Jake is having his with you and I believe that you two will have a grand old time. There's going to be tons of things to do tomorrow and I just know you'll get yourself all worn out. I am up so early because I thought I'd get up, have some coffee, and get a little housework done before anyone started stirring. Plus I want to make you some kind of special breakfast for your birthday (something you wouldn't normally get!) and then I thought we might get dressed and go see Rattatouille. I don't know if that's how you spell it or not. There are all kinds of fun things we can do together today, even if it's just going out in the backyard and swimming, spraying each other down with the waterhose - YOU GOT ME GOOD YESTERDAY! We were playing with the hose outside and I was spraying you and you asked, "Mommy, can you play with me?" Of course I said yes, and of course at that very time you SPRAYED ME! You were laughing and giggling so hard that I let you keep doing it. Then we had Daddy go in and get us a towel and some shampoo and you took your shower outside. You thought it was indeed, big fun.
     You had a dentist appointment yesterday. I must say you did suprisingly well - for not even being three yet. Your dentist and your hygenist were both named Rebecca. You thought that was funny. They gave you laughing gas and you did very well with it, however it did make you a bit fidgety. You kept playing with your feet, rolling from side to side on the tabe, and taking your shoes off. You let them do all the work they had to on your mouth, but when they tried to put the big ring around your tooth with a green rubber blocker to take the taste away, you pitched a bit of a fit. They took it off and you calmed back down and let them finish fixing your tooth. You are one amazing little girl. And because it was so close to your birthday, you got TWO prizes.
     When we got done at the dentist, you stumbled onto the Elevator and were quite disoriented for a bit. It was a little funny but no so much because I knew it would soon wear off and you would be hurting. Sure enough, shortly after we got in the truck you started to fuss. You bit your tongue while it was numb and rubbed the skin off of it, so you really weren't able to eat much of anything yesterday. Except we took you to chinese and let you have all the ice cream you could eat. You also had a bowl of Wanton soup with your ever-requested chopsticks. When we got there you asked me where the Chinese music was. You are SO FUNNY!
     After Chinese we stopped at Kroger and got some things for your birthday party. Hot Dogs, Chips, Corn on the cob, Chili. etc. It's going to shape up to be a big fun day fior you, I hope. I just hope Mamaw can get everything worked out with her brothers and sisters so she can be there for most of the day. Well, little girl, I better utilize my time now that my coffee is gone. Remember, MOIMMY LOVES REBECCA! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!! (Insert balloons here)

Dear Becca & Grant,
            Becca, today you and I went swimming. We spent almost three and a half hours in Mamaw's pool despite the fact that there was really no sun out and the wind kept blowing. I wasn't really feeling like going anywhere and had been hoping that Daddy would take you to get your energy out instead. I popped another vein in my stomach early this morning and it was really hurting. Daddy was not done sleeping, however, and it was nearly noon and you were ready to go. We were going to go to Falling Springs and let you swim for a while there but you decided Mamaw's would be better, and you were right. I just thought maybe you'd like to play with the kids at Falling Springs because I knew Jacob & Jon would be gone to baseball today but it all worked out in the end.
We had a big time in the pool. Mamaw sat and watched us play for the longest time. Papaw came and watched us play, too. You rode around on me in the pool and we played all kinds of fun games. We raced and you won two out of three times. You're really a good swimmer. You are getting better and better every time we go.
    I was posting this blog and you came in here and decided that you were going to get up in my lap and look at 'talking pictures'. We looked at a ton of movies of you when you were a tiny little baby and on up. You were such a sweet, happy, cute little baby. Now you are such a mean, bratty, cute little toddler. No, really, you are not that bad. You are a sweet girl.
    I reckon Granny is still hanging on. Your Granny is one strong lady.She is one of the best people I have ever known. I am really glad that she got to be my Grandma for a while. You are lucky that you got to know her, little girl. She loves you dearly.
    Daddy just gave you the crappy toy from your old Lunchable. It is rinky dinky. You like it, though, so that's all that matters. You have a dentist appointment tomorrow, I hope that you do well enough to get all your teeth fixed with just the Gas. I really hate that you have to get any cavities filled at all. But we're taking care of that, now. We brush and floss your teeth every morning and every evening. And you no longer have chocolate milk at bedtime, only water. You've done just fine without it, too.
    Well, I am going to go and watch King Of The Hill with you and Daddy. Grant, it won't be long until you're here, and I can't wait to see your precious face. Remember, Mommy loves Rebecca and Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
            Granny is still with us but barely. She was taken to the hospital about the middle of last week and against the better judgment of the majority of the brothers & sisters Donny decided to authorize a blood transfusion. There's a lot of tension and differing outlooks on how best to care for Granny at this point. Even though I have absolutely no say in how things will be I most definitely have an opinion about how things should be done. I know that Granny has fulfilled her plan that God had for her. She's always been one of the most Godly women I have ever known. Her race has been run and now it's time for her to claim her reward in heaven. She needs to be allowed to pass pain free with dignity and honor. Granny will pass at any moment.
      Becca, Granny is at a point now where she can no longer respond to any of us. The last time she smiled was when you and I were playing a game you called "upside down Granny kisses" where I would hang you upside down over top of Granny and I would lower you down so that you could give her a big kiss. Grant, I have made sure that when her obituary is published that even though you have not been born yet you will be included in the list of great grandchildren. I thought that was important.
      I know it's been awhile since your Mom or I have posted here but I am sure you will understand that with Granny being in the condition that she is in we really don't have the time. Last Saturday evening your Mom and I went out and bought you a few items for your birthday. Allison watched you while we were gone. Allison is such a sweet girl. If you turn out even a little like her then your Mom & I will be happy. Sure, Allison has her teen girl moments where she loses her mind but I know that is simply what teen girls do.
      This past week you have come off with some really cute sayings. The other day in Granny's bedroom Mamaw was talking to you about Granny. She told you that Granny would soon be going to heaven to be with Jesus. You looked at her and with a knowing look in your eyes you said "That's all right Mamaw; we're going there next week". We all needed a laugh at that moment and you came through for us.
      Thursday or Friday Mom was getting you dressed and you got a case of the hiccups. You told your Mom you needed some water. As she dressed you she asked if you knew what was happening when you hiccuped. She told you that when you hiccup that means you are growing. You thought about that a moment and then informed her that you didn't need any water; you wanted to grow big so you could play soccer and be on a soccer team.
      I'm really tired so I am going to go to bed. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
               I'm over here at Granny's. The boys are hanging over my shoulder wanting to know if they can play with this laptop. They want to play the Sims. I feel bad for the boys. The tension over here is thick because Granny is at her sickest.
      Jacob just informed me that it's not The Sims; it's The Sims 2. He said he didn't want you to think that we were second class citizens. Jon wants me to include his name in this blog so let me just say that Jon is every bit as annoying as Jacob, maybe more so.
      Anyway, Granny is at her lowest point. Everyone is stressed out and on edge. Poor Jacob & Jon have the boundless energy of two active boys and they want to be active and talkative. They are gone now.
      Mamaw just came in here and said that Granny's kidneys have stopped working all together. She said that her catheter tube is totally empty and that there should be at least a small amount of urine in it. Auntie Lynn told her she needs to empty out the bag and keep an eye on it. I really don't think Granny has much time left in this world. She'll soon be going home to be with Jesus. I feel that at this point that would probably be the best thing. Granny has lost the ability to speak. She hasn't been mobile for quite some time but now she is totally bedridden. She hasn't been eaten or drank anything in days. I would hate to lose Granny but we should all think about what would be the best for her and in my opinion seeing Jesus and walking on the streets of gold is much better than lying in there waiting to pass.
      Today's news isn't all bad. As you may or may not have known, Allison turned sixteen Sunday. She went to take her permit test today and she passed it with flying colors. She's already driven quite a bit today. Auntie Lynn says that she has a habit of accelerating into a turn. Papaw is going to teach her how to drive. I feel for Allison because Papaw taught me how to drive and I wouldn't wish that on anybody. Mamaw says that when Granny rode with me while Papaw was teaching me how to drive that she felt so sorry for me because Papaw can be such a bear.
      The past few days you have been complaining about your teeth hurting. Your Mom thought that you had one final set of back molars coming in but she scheduled you an appointment with the dentist anyway and it sure is a good thing that she did because as it turned out, you have three cavities. The problem is all your Mom & Dad's. Since you were able to hold onto a bottle or sippy cup we have been putting you to bed with chocolate milk and occasionally juice. I told your Mom a long time ago that letting you sleep with a sippy cup with sugary contents was bad for your teeth but she told me that you needed the calories. Tonight will be the first time you will not get your nightly chocolate milk and I don't look forward to that at all.
      You have two appointments scheduled. The day before your third birthday you have an appointment with the dentist and they will attempt to fill your teeth while you are on laughing gas. Your Mom said that you did very good while you were getting your teeth examined. You did everything they asked you to do and it didn't bother you at all when they were inside your mouth. Your Mom said that one of the dental staff commented on how mature you were to be a two year old. They seem to think that it might be possible to fill your teeth using the laughing gas but if they can't then you will go back a second time and you will be put under and they will fill your cavities that way.
      Well, I'm gonna close out this blog post. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
                  You did indeed have a very big week last week, Becca. Like your Mom said, we all went to the Woodford County Fair on Tuesday. I really didn't want to go. Since I have been an adult I have hated the fair. I just can't stand carnies. They are usually rude and low class people. I also doubted there would be enough attractions there for a little toddler like yourself. Your Mom got you all excited about going to the fair and of course I couldn't deny you. We went and actually we had a pretty good time. The carnies were indeed as rude and as low class as I had feared but you had a grand time and your Mom & I had just as grand a time watching you. We got there and discovered that they had quite a number of rides there for you. You started out riding the motorcycle ride. We then found a semi-truck ride, a train ride, a helicopter ride, a carousel, a dragon ride which was actually like a tea cup ride only with dragons instead of tea cups and the big bouncing castle. Like your Mom mentioned, we all shared a funnel cake and a soda. We only took $40 with us because everything at the fair is so expensive and we knew that if we had more cash we would have spent it. We payed for you to play the sledge hammer game where kids always win and that is where you won your inflatable baseball bat and you played a game where you picked a boat out of a pool of water and you won your horn on that game.
      You spent so much time in the bouncy castle and while your Mom & I watched you I thought about how county fairs and the fun we were all experiencing is such an All-American activity and I just drank in the experience of accompanying my little growing family to our local county fair. After we finally drug you out of the bouncy castle we decided to try you out on the ferris wheel. Mom couldn't ride it with you because she is pregnant so I climbed into the gondola with you. We moved up into the air and then we stopped while they loaded the next gondola. You wanted to look down to see your Mom so you leaned forward and I became petrified. As you may know, I am not too fond of heights. I was holding onto you so tight because I was afraid you would fall out. You kept taking my hand away because you just didn't want to be held so tight. You didn't have any problem at all with the heights of the ferris wheel; I on the other hand was a nervous wreck for two hours after we got down. You rode the motorcycle ride one last time and then we left the fair. You didn't want to leave but it was getting late. We stopped by Dairy Queen for an ice cream and then we went home and we all went straight to bed.
      The next day, as your Mom said you saw Surf's Up and then you and Mom went down to Mamaw & Papaw's and swam all day long. I stayed here at the house for the day so I could relax a little bit.
      Thursday I joined you down at Mamaw & Papaw's for some swim time. We all had loads of fun swimming, eating popcorn and pizza and playing with Jake & Jon. We got home late so we all went to bed right away.
      Friday I got home from work and your Mom wasn't feeling too well so we let her take a nap while you and I played out back in your little pool. We had lots of fun; not as much as we have at Mamaw & Papaw's but we still had some fun. We came inside and I fixed you some supper. You had a chicken patty with ketchup, green beans, a big pretzel stick and a diet pepsi. We then just hung around the house until you went to bed.
      Saturday we once again went down to Mamaw & Papaw's. This time we went down there to celebrate Allison's sweet sixteen birthday and Father's Day. Both events aren't until tomorrow but we all figured that we would all have a better time if we could relax and enjoy the day and a late night in the pool if none of us had to work the next day. You and I went down together while your Mom stayed at the house so she could go pick up some cakes she was having made at Kroger. We had a grand time. Finally it was time to eat. We had hot dogs, mac & cheese, chips, baked beans, pea salad and for dessert we had cake and ice cream. By then it was getting dark but you and I and the boys got back in the pool. Mom, Allison, Jacob, Jon, Uncle Rodney and Auntie Lynn joined us. We swam until almost eleven O'clock. You eventually climbed out of the pool and told us you wanted to go home. That was a first. You are usually the one to get mad when we leave but this time you are the one who told us that it was time for us to go. You were so very tired. We got home and you and Mom took a shower together and then you went straight to bed without one complaint.
      That was our week. It was an unusually busy week for all of us but we all had lots of fun.
      It seems you have taken up cussing. The other day you dropped your cup and said "Dummit!"
      Your Mom says that I say the real word all of the time and I suppose I do but it just doesn't register with me. You only rarely say Dummit, usually you use the word Crap. You got that from Jon. You are a huge Jon & Jakey Hoard fan. You will follow Jon around and try to do everything he does even if you get hurt in the process. One day this week he took a flying leap off of the stairs on Papaw's deck and you followed right behind him. You cleared the stairs but you fell back and hit your tail on the bottom stair and you cried big time.
      Grant, there's still not a whole lot I can say to you just yet because we haven't got to spend any time together yet like you and your Mom. I am anxiously awaiting your arrival. I am so excited. I was in awe of the fact that I was going to be a dad when Rebecca was born and now I am even more in awe that I am going to have two when I truly thought I wouldn't have any at all. I can't wait to refer to you and Becca as "My kids". I know it's such a small thing but it will be so cool. I know I am going to love you every bit as much as your sister but not one iota more. Ya know, when I first found out that we were having another one I felt guilty because I thought there is no way that I can love another child as much as I love Becca and a good dad isn't like that. But as your arrival draws ever nearer and I can see the evidence of your existence in your Mom's tummy and the rare occasion when I am able to feel you kick I have come to realize that I will love you every bit as much as I love your sister.
      It's time to close out this blog. I gotta go to bed. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Rebecca & Grant,
               We've had a big week. Tuesday night we went to the fair, Rebecca, and you rode every kiddie ride they had, twice. You bounced in their big bouncer thing three times for at least half an hour total. I told Dan we could have went down and got on the trampoline and saved twenty four dollars. But, you had an ever loving ball riding the motorcycles, helicopters, trains, trucks, and carousel. I rode the carousel with you twice. We shared a funnel cake and watched some clog dancers and you attempted to mimick every move they made. You won two games and got two dinky prizes of an inflatable baseball bat and a toy horn. You haven't quit 'playing' that toy horn since you got it. It sounds more like a child screaming.
               Wednesday we went down to Mamaw and Papaw's and stayed all day. You swam like the little fishy you are, rarely getting out of the pool to do anything. We came home late and had supper with Daddy and then it was into the bath and off to bed with you. You do a good job in that swimming pool. I've never seen a child so little be so unafraid of anything and everything. You and Jacob & Jon started this thing where you will stack up on each other three high and fall over. You think that is big fun. It scares me half to death but I let you do it because I am a bit of a stick in the mud anyway I guess.
               Thursday we got up and went and saw an early showing of Surf's Up. You did extremely well in the movie but I think you were bored throughout. We were watching a preview of a movie called "Underdog" where this dog is exposed to radioactive chemicals and gains the ability to fly and talk, etc. You piped up after the preview and said "Hey Wait A Minute, DOGS DON'T TALK! They bark!" That cracked the man who had his three little boys in front of us up. He told you that you were right, that's what they do. You liked Shrek the Third much, much better. You even told me once you were bored and you didn't like that movie. But after we came out of the movie all you did was talk about it and you even said you wanted to go down to Mamaw's and play Surf's Up. So that's what we did. We stayed all day- I do mean all day and into the night Thursday and you played and swam and had a great big time with the boys. Mamaw even ordered pizza for dinner which we all ate up quickly because mostly all we had eaten all day was peanut butter and crackers and popcorn. Daddy even came down after work to watch you swim. He even got in with you, as did Papaw. We all had a big, grand time. Especially you. I love when you have a lot of fun. I think, however, today we are going to hang out around here and I am going to do some laundry and tidy up a bit and later on we are going to the grocery store. I need a day to chill out at home because my back is kind of sunburned and sore and I am feeling kind of icky like you do after too much sun. It may rain today anyway but if it doesn't maybe later this evening you can go out & get in your little bittty pool. Right now you are still groggy and laying in your floor in the bedroom watching TLC cartoons.
         Grant, it's not long until you come out. You had me worried a while this week but yesterday you started moving up a storm and it made me feel better. Daddy pointed out that you were OK but I pointed out to him that I was sure you were, but I was NOT. I like to feel you move. I don't even mind when it makes me have to pee or keeps me awake. I can't wait to see you and see if you look like your sister or see if you look different- I am so excited to meet the little man I have carried in my tummy for seven and a half months now. I get to see you again on the screen Thursday and I am VERY excited about that. I always like to see you and know that you are OK.
         Sunday is Father's Day and Allison's birthday. Rebecca calls Allison sissy so I am pretty sure you will, too, Grant. I wonder what we will all end up doing for either day. It's going to be Sissy's sweet sixteen birthday party. She said she doesn't think she'll have one where she'll invite all her friends. I told her she'd regret that and she should really do it. Maybe she will. We'll see. Right now Rebecca, you have wandered into the kitchen and are demanding my attention. Remember - Mommy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
            Well, your new nursery is finished and ready for you to move in. We just finished hanging with the wall hangings just now. We worked all weekend on it and your Mom & I are both very tickled with the results. Your room is done in a theme from Babies "R" Us called Soft & Fuzzy Pooh. We kind of mixed and matched a few of the touches but it all worked out perfectly.
      Becca, you & I spent the majority of time Saturday down at Mamaw & Papaw's swimming in the pool. As we may have or may not have mentioned previously in this blog we bought you a new floaty bathing suit. You absolutely loved it. Jon & Jake came up and swam with you for a good long while and then Martin's kids Brittany, Tiffany and Martina came over and all of y'all had a great time. You came up with this game where you would get on your knees right on the edge of the pool and then you would slide into the water head first. The girls and Jon all thought that looked like a great game so they joined you in the game you invented and all of you had a great time. You jumped off of the edge of the pool more times than you can count. Of course you can only count to two or maybe three sometimes and you jumped into the pool many times more than that.
      Your Mom and I are watching House right now so I'm going to close this one out and pay attention to the show. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
            The three of us went to Lexington yesterday, Becca. I had a doctor's appointment and after that we went to Sam's Club, we ate at Mi Mexico and finished up our day out with a trip to Babies "R" Us. We are just about finished buying stuff for you and your room, Grant. We have to take some pictures we bought back because they are messed up and even if they weren't they still wouldn't be worth the $30 we paid for them. We are going to trade the pictures in on big wooden letter to spell out your name, Grant.
      We came home and had a quick supper and then your Mom & I went into what used to be my office and hung border. It was kinda late when we finished with the border so we decided to quit for the evening but we ended up nearly finishing up the whole room. We still have to hang pictures but if you came home today you would be well set up. I knew that when we had cable set up in the kitchen for our computer that the room would come along very fast. The house is a wreck right now because we had a lot of moving around to do to get done what we had to do. Mom is a good Mom so she will whip it back into shape in no time. I hope y'all truly appreciate what your Mom has done for you from even before you were born.
      Becca, you are still loving the pool down at Mamaw & Papaw's. We had to get rid of our pool here because we needed level ground to set it up on and even though the yard may look level it most certainly is not. We bought another one that isn't quite as big and deep but I think maybe you will use this one more often.
      Granny is still not doing much better. She has her good days and her bad days. The day before yesterday she couldn't even hardly swallow her medicine. Eventually your Mom got her to take her pills but she couldn't keep them down. They had to take her to the hospital so she could get her meds in shot form. Yesterday she was doing much better. She was talking with us and laughing at jokes that your second cousin once removed, Kenny Robinson was telling her. She still enjoys seeing you, Becca. You can make her smile but your Mom says that you know something is wrong with Granny and visiting her puts you in a foul mood when you leave. I know how you feel, little girl. It disturbs me as well.
      Your Mom has decided to take some time off from work until the end of the year. She has really pushed herself these past few months but she has made enough money that we won't need her income for the rest of the year. Y'all really do have a wonderful Mom.
      Well, I'm gonna close this post out and finish the show I am going to close this post out, finish watching the show I am watching and then go to bed. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Rebecca and Grant,
                     Today was pretty busy because we all decided to go to Wal-Mart in Frankfort and also to Steak -N- Shake for a late lunch/early dinner. First, though, we decided to go and visit your Great Grandmother, Annetta. You have taken to calling her Granny Grunt, and when you do that she just smiles at you. When anyone else does it, she proclaims that she is "Not a Grunt." She dearly loves you, little girl.
               Grant, I have had a difficult pregnancy with you. I don't suppose being almost thirty and having a badly beaten up - not to mention chubby body helps, either. I am going to do everything I can to lose some weight after you are born.
I had to go and buy a maternity support so that I could just be able to walk comfortably with you. It seems I have some internal varicose veins in my lower abdomen and pelvis. Some days it bites to be a woman, so be glad you will never be one, little man.
            We bought some more baby stuff for you this weekend Grant. I believe we are nearly there as far as your stuff goes. We have everything for your room except your mobile (which we are getting at K-Mart) and your temporal thermometer and your diaper bags. You have plenty of onesies and Alicia gave us some clothes from her four boys. We're going to the Disney Store to look into getting you some stuffed Pooh characters for your room, too. We may need a few more pictures for your room but we will cross that bridge when we get there.
            Becca, I have to say that you are really developing your own little attitude. It's hard sometimes not to lose my patience with you when you tell me 'No' when I tell you to do something or when you misbehave on purpose. But on the other hand, it's great to watch you develop your own opinions about things, and feel your own way towards things. It's only normal for children to push their limits when they are at your age and push you do. That's alright though because Dad and I have both agreed that we don't want a Robot child.
            You were a very good girl all around today, except when we got home. You were so very tired that you got a little spanking from Dad for telling him 'No'. I bought you a little toy at Wal-Mart and you've torn it up already. It was a Spiderman 'Personal Fan' that blew air and lit up when you pressed a button. You bit the foam blades off of it. You've only bitten one or two people that I know of (Me and Dad) but you seem to have a pension for biting every single toy you get. I should have known better to get you anything with foam blades on it. Live and learn, I reckon.
            You and I sat in the floor and played music on your new bucket you got at Babies-R-Us and sang silly songs for almost an hour while Dad sat in his chair and read his paper and watched us. We had a grand old time. We sang "Froggy Went A Courtin'", and "Ten Little Monkeys", and "Met My Boyfriend At The Candy Store", "Cinderella, dressed in Yella" - and many more. You are quite the little singer. You are so bossy, too. You'd keep saying, "Here you bang the bucket" or "Now bang the floor". I guess some could look at it as wrong for me to cater to you so and think, 'Well, no wonder she pitches a fit and puts up a fight when she doesn't get her way!"- but the truth is I only cater to you when it comes to unimportant things. And every time you tell me to hit the bucket or bang the floor, hit and bang I shall.
          Dad went to bed pretty early and you stayed up until about nine o'clock. You were hungry so you had some cheese and doritios with a side of strawberries for a late snack/dinner. I think that was a lot of what was wrong with you last night. This morning when you got up and ate a little something you went back to bed and slept for almost three hours. I guess me and Dad feel full all day when we eat and you only eat bits at a time and we just kind of let it slip our minds that you might need a bedtime snack. You also had a persimmon. From now on I will make it a point to come up with a healthy, filling bedtime snack for you. I think tomorrow night you can have some yogurt and granola.
         Grant, you've been wreaking havoc on my sugar levels, too. My gestational diabetes is not NEARLY as bad with you as it was with Becca, but we caught it early with you and I have been eating healthier ever since I found out we were having you. Maybe that has a lot to do with it. It has indeed been a hard pregnancy and I don't think I'm going to be able to work any more. I am going to ask Dr. Youkilis for a note on Wednesday to state that I need to be off for the remainder of the pregnancy and so that way I don't have to just up and leave them and they can have some time to find someone new. I missed this weekend because I just couldn't put myself through being there twelve hours in two consecutive days. It gets difficult whether you are sitting, standing, even napping on the bed when I have a moment - I can't really rest like I need to sometimes and like I can do it here. I know that every bit of this is more than worth it, though. I can't wait to hold my baby boy in my arms and kiss Him for the first time. I love you so much, Grant! It's crazy how much I love you, but not really because I felt the same way with your sister, and I still do. Whoever said that Motherhood was like your kids were "Your heart walking around outside your body"- was defiantly right. I am so glad we are going to have our little family of four. You and your sister mean the world to me, as does your Daddy.
         Well, I guess I need to try to get some sleep myself sometime tonight, so I will talk to you as soon as I get another moment free, Rebecca and Grant. And remember! Mommy loves you both! And you, too Daddy!

Dear Becca & Grant,
                  We've been swimming just about every day since it got warmer, Becca. Yesterday we went down to Mamaw & Papaw's at about noon and we stayed down there until about eight that evening. We swam the vast majority of the time. You also jumped on the trampoline, dug for some worms, which you love to do and had a supper of pizza rolls, pudding and push up pops with Sissy and a friend of her's named Bethany. You love to get in the pool and swim around with the help of your bathing suit with the inner tube sewn in that Mamaw & Papaw got for you. I expect you might just learn to swim by next year. You have absolutely no fear of the water.
      We had a pretty fun day but it was not without it's share of stress and sadness. Granny went to the emergency room last night. Granny has indeed been diagnosed with multiple myeloma cancer. It's a cancer of her plasma cells. It primarily attacks elderly people. She already had so many things going against her that this diagnosis is the worst possible thing. She is now in total renal failure which is a fancy name for kidney failure. She was very alert and cognitive the day before yesterday but yesterday she took a turn for the worse. She was unresponsive to everything and she was taken into the ER. Your Mom has read here on the internet that renal failure is a very peaceful and painless way to pass on. I hope they just let her final days be as calm and relaxing as possible.
      Becca, I want to thank you for bringing so much joy into her life the past few weeks. No matter how out of it she was she could look at you as you were doing some of your silly funny toddler shows and she would smile. She even enjoyed watching your cartoons with you as you sat right next to her with your head resting on her shoulder. Granny means the world to me and I am proud that you have been able to bring your sunshine into her life as she slips away from us. I will be forever grateful to you for putting a smile on Granny's face. Just the other day your Mom said that as Granny was lying in bed that you sat up with her in her bed and pretended that the bed was a crocodile and that Granny drifted off to sleep with the sweetest smile on her face. You my dear, are an angel sent from heaven.
      Granny will not live to meet you, Grant. I am almost 100% sure of that fact. I really wish you could have at least been held by her. You will miss out on knowing one of the most gentle and considerate human beings to ever set foot upon this earth. I truly am sorry for you that you will never know her. You really missed out.
      Grant, you have already cost us a ton of money. Friday night while Allison watched Becca your Mom & I went out to buy a few baby essentials. We ended up spending nearly $1,000 dollars. We bought you 15 onesies, 12 pair of socks, four hooded towels, 10 wash clothes, a starter set of bottles, a head supporter for your car seat, a bottle brush, a dishwasher box for bottle nipples, a changing pad, a changing pad sheet, 2 sleepers, a formula cup, crib bedding, a window valance for your nursery, wall hangings, a bouncer, a medicine kit and a ton of other things that people must have when a new baby comes to live with them. Before we went shopping we went to a new restaurant in Jessamine County called Red Robin. They specialize in burgers and it was really good. We then went to Wal-Mart and got some stuff but we were actually kind of disappointed in the baby stuff at Wal-Mart. We then went to Lowes so I could buy some stuff to put cable in Becca's room and in the kitchen. I need cable in the kitchen because my office, where our desk top lives will be your nursery so I reckon I'll have to move the desktop into the kitchen. We then went to Target at Hamburg. We bought a ton of stuff there. We never really shopped much at Target because I don't like some of their corporate stances on various issues but they had a whole lot of really nice stuff there so I will be back to Target. We then went to Office Max where we bought a small computer table to go in the kitchen. Then we went to Babies R Us where we spent the lions share of our money. After all of that we stopped off at Cracker Barrel because Granny had the taste for their fried apples so we stopped off there and bought her a jar. Nothing is too good for my Granny. We took the apples by her house and she had just gone to bed shortly before we got there so we missed seeing her. Your Mom & I had a real nice time buying stuff for you. There's a bunch more stuff that we need but we have the biggest part of it done.
      Well, I am going to close out this post. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Rebecca and Grant,
                     Right now Grant you are hanging out in my belly, where you will be until at least August 24 I hope. Becca, you are down to Mamaw's House with Daddy and you guys are swimming. Daddy got off work early today and he took youd own there.
            Becca, you and I went to see Shrek the Third this morning. I reckon you went, too Grant being as how you have to go everywhere I do at this point. Rebecca, I was extremely proud of you and the way you behaved in the movie. You did a fabulous job. You watched almost the whole thing. You only got up once or twice, once to stand behind the seat and watch the movie and once to take a peek at what another kid was doing and his parents had to take their leave because he was still a bit young for such an adventure, just the way you were the last time. I swatted your hand and told you to get back in your seat and you climbed up in my lap and finished the entire movie right there. You were as good as gold and better. I am so very proud of you and so glad that you had a good time. You came home and told Daddy that you saw "Shrek Babies". We really had a good time, you and I. I love you so much and I treasure these last couple of months we have together just you and me and Daddy. I know that Grant will be a wonderful welcome addition and we will all love him dearly. I am so proud to have a daughter and a son and a good husband who is a great father. We are so blessed and you are a great big part of it.
             I just wanted to tell you about going to see Shrek the Third with you today. Mommy loves Rebecca! And Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
               You and Mom fried up some chicken yesterday, Becca. I do believe you went a little crazy with the seasoning salt. The chicken is good but it is a bit on the salty side.
      Papaw had to work over yesterday so I had you and Mom come out to the factory to get me. We went to Burger King for lunch because we were planned on going grocery shopping afterwards. We ate and then went to the Kroger on Alexandria Drive. We got our groceries but while we were there your Mom began experiencing intense pain in her lower abdomen and her back. We loaded the car with all of our new food and then your Mom told us she had to go to see the doctor. We went out to Central Baptist. We knew we would be there awhile so we called Mamaw & Papaw and ad them come up and pick you up. That's where you are at right now. Mom is fine. Her pain comes from something to do with ligaments stretching and other pregnant lady stuff. I really don't understand and the doctor we spoke to was in a big hurry because there was another lady who was having a baby as we spoke so he was kind busy. Your Mom and your little brother are fine.
      Thursday your Mom had a doctor's appointment with her gestational diabetes doctor. She came by the factory and I dropped her off at the doctor's office and you and I went to pick up a new set of frames for my glasses. You broke my old ones. Well, they weren't old at all. Just a couple of months but still, you broke them. After we came back to pick up your Mom we went to Logan's Roadhouse. We got out of the car at the restaurant and you automatically recognized it as the place with the peanuts. You are such a smart girl. We had a nice lunch and went home.
      This past week you have been spending a whole lot of time over at Granny's. Unfortunately she has been diagnosed with cancer. I hope the diagnoses is wrong. We have discovered that she just loves watching you be yourself. She will just stare at you and smile. You make Granny happy and we all want Granny happy so we take you over there as much as possible. Your Mom said that just the other day after a hard day of playing you climbed up next to Granny and laid your head on her shoulder and the two of you watched cartoons together. Yesterday as your Mom was trying to move Granny with a lift Granny cried out in pain and you told your Mom that she has to be easy with Granny. You really do love your Granny. I hope she gets to meet you, Grant. She will love you and I know that if some miracle occurs and you get to know her as well, you will love her too. I will miss my old Granny Grunt when she does home to be with Jesus.
      Well, I'm gonna close this post out and go to bed. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca and Grant,
               Becca, right now you are in the living room watching a Dora special about Dora and Swiper going around the world to return friendship bracelets to save Friendship Day. Grant, right now you are in my belly, more than likely sleeping, because I do not feel you moving at this very moment. I wish you would sleep at night, I really do, but what am I going to do? It's not like I can give you a bottle with some cereal in it yet. Ha!
                     Becca I want to let you know what a wonderful Mother's Day you and Daddy gave to me. I got off work a little bit early and you came flying around the car and said "Happy Mother's Day Mom! We got you a card! I wrote on it. And Daddy, too!" I will remember that day as long as I live, that was the best Mother's Day anyone could have ever gotten. I want you to know how proud I am of you growing up so big and strong and smart. I am so proud to have you for my daughter.
               Last night you fell out of bed and Daddy came in to put you back in. You said "Dad, I fell out of bed. Can you put me back in?" So Daddy did and then you said "That's better," and you went right back to sleep. You are such a funny monkey. I think we are going to have to get some rails for the side of your bed. Of course, I don't know how good that will do because you have a tendency to sleep sideways, just like your Mommy.
               We haven't done much of anything except laundry this morning, other than cleaning the kitchen up a little bit and killing us a 'itsy bitsy spider', as you call it, making the beds and generally picking up. Of course I did most of this. You played with your new remote control truck that you found in the top of the closet and watched Dora & Oobi. I cleaned the fridge out and prepared the chicken I had thawed out to fry. I was heating up the oil in my new electric skillet Mamaw got me while I was getting a bowl down to roll my chicken in the flour and I busted a glass in my oil and had to dump it all out and start over. Oh well, that's life. You wanted to help though and I was having difficulty keeping you out of the raw chicken and skins. You just didn't believe me that chickens were poisonous when they were raw.
               Well you are in here now because you have apparently grown bored with whatever you were doing in the living room so I am going to take you back in there and check on the chicken and laundry then we're going to go to the grocery store I do believe. Mommy loves Rebecca and Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
                  We had a nice day together, you & I, Rebecca. You got up early, as you always do; we began setting up the new pool we bought at Toys "R" Us last night. We put the hose into the pool and turned the water on and then we came back inside and had some breakfast. I fixed you some oatmeal because that's what you said you wanted and then I fixed some sausage, eggs and toast for myself. You decided that you wanted my breakfast instead. I shared with you but you ended up eating neither your oatmeal nor my sausage & eggs. You didn't even drink your strawberry milk or pink milk, as you refer to it. We watched some television and then went outside to set up the pump and filter on the new pool. We also covered it up with a solar cover. We came back inside and got ready to go down to Mamaw & Papaw's. We stopped off at Taylor Manor and visited with your Mom for a few minutes. We then went to McDonalds where you got a chicken nugget happy meal. Their featured theme for the happy meals right now is Shrek 3. It comes out in theaters pretty soon I believe. I had a Big Mac value meal. We got us a shake and an ice cream cone just before we left. We went down to Mamaw & Papaw's where they where getting their pool ready for the summer. Their pool is 20 times bigger than ours so there's a whole lot more work that goes into that pool than ours. We hung out down there for awhile and then we went to K-Mart and bought some chlorine tablets for your pool. We went home and jumped in your pool. We had a grand old time. Even Mom got in when she got home from work.
      Once again this is going to be a short post. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
               Once again I have neglected posting on this blog. I was planning on posting Sunday morning, real early but you, Becca, called out to me that you couldn't sleep and you stayed awake for hours. I never got around to posting one. It's been so nice outside this past week that you and I, Becca have been hanging out in the backyard until nearly bedtime most days this week. Mom stays outside with us as much as she can but with her being pregnant with Grant she can't stand too much heat.
      I got a new riding lawn mower, well it's not really new. Uncle Rodney bought a new zero turn radius mower so I bought his old one. This is just the third summer it's been used and I know that if Uncle Rodney had it it has been well taken care of so while it may not be brand new it is as good as new. I also got a new leaf blower from General Electric for my twenty year service award. I've been doing a lot of yard work this past week as well. The yard is starting to look pretty nice but I just wish it would green up some more.
      Your Mom went to bed early tonight because you, Grant, are making her very tired. That's why I am able to post this quick blog post. I hope to be able to do a nice long one this weekend and then, Becca I will tell you all about how you have graduated to the big girl swing and how you still can't say your "L" words. Lunch still comes out Yunch and Lynn is still Yinn. Grant, I really don't know what's going on with you because Mama is carrying you around inside her belly and I have no idea what's going on in there. I reckon your Mom will have to fill you in on that. Well, I'm gonna close this midweek post out. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
            I kind of dropped the ball this weekend regarding this blog. I should have posted one early this morning or early yesterday but time got away from me. I'll get around to posting a longer and better post later.
      I got sick this week and missed a few days of work. Your Mom has been bitten by a spider and she doesn't feel well right now. She called in to work this morning.
      I'm gonna close this out now. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Rebecca,
            I am only addressing this blog to you because I want to tell you what a wonderful time I am having being your Mommy. I hope you don't think that just because there is a new baby on the way that you are any less in my eyes; you are my sun, my moon, my stars, and my rainbow, and you always will be.
             I have had so much fun with you over the last few days that I don't know where to start. We've been outside to play several times, as it is warming up. We've stayed up late, just you and I, watching silly cartoons and eating popcorn. Just today we went over to Alicia's and picked up some Maternity Clothes she had for me there and you got to see her two brand new babies. You told me that you liked those babies, and that you were their Mommy. You are so silly. You did such a good job holding the babies and being easy with them and I was SO proud of you. I know that you are going to be the best Big Sister in the world. I patted one of the baby's heads and he stirred and you admonished me by saying "You have to be EASY, Mamma!"
               I want you to know how very proud of you I am. These days you are to the point where you don't want to listen very well, but I know that is a passing phase. You have always been such a good girl and you still are. I love you so very much and want you to know that you always have a big, huge, special place in my heart. Mommy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca and Grant,
               Hello both of my little sweeties. Right now I am at work and Grant, you are hanging out in my belly and giving me a fit by kicking me in the crotch at every oppurtunity you get. That seems to be your favorite spot to kick. Becca, right now you are with your Daddy at the park and I am sure having a big, grand time. You both came by my work to give me my glasses that I left at home this morning and you told me that I could go to the park with you. How I would have loved to spend the day with you and Daddy at the park, but unfortunately Mommy has to work to bring home the extra money we have grown so used to. Pretty soon we will be able to get all kinds of extra things for you and your new baby brother, I hope. Mommy is       Becca, as Daddy previously mentioned, you came to work with me at Taylor Manor on Wednesday. You had a fantastic time out here, too. Sister Agnes gave you a chocolate bunny with chocolate syrup in it and you ate every bit of that thing. Then you got some chocolate ice cream from the fridge back here and went to town on that. Then you got to eat the chocolate cake off of Sister Agnes' tray at super time. It's no wonder that you were too wound up to go to sleep that evening. You had a big time dancing on the stage and showing off your cute little moves for everyone in the entertainment room. You got to ride in Mr. Gaine's lap and then also in Mother Ellen's lap in their wheelchairs. Everyone out here thinks that you are the cats meow. They are right, of course.
      Grant, I know you want to know where we came up with such a fine, handsome, manly name for you. Your full name will be Marlin Grant Lanham and you will go by Grant. Of course, you know where Marlin comes from. It comes from your dear old Papaw. Grant, as your Dad informed you, is your first cousin twice removed (or whatever) on my side. He passed away when I was very little but he was very good to me when I was younger. One day when my father was gone and my mother had to take my sister to the doctor, he kept me with him and took me to see a movie in the newly erected theater they put in downtown Hazard. Then he took me next door to a diner and bought me the biggest ice cream sundae I had ever seen. I ate all of that thing, and if you can believe this, I barely ate anything when I was a kid. It was delicious. He used to give me money to come over and 'clean' his house. I never really did much cleaning and he always gave me at least twenty bucks. He was a bit of a drunk, but he was kind to me and your Aunt Mary. He used to get drunk with Papaw Lawrence and Aunt Mary and I would steal his money and his food stamps and he would never even get mad at us. Papaw Lawrence would, but Grant would never let him whip us, at least not at his house. He was a kind hearted man who died too young.
      We had a fit trying to pick out a good name for you and it seems we'd had one all along. Becca, your name was no problem. I knew you were a girl all along and we had your name picked out ever since six weeks gestation. Grant, you were not as easy. Becca, you were such an easy, sweet, charming baby. Grant, I wonder if you won't be just the opposite? I could be wrong but that seems to be the M. O. - at least on my side of the family. My sister was a good baby and I never stopped fussing. Of course, fussing can come in handy. I fuss at Daddy every day. Just ask him.
      I want to take this oppurtunity to let you both know that I feel so truly blessed for having the two of you in my life. I've always wanted a family and now God has made my dream come true with Daddy, Becca, and Grant. I am so blessed. Mommy loves her family!

Dear Becca & Grant,
               Mom said she tried to put up a post yesterday but for some reason she was unable to do it. I know y'all are anxious to hear from her and what is going on in her head at this most pivotal time in our lives. I'm sure she will post one shortly. When I set this blog up years ago I intended for this to be just a forum for her to communicate what life was like for her as she was carrying Becca. I eventually decided to join in on the fun and ever since it has been one of our primary activities on the computer/internet. It's been loads of fun and I think it will be kinda cool for y'all when you are older and wondering what life was like early on in y'all's life.
      Mom ended up working most of the week because one of her coworkers had a death in the family. Monday she took you, Becca to work with her and I came and picked you up after I got home. I was a little late getting there because Papaw helped me fix my garage door, and as always when I say Papaw helped me what I really mean is he did it while I watched. He also put our Christmas stuff up in the attic. I can't go up there because the ladder to the attic will not support my enormous girth. Well, I went and got you Monday and we came home and hung out together, Becca. I'm sure Mom will fill you in on some details concerning your time you spent with her and all of the people at Taylor Manor.
      Tuesday you went to daycare because Mom had an early appointment with the eye optometrist and then she had to go to work. After work I took the opportunity to Mow the yard while you were in daycare. We got home late and Mom got home early so we didn't have too much time by ourselves. Mom brought us a $5 pizza from Little Caesars for supper.
      Wednesday you spent the day with Mamaw & Papaw. I came down to pick you up and ended up on the dirt bike for a long time. I pulled up to the house on the bike and you came out and shook your finger at me and told me to be careful. I had a pork roast supper down there and then it started to rain. I went to put the bike in the garage and you told me not to ride anymore because it was raining. You are such a bossy little thing. You came down to the garage with Papaw and we hung out there for awhile while the brief thunder storm passed over. You had big fun playing with Sadie. We ended up getting rid of your puppy, Wal-Mart because we thought he might be sick plus we weren't too pleased with the way he would snap at you. You seemed more than okay with that. I think your attitude towards your puppy changed when he hurt you; I know mine certainly did. Anyway, after the storm you played with Jon & Jakey a little while and then we went home.
      Thursday your Mom & I cleaned out the garage really well while you blew bubbles. It was hard work but the garage looks really nice now. I can park a vehicle in there now whereas I couldn't before. We had supper and watched some television and then we all went to bed. We have started a very bad habit of late and we are going to have to stop it. Mom has started laying down with you when you go to bed and I think you are getting a little too used to it. Even I am guilty of this offense. Last night Mom went to bed early and when I put you to bed I crawled into bed with you and we chatted and made up a lullaby about you riding a horse to Mamaw's house. I had to sing it to you four or five times and it was never the same twice. Eventually you rolled over and went to sleep with me right by your side. I know that if I had tried to leave before you had fallen asleep you would have thrown a fit.
      Friday I got off work early because we had a tornado drill and a meeting about a two tier wage agreement they want to bring into the plant. I am in favor of the agreement because I would really like to retire from General Electric. After I got off from work we went to CiCi's and had a late lunch or early supper of pizza and salad. We then went and ordered your Mom some new glasses. We went and had your hair cut at Cookie Cutters. We have never had the length of your hair trimmed before so you had a little piece in the back that was longer than the rest because when you were a little bitty baby you rubbed a bald spot on the back of your head from laying in your bouncer. When your hair started to get longer you always had that little bit that was longer than the rest. We had that fixed today and for some reason your Mom cried. You did extremely well getting your hair cut. You sat on a pink Harley Davidson motorcycle barber chair and had the most serious look on your face as you got your hair cut. After the hair cut we went to Baskin Robbins for some ice cream. Then we visited with Granny and Mamaw at Granny's house.
      That's been your week, Becca. As for you, Grant. You hung out inside your Mom's belly the whole week. Your Mom says that you get real excited when you hear your sister's voice. I reckon you already love your big sissy. She keeps trying to get you to move while I am feeling her belly so I can feel you kick. You must be too small just yet because I simply can not feel you kick. I'm sure I will soon.
      Well, I have to get up with Becca in the morning and Mom has already got up once and scolded me for still being up so I had better close this out. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
                  Hey Grant, your name isn't Jack after all. You weren't Jack for long, were you? Only your Mom & I seemed to like Jack and we weren't all that crazy about it. Everyone seems to like the name Grant. Grant was your double first cousin two times removed on your Mom's side. I'm sure your Mom will tell you all about him the next time she gets a chance to post here.
      Becca, Friday night you and Mom came by G.E. and picked me up after work. While y'all where waiting on me you had a fellow I work with buy you some skittles. You are so cute that perfect strangers just buy you stuff and give you money. We all headed over to the Cracker Barrel on Winchester Road for some supper. I had chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, a double helping of green beans, corn muffins and sweet tea. Your Mom had the Sunrise Sampler breakfast with unsweetened tea. She's been craving biscuits & gravy with her pregnancy with you, Grant. Becca, you had fried chicken fingers, mac & cheese, some of my green beans and sprite. Your Mom had a piece of no sugar added apple pie and you & I shared a chocolate cobbler. We went out to pay for our supper in the gift shop and let you pick out a piece of candy. You chose some wax lips. You had some big fun with those wax lips and you looked so funny but like generations of children before you, including your father, you actually hated the taste of the waxy candy.
      We went to the brand new Wal-Mart across the road to get groceries and some other odds & ends. I had to get some electrical tape because my recliner has cut into the rubber skin of my laptop A/C adapter. We needed light bulbs, deodorant, tooth paste, baby wipes, and you wanted some new tastier tooth paste and a new tooth brush that lights up. We also bought you a plastic cereal bowl with a built in straw and a new cup that you saw and wanted. Becca, we bought a new pink dress exactly like a denim one that I purchased for you some time ago. Grant, for you we purchased your very first outfit, a tiny cotton overall outfit with Mickey Mouse & Donald Duck on it.
      We then went over to Babies "R" Us to look for you, Grant, another outfit but since it's just getting warm and we expect you went it will be getting cool again there wasn't a whole lot of stuff that we could buy. I have to say that there is a whole lot more cute clothing for little girls than for little boys. We didn't get any clothes for either of you there. We did buy a light switch plate and some border for your nursery, Grant. We are going to do your room in Winnie the Pooh. We won't have to paint the walls. That decor will work nicely with our green walls.
      We then went over to Pet Smart to look into obedience classes for Wal-Mart. We almost lost Wal-Mart the other day because he snapped at you and left teeth prints on your face and then he did it again and he came as close to breaking the skin as possible without actually doing it. You have fallen in love with that dog but it might have been a little soon to get you a puppy. We had decided to get rid of him and you told us in tears that you wanted a new Wal-Mart, a pink one that didn't bite and we felt okay about getting rid of him but the next morning the first thing you wanted to do was go to see your dog. We're not going to let you around him alone at all and we are going to get him into an obedience class. If he acts okay until we can get him into obedience class we will keep him. We also need to take him to the vet because he has runny poops twenty times a day. He does very good about not pooping where he isn't supposed to. He has the occasional accident but he has been doing fabulous in that regard. Much better than you have, Becca.
      Y'all's Mom went back to work yesterday. It was just you and I, Becca and of course, Wal-Mart. You got into your Mom's makeup and painted your face up real good. You came into the living room growling and telling me that you were a monster. You had took a black eyelash brush and painted your eye lids and lips and you did indeed look like a sweet little monster.
      Well, I need to get off of here because I have some other stuff I need to do before I go to bed. Your Mom's new schedule is primarily weekends so it will be just us again tomorrow, Becca. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca & Jack,
            Hey Jack, you are a boy! Imagine that. We are going to have us a set; one boy and one girl. I think that is just perfect. I know that I have always said that I wanted a girl but now, in the interest of revisionist history, I can reveal for the very first time that I wanted a son all along. I hope your name remains Jack because I have actually used it in a blog post now. We struggled for a long time with your name but maybe we have it now. After we found out about you being a boy we tossed a few names around and then eventually came back to the original choice as suggested by Becca. As of this writing your name is Jack Marlin Lanham. Your Mom wanted it to be Marlin Jack but I said that sounds like a variety of cheese. Mamaw told you that your new little brother was going to be named Marlin. When your Mom and I came to pick you up we asked you what you though about having a little brother and you told us you were not going to have a little brother; you were going to have a little Papaw.
      I am so very tired and I would love to write an extra long post but I plan on taking a shower here in a minute and going to bed so I am going to close this out. Daddy loves Rebecca and Jack!

Dear Rebecca,
                  Well they let Aunt Mary and Desiree' go from the hospital last night and it was supposed to be a happy and joyous occasion because Aunt Mary was supposed to bring that baby down too see your Great Grandma Annetta Robinson but it just didn't work out that way so now everyone is mad at everyone and it's turned into a big mess. Personally I have just decided not to worry about any of it and take life as it comes.
               Desiree' is awfully cute. I do really wish you could have seen her. I am spelling her name the proper way because I can't stand the phonetic way that the strange people in Hazard have decided to come up with.
               I was going to work today and you were going to go home with Mamaw and then you were both going to pick me up and take me to the Doctor this afternoon so that we could find out what the baby was today. It didn't work out that way because I was out so late last night trying to get everything together with Mary and Desiree'. Anyway now you are going out with Mamaw while I go pick up Daddy and we go find out what the baby is together. I know Daddy is awfully excited. Plus I get to spend the day with you and I always love doing that.
            Just a moment ago when we took your new puppy, Wal-Mart out to potty we saw a big brown and black speckled rabbit with a white fuzzy tail out in our yard. I told you that it was Peter Cottontail, and you firmly believed it. He sat there forever in spite of the dog and you waved and shouted "HEYO Petter Cottontail!" at the great big rabbit. We watched that bunny hop away in the rain and you've made me leave the big door open ever since so that you could watch for him to come back. You are so sweet. You really loved seeing that rabbit.
            Daddy was waiting with you at Granny's last night so that you could all see the baby and EMS had to be called for your poor old Granny. She isn't doing very well and she is growing frail and very tired. I am glad that you know and love her so very much. She feels the same way about you, too. Daddy said one of theose EMS men just made an awful fuss over you and you ate it up. You really are super cute. I love you so much little girl.
               Well I just wanted to inform you on all the news that is news here on Colony Drive. I know Daddy can't wait to come home and blog about your new baby brother or sister - just think, now we get to stop saying that. No matter what it is I know that you will LOVE it and be the best big sister in the entire world. Remember, Now and Always, MOMMY LOVES REBECCA!

Dear Becca,
            I moved Aunt Mary into the master bedroom last night so I could sit up and watch some television. It's extremely late and I just now turned on the television for some background noise as I type out this post.
      I ended up sitting up all night downloading Barbie movies for you, current country hits and Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. I have never seen that film even though I have always wanted to. It's kind of hard to find around here. It's an old Japanese film that was the inspiration for the classic western The Magnificent Seven. Seven Samurai is in Japanese with english subtitles. I have only watched one film with subtitles and that was Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. Anyway, most of the downloads are still coming down. I already have the music downloaded and Barbie's Mermaidia is at 96% with an hour or so left on the download. Barbie's Fairytopia is coming down a bit slower. I have 24.7% of Fairytopia with seventeen hours left on the download. I'm sure the speed will eventually speed up, I hope. The Kurosawa film is coming along quite nicely.
      I also read some stuff about the Kentucky Wildcats basketball. I didn't mention them much this past season because just like last year things didn't go as well as they should have. We went 22-12 and got knocked out of the NCAA tournament in the second round by the Kansas Jayhawks. Coach Tubby Smith, who is a class act and a wonderful coach, decided that things were not comfortable for him and his family around here so he resigned as the head coach and took the head coaching position of the Minnesota Gophers. The past week has been a wild ride for the Big Blue Nation. Everyone has wanted Billy Donovan since way before Coach Smith resigned; his Florida Gators won the national championship this year. He decided to stay down there in Florida so everyone was crushed there for a few hours until they announced that our new coach would be Billy Gillispie, formerly of Texas A&M. He's supposed to be a great recruiter and that is really what we were missing with Coach Smith.
      The Easter Bunny came through a few hours ago. It must have been when I was taking a shower because when I got out your basket was already out and he had taken a big slice of the Easter cake we left for him. He prefers carrots but we forgot to get any. It looks like a really nice basket; we'll find out when you get up. We have been threatening to call the Easter Bunny on you the past few days. Earlier today after you had been a little stubborn I called the Bunny up and you rushed into the living room and pleaded with me to turn the phone off. You are looking forward to Easter Morning. This afternoon I found the song, "Here Come Peter Cottontail" on the internet. You and I must have listened to it twenty times if we listened to it once. Last night when we sang you your lullaby we couldn't hardly do it because we still had the tune of "Here Come Peter Cottontail" in our heads.
      Since we got your puppy, Wal-Mart we have changed up the lullaby we sing to you every night. We used to sing about a dog named Rover and what we would get for you if he didn't bark but we have changed the name of the dog to Wal-Mart and every single night when we get to the part about him not barking you pipe up, "But he yikes to bark."
      Well, I want a few hours of sleep before I have to get up and see you with your Easter Basket so I will close out this post. Daddy loves Rebecca and the yet to be named unborn child living in Mommy's tummy!

Dear Rebecca,
               You had a grand time at the Doodlebops concert. If anyone ever asks you what your very first concert was you will have to tell them that back in 2007 you went and saw The Doodlebops in Louisville. We got you a concert T-shirt because if you go to a concert you have to have a concert t-shirt. That tiny toddler sized shirt cost us $25 but like I said if you go to a concert you have to have a concert t-shirt. We also bought you a Doodlebops pledge flag with a glowing ball on the end of it. That set us back another $20 but I remember how you longingly looked at the toys they sold when we went and saw Disney Princesses on Ice and I figured that it was your day and I wanted you to be the happiest girl in the world on your day. Then we went and bought you another toy from a vendor inside the concert hall; another $20 gone. We spent way too much money. I really wish we hadn't bought that second toy because your favorite from the very beginning is your pledge flag or as you call it, your Rooney stick. Rooney is a character from the Doodlebops; you may or may not remember that. Your Mom & I enjoyed watching you dance around to all of the Doodlebop songs and looking at your happy little grin but as far as entertainment for us goes regarding the show we much preferred Princesses on Ice. You watched the Doodlebops on your portable DVD player on the way up there but I think you had been Doodlebopped out by the time we came back home because you didn't want to watch it on the way back.
      We went straight to the hospital after the concert so we could visit with Aunt Mary for a little while before we came home. Your Mom went to go upstairs to the NICU to see Desaray. You and I still haven't seen her. They quit letting Mom go up to see the baby because at first they thought Desaray was your Mom's grandchild. That floored your poor young Mom that they thought her older sissy was her daughter.
      Aunt Mary got out of the hospital Wednesday afternoon and she has been staying with us for the past few days. That's why I am posting this blog from the desktop instead of the laptop. Aunt Mary is sleeping in my chair. She's sleeping in my chair because she is still very sore from the c-section. She was five weeks early so they had to cut her vertically instead of horizontally like they did with your Mom when she had you. I reckon she will stay with us until they release Desaray and they can both go home to the squalor that is Hazard Kentucky. I took Aunt Mary to the hospital yesterday morning before I went to work and she spent the whole day up there with her baby. I talked to her when I got off from work to make sure that she didn't need a ride home and she was on cloud nine because just moments earlier she had finally gotten to hold and feed Desaray. She said she just couldn't quit kissing her. I am glad that Aunt Mary finally got to hold her baby. She had Desaray Saturday morning and didn't get to hold her until Thursday afternoon. I couldn't imagine having to wait such a long time to cuddle and kiss my baby. I got to hold and kiss you just minutes after you were born and it was the most magical moment in my life.
      David, Desaray's father finally came back today. He was here for the delivery but he went back to Hazard that same day. I have to say that I just can not begin to understand what he is thinking leaving his newborn daughter who is in the NICU for almost a whole week. Aunt Mary said that she sent him back to Hazard to keep an eye on Papaw Lawrence who is still in the hospital down there. I would have told Aunt Mary that if she was so worried about her father then she should go back but I was going to be staying with my baby. I don't care if it was Papaw himself, if I had to make a choice I would choose to be with my child. My attitude had recently softened towards David but this latest incident makes me wonder what in the world he is thinking. My child would have come first, second and last in my concerns. I really just don't understand.
      The past few weeks you have been entering your terrible two stage. You have made your Mom cry on more than one occasion. You say NO to everything and you keep repeating it even after time outs and even after spankings. You will not behave to save your life. Your Mom got some results from threatening to call the Easter Bunny and telling him that you were being naughty but only marginal results and Easter is this Sunday so that ploy will not work for long. I hope you get out of this stage soon because I was torn yesterday after work because I wanted to come home and see you and Mom but I dreaded the clashes that I knew you and I would eventually have. It wasn't too bad yesterday afternoon but you did show yourself a little bit. You had better start listening to us.
      The weather has been typical for spring in Kentucky. Last weekend and earlier in the week the temperatures were in the high seventies and the sun was shining. I cut the grass for the second time this spring and treated it with some Scott's weed and feed, you played outside in shorts and short sleeves, we sat out on the front porch and blew bubbles using your vast collection of bubble wands, we grilled steaks one day and ribs the next out on the grill and basically had a grand old late spring type of time. Then the storms came. They came on the 23rd anniversary of one of the greatest storms in Kentucky history; the tornadoes of 74'. I was only six at the time but I remember the tornadoes of 74'. It was a very scary experience. Anyway, I was watching an anniversary show dealing with that big storm on channel 18 when they broke into programming telling people to take cover that there was a massive storm system on the way and the possibility of tornadoes were great. Of course I was just moments ago looking at the devastation that tornadoes could bring so I was probably a little too cautious when I packed you and Mom up and took you to Granny's house so we could ride out the storm in the basement. The storms came and went and did a little damage here and there but it was really only a typical spring storm but it did ring back the cold weather. I even heard tell of snow flakes outside of the factory yesterday afternoon.
      As I said in my last post I had been losing my internet connection quite frequently. Well, I don't know if you could say I figured out the problem but I do think I fixed it just the same. I called the cable company to see if the problem was on my end or their end. It was on my end. My connection worked perfectly when I plugged the modem directly into the desktop. I had a problem with either my ethernet cables or my router. I figured I would buy some new cables this weekend and see if that fixed my problem but first I decided to upgrade the firmware on my router. That seemed to do the trick for a little while and then I lost my connection again. I plugged the cables back into the desktop and went searching online for a solution. I found out that many people had been having trouble with the new firmware update but they had been having some luck with a third party linux firmware upgrade so I decide that I would try it. The website said that there was a minuscule chance I could break my router by using this method but the chances were so slim and the benefits of this new firmware was so great that I should go ahead and try it. I printed out the instructions and downloaded all of the stuff would need and began my task. I got through the first two steps without a hitch but then I could go no further and I couldn't go back. I had been one of the minuscule number of people who had killed their router. I had to purchase another one. I went to Best Buy yesterday and purchased a new router, or rooter as your Aunt Mary so disastrously called it and a new ethernet cable in case that was the original problem. I got home and set everything up and now things seem to be working great. I suppose I will have to give it a couple of days to make sure that it is actually fixed before I celebrate. I thought I had it fixed when I upgraded the firmware. I was feeling ten feet tall and bullet proof. Then it went down again.
      I don't know if we have mentioned this or not but your Mom resigned her position at Taylor Manor about two weeks ago. We have really enjoyed having your Mom home all of the time recently. It's been very nice. After two weeks off of her job she is ready to go back to work. She went by there the other day and told them that she could work weekends if they needed her. The head nun said that she would let their new weekend girl go and that your Mom could take over the weekend shift. They seem to like your Mom out there a whole bunch. She goes back to work next weekend. The money was tighter than we expected it to be. I had started putting 10% of my net check into the 401K while your Mom was making good money at Taylor Manor and when she quit we felt the pinch from losing that 10% and her two or three hundred dollars every two weeks. She missed her patients as well. She really likes Sister Agnes and Mother Ellen as do you. I also think she may need some time away from you & I occasionally to recharge her batteries and her patience. I know I am not going to relish getting up with you every weekend day but I'll learn to live with it. I am very proud of your Mom. I told her that I see her getting her CNA license and instead of going somewhere else and making ten to thirteen dollars an hour she will stay at Taylor Manor making eight dollars an hour but they will make it easy on her scheduling wise to go to nursing school so she can get an LPN license and then she will go to work at Taylor Manor as an LPN and then eventually she will get her RN license with a specialty in geriatric wound care and then she will be making a whole lot more money than I do. That's what I see in store for your Mom. It certainly would be nice. She likes Taylor Manor and she loves the people and the people love her and I think that's worth a whole lot plus it's right here in Versailles.
      Well, I am going to close out this post. Daddy loves Rebecca and the yet to be named unborn child living in Mommy's tummy!

Dear Rebecca & Unborn Sibling
            It seems your dad is convinced that I have quit blogging all together. Maybe he thinks that because I am home now I have a buttload of time on my hands, but that is not the case. I've actually been busier than ever trying to get the house in order and taking care of you and your new puppy, Wal-Mart. It seems puppies are harder to take care of than babies. Of course I knew that, but I also knew that you desperately wanted a puppy. So I got you one. That is what I do, because I am a sucker. You've even told me, "I love you, sucker". You are such a funny little girl sometimes.
            I woke up a few minutes ago wanting to post a blog just to tell you that I am just as excited about going to see the Doodlebops as you are, I think. If for no other reason than I cannot wait to see your reaction. I know you will have a good time but I am excited about what the day holds in store.
            Daddy spelled Desaray wrong. Actually, Aunt Mary spelled Desaray wrong, as you can well see. I tried to convince her otherwise but she's letting David's mother do the spelling and well, that's what she came up with. I would not spell it that way but it is not my baby but there you have it. Desaray was born too early so she is having a hard time breathing due to the fact that her lungs are not fully developed. She is a big baby but she is immature in other ways, as in her lungs, blood glucose levels and blood pressures. They said that such things were not uncommon for diabetic mothers, but I was diabetic with you and you didn't have any of those problems. Aunt Mary was not exactly particular about taking care of herself when she was pregnant with Desaray and now I believe that she regrets it. I cried like a baby when I saw how hard it was for Desaray to breathe, her tiny body was struggling to catch air so fast. I thank my lucky stars that I was particular about taking care of myself with you and that I will be as particular about taking care of myself with this baby as well. I love you dearly I want you to know and I am hoping you have a fantastic time at the concert today. I should get some more rest so that we can all feel good for the concert in the morning.
         Mommy loves Rebecca and her unborn sibling!

Dear Becca,
            I keep losing my internet connection so I don't know when I will actually get this blog entry posted to the internet. I've been having a heck of a time with my connection the past week or so. I hope it's adelphia's problem and not mine. I really don't care to get into any big project rtying to troubleshoot and repair my internet connection. Anyway, for future reference it's six after midnight on April Fool's Day.
      It's been another busy week this week. Early in the week things were pretty normal except you had just a touch of diarrhea. Late Tuesday night your diarrhea got extremely bad and your little tail became incredibly raw. We decided that your Mom would take you to the pediatrician's office. Wednesday morning at two in the morning your Mom frantically woke me out of a sound sleep and said that you had to go to the emergency room. You came into the bedroom right after she did; you were crying and said that you were hurting and needed to go to the hospital so we went to the hospital. We really didn't find out anything at the emergency room. I called in to work Wednesday and slept while your Mom took you to your pediatrician. They ran a whole bunch of tests and gave us a bunch of instructions that were diametrically opposed to what was told to us at the emergency room. You are getting better now that we have some medicine for you.
      Aunt Mary came to Lexington Thursday and they decided to keep her here and deliver her baby this coming Wednesday. Her blood pressure was dangerously high and the baby was huge for the current stage of gestation. Your silly crazy Aunt Mary simply did not want to stay in Lexington. She wanted to go back to Hazard. Her boyfriend, David pleaded with her to stay in Lexington so his baby would be okay but for some unimaginable reason she wanted to go back to her backwater hole in the wall. All of her doctors pleaded with her to stay, your Mom called Aunt Mary and tried to reason with her and then I called her and told her that she was just being flat stupid and selfish regarding her tiny baby. She told me that what I said to to her in concert with David's concerns convinced her to stay. She immediately regretted her decision even though it was the only responsible decision she could have made.
      It turns out that she did indeed make the correct decision because at about five in the morning yesterday morning, Saturday she delivered her 8 pound 8 ounce daughter, Desiray Paige Melton via c-section. Your Mom rushed to be by her side because she was petrified. Mom stayed with her through it all. Desiray is a little early so she is still in the NICU. Your Mom has seen her a few times but you and I haven't laid our eyes on her at all as of yet. Your Mom might tell you more about it later when and if she ever puts up another blog post.
      We are going to see the Doodlebops in Louisville later today so I had better start thinking about going to bed. It's now 12:43 in the morning. Daddy loves Rebecca and his currently unborn son or daughter!