Dear Rebecca,
               I didn't mow last night like I said I was going to do. Your Mom got up from her nap about the same time that you did and she wanted to go out and since we didn't have a baby sitter we decided to take you to see your very first movie at a movie theatre. We decided to go see Ice Age II: Meltdown; it started at seven o'clock. We grilled burgers out on the deck and had a real nice supper and then we decided that you would be too sleepy to enjoy the movie that late so we put it off until next weekend when we can go to an early showing. By that time I was just plain uninspired to mow. I will do it tonight for sure.
      You and I went to church this morning. I don't think you enjoyed the nursery as much as I would have liked. We must get you used to being by yourself for short periods of time though because eventually you will start pre-school and we don't want that to be too traumatic for you. We had breakfast at McDonalds this morning. I had a Chicken biscuit and a hashbrown and you had a plain biscuit and a hashbrown. I also got a chicken biscuit for Mamaw & Granny. I couldn't do anything with your hair this morning so I took you by Granny's where Mamaw was and she fixed your hair for us. It was real pretty.
      You are in your bedroom right now but you are not sleeping. You are chatting away with your friend, Dora, Pooh and Moon. The phone just rang and started you hollering for me. I am going to leave you in there until you nap. You need to nap. Allison is coming over shortly and I am going to have her watch you while I mow the lawn.
      Well, I reckon I will let you go. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               We had a nice walk this afternoon; well, I had a nice walk and you had a nice ride because you would not let me put you down for love nor money. I tried a few times to put you down just long enough to get myself a dip and you turned and reached up and cried so I picked you right back up. I was hoping you would walk because you can get just a little heavy after a mile or so. Well, we probably didn't go a mile. We went out to the end of South Hill Drive. You were tired. When we got home we played out in the backyard for another half hour or so. We both had big fun. Right now you are taking a nap. You've been down for maybe an hour or so. Your Mom just now laid down to take a little nap of her own. She must be tired because she was telling me something and when I leaned back in my chair and folded my arms she said that was my annoyed look and she got just a little snippity.
      As your Mom has already told you, you got some nice new outfits yesterday. Mamaw bought you the cutest little summer outfit with a patchwork skirt and I figured that you needed some sandals to go with it so you and I went to Kmart. As we were walking in we saw a display outside with mix & match toddler clothes. I looked the display over and found a horizontal striped outfit and a lime green outfit for you. I think they are real cute. We went inside and I had a heck of a time wrangling you so we could try on sandals. You started hollering when I sat you down to try on the sandals but when you saw new shoes you shut right up. The sandals fit you perfectly. They are tan sandals with three white flafus, or flowers as they are sometimes known as, on the part that goes across the top of your foot and one flafu on the heel. I was real proud of my shopping trip.
      I have to mow soon. It rained cats & dogs this week so I did not get a chance to take care of it. It's looking kinda shaggy outside. I think I might take a trip to the gas station to get some mower gas later this afternoon and then mow tonight. I would like to get it done today because your Mom works all day tomorrow.
      I reckon we are going to go to church in the morning to hear the second part of a two part sermon on the lies of the book and movie, The Da Vinci Code. I have that book and intend on reading it eventually. Even though it is loaded with outrageous lies it does seem to be an interesting tale. I won't be quite as good as Mommy about getting you settles in the nursery but I reckon we will manage.
      After that I guess we will head on down to Mamaw & Papaw's and spend the day down there. I want to ride the dirt bike that Doug, Uncle Rodney's brother has decided to keep down there. He says he doesn't want the bike but he doesn't want to sale it so we can use it for however long we want it. Papaw has poured hundreds of dollars into getting it into running condition again. It hadn't been started for eleven years. It seemed to be running okay this week though. I rode it Wednesday and had a ball. I love riding motorcycles and one day I hope to get a street bike of my own. Oh, I just now realized that tomorrow is Aunt Lynn's birthday and Mamaw & Papaw's anniversary so we may get some birthday/anniversary cake.
      I have no idea what we are going to do Memorial Day, which is Monday. I am off but your Mom has to work. Maybe we will go down to Mamaw & Papaw's again. That would be fun.
      Well, you have woken up and I reckon I had better get up and make sure you don't get into any trouble. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                     Hello my little sweetie bird. Right now you are asleep in your room quietly. You haven't been feeling too well. I took you to the doctor on Thursday and he said you have a stomach virus and a cold virus. You poor little thing; it seems that you can never just get one thing at a time. You were, however, as usual, a true little gem in every sense of the word. You smiled and waved at everyone and told the nurse she was 'done' when the thermometer beeped. She thought that was funny. The doctor thought you looked very nice in your new dress that Mamaw bought for you at Kohl's. Speaking of things Mamaw bought for you; you got some new outfits today. Mamaw bought you a few and Daddy bought you two, and a pair of Sandals. I went back to the store and bought you another one and some sunblock. If you are going to be wearing all these skimpy little shorts outfits I want some sunblock on those arms and legs and that pretty little face! I can't have you getting sunspots, No Ma'am.
         We went to the grocery store today and we bought some things for the week. I also had to go and get you some cold medicine for your cold. There is really not much we can do for the stomach virus except wait it out. You are feeling better in the stomach aspect already; the cold is getting worse but as they do it will get worse before it gets better.
      I have been working all week long and I am off tomorrow but then I have to work a twelve hour shift on Sunday. I don't mind it too much every now and then but I won't be making a habit of it as I enjoy going to church with you and Daddy. In addition to that the big draw to this job was that I didn't have to work any weekends. I like being off on the weekends with you and Daddy. On Sunday we usually go to church and then I come home and do a bunch of laundry and we all sit around and watch TV like three knots on a log. Or if it is very nice we all go to the park and hop around like three ants on an apple. Or whatever. It's just what we do on the weekends, whatever it is, that I enjoy, because we do it as a family. All week long Daddy is gone to work and on the weekend we finally get him to ourselves. We love Daddy very much, you and I.
         In the store today you told everyone "Hi". You are the friendliest little thing I ever did see. You always bring a smile to everyone's face and I am sure a smile to their heart. So much has gone on this week that I can't think of one thing in particular that I want to tell you. I mostly want to tell you that you make me so happy; I love you so much and I am so glad I have you here with me and Daddy. I am the luckiest lady on Earth; I have the best family in the world! I love you, Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               Here it is on a Tuesday and I am getting to post to the blog. You and Mom came to get me this afternoon from work and when we got home your Mom decided that the two of you would go visit Granny for awhile while I stayed here and treated the yard with some weed killer. You got to see Papaw at work today too. You didn't want to come home with Mom & Dad. You wanted to go to Papaw house.
      Last night while you were at Mamaw & Papaw's house your best doggy buddy, Ruffie bit a girl riding by on a bicycle. Papaw thinks that those people in their little spandex biking suits and bullet helmets ought to be banned from the road. I agree. The man with the girl was very arrogant but those cyclists are usually like that. They called animal control on Ruffie. I think Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney intend on keeping Ruffie so that is a good thing. It was kind of sad to see Ruffie get in so much trouble though.
      You are starting to answer us when we ask you questions. That's very exciting. You have been spouting orders at us for some time now but it's cool to have some meaningful communication with you. We are so proud of you.
      Well, I think y'all are home now. Gotta go. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               You had a pretty nice day today. You talked your Mom into taking you to McDonalds for a milkshake. The both of you were watching television when a McDonalds commercial came on featuring milkshakes; You looked at the screen and then over to your Mom and said "Milkshake Yum". Mom had no choice but to take you to McDonalds for your very own milkshake. Your Mother spoils you flat rotten, my sweet little girl.
      You went home with Mamaw today because your Mom had to work. When I arrived to pick you up Papaw was feeding you some peas. You do like your peas. I'm glad of that because peas are good for you. I love peas too but I am afraid your Mom doesn't care much for many vegetables at all and even then she doesn't like for them to be cooked. After the peas you had some cottage cheese with pears. For some reason I don't believe we've ever given you cottage cheese. I love cottage cheese and apparently so do you. You at up a whole big ole' bowl and then you had a few bites of penne pasta with alfredo sauce. You didn't eat too much of that but I believe it's because you filled up on peas and cottage cheese.
      I had supper with Mamaw & Papaw. As we were eating you sat down on Ruffie's back. He just sat there and you talked about doggy rides. It was so cute. That big ole' dog is so very patient with you. Eventually it got a little cool so we left the deck and went into the basement. Mom came down to Mamaw & Papaw's after she got off from work. She was so tired. She gave you a bath in the big sink in the basement and you ran around and played in the basement for a good little while. Your Mom decided she was too tired to drive home so I drove us all back in the truck and we left the car down there. The car needs a new tire and an alignment so until we get that done you will be riding exclusively in the truck. It shouldn't be too long until we get that done.
      I think your Mom likes her job a little more now that she knows a little better what is expected of her. I am glad of that because I would have hated for you Mom to be working at a job she didn't like. Well, I reckon I'll let you go for now. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
            I was off work today and we've had an excellent day together. It was a bit of a lazy morning. We watched an episode of Blue's Clues when you woke up and then I had a cup of coffee and watched Dr. Phil from three days ago. It seems I never have the time to catch up on Phil. Then we got you dressed (after breakfast of course) and I got dressed and we went to see Granny, Mamaw, and Linda over at Linda and Granny's house. You were the star of the show as usual, putting your 'purse' on your head and marching around like a solider. Everyone thought you were so cute and funny. You stayed with Mamaw while I followed Aunt Linda to the tire place to get her car fixed. Then I ran to the store to get us some milk and some hot dog fixins for supper. I picked you up and brought you home and by that time you were more than ready for your nap. You took a long snooze, from about one thirty to three thirty. Actually that's a pretty normal length of a nap for you, it's just that it was so late in the day for you to take one. Your schedule is getting all jumbled around I am afraid. Eventually we'll get you into an even keel again. We just have to be patient.
         We all ate a good supper of hot dogs and pork and beans, potato chips and chili. After dinner we played in the floor, you and I, while Daddy looked on. You kept 'play-eating' my hair. You are so funny sweetie. Then we played "Spider on the Floor" and I chased you around with my hand like a spider. You thought that was big fun, too. Then Daddy got down in the floor and played blocks with you while I rested on the couch. Daddy decided to go to bed pretty early so I went to give you your bath and you pooped in the water. It upset you greatly. There was poop in your water and on your toys and you didn't like that one bit! You cried and told me you were done and wanted a hug. I told you not to worry about it one bit, that we would get it all taken care of. I swopped you up and sat you on your potty and you kept hollering for Daddy and crying that there was Poop and saying you had an icky duck. The duck had poop on him, too. I let the water out of the tub and piled all your toys in the sink then I swooped you up and took you into our bathroom and Daddy got up and got into the shower with you. You had fun in the shower, though, and I am glad of that. We got you all cleaned up and I got you dressed while Daddy went back to bed and then I layed you on the couch so you could watch Little Bear. You lay there quietly and drank your juice and watched your show while I picked up the living room and switched out the laundry. Then I sat down with you a while and finished up the episode. After Little Bear you watched a Backyardigan do a dance while I fixed your milk. A Backyardigan is character from another show on Nickelodeon. Most of your shows are on Nickelodeon and some are on Noggin, too. Or is that Vice Versa? Anyway, I got your diaper changed and got you layed down in the bed. You told the TV night-night and the bear on TV (or TD, as you call it) night-night, too. Now you and Daddy are both in bed and I am not far behind. Night Night Honey!

Dear Rebecca,
               Mama is at work right now and you are still with Mamaw or you are in the beginning of this post anyway. Mamaw is sitting with Granny tonight so she said she would bring you back home instead of me going down there and picking you up. I am glad of that because I got the yard mowed today. I always like getting that done whenever I have the opportunity and I would not have had the opportunity if it had just been you & I. I also got a leisurely shower in, balanced the checkbook and am getting to do a midweek blog post.
      Your Mom, you and I went to Wal-Mart yesterday after you and Mom picked me up from work. We first went to Captain D's for a fish supper. It wasn't as good as it normally is. I was a bit disappointed. Then we went to Wal-Mart. We saw some little play houses like the ones we want to get you for your birthday on display in front of the store and we decided to see which one you liked the best. Luckily you liked the cheapest one there which is a good thing because that's the one you will be getting anyway. You didn't want to leave.
      Once in the store I put you down and let you run all around the store attached to your little harness. I know it looks bad having a baby on a leash but you love it because you get so much more freedom that way. If it wasn't for your harness we would have to carry you around and you would not like that at all. Eventually we joined your Mom in the area where she was searching for a pair of white scrubs for her new job of sitting with some elderly nuns. You hid behind the racks of scrubs. You thought that was big fun.
      When it was time for you to leave Daddy-o did a bad thing. You saw a sucker and, being the sucker that I am, I said sure. Your Mom said that you hadn't eaten enough supper to have a sucker and that you couldn't have one. I said please and then you caught on and said please. We were both so pitiful looking that she gave in. You were so happy to have your blue rasberry sucker. Blue rasberry happens to be my favorite sucker flavor, I thought I would finish it up for you. Mom was none too pleased. She said I undermined her authority and she was 100% correct. I should not have pushed it. I should have went along with her on that. I will endeavor to back your Mother up from now on. I may not succeed every time but I know what I did was wrong and I need to work on that. I spoil you just a small wee bit.
      On the way home from Wal-mart you acted uncomfortable in your car seat so we stopped to readjust you. I made the mistake of stopping in front of Fazoli's, where your Mamaw usually takes you to eat. You thought you were going to get supper and since you were hungry by this time you threw a fit when I did not get you out of your seat. I should have known better than stopping in front of there.
      Well, you are home and Mama is on her way home so I will close for now. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                  Hello my little sweetie bird. Right now you are sleeping quietly in your room. It took you forever to fall asleep today. Actually you were asleep really fast but then Daddy called Mommy on her cell phone and it woke you up so you had to start all over again. I am going to have to modify your routine a little bit; I started my new job at the Taylor Manor nursing home just yesterday. I work from one 'til seven every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Originally I thought it would be every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday but I was wrong. They had told me a hundred different things and it was starting to frustrate me a little bit but they finally got it figured out I reckon. Mamaw kept you yesterday while Mommy worked and as always you had a fantastic time with her.
      We've had a good day together so far; we got up this morning and had a breakfast of a Cinnamon Raisin bagel with light strawberry cream cheese and Apple Cranberry juice. It was good. We watched Blues Clues or as you call it, Dues Tues while we were eating. Then we set about tidying up the house. You helped me dust and put all the pillows on the bed. You're a great helper. You got into trouble though and you got a little spanking for trying to mess up the shades after I told you three or four times not to. Even though I gave your leg a pretty good swat I don't think you took Mommy too seriously. Well, maybe you did. You didn't cry, but after all, you didn't do it again. I don't want to make you cry, really I don't. I just want to make you mind. You're getting into your terrible two-ness early early. My when something doesn't go your way do you ever throw a fit. Usually it doesn't last very long though and you are right back to your normal happy self.
      After we had all of our housework caught up, we went for a walk around the neighborhood. We saw lots of basketball goals; you really want one of those, every one we saw, you jumped up and said Bouncy Ball! at it. We are going to get you small one for your birthday, maybe. Who knows what else you might get. We also saw a caterpillar on the side of a whiskey barrel planter. I touched it several times and felt it's fuzzy little body. I told you what it was and you called it a "piddar". I tried to get you to touch it but you did not want to, not at all. I told you it would not hurt you, that it was fuzzy like a tiny little puppy, but you wanted no part of it. However, when we were leaving, you turned around and threw up your hand to wave at it and said "Bye Piddar!!" You are so very sweet.
      After our walk we came in and had a pizza lunchable and some diet pepsi for lunch and I put you down for your nap. That's where you are now, resting quietly. I want to rest a while, too, so I am going to let you go. We are going to pick up Daddy from work today & go to the store. I love you, my pretty baby!

Dear Rebecca,
               It's been kind of rainy and dreary most of this past week. I did get to mow the lawn on Monday but I don't know if I'll get to get at it again until early next week. Even though it's been a dreary blah week you and your Mom have been very busy. Your Mother had a job interview at the Methodist Home on Monday and it looked like she had gotten the job working with a bunch of female future prison inmates, but luckily for all three of us she then landed a job working at the Taylor Manor Rest Home sitting for two extremely elderly Catholic nuns. She seems to enjoy that kind of work more than any she has done and when your Mom and I first met she could go through a dozen jobs a year with no problem at all. On the other hand, as of two days ago I have been at General Electric for nineteen years. When Papaw was my age I was already working at General Electric. I got a late start with you but it's because I was holding out for the best baby and it's a good thing that I did because here you are.
      Your Mom's hours are going to be from one in the afternoon until seven or so in the evening every weekday except Wednesday. She's also going to get both Saturday and Sunday off so that's super news. I like having your Mom around as do you. We could have made it with no problem on my paycheck but your Mom said we wouldn't have been able to leave the house at all on just my paycheck. No "fies" at "McDondals", no after work trips to Cici's for "pizzie" or anything else that might be construed as fun so her extra money will came in handy for fun stuff and for stuff we might want or need. Mamaw recently retired from her job at the distillery in Frankfort so she will be caring for you until I get home from work around four or so. You will love that because you do love your Mamaw.
      You did the cutest thing the other day. As you will recall from an earlier post, we all went out to eat with Granny aka "Gandy" last Saturday. Earlier this week you got hold of my long grill tongs and you started hobbling across the floor saying "Gandy walker". You had seen Granny walking with the walker Saturday and it seemed to fascinate you for some reason. I even got a picture of you taking her walker for a spin around the living room. We told Granny and she thought it was so cute.
      Thursday you and Mom came to visit me at work during lunch. I really enjoyed seeing the both of you. Y'all went grocery shopping and then you came back to pick me up after work and we all went to Cici's for pizza and salad. After Cici's your mom went to Home Depot for a shrub for the corner of our house and you and I went to Staples for a pen on a chain for our cork board we post the bills on in the office and some crayons for you. You had a big time in Staples. You must get that from me because for some reason I just love to go into office stores. Your fun was running the aisles and climbing and spinning in the office chairs. We had big fun.
      This weekend your mom has to go to my first cousin Marissa's bridal shower, she would be your first cousin once removed, and Aunt Mary and Papaw Lawrence are coming up for Aunt Mary's 30th birthday. We are gonna grill out and then Aunt Mary and your mom go out to karaoke. Your Mom loves karaoke so much. I know I need to take her more often. You'll love seeing Aunt Mairdy as you call her.
      Well, I know there was more I wanted to tell you about but I just can't think of what it might be right now so I will close. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                        Hello my little sweetie bird. Right now you and Daddy are both trying to go to sleep. You are still talking to yourself and Daddy just now went in the bedroom. I am not far behind the two of you; I am going to finish drinking my diet coke and then I am on my way.
      You went to spend the night with Mamaw last night. I am sure you had a very good time down there with Mamaw, Papoo, YNN! and the kids. In a strange turn of events, you wound up spending all day with Mamaw, too. Taylor Manor, the nursing home down the street, called and offered me a job today. I wasn't going to take it because I didn't think I'd have anyone to look after you. The job is from one p.m. until seven p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Mamaw told me to go ahead and take the job and she'd watch you the three hours it took for Daddy to get home. Then it will just be you & him until seven o'clock. Then I'll be home to give you your bath and put you down for night-night; I am so glad of that. Night-night, or pre night-night, when you are lying in my lap with your "banky" and having your drink, is my favorite time of the night. I love you so much. I want to do everything I can for you; that's part of the reason I am getting this job. You deserve everything you need and lots of stuff you want. I never had the joy of having very much when I was a child and so I feel it's important that you get first and foremost, a good home life, a good education, lots and lots of love, and of course, to do your job well. Your only job is to grow up and have lots of fun doing it. Daddy and I, and of course Mamaw & Papaw, & Auntie Lynn & Uncle Rodney and all of the kids will do our best to make that happen I know. I am so proud of you. I know that I will miss you terribly but I will still have you A LOT during the day and some at night. And the three of us as a family will have the weekend together. I love you more than life itself. I hope you know that. You are so special to me! Good night, my sweet! Mommy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               I hate only getting to post blogs on the weekend but I suppose that's a good thing because it means that I am staying busy with you during the week. We all had a pretty decent week together. I think your Mom is thinking about trying to find another job. We have had to adjust to having $400 less per month than we had when your Mom was working at Kroger. We would be fine if she never went back to work but your Mom wants us to be better than fine so I think she may try to find something. She says that she's not going to settle for any old job though. She wants a job that she can enjoy that will pay her a decent wage. She may be waiting awhile on that job so I don't think that it will be any time real soon that she goes back to work. I told her that she should not get discouraged if she has trouble finding exactly what she wants right away because the perfect job is out there for her but it may not come along until later.
      There's been a heart breaking development as a result of the accident you and Mama had on the four wheeler. It seems that the sound of engines now terrify you; any engine at all. Lawn mowers, weed-eaters, motorcycles; they all send you into a clingy little fit of fright. I hate that so much because I know how much you love riding the big lawn mower with Papaw and how much you loved setting on his motorcycle as he revved it up for you. We all hope that you can get over this and regain your sense of joy at hearing the loud engines.
      I don't remember what we did Monday. I know that Tuesday we grilled burgers because I had one for lunch at work on Wednesday. Wednesday afternoon after I got home from work we all went to Lexington and your Mom checked out a few possible job openings and then we stopped off at McDonald's for supper. You had a bag of fries, your Mom & I had a double cheeseburger and some fries and we all split a soda. We are trying to cut down on our dining out expenses. We've done a pretty good job of it too.
      Thursday Mamaw joined you and your Mom at Gymboree while Aunt Lynn sat in the Gymboree parking lot and made phone calls. Mamaw said it was very cute and sweet but I get the feeling she wasn't exactly blown away by it. After Gymboree Aunt Lynn, Mamaw, Mama and you went to Ryan's for lunch with Granny and her sisters and some of their families. Then Mom bought some marigolds for around the house. I got home Thursday afternoon about the same time that you and Mama did. You were tired from your big day out so you took a short nap while your Mom & I watched an episode of Lost from the TiVo. After you got up I went to the little league fields to watch Jon and Jacob play baseball. Jon moved up a level and Jacob was convinced to play this year. They both play for a team called the Tigers. I noticed that Jon batted second in the order and Jacob batted clean up. It was a fun game to watch. Every one of those little boys stole bases like you would not believe. They played and beat a team called the Cubs. Lynn told me later that the coach of the Cubs was nearly assaulted by the parents of the Cubs players. Little League parents can be so crazy. I thought all that talk about out of control little league parents only happened in other places where the people are not quite as civilized as they are around here. I suppose that maybe we are not quite as civilized around this neck of the woods as I had originally believed.
      Friday after I got home we grilled out hot dogs and bratwursts for supper. After supper we took a walk. We headed down Colony Drive towards South Hill where we turned right. As we walked along South Hill Aunt Lynn saw us as she drove by so she stopped and we chatted awhile on the side of the road. We then kept walking down South Hill toward the walking track that runs along Falling Spring Road. We walked along the track all the way to McCowan's Ferry Rd. and then we headed on back. You had a big time. You would run a little ahead of us and then wait on us and then run ahead again. You couldn't get very far ahead of us because we had you in your Elmo harness with a leash. Before you were born and even a little while after that I thought that having a child on one of those leash things was the worst idea in the world. It looked almost cruel but now I realize that if we want to be able to let you have some freedom to walk along and bend down and study buggies and dirt and rocks and such that we had to have a way to keep you from getting away from us and the harness fits the bill to a tee. The walk really wore you out so we didn't have much trouble getting you down for the night on Friday night. Maybe you were a little too tired to go to sleep right away because we heard you a little while later in your room chatting up your stuffed dolls and animals that you must sleep with every night. Yes, you have a certain gang that must join you every night. First and foremost, you must have your stuffed Dora and then you have to have your teddy bear named Bear Bear, Bunny and your moon pillow.
      Saturday morning you and Mom woke up early and went to your final class at Gymboree. It was a make up class because you had missed one earlier in the session. It's your last one because it's getting warmer and we thought that you might enjoy playing outside better than going to Gymboree, plus we figured up that Gymboree costs $12.50 for forty-five minutes of play and while you love Gymboree, that seems to be an awfully expensive forty-five minutes. We talk about putting you back in Gymboree in the winter but I don't know if we will or not. Your Mom & I both hate it that we are taking you out of Gymboree because you do love it so much but we both feel like you would prefer to eat more than you would prefer to play with Gymbo the Clown. Your final class was your first one at level five and your Mom said that you appeared kind of tentative around this older, larger and more unruly bunch of children so maybe it's a good thing that you are getting out when you are.
      Saturday afternoon after your lunch we all went down to Big Springs Park. You played on the playground and we took a nice little walk around the path. We stayed there for an hour and a half. After that we went to visit Granny. We convinced her to come with us to a Mexican restaurant here in town called Mi Pueblitos. No one else could convince Granny to leave the house today but your Mama was able to do it with your help. Your Mama convinced Granny it would be fun for her to have lunch with you and you did make it fun for Granny. You love Granny very much and she loves you just as deeply. You kept hollering "Hi Gandy". Granny has always been deaf in one ear and as she has aged her hearing has deteriorated in the other; she's the perfect example of the old saying, "deaf in one ear and can't hear out of the other". Anyway, with her being so hard of hearing she didn't even know you were talking to her. She thought that you were talking to me. You also kept saying "Mon Gandy", which means "Come on Granny", when she wasn't moving quick enough on her walker to suit you. I think you and Granny had a fabulous time together. At the restaurant Granny had a taco salad and she ate most of it which tickled me to death because she hasn't had any appetite since her last fall, you had cheese quesadillas and fries and Mama and I had fajitas. After supper we watched Barbaro win the 132nd running of the Kentucky Derby on the television there at the restaurant. We brought Granny back here to our place after supper because she hadn't had a chance to see it yet. She was justifiably impressed with our humble home. When I sat her down in my chair to look at some pictures from the computer using the TiVo she really couldn't concentrate on the pictures of you because she was so entertained by the real deal putting on a show for her in the living room floor. We have that problem a lot as well. We try to look at pictures of you and you are being just so darn cute that we are not able to look at the pictures because we have to look at you. Eventually Granny wanted to go back home so Mama took her back while we stayed behind and went through your bedtime routine which currently consists of a bath, an episode of Little Bear with a blanky and chocolate milk or chokit milk,as you call it, a diaper change, two sippy cups for bed and a night night kiss.
      After Mom got back you were sound asleep so your Mom & Dad watched another episode of Lost and one of a show about a rude but brilliant doctor called House. Mom went to bed and I went to Dairy Mart on South Main St. to purchase four cans of Copenhagen because I was plumb out of the nasty stuff. You know it's nasty too. Whenever you see me spitting into one of my spit bottles you twist up your cute little nose and say "Yuck, Nasty" and you are 100% correct. And that has been our week or as much of it as I can recall.
      Mama seems to think that you are not quite the Oobi head that you have been in the past. She said that you did ask to watch Oobi the other morning but your new favorite show is now Blue's Clues or Due's Tues as you call it. She said you sat up in my chair and sung the little thinking song that Steve from Blue's Clues sings when he's setting in his thinking chair.
      Well, I reckon that's all for tonight. I am glad that you have started telling us that you love us now. It melts my heart when I hear you say that to me and you know what, Daddy loves Rebecca too.

Dear Rebecca,
                  We had a very good day together today.When we got up this morning, we set about our task of cleaning up the house. You helped me dust, clean both the toilets, clean the glass and sweep the floor. You are a mighty good helper; I am very proud of you for all that you do. Sometimes it takes me extra long to get done with a particular task because you are 'helping' me, but I do not mind that at all. It's fun to have you around, I never know what you might do next.
            After we had all our housework done, we went to the store to get some milk, hot dogs, and hot dog buns. Tonight we are all grilling out on the deck. We got home and I fixed you a pizza lunchable for your 'sunch' and you were acting tired so I put you down for a nap. I thought you might go to sleep but I was wrong. I changed a really stinky diaper right before I put you down and gave you some chocolate milk, so I thought sure you would be on your way. I don't suppose you were tired enough. You have gotten off your schedule a bit because of some plans we made this week. Usually you are out like a light by eleven thirty. You will probably fall back into your pattern tomorrow though because you have a make up class at Gymboree. This is, for the summer, by the way, your last class. We are going to sign you back up in the winter. I know you love Gymboree but it's really expensive and in the summer there are parks all over Versailles and Lexington full of children to play and interact with. I am also going to sign you up for the reading program at the library. That will be lots of fun for you because you really love your books. Mommy did a lot of stuff at the library when she was a little girl because Mommy loved books, too, and the library was free. Mommy's parents didn't have a lot of money so we couldn't really ever do things like Gymboree. Anyway, back to today. You didn't nap. You simply laid in your bed and hollered for Momma to 'Mere'. So, I finally did 'mere' and get you. We went outside and dug up the ground between the bushes to plant the rest of the 'Flafu's' we didn't plant in the pot yesterday. You kept playing in the water hose and trying to drink from it, though. Then we picked up our mess from planting the 'flafu's' and you wanted to ride your cycle. So we drug your cycle out of the garage and you did indeed ride it a bit. Then we went and got a popcicle and ate it on the steps of the front porch. You saw some ants and you said "Momma, Buggy!" and I told you that yes, they were buggies, to which you replied, "Mommy, ANTS!" That honestly shocked me; I guess Moose A. Moose taught you all about them on Noggin when they were at his picnic. We went in the back yard and played for a while there but you were getting tired so I brought you in and turned on Blue's Clues. You watched it for a bit while I changed your diaper then I put you down for a nap. That's where you are now, and Daddy is home, and I need to get you up if you are going to sleep at all tonight. I love you, my little helper!

Dear Rebecca,
                     Hello sweetheart. We have had a wonderful day together so far. This morning you got up around 7:30 and I fixed you a breakfast of an orange and a cup of yogurt. You really never eat much breakfast, but you love oranges so today you ate most of that. I got you dressed for the day and we watched an episode of Blue's Clues while Mommy drank some coffee and ate some cereal. Then I went and made the bed and got dressed while you watched Pinky Dinky Doo. After I was all dressed we got our jackets on and went outside to play, around 8:45. We spent about half an hour in the back yard swinging and sliding and talking to the neighbors dogs. You told the littlest one, Peanut, or as you call her "Pe-Dut", that you loved her. You said "Yowe You PeDUT!" You are so cute and sweet and smart and pretty. After the dogs went inside we decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. We took a walk down to Nottingham and back up to the house where we got out your 'Cycle' and you played with it and rode it for a while. Then I got your bouncy ball out of the truck and we had big fun throwing it up against the side of the garage and watching it bounce back to us. We are going to get a basketball goal and mount it above the garage, I am thinking. That will be lots of fun and exercise for all of us, and I know the boys will really love it.
            After we did that we decided to go in and get the flower seeds, or 'flafu' seeds that Mamaw gave us and plant them out in the front yard. You picked the spot where the tree used to be and no grass grows, which was handy. You dug up the ground mostly by yourself and we dumped the flower seeds in it. Then you covered it back up and patted it back down with the spade. We saw a whole nest of ticks out there in the ground and you kept wanting to touch the "buggies". I had to tell you that we could not touch those kinds of buggies. After we planted the flowers, you decided you wanted to play with your car toy you got last Easter and so I opened the garage and let you ride on it there in front of the garage up and down the driveway while I swept the garage out a bit. You had a good time doing that until you got bored and climbed up on the porch and started climbing up and down on the bench. You were getting tired and it was a bit cool and we had already been outside for over an hour and a half so I decided it was time to go back in. We went in and called Mamaw to tell her we planted our flower seeds and I put your lunch in the oven. You colored for a while then we decided to watch Blues Clue's while we waited for your lunch to finish. You had a Kid's Cuisine Cheesburger Builder. You like Kid's Cuisines and lucky for me, they are cheap. They run about two dollars a piece and they have an entree, side, corn which you don't eat much of, and a dessert. They're not bad for you and they are easy to fix. You also like lunchables but I try to treat those more as a snack because there usually isn't much in the way of vegetables.
            Daddy called while you were finishing your 'sunch' as you call it and he said hi to you while I was getting you all cleaned up. You smiled and cooed but really didn't talk back because my little girl was so sleepy. I cleaned you up and changed your diaper and took down your 'puppy ears' and jumped around with you for a minute before I put you down for your nap. You were more than ready to go because you took your drink and puckered your lips for a night night kiss and told me bye-bye when I laid you in your bed. That's where you are now, resting quietly. You never even hollered and hooped to yourself before you nodded off. Alicia was supposed to bring Braydon and her baby Bryson over here today but she said Braydon is coughing so I don't know if you will have any playmates or not. Either way, the rest of the day promises to be just as fun for the both of us. I love you so much. See you soon!

Dear Rebecca,
               I probably am not going to have much time to work on this blog because I think that you might wake up shortly. Your Mom is also napping and I came in here right after she laid down with the intention of posting this blog. Instead I got sidetracked toward the Internet Movie Database or IMDb, one of our favorite websites, because I wanted to see how a stupid television show that I have been watching on Lifetime was being received by the rest of the country. Cheerleader Nation is the name of the show. It's about the Paul Laurence Dunbar cheerleaders from over in Lexington. I started watching it just to see stuff that I might recognize and really didn't pay any attention at all to it until the season finale last night when they competed in the national championships. That was a good episode. I know your Aunt Mary would enjoy that show. She was head cheerleader when she was in high school and even though she is almost thirty now she still considers herself a cheerleader. I think Aunt Mary may have peaked early.
      We had a pretty nice week. I really don't remember much about it but I reckon that's a good thing because you usually only seem to remember the bad. I do remember that we all went over to visit Granny Wednesday evening. We all had a great time. Louise, Lucas and Linda were also there. They were all mainly upstairs and you kept hollering for upstairs for Weese, Yinda and Wucas. It was so cute. You are talking more and more every day. You have been putting small sentences together for awhile now and they are starting to get longer and longer. Last night when I was setting up Mamaw & Papaw's DSL on their computer last night you said "Talk to Mama on Phone?" so we called your Mama on the phone and you got to chat with her for awhile before you went to bed with Mamaw. I am so proud of you.
      This week you have discovered that you enjoy Blues's Clues. You do love your Noggin shows. You love Oobie, Jack's Big Music Show, Little Bear, Sesame Street on PBS and the Noggin network mascots Moose A. Moose and Zee the bird. Speaking of birds, you have come to love birds. We saw a robin in the yard yesterday and you called it a chicken bird. Ducks used to be your favorite bird but I now think it's chickens.
      Well, I reckon I am going to close this blog post out for now. I wish I had more time to post during the week because I know I forget important stuff that you really should know about that happens in between my rare posts. It used to be easy to post on the blog when all you did was lay in the floor and attempt to roll over. You've been rolling over for a long time now and now you've started rolling over Mommy & Daddy as well. We wouldn't have it any other way though. You are growing up so nice. We are more impressed with you every day. I could not have had a more perfect daughter if I had got to design you myself. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                     Hello my little sweetie bird. Right now you are taking a nap. I know you will go to sleep because you spent the night with Mamaw last night. You really had a good time, from what she tells me. You walked all around their property, all the way back to the 'park' that backs up to their house. You also got to play a lot with Sadie and "Fruffy!" As you call him. 'Fruffy' is Ruffy, Auntie Lynn's big hundred pound beagle. He is huge and could maul a mountain lion but as long as he knows you he is the sweetest, most gentle, most playful dog I know. I really like Ruffy. I like Sadie too but Sadie is a wild woman kind of dog. She is a little Jack Russel and you enjoy playing "Bouncy Ball" with her. You are so cute & sweet and smart and pretty. Mamaw said you kept telling her "Night Night Honey" all night last night. That is so cute. She informed me that you talk in your sleep. I already knew that because lots of times you make animal sounds in your sleep. Just the other night you mumbled "Oink". I thought was so sweet & funny.
         This past week, on the reccomendation of someone else, we bought some Little Ones K-Mart brand diapers for you. They seemed to work alright as long as you had your clothes on. I put you down for your nap in just your T-shirt and diaper and you promptly took your diaper off and proceeded to wet your sheets & bedclothes and mattress all through your nap. I came in to check on you when you woke up and all I could see was your tiny butt stuck up in the air. It was so funny that I had to laugh. It was also the second time I had to change your sheets that day so it wasn't funny enough to buy those diapers again.
         You and I went swimming yesterday. I had planned on getting up and getting the house good & clean before we went. We didn't get to go to Gymboree Thursday because Daddy drove my car to work and left us the truck but he took his set of keys which has the only truck key for the moment on it so we were stranded indeed. So, to make up for that, I told you Thursday night that we might go swimming the next day and you smiled and kind of waved it off. However, when you got up Friday morning you looked at me and said "Momma, svwimmin?" *That is how you say swimming) So I could not say No to you of course, and besides, There is lots of time to clean houses. There is not a lot of time to go swimming when you are young. So we went and we had a ball. There was a class of elderly people there doing water aerobics and they just fussed and fussed and cooed over you. Of course, you ate it up. Everyone smiled and waved and you tried to imitate everything they were doing in their class. You clung pretty close to me at first but by the time the hour and a half was over you were wanting to swim all by yourself. You kept calling the water a 'bath' and trying to bathe my arm. You really liked when I would lay you on your back and slide you around in the water with the back of your head touching. You'd raise up if the water touched your ears though and promptly say "Icky, Ears." Daddy is the very same way. He cannot stand for water to get in his ears. After that we came home & had 'Sunch' (lunch) and I put you down for your nap. You went to sleep after about half an hour of talking to yourself and hollering for me. I tidied up the house and went to lay down myself because the water had also made me tired.
      Papaw took you home from work with him so you could spend the night with he & Mamaw and Daddy and I went to the grocery store. We also went out to eat. It was very nice for us to spend some time together alone. I love your Daddy very much and I like to be able to spend as much time with him as I can. Also with you, and of course, my favorite time is with the two of you together. I love you both to pieces. Daddy says he loves you back together again so he must love you more. I say that is pish posh, there is no way he could love you more because I carried you around for nine whole months. You were close to Mommy's heart. Then, now, and always. Sweet dreams... and I still love you to pieces!

Dear Rebecca,
               You are out with your Mom at the moment. Y'all went to Kmart for some diapers; you had run out entirely. Your Mom just now called and said y'all are on your way home.
      I got to post a weekday blog this week. I was rather impressed with myself. It was a short one but I got it done all the same.
      Tuesday I got off from work and mowed the lawn and then we all went down to Mamaw & Papaw's for supper. We took the horse & carriage that the neighbor gave you down there and you rode it in their driveway with Jacob. You had big fun doing that. We eventually got around to eating very late. We had a barbequed pork roast, mashed taters, green beans, corn pudding, asparagus, corn, peach cobbler and iced tea. Granny wasn't feeling very well so the dinner wasn't as enjoyable for everyone as we all would have wished. You and I were very hungry though so while everyone else took care of Granny we stayed at the table and ate a huge supper. I drank about a half gallon of iced tea. After supper Aunt Lynn got you on Jon's four wheeler and rode you all over the place. You loved that so much. She taught you how to start the four wheeler and how to give it gas. The two of you rode forever. We had a hard time getting you off of it when it was time to go. We had planned on giving you a bath and putting you directly to bed but when we got home you told us night-night as soon as we walked through the door so we put you directly to bed. I had trouble going to sleep because, as I said before, I had drank a half gallon of tea; real brewed tea full of caffeine. I ended up not going to work the next day.
      Saturday morning we all got up relatively early for a Saturday and we went to Gymboree for a make up class. Mom told you all about that and about your trip to the park. I mowed the lawn while you and Mom tried to take a nap. When I was done we went down to Mamaw & Papaw's for a visit. You rode your horse & carriage again. You are getting much better at it. You still don't have the steering concept down yet but you certainly can make it go. A little while after that Mom was going to take the four wheeler down to Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney's house to get me a bottle of water because I was getting a little thirsty. You saw your Mom on the four wheeler and you started hollering "Ride!" so I put you on the four wheeler in front of your Mom. Your Mom was going to take you on a very slow ride, however she was not aware of how adept you had become at giving the four wheeler gas and she wasn't very familiar with the vehicle so when she took off you laid the gas to it and the both of you had a little accident on the contraption. It scared everyone, your Mother most of all. She insisted that we take you to the emergency room but it turned out that you were fine. Your Mom is a bit bruised and banged but she has been in much worse situations so she will be fine too. However your Mother has decreed that you are no longer to ride the four wheeler with anyone. You may still ride the mower with Papaw but that is all. I know how much you love the four wheeler but your Mom has a valid reason for not wanting you on it anymore.
      Well, the both of you are home now and you keep wanting to take crayons out of the office and you are not allowed to do that and I can't pay proper attention to you while I am on here so I will close this post out and join you and Mama in the living room. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               Hello my little sweetie pie. Right now you are in your room down for a nap. You are not asleep yet because I can still hear you muttering things now and then. At least you are muttering now and not hollering. That's a good sign you may be on your way. I don't know, however. Right now Daddy is outside mowing the grass and it is blowing my ears out. I am sure it is doing you no favors.
               Today we went to the park, just you and me. We stayed for nearly an hour and a half. We took your 'cycle' which is what you call your tricycle you got for Easter, We also took your bubble wand and a bouncy ball, We would have been better off only taking the bubbles. You never even touched your cycle and we didn't even get the ball out of the car. You did, however, have big fun with the bubbles. You kept swinging the wand around and watching the bubbles fly. When they did fly, that is. Mostly you just slung bubble solution all over the two of us. There was a three year old little girl there named Mattie and she had bubbles too. You all played with the bubbles together, until you eventually broke your wand. Then I had to throw the bubbles away. You did not like that one bit. But when I got you on to another task you quickly forgot all about it. You kept wanting to go up the really tall slide that is for the big kids. You think you are just as big as the rest of them. I don't know if that's a good thing or not. Don't be in such a hurry, kiddo. Enjoy the free three and unders while you can. All too soon preschool comes and then you have to learn to share and stuff. Not that you don't already share. You do very well with that.
               You also got to see two puppies at the park. They were miniature long-haired daschunds and they were really sweet and playful. The people that owned the puppies were some people Mommy knew from her old job at Dairy Mart. They had four little girls and you had big fun playing with the youngest two, who were five and six. The youngest one kept holding your hand and dragging you around everywhere she went. You thought that was really fun.
            You got to slide, swing, rock on the big rocking alligator and take a short walk around the trail with your dear old Mother. All in all, we had a really good time at the park. You didn't want to leave at all, but we were both tired and hot and I knew it was time for us to go. You plopped down in the middle of the grass and cried a little, so I had to pick you and the cycle both up and carry you to the truck. I brought you home and you the neighbor stopped and made a big fuss over you. She asked about putting some chicken wire along the fence to keep the dogs from digging under it. I said sure go for it. She asked where you got all your blonde hair. Daddy and were really blonde hair when were were smaller too. It all went away unfortunately, however. I hope you get to keep it. I'd love for you to be that blonde for the rest of your life.
         Mamaw just called and said for us to bring you down so you could ride your horse & carriage. I told her that you were down for a nap. You are still not asleep because you heard me talking to Mamaw and started hollering at me again. Mommy was not working so you started hollering "KISTIE!" Which, of course, is Kristie. I guess you thought I'd come for that. When you discovered you were wrong you began to cry. You have cried for a bit but now you have quited down some. Perhaps you really are on your way this time. I hope so. I know that you are tired and you really do sleep much better when you get to take a nap. We already attempted one nap today, after Gymboree. You had a make up class this morning and when I told you where we were going you said "Gym, Arden?" Arden is your favorite friend at Gym. I said no, I don't think Arden is going to be there today. But, I was wrong, because Low and Behold, Arden was making up a class today too. You were happy to see her, even though you really didn't get to play together. There is just too much going on at Gymboree. You had big fun today, as usual. Today was about fast and slow. You are an expert at fast. I have yet to get you to do anything slowly.
      After Gymboree we went to Kroger to get stuff to grill hamburgers. We came home and slapped them on the grill and put you down for the first feeble attempt at a nap. You had only had applesauce for breakfast and a Cookie for a snack so I figured you must have been hungry and that's why you would not go. I got you up for your burger and you did eat pretty good. That's when I decided you and I would go to the park and let you run it out and maybe then you would be tired. Apparently it still hasn't worked. You are still awake and mumbling, and I think it's because you can hear me in here pounding on this keyboard. I have a couple of more things to tell you and then I will let you go, so maybe you can nod off to Dreamland.
            Daddy was not able to make the Easter Egg hunt with us. He was too sick. I was feeling pretty badly myself. But I am your Mommy and I was also the stand-in Easter Bunny. I colored and was supposed to hide the eggs. And I did. You saw where I hid them. too. And before the Easter Egg hunt you had already found and eaten four. You got a head start because you are in good with the Easter Bunny. Sissy helped you hunt your eggs and every time she would hand you one you wouild slam it into your basket and crack it. I thought that was hilarious. When I brought you your Easter gift, you got really excited and 'rode' it for a good long time. You weren't able to reach the pedals with your feet. When you finally get the hang ofit, I know you will be a Pro. You got your Dora the Explorer Explore With Me Trike for Easter. Or, as you call it, your "Cycle". I tried to get a good video of you hunting Easter Eggs and opening your basket and gift, but Daddy said it was really crappy. I had to attempt to tend to you and Video at the same time. Sometimes I don't think Daddy knows how difficult it is to tend to a tiny tot and do other things at the same time. Daddies think they are fabulous at everything but what they don't realize is without the Mommies there to entertain the child their videos would be just as crappy. So there. I enjoyed taping you though and getting to see you hunt eggs on Easter, and that is all I care about. I felt very poorly but I really wanted to be there to share the experience with you. I was very grumpy that day and I am sure I said some out of the way things to some people but I felt so badly the next day that I went to the doctor. I took you with me. You were an angel, as ever, playing with a little boy in the waiting room while I waited for the doctor to see me. Turns out I had a sinus infection on top of the cold we had all been sharing and spreading like proverbial Christmas Cheer. No wonder my video was so bad. It's a wonder I was able to stand up. Needless to say, I am feeling much better now.
         Well, little one, I am going to let you go for now. You still aren't asleep. If you aren't there by four, I am getting you back up. I want you to be able to go to bed on time tonight, just as much as I want you to take a nap. Mommy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                     Today you are out and about hanging out with Mamaw & Auntie Lynn. From what I understand you all are going to Kohl's and then to Cici's Pizza, or maybe it's the other way around. Anyway, you do love hanging out with Mamaw and "Yynn" as you call her. Last night Mamaw took you over to see Granny and when she brought you back you were Gung-Ho to leave with her again. You love your Mamaw to pieces. Last night we asked you who you loved better, Little Bear or Mommy and you said "Mamaw!" You are so sweet & cute and smart & pretty.
      Aunt Lynn said she asked you what you wanted to eat today and you very matter-of-factly told her that you wanted "Pizzy!" I told Mamaw I reckon that's because you know that when we go out to eat we go out for "Pizzy" because we can't afford to do much else. Raising a baby is VERY expensive. You grow out of shoes and clothes left and right and I am left wondering what to do about it quite often. Luckily your Mamaw and Auntie Lynn like to buy you little things here and there and you have some step-cousins that send you some really nice hand-me-downs so we are pretty blessed.
      Daddy is at work so that means Mommy is home all alone. I got some housework done and now I've taken a shower and plopped down in this computer chair. I enjoy being with you every day of my life, but I must say sometimes it's nice to be able to get some work done without tripping over my precious little girl. You like to 'help' a lot and so I let you. It teaches you valuable skills. It also takes me twice as long to do what I need to do. But that is OK. It's all about you. It always has been and it always will be. I love you more than life itself. I want you to always know that. You're the best Mommy-Helper that I know of!
            I am going to end this post so that I can relax a little while before you get home. I was going to play on this here computer but Daddy suggested a nap and after all I have done this morning I have sort of 'crashed' and so I might go ahead and try to sneak one in. I love you, Mommy's Little Helper!

Dear Rebecca,
               Real quick post; you were so sweet, cute and fun tonight. You had big fun playing Rock-a-Baby with your Mom & I. A boy came to our door and wanted to know if he could mow our lawn; I mow the lawn. After he left you stood at the door yelling "Boy!" to the top of your lungs. Our neighbor whose yard backs up to our house gave you a really neat electric carriage and horse that her granddaughter had out grown. I can't wait until you learn to press the foot pedal with your foot. You keep trying to press it with your hand. The neighbor lady beat the Easter Bunny to death with her gift. After your bath we all had a big family hug and you thought that was the greatest thing ever. You kept pushing Mommy and Daddy together so we could kiss. Later you stood at the door watching the robins play in our yard. You kept saying hello to the birds and when we closed the door you told the birds that you loved them. You were so very cute. After that we put on Little Bear which is a calming animated show on your favorite channel, Noggin. You crawled up in your Mother's lap and leaned back with your drink and your banky and watched so calmly and attentively. We read you a little story about a bunny that didn't want to go to sleep and then we put you to bed. It was a fabulous night. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                  Today is Easter Sunday. You, Daddy, and I all got up and went to the new church they are naming "Wings Of Refuge Mortinsville Community Church." Danny's Uncle Donny and his wife Martha are starting it. As you have read previously, the old church burned to the ground. They were holding a breakfast out there in a building that belonged to someone they know this morning. Daddy was very tired because he did not sleep well last night because he is suffering from your cold. It seems to hit adults a bit harder: Yesterday I was miserable. Today Daddy is and he took some cough medicine to help him last night and it is also a sedative. So he is asleep right now. He left right after breakfast and went home and went down for a nap. I know he went right to bed because I found his clothes and shoes at the door. Poor Daddy.
      It was a really good breakfast, but you did not eat much because you had a piece of bacon and a pop tart this morning. In mid-service you did almost eat an entire piece of ham. You also had a really nasty dirty diaper that I had to take you into the bathroom and clean up. I had to change your clothes because even your little tights were stinky. You were dressed in your pretty frilly ruffled purple Easter Dress. Which you spilled stuff all over. Much to Mommy's dismay. I even had Mamaw iron it special because I was afraid I'd mess it up. What was I thinking of when I thought you'd keep it clean? Daddy was able to get a lot of pictures of you in it out there in front of Mamaw & Papaw's house this morning, though. Mamaw and Papaw got you and Easter basket filled with lots of goodies, and the Weasel Ball you liked so much at Cracker Barrel. You don't call it a weasel though. You call it a mouse. You say "HI, MOUSE!"
      Mamaw brought us home after the service and I put you down for your nap. It hasn't seemed to take yet though because you are still up hollering. You are going to have to take a nap kiddo. I am doing my best to just ignore you because that is what seems to work the best. I know you are tired and you are going to need all your energy for the Easter Egg hunt. You danced around like a crazy baby at church while they were singing. When they stopped you got mad and plucked at a guitar wanting someone to sing a "song!" I love the way you say song. It's so cute. You love music. You wake up singing and you go to sleep singing. You clapped and danced and laughed at church while they were playing music like they were throwing a party just for you. So I know you need some rest. Everyone really enjoyed watching you. Everyone would pull you up in their lap and smile and just go on about how pretty you were. You were, as always, the star of the show.
      We are having Easter Dinner over at Aunt Linda and Great Granny's house today. There is also going to be an Easter Egg hunt in which we colored the Easter Eggs for. You & I that is. We colored them yesterday outside on the deck. It was lots of big fun. It would have been more fun if Mommy hadn't been so sick. It would have been more fun for you and it definitely would have been more fun for me. We also made our cupcakes for the Easter dinner. We both had big fun doing that, as always. Again if I had felt better.. well you know. You still aren't asleep for your nap but you have gotten considerably quieter so I believe you may be on your way. You are still holding the stuffed rabbit Aunt 'Wiwa' brought you for Easter. You really did love it and I know that made her smile. Well, Becca bird, I am going to let you go for now. The Easter Bunny is on his way I know. I hope that Daddy is going to be able to go with us. If not, I will just have to take both cameras and try to get some good shots with both of them. I love you, Rebecca! Happy Easter!