Dear Becca & Grant,
                  Today started out pretty nice. Becca and I went to the McDonald's playland over there in front of Wal-Mart at Nicholasville Rd. and Man O' War. I had a Big Mac that I had to send back because it was prepared wrong. I asked for no pickles with extra onions and I got no onions with extra pickles. No big deal; I'm used to sub par service at all McDonald's in general and that particular McDonald's in particular. Becca played and had lots of fun. I don't think she was quite as into it as she has been in the past. As a matter of fact she eventually told me she wanted to leave. So we did.
      We headed out to Hamburg where we went to Target. When we walked through the door Becca informed me that they had popcorn there and she wanted some so we got popcorn and watermelon icees. My favorite flavor of icee is blue Raspberry. I purchased Becca four turtle neck shirts; one each in black, white, pink and purple. We hadn't been able to find turtleneck shirts at Wal-Mart this early yet. We also got for Becca two packs of socks, two sleeper outfits, a set of overalls, a giant floor sized tablet of Crayola drawing paper, two bottles of conditioner and a horizontally striped sweater. While we were at target I smelled a foul odor and checked Becca's pullup and I wasn't very surprised to see a huge poop in it. I didn't have the pull-ups with me in the store so we left. I figured I would change you in Babies "R" Us. We then made a fruitless stop at Rack Room Shoes to see if we could get Becca some brown boots. I guess it may be too soon to get fall shoes just yet.
      We got to Babies "R" Us and Becca found the cutest little toddler bed. She crawled right in. I told her to take her shoes off and she did and she also informed me that she would be careful not to get poop on it as well. I had forgotten about the poop. We went straight back out to the Explorer and got her wipes and a pull-up. She had one of the biggest stinkiest poops I had ever handled. Surprisingly enough it cleaned up quite easily. I wish she would get potty trained. I think maybe Grant has set her back some in that regard. She then went back to the toddler bed. She took her shoes off and crawled into be. She climbed under the Dora covers and all. She informed me she was going to take a nap right there in the store. I had to drag her away from the bed. I saw a beautiful dress and had already decided to purchase it when I saw the neatest looking pair of jeans. They were pink, light grey and white camouflage Levi's brand jeans with flared legs and sparkles. I decided she would get more wear out of the jeans. We also got two velcro swaddling blankets for Grant, some Crayola bath markers for Becca, a bottle warmer, some new tooth paste for Becca, a brush for Grant, a package of triple A batteries and an Aquafina bottled water.
      We then went to Culver's and got us each a vanilla frozen custard cone. I absolutely love frozen custard. It's like ice cream only five times better. We ate our cones on the way to The Shoe Carnival where things really got out of hand. I was going to see if they had some brown boots for Becca there. As I was searching she disappeared around the corner. I hollered at her to show herself or call out to me. She was gone. I assumed she was close and wasn't overly concerned. I quickly looked down all the aisles in the kid's section but she wasn't there. I was frantic by now. I was running through Shoe Carnival calling out for her. People kept asking me what she was wearing so they could assist me in my search and for the life of me I couldn't even remember what she were wearing. I was in a frantic haze by this point. Eventually a man approached me and said that his wife had her on the other side of the store. I went and got her and I walked her back to the kid's section where I sat her down and explained to you that things had changed in the way she behaved when she was out with us and that when we got home she was going to take a shower and go straight to bed. Becca didn't think much of that. She could tell I was fired up. She apologized and hugged me and kissed me and all the little things she does to melt my heart. She knows what she is doing when she turns on the wounded little girl charm but I wasn't going for it this time.
      We left and went to Wal-Mart. I told her she was riding in a cart and there was to be no discussion on the subject. Much to my surprise she didn't put up any fuss at all. She knew she was in some of the worst trouble of her life. She even tried some reverse psychology on me. She told me she wanted to go to bed when she got home because she had yawned. She eventually asked to get out of the cart but I told her that wasn't going to happen until she was fourteen years old or so. I was seeing red I was so mad at her. I bought one of those toddler leashes while we were there. We had had one earlier but I don't know what happened to it. We have always given her a lot of freedom when we would go into stores. As long as she stayed close to us and in our sight she was allowed to walk about on her own. Those days are over. Either she will be riding in the cart or on the leash. We went to Wal-Mart to buy some bread and in addition to the bread we got some milk, some more socks for Becca, you can never have too many socks, a wand to go with Becca's fairy Halloween costume and the aforementioned toddler leash. I let her choose between the monkey leash or the dog leash. She chose the dog.
      I realized on the way home that Becca hadn't had nay supper so I stopped at the new Kentucky Fried Chicken and bought her a kid's meal. We got home and I sat her down at the table with her food. After she finished eating I gave her a quick shower and then we put her to bed. She only went to bed a half hour early or so but she knew it was early and she knew she didn't get to watch any television before she went to bed. She gave a very very weak protest and then she was down for the count. She was worn out.
      Becca lost some privileges yesterday and it will be quite some time before she earns them back. I am still pretty upset with her. She had a previous incident with Mamaw along those same lines. Mamaw wore her little hind end out. Spankings are all well and good and I spank Becca on a regular basis but I remember spankings working better on me than they work on her. I'm going to have to start revoking privileges when she acts out in addition to a good old fashioned whooping.
      I had a pretty good time, none the less. I absolutely love buying cute clothes for my cute daughter and dressing her up in all the wonderful things I bought for her. I know that may not be a manly past time but if I had the cash she would have more clothes than she could ever wear. I am still sad I wasn't able to get the boots. In addition to a pair of brown boots I want to get her a pair of black sneakers trimmed in pink. We got her a black jogging suit trimmed in pink at Wal-Mart in Lawrenceburg early this past week and those shoes would go perfect. See, that last sentence had no hint of testosterone about it at all.
      Well, that's been mine & Becca's day. I am going to have to have a talk with her tomorrow on the new privilege revocation punishment plan. I know she won't get much out of our talk but maybe after she loses her television, which she probably shouldn't have anyway, or about half of her toys she will start getting the picture. I hate having to punish poor little Becca. She's always been such a good girl and it hurts me to get cross with her and it absolutely kills me when she hugs and kisses me with tears in her eyes when I am angry with her. I love her so much and I don't want her acting like a little hellion. I know this is just a stage and I hope Grant is as easy as she has been these past three years. I am proud of both of my kids. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
                  Here I am again. I haven't had as much opportunity to post as I would have liked these past few weeks. The main problem is that I usually post from out laptop while sitting in my chair in the middle of the night. Grant, your Mom is just as crazy with you as she was with Becca. She didn't want you alone when you first came home so she put you in your swing in the living room from your first night on. She also doesn't think you can sleep with the light on even though you sleep all day and even outside during the middle of the day with the sun putting out all that light. Anyway it's been dark in here as I have tried to play on the computer and I am a hunt and pecker type of guy when it comes to typing so I have to see the keyboard and I can't do that in the dark. She says I could go in the kitchen and post from the desktop but I'm spoiled with the laptop. I haven't posted like I should for that reason and that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
      Becca started preschool two weeks ago. She seems to really enjoy it. She is always excited to go. I can never get any details out of her as far as what went on at school though. She's mentioned a few names and talked about playing freeze in gym, playing computer games and singing a hello song. I wish I was a fly on the wall at her school so I could see how she is getting along. I was able to take her to school all last week and on Tuesday of this past week. Monday was Labor day. I had been off on Family Leave on account of Grant being born. She goes to school at Southside Elementary Monday through Thursday from nine in the morning until noon. Her teacher's name is Ms. Dykes or Mrs. Dykes, I don't know which and her aide is Mrs. Bush. Auntie Lynn gets a big kick out of her teachers being named Dykes and Bush. Auntie Lynn is silly. Preschool is costing us $215 a month plus a dollar a day for breakfast.
      Grant has gained a pound and an inch since he was born so apparently the breast feeding is working out as far as Grant is concerned. We went to Babies R Us last weekend and purchased a Playtex breast pump system for $200 and it works pretty well from what I gather. Mom still can't pump as much as she would like because when she's not feeding Grant she is running after Becca. She tried to pump enough for me to feed grant all night but she only got five ounces and I had to feed him half of that right after Mom went to bed. He woke up again around one in the morning wanting more to eat. I fed him the remaining breast milk but he was still hungry so I made four ounces of formula and he took three and a half of it. We also bought a boppy pillow and it has helped both Mom & Grant have a much more enjoyable breast feeding experience. Neither of them could really get comfy before.
      Becca & I hung out a whole lot while I was off. We didn't want to burden Mom with having to put up with all of us right after her surgery. They took Mom's remaining tube right after the c-section so I think that has caused her some additional pain. This pregnancy really wiped her out. It was so much more arduous for her this time that it was with Becca Boo Little. It will take her more time to recover than it did with her. And with Becca she didn't have a rambunctious toddler who has a case of a jealous bone. Becca loves her brother better than she loves her Mom & Dad sometimes and she is certainly not hurting for attention and affection but I guess she's still adjusting to things being different from the way they were before her little brother came on the scene. She has gotten so nothing will get her to mind but a good loud yelling and we hate to be yelling at her all the time. I've just about quit yelling and started spanking. I figure that she will get the idea that she had better do what I tell her to do the first time because she won't get the warning of a raised voice before I swat her back side. So far it hasn't worked. We have given her lots of leeway in terms of behavior because she is adjusting but we just can't let her run over us. That will not do at all.
      I think Grant is waking up again so I had better close. I hope to be posting more often. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca and Grant,
                                 Hello all my children, haha. Yesterday we all decided to venture out again and attempt to take a little trip. Grant, you are still very tiny, being only twelve days old. You sleep a lot but when you aren't sleeping you demand to be fed immediately. You are a light sleeper, too, so it makes it hard on poor Becca who wants to run and play and make lots of noise like three year olds do. So, yesterday we decided we were going to Lexington to Babies R' Us to get a good breast pump and then we were going to take Becca to Kid's Place to let her run and play and act wild for a while like she needs to do. First, though, we decided to stop at Cracker Barrel for 'brunch' - which just means we all had breakfast for lunch. Grant, you slept through it all and we all had a real nice time eating together. Even Becca behaved her little self for the most part. We let Becca look at the toys and wound up buying her a purple fairy costume for Halloween. It's really cute. It has wings, a flower crown, a wand and everything. However, she insists that she is being a butterfly. Then it was on the road and off to Babies R' Us for the breast pump and nursing pillow. We got there and wound up buying a really good breast pump and a nursing pillow along with a few other odds and ends, including a pumpkin costume for you for Halloween, Grant. I was able to nurse you in the Mother's Room at Babies R' Us, Grant, so that was lucky.
                                 We had a good time at Kid's Place. Becca you had a ball. I left to try and go get my hair cut but was unable to because you were going to wake up and eat at any moment. We stayed at Kid's Place forever and a day. I was able to turn around and privately nurse you in one of the food booths in the snack booth area. We stopped on the way home and got an ice cream cone and we came back and got all our stuff unpacked. I nursed Grant and gave you a bath, Becca. Then I nursed Grant some more and helped Daddy put you down for the night. You got a brand new 'I'm a Big Sister' book. Daddy had to read that thing to you three times. Then Daddy and I unpacked our breast pump and I pumped you some milk, Grant. Daddy was able to feed you and you ate all the four ounces I pumped but you still had to eat some more. Daddy brought you to me because you were still hungry and you had to eat some more. You ate for almost forty more minutes.
              Well, Becca is wild and I hear you waking up, Grant. I was glad to get out with you and be able to feed you successfully. Right now you want to eat. Mommy loves you both!

Dear Becca & Grant,
               It's been a wild ride. Having two kids is a whole new world compared with having just one. I personally had no idea that having just one more tiny little person in our house would have this great an effect on our lives. When Becca was born we just kind of adjusted right away. Mom is breast feeding Grant and while I know that the health benefits from breast feeding greatly outweigh all other concerns I do miss feeding him myself. Breast feeding is a full time job as well. This morning is the first time I have seen Mom asleep since he was born. Mom is cranky and I am not exactly myself lately either. We love having Grant with us, make no mistake. We just have some adjusting to do.
      I have decided to address the narrative of this blog not to either Becca or Grant but to the reader in general. I have a habit of forgetting who I am addressing at any given moment and switch back and forth from talking to Becca or Grant in the same paragraph. That would seem to make for some confusion.
      I am sitting in the dark right now and I have a cold and don't feel much like posting so I will close this blog out. I hope I can post another one with all the news of the past week and a half since Grant was born and there's lots of news. Becca started preschool this week, Grant has been switched to formula and after one bottle switched back to the breast, and there's all kinds of little stories that I'd like to post. I'll get to them soon, I promise. Life is just so hectic right now. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca and Grant,
               Well, we are all home together at last. We've been here since around noon on Friday. The house looks like a cyclone hit it and I don't even care. I'm just glad to finally have my babies at last. Grant, you are the most handsome little boy baby that I have ever seen. You're every bit as pretty as Becca when she was born. You have the most beautiful little round head. You really are a sight to see. You have your Daddy's nose, which is a good thing, It's good to have a wide nose when Mommy has such big boobs. You are a little eating machine. You eat every two and a half to three hours. I have to admit that people aren't real thrilled that you are breast feeding. Daddy doesn't like not being able to feed you, but we can change all that when I am finally able to pump some milk. I don't really know why other people don't think it's a good idea;breast milk is definitely best. And I so enjoy you being cuddled up so close to me. You're so fuzzy and warm and soft. You're brand new. There's nothing like holding a brand new baby, especially when it's your own.
      Becca, you have been the most jealous creature imaginable. You love to hug and kiss on your baby brother and lay with him but when you aren't getting the immediate attention you desire or things aren't going your way you've taken prone to fits. Today Papaw and Daddy were cleaning off the air conditioner outside and you were out there with them. You came in to ask me if I had any bubbles and when I said no, we needed to go to the store to get some new bubbles - you plopped down in the floor and began to kick Grant's crib, screaming and saying that you wanted those bubbles NOW. I was in Grant's room changing his diaper. I heard you run in here and say something about the baby. I couldn't get you to say it again.
      You start school in the morning Becca. You're growing right up. I can't believe you're already three. It seems like only yesterday that you were as tiny as your brother. Although I miss those days with you I would not trade the little funny things you say and the sweet little conversations we have for anything in this world. I want you to know right now that you are my best friend and even though our relationship may change that fact will always stay the same. You'll always be my baby girl. I know you will do so well at school and you will be such a big brave girl and have all kinds of fun.
      Grant, it looks like you are getting ready to want to eat, so I am going to end this blog. I want you to know, now and always - Mommy loves Grant. And Rebecca, Mommy loves you just as much as I ever did. Even more, because I don't think love shrinks. It just grows and grows and grows... We've planted our family. We're so glad to have you both.

Dear Becca & Grant,
                  Welcome home, Grant. It's been one heck of a week. After I posted my last blog entry I considered driving home but I thought maybe I would lie down for a few moments and see if I could get some sleep. As I laid down on the pull out sleeper chair I thought that I wouldn't have much luck and that is the last thing I remember until four hours later at six a.m. when your Mom was telling me that she needed some help with something. I sat with your Mom for a little while and then I drove home to wait on the heating & cooling guy to come out so he could repair our central air. I got home around 11:00 and I set up every fan we had in the living room and started my long wait. I watched wrestling on TiVo and a few other television programs, drank lots of water, ate lots of dreamsicles and of course dipped copious amounts of Copenhagen Snuff brand smokeless tobacco. The preschool people called while I was waiting and we set up an appointment for the next morning. The heat was unbearable but eventually the mean from Fayette Heating & Air showed up. He went under the house and worked for a good long while and then he came back up. It seams that I also blew the thermostat when I cut those wires out back. I really did a number on our system.
      With the air fixed I I drove down to Mamaw & Papaw's to pick up your big sissy, Becca and we drove back up to the hospital to visit with you and your Mom. I packed a bag with megablocks, crayola crayons, a coloring book and assorted other small toys to keep Becca from losing her mind in boredom while we were up there. We spread a blanket on the floor of the hospital room and Becca played on the floor awhile and she colored pictures for all of the nurses and then I gave Becca a shower in the bathroom in the hospital room. Becca and I then headed on home. When we got home Becca watched an episode of Max & Ruby and then I put her to bed. I stayed up for a little while and put some more pictures on our website and by then I was so wiped out that I couldn't see straight so I went to bed. Around three or four that morning Becca called out to me. I went in there and she asked if she could sleep in my bed so I let her and we both slept very sound.
      The alarm went off at 7:30 a.m. and I got up and got dressed for the preschool meeting. I woke you up a half an hour later, Becca and together we went to the meeting. You start preschool Monday morning at 9:00. It's going to be expensive and I certainly hope it's worth it. After the meeting we drove to Lexington with the idea of having a nice breakfast somewhere. You were tired which made you fussy and I was tired which made me impatient with a fussy toddler and neither one of us had a very nice time. We flipped back and forth about having breakfast at the Waffle House or McDonalds. You wanted Waffle House until we got there and then you wanted McDonalds. I rather angrily agreed and we went to McDonalds. When we got there you had decided you wanted Waffle House after all. I really wanted Waffle House as well but I was not driving all the way back over there so we had McDonalds. I purchased a Deluxe Breakfast for myself which included three hot cakes, an egg, a biscuit, a piece of sausage and a hash brown. I got an order of biscuit and gravy for you. All you ended up eating was my hash brown while I ate everything else I had and your biscuit and gravy. Your Mom wanted a coffee and since I hate McDonalds coffee I decided I would go to Starbucks and get her some really good coffee. We went through the drive through and I got you a dreamsicle frappuccino and I had a Mocha frappuccino. I got a venti decaf for your Mom and we headed off towards the hospital. I had a ton of stuff to carry and I ended up spilling your Mom's coffee in the parking garage. We got there and after you got to hold Grant and loved on him for a few minutes you got bored. Papaw came by and picked you up on his way home from work and you went to their place and swam with everyone down there and ate pizza and had a grand old time.
      Your Mom and I were finally alone with Grant. I hadn't really had much of a chance to bond with my son yet because I was so busy chasing after you. I love you more than I could ever express in words, Becca but I wanted some calm quiet time with my son and I hadn't been able to have any yet. Your Mom is friends with the lady who runs the grill in the Central Baptist cafeteria so she called down there and ordered a turkey sandwich and some chips. Your Mom's friend sent up the largest turkey sandwich I had ever seen in my life. The sandwich was actually for me because I hadn't ate since breakfast and it was tasty. Your Mom and I watched a movie called "Night at the Museum" with Ben Stiller that I had stored on the computer. It was a funny movie. It was very nice to be able relax and hold my son while spending some quality time with your Mom.
      During the movie Mamaw called and said she didn't have any pullups for you and wanted to know what I wanted to do. I called back after the movie was over and asked if you ever got any pullups. Mamaw said you had something on but it didn't fit. I had almost decided to let you stay down there with Mamaw & Papaw because you were already in bed but you weren't asleep yet. You got on the phone and I asked you if you wanted to sleep down there or if you wanted me to come and get you and you told me you wanted me to get you so that's what I did. I packed up the computer and most of the stuff your Mom had accumulated in her room over the last few days and headed to the truck. I stopped off on the way to get you for some more Copenhagen and then I went to get you. You were so very tired. On the way home you fell asleep and as we sat at a stoplight I woke you up because I didn't want you to get too deep into sleep before we got home. You told me you weren't asleep. You were just watching cars go by and relaxing. Those are the very words you used as well. You are such a smart girl. We got home and I put you to bed. I promised you that when I went to bed I would come and get you and put you in my bed. I like that because sometime you wake up in the night and want to know that we are still around and we have to stumble into your room and give you a kiss but with you laying right there next to me you know I am still there and you let me sleep.
      The next morning I was awoken by the ringing phone. They were letting your Mom go as soon as we got up there. I picked up the house real quick and cleaned out the Explorer, the very same Explorer we brought you home in, I dressed you in your "Big Sister" shirt and we headed out. We got there and we went upstairs. I back down to pull the Explorer to the door and I went back up. We all went down together. I carried Grant in his car seat and you rode on your Mom's lap as they wheeled her out of the hospital in a wheel chair. We all got loaded into the car and for the very first time we took a drive as a family of four. We have realized that you are going to be a great asset to have in the back seat because every two minutes we were asking you what Grant was doing. We wanted to make sure he was okay in the back seat and you have become our eyes there in the back. We had to stop off at the drug store so your Mom could get some pain medication and then we went home.
      We came into the house and your Mom began to feed Grant while you and I put together Grant's bouncy. You were a great help in putting together the bouncy and it only took three times as long with your help as it would have if I had been able to do it by myself. We hung out awhile. You have become quite the jealous little girl. We have tried to give you a little more slack today because we really didn't want to get onto you while you were feeling jealous but you eventually pushed it too far and you got yourself in trouble. Mamaw came over and held you for awhile. I went outside to fix the garage door and Allison got off the bus while I was out there. Allison hadn't seen you yet and she was anxious to see you. Eventually Mamaw took Allison to her new job at Kroger and while she was out she bought us all Subway sandwiches. After we ate Mamaw left and your Mom went to take a nap while you colored and cut up paper in the floor until she woke up. I went to take a nap after she got up and ended up sleeping for seven hours.
      Grant, you are in your swing right now. Mom said that you might be hungry at around 4:30 a.m. and it's that time now but you are still sleeping peacefully. Your Mom said that if you still hadn't woke up by 6:00 I was to take you to her anyway. Your Mom has been breast feeding you. I think that is a great thing. There are so many positive things about breast feeding but I do admit that I miss not being able to help feed you. I really enjoyed feeding your sister when she was an infant. I have to brush up on my infant care. I got to be somewhat of an expert when Becca was an infant but apparently my infant care skills are gone. I went to change you earlier today and as I did you had the runniest poop I had ever seen. I kind of flipped out. Your Mom eventually had to bail me out. I was a little disappointed in myself but I knew that the next time I would do better. The next time came right before your mom gave you your last feeding before she went to bed. I unlatched your tiny diaper and waited a minute to see if you would take a poop. When I was confident that you wouldn't I removed your diaper and then you started to pee. I hate to say this but before I could black the stream of pee you ended up peeing in your own face. I blocked the pee with my hand but by the time you were done you were soaked in urine. Well, I didn't do any better that time either. We've had a poop incident and a pee-pee incident and I think I might be able to handle it next time around. I'm not going to make any promises though. Well, I will make one promise. I'm certainly not going to let you pee in your own face again. I felt like a bad Dad when that happened.
      I'm glad you are home. I ended up having to take the whole week off from work. I wish I could have gone in for a day or two this week because we are going to have a tight check next time around. I have a weeks vacation next week so I will be able to hang out with my family and that's nice. I'm going to close out this post. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Grant,
               Yesterday morning at 8:23 you finally came into this world. It all started Sunday night as you know. They sent your Mom home Monday night because her doctor didn't think the insurance company would pay for admission into the hospital for that night. Your Mom was missing Becca so we went down to Mamaw & Papaw's to visit with the whole family for a little while and then we headed on home. The heating and air people came out Sunday and determined that not only the transformer was blown, as we thought, but also the whole kit and kaboodle that housed the transformer. We would have to wait until the parts came in on Wednesday to get it fixed. The part alone will end up costing $265 and of course there's labor on top of that. So needless to say that when went home Monday night the house was rather stuffy. We watched a little television and then we both laid down. Your big sissy, Becca was spending the night again with Mamaw & Papaw. We tossed and turned and the sweat rolled off of my back as we tried to get to sleep in a house that was nearly 90°. I eventually informed your Mom that I was going to go lie on the living room floor under the ceiling fan. She told me not to sit up which of course I wouldn't have done but your Mom is used to telling me not to sit up. I went into the living room and laid on the hard floor and wondered what my back was going to feel like in the morning. The ceiling fan didn't help as sweat was still rolling down my back. Eventually your Mom came into the living room and asked if I wanted to go rent a room at a hotel because she couldn't sleep either and she absolutely had to have some sleep. I told her that there was no need to waste money doing that when we could simply go down to Mamaw & Papaw's for the night. It was after eleven in the evening when I called Mamaw and told her that we were going to be heading down. We gathered up all that we would be needing for the hospital, the clothes that we would wear, some various toiletries and I grabbed my comfy pillows and we went outside to get into the Explorer to head down to Mamaw & Papaw's. It was ten degrees cooler outside than it was inside. The night air felt so good after being cramped up in our stuffy house. We climbed into the Explorer and headed down to the country. Mamaw was up to meet us and we went straight to bed at midnight in the full size bed that Becca usually sleeps in and probably you will sleep in it as well in years to come. The bed was a far cry from our comfy bed at our house but we were both incredibly tired so as soon as the sweat dried we were asleep.
      Four o'clock comes early, especially if you just went to bed four hours ago. The alarm went off and both your Mother & I were so excited that we hopped right out of bed. I went downstairs for a shower and a shave. Your Mom came downstairs and put some makeup on. We got dressed and headed toward the hospital when it was still pitch dark. We stopped off at Doughdaddy's because your Mom wanted to get a couple of dozen doughnuts for the nurses and staff that would be taking care of us. That was a pretty smart move if you ask me. I bought a few doughnuts for myself and a soda, a couple of cans of Copenhagen, and we got twenty dollars in cash. Then away to the hospital we went.
      We arrived and your Mom had to fill out a ton of paperwork before we went back to get prepped for the c-section. We watched the news on channel 18 in the prep room while they did the stuff that they do when women have c-sections. Mamaw called and said that they wee on their way up. It was getting close to 7:30, the scheduled time for your c-section and I went out to the waiting room to see if Becca was out there yet. She was not so I called Mamaw on her cell phone and they said they were turning into the hospital as we speak. I waited around for her to get upstairs and then I walked Becca back so she could see her Mommy. She was very excited about your arrival. She talked all about how the two of y'all would be helping each other climb trees and about how she was going to have to smell your stinky feet when she helped you up into the tree. Becca got to see her Mom for a few minutes and then it was time to get going. I took you back out to the waiting area and returned to be by your Mom's side when they cut her open and yanked you out of her belly.
      They told us it would take an hour or better because she had had a previous c-section and there would be scar tissue. Your Mom was all drugged up and she was scared and nervous. I put on my mask and sat beside your Mom as they began the surgery. They yanked and pulled and tugged on her. They had to cut into layers of scar tissue and it did seem like it was taking much longer than Rebecca's c-section had lasted. Eventually they informed us that you were about to be here. Both your Mom & I were holding our breathe waiting for you to cry. With Becca it seemed like it took her forever to cry but you started crying even before you were extracted from the womb. There's not a more beautiful sound than the first cry of your newborn child. I was a little braver with you than I was with Becca so I poked my head up over and I got my first site of you. You were still covered in what your sister calls sugar boogies which is the crud that covers newborns. Doctor Youkalis showed her to you and then they took you over to where they clean you up. They worked on you for a little while and then they handed you over to me. I took you to your Mom and she kissed you and shed a tear. Then it was time to take you to the nursery. I was expecting Becca, Mamaw & Papaw to be outside when I came out but they were not around. Apparently the procedure hadn't taken as long as we had all been told. I took you into the nursery and handed you over to the nurses. When I did I realized that you had had a huge poop of mermeconiumconiam in your swaddling blankets. I helped the nurses remove you from your soiled blankets as carefully as I could and put the poopy blankets in a soiled linen container. They weighed you and told me you weighed 8lbs. and 11ozs. and then I dashed off to find your big sissy. I went into the waiting room and everyone was surprised to see that we were already done. I was hoping to get a picture of you and I when we came through the doors from the delivery area. I have one like that of Becca & I and it's the most prized picture I have with her. It's such a dramatic first picture. I wouldn't be getting one like that of you & I. Becca and I rushed back to the nursery so she could see her new baby brother. Mamaw & Papaw followed behind us.
      We looked at you through the window of the nursery and I took your first picture through the glass. Becca was in awe of you. So was Mamaw, Papaw and myself. They brought me out a piece of paper that informed me that you were also twenty inches long. They said I had rushed off before they had gotten a chance to tell me that bit of news. They cleaned you up and ran tests on you, gave you a little bottle and kept you under a heating lamp until your temperature got up to where it was supposed to be. They brought you out and Becca got to stroke your cheek and give you a kiss and then I went with the nurse who was carrying you and we went back to let your Mom hold you. I heard Becca crying for us as we left and it broke my heart that she couldn't come with us. She was chomping at the bit to hold you. Your Mom held you awhile and she was right furious that they had given her a bottle when she plans to breast feed but they told her they did it to stabilize your blood sugar and that seemed to satisfy her. Then I held you awhile and then it was time to take you back to the nursery. Mamaw & Papaw took Rebecca out to eat breakfast at Frische's. Mamaw had a big tale to tell about them trying to add water to old nasty grits and how she was just pleased with that at all. She just had coffee. They said Becca at good though.
      They put your Mom in a new room on the third floor and we waited for you to be brought to us. Eventually Mamaw, Papaw & Becca made there way to the room. We all waited impatiently for you to get here. Your Mom kept calling about what the holdup was. Eventually they brought you to us. You finally got to be held by the greatest friend you will ever have in your life, your big sister, Becca. She absolutely fell in love with you. She smiled so sweetly at you and so very gently stroked your soft downy hair. She kissed your head and told you that she loved you. I was so very proud of the both of you. Auntie Lynn showed up and held you and made over you. When it was time to do some private stuff to your Mom they asked Mamaw, Papaw, Auntie Lynn and Becca to leave the room. They weren't gone no time when I heard Becca scream out in pain. Apparently she had put her hands in her overalls and tried to spin around and when she did she hit the floor chin first. She was very hurt and will have a nasty bruise. A nurse got her and ice pack and an orange popcycle. She like the popcycle much better than the ice pack. Eventually Becca got bored and hungry. I was a little hungry myself so the two of us went to the cafeteria for a late lunch/early supper. I had a hamburger, onion rings and a raspberry white tea and Becca had a corn dog, fritos and a pink lemonade. After we had finished with that we decided it was ice cream time. Becca chose a Scooby Doo orange push up pop and I got a triple chocolate drumstick. We sat down to eat our ice cream when Becca decided that she should have chosen what I had so we traded. Becca made a mess of her face eating that ice cream and everyone laughed to see such a cute site. I don't think she liked people laughing at her because she got this concerned look on her face and asked me why they were looking at her and laughing. I told her it was because her nose was covered in chocolate ice cream. Becca & I had a real nice daughter-daddy time.
      It wasn't long after we returned to the room that Mamaw, Papaw and Becca went home. Auntie Lynn showed up with Uncle Rodney, Jon and Jacob. Allison was working at Kroger. It was her second day. The boys had wanted to skip school to come and see you when you were first born. Jon had been promised that if he was good he would get to come see you. Both Jacob & Jon held you. Uncle Rodney said he would wait to hold you until you got home. Eventually they let and as they were walking out the door in came Aunt Linda. She visited with us awhile. As he visited with Kristie I sat in this chair and dozed off because as you know I only had four hours sleep and all of the excitement of the day had worn me out. Your Mom told me to lay down so I pulled out the chair that turns into a bed and slept for four hours. I woke up around ten o'clock or so. I held you for a good long time while your Mom dozed. She eventually told me to lay you down in your bed beside her because she wants you close to her. I was having a good time with you sleeping in my arm while I played solitaire on this computer. Your Mom didn't think I should be doing both. Eventually she ordered me to put you in your bed beside her and because I know who runs our roost I complied. I sat down and started this blog and here we are now.
      It's been a heck of a day. You never forget the day your children are born. This has been a great day in my life. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Grant,
         We're getting ready to go back and get you out of your Mom's belly in just a few minutes. It's been just as wild a ride with you as it was with your sister. I'm gonna log off right now and concentrate on things that are going on around us right now. See you very soon. Love ya, Grant.

Dear Becca and Grant;
                     Grant, we will be seeing you sooner rather than later. Dr. Youkilis decided to move my surgery up for me because I am in misery. You are riding very low and putting all kinds of stress on my previous fractures. None of the nurses at Central Baptist seem to think that I am only 38 weeks along; They all seem to think I am at least forty, if not forty one. You are a big guy. I am wondering if you will even be able to wear the swaddlers when you are born.
         Dr. Youkilis is a good doctor. He is going to take my other tube out tomorrow. He asked if I was sure today. I almost cut off his jewels as well as Daddy's. If I wasn't sure before now, I am sure now. I enjoyed being pregnant with you to a point; I enjoyed knowing that I was going to get to have a beautiful baby boy. But, the pregnancy was extremely difficult. I am really glad that the C-section is happening tomorrow, as Daddy mentiioned before, he broke our air conditioner. That only adds to my misery, with it being so hot in August. Mommy does not have a very big pain threshold. And Mommy is OK with that; Mine sucks. I sure hope the two of you have bigger ones than I.
            Grant, they did an amnio to make sure your lungs were mature today. They were mature; very mature. Your lungs were 145; they only have to be 55 to be mature. You are just as ready to come out as I am to have you out. I am so excited to see you! I know that everyone will be thrilled that you are finally here. It feels like I have been pregnant forever.
               Well, six fifteen comes early. and that's when we have to be there. Mommy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
                  Your Mom has lost her ever loving mind. We are in the labor hall at Central Baptist right now and she is in so much pain that she's over there singing a Bruce Springsteen song. I don't believe you're going to come tonight, Grant. Your Mom thought her water had broken earlier in the day and she was having good strong contractions every four to five minutes. She had nearly fifteen of them before we decided to head up here to the hospital. We've made a few trips up here just to be sent home again and I think it's kind of embarrassing to your Mom to be sent home like that. She said she wanted to be absolutely sure that you were on your way the next time we made an unscheduled trip up here. We got here and your Mom's water hadn't broken and her cervix was no more dilated that it was last Monday. Like I said earlier, I don't think they are going to take you tonight. Either way, by this time next week you will be here and everyone is so excited.
      I bought a new weed eater blade yesterday and I came home and was going to try it out. I mounted it on the shaft of my weed eater and then went directly to our central air unit because the weeds had gotten out of control around it. I started the weed eater and lowered it towards the unit and I promptly cut a low voltage wire and the unit quit working. I thought that this would be easy enough to fix. I went into the garage and shut off the breaker and went back around back and twisted the broken wires back together, taped them back up for safety and went back to the garage and turned the breaker back on. I was feeling pretty proud of myself by this time. I went into the house and turned on the thermostat and to my surprise nothing happened; nothing at all. I had done something wrong I assumed. I called up Papaw because he is the one who fixes my messes. He said he would be by shortly. He came by and checked my work and said there was no problem with how I took care of it but still something was wrong. He eventually decided he couldn't handle the situation and that I would have to call out a professional.
      A little later that night Papaw called and said he was coming back up and he was bringing Uncle Rodney with him and maybe Uncle Rodney could see a problem we couldn't. Papaw, Uncle Rodney and the boys showed up minutes after Becca had gone to bed. We all climbed under the house and Papaw & Uncle Rodney checked wires and connections and then they checked some more wires and connections while I held the flashlight and the boys crawled around under the house annoying everyone and trying to wake you up. It was eventually decided that the most likely cause of my problem was a blown transformer on the furnace. The signals from the thermostat were not able to be read by the gizmos that were supposed to read them. I still need to call out a professional. Luckily one of your Mom's friends, Alicia Cowing has a father that works for Fayette Heating and Air. Your Mom called him and he said to wait until Monday because if we had it fixed during the weekend we would be charged an outrageous overtime charge. He said to ask for his dispatcher and he would come out and take care of us.
      Long story short; we have been without air conditioning since last night. Luckily it wasn't as hot as it had been the last few weeks but still it was not very comfortable. Your Mom made us spaghetti for lunch today and while I have been wanting some spaghetti I just couldn't sit over a hot plate of food and eat when the temperature in the house was over 80°. I went and sat in my chair but it was hot in there as well. Becca, it was obvious that you were uncomfortable as well. So we all decided to pack up and head down to Mamaw & Papaw's for some pool time. Your Mom suggested that I spend the night at Mamaw & Papaw's so I could get a good nights sleep before I had to go to work on Monday morning. I thought that was a fabulous idea and I packed my clothes for tomorrow. After we were all ready we headed out. I stopped off at a little convenient store called Fast Stop over next to Simmons and our old apartment. I purchased two cans of Copenhagen, a diet Dr. Pepper fountain drink for your Mom, a blue raspberry Bug Juice for you, Becca and a bottle of Big Red for myself.
      We arrived and you and Mom went to visit with Mamaw and I went directly out back and jumped in the pool. Jacob & Jon were in the process of getting out when I sauntered around the corner. They said the water was too cold but they would stay as long as I was there. I checked the water temperature and it was 79°; cooler than it had been in the past few weeks but I was hot and miserable so in I went. I jumped right in and while it felt very cold it was also so very refreshing. I played with the boys for awhile and then you came out and got in the pool. The four of us wrestled and horse played in the pool for a good long while. We had a nice few hours in the pool before we heard thunder and got out of the pool. We had supper with Mamaw & Papaw. We had breakfast for supper. We had home made biscuits with blackberry jelly, eggs over medium, potatoes o'gratin, and country ham. You really like eggs but you had no use whatsoever for the country ham. Country ham is kind of an adult taste. After supper I played ball with you for awhile before your Mom & I headed up here to the hospital. You are spending the night with Mamaw & Papaw right now.
      We put a for sale sign in front of the house yesterday. The plan is to sale our house and to use the funds from the sale to purchase Granny's house from Uncle Mike. Our house has been shrinking ever since we bought it and since we have been getting ready for Grant the pace of shrinkage has accelerated at an astronomical rate. I really hope we get Granny's house but if we don't find a buyer for our house before Uncle Mike finds a buyer for his house we will just stay where we are at. We wouldn't have to move again if we got Granny's house. It is huge. I'm not gonna talk anymore about it here on this blog unless I have something substantive to add. I have a habit of getting excited about stuff and if it doesn't happen the way I want it to happen I get sad so I am going to make a concerted effort to keep my excitement in check.
      Well, it's now after midnight and all of the references to yesterday can now be understood as the day before yesterday. They have decided to give your Mom a sleeping pill, actually two pills and keep her here over night. Maybe it's because your Mom is in so much pain. It's certainly not because they plan on taking Grant tomorrow. I just wish they would send her on home with the sleeping pills; no wait, while it's kinda warm in this hospital room I guarantee it's a whole lot hotter at home so I am actually glad they will be keeping her here for tonight.
      I reckon that's all the news that is news here in at Central Baptist Hospital for now or rather all the news that concerns our happy little family. I suppose I really should be heading on home right now. I really don't know about work tomorrow. I'm gonna close out this post. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca,
               You didn't get into preschool on developmental delays. In fact, for a three year old you excelled. The only things you got wrong on your test were things a three year old would have gotten wrong anyway. I am a little disappointed but in a good way. I am upset you aren't getting to go to school for free but I am very proud of the fact that you are so very smart. They were all rather impressed with you and I don't know why I was lying to myself thinking that they wouldn't be. Oh, well. I got your name put on the list for a pay spot but I don't know whether you will get one or not.
               When we got home I told you that you were laying down, no ifs and or buts about it. You are a little bit exhausted from the testing and I am a little bit exhausted period. Right now you are screaming your head off wanting to get up and wanting me to come there but I've found if I really want you to lay down and rest it's best to just ignore these bouts and let you yell them out. You are rather frustrated with me at this point so maybe eventually you'll drift off. I don't know. All I know is that you really do need to take a nap every now and then but you really hate to. I hate to make you sit in there and holler but that seems to be the only way.
               I reckon Papaw is coming to put our dishwasher in today. Ours finally went kaput. You and I went out with Mamaw, Papaw, and Auntie Lynn yesterday to look at new ones. We were gone ALL day so I am very exhausted to say the least. I really would like to lay down and close my eyes but I have to wait until you are either asleep or Daddy and Papaw are done putting the dishwasher in so Daddy can watch you. You're still screaming so I will assume it will be the latter of the two. I am not going to go in there and let you get up. You just told me you were going to open the door and tell me you were going to get up. I told you you'd better not. Now you are just being pitiful, saying that you want your Mommy.
               Mommy is just going to try to let you cry it out for a while. Mommy really needs to put her feet up and rest. i am very, very tired. Well, I just thought I'd tell you about preschool. Remember, Mommy loves Rebecca!

Dear Becca & Grant,
                     We're going to be seeing you exactly one week from today, Grant. We're super excited, all three of us. Although I believe your big sister goes back and forth between being excited and being leery of a new arrival. She's been the center of attention for over three years; I am worried about how she is going to react having to share the spotlight. She really will be a great big sister, though. This I know.
                     Becca, you are testing for preschool today. I don't know if you are going to get in for free or not; you have to have developmental delays. I really do not think you have any. If not, then I am going to sign you up for pay student, three hours a day, four days a week. I don't know if you have to be potty trained or not, but if you don't then you'll be attending preschool this year. I think that's something you would enjoy.
                      Well, we are thinking of trying to get into Granny's old house, because it is much bigger and we will be needing a bigger home for the two of you. all of your friends, and all of your toys. I don't know if we will be able to do it or not. If so, great. If not, that's great, too. We've already got a nice place to live for now.
                      I didn't think I'd make it this far in my pregnancy with you, Grant. This is the absolute longest I have ever been pregnant. My belly (along with the rest of me) is huge and I don't feel good ninety per cent of the time. But I know once you are born and I see your precious little face, it will all be worth it. It wasn't nearly this hard being pregnant with your sister. Of course, I didn't have a toddler to run after either. I can't wait to have the both of you here with me and Daddy; We're really happy to have our little family. I hope we'll always be happy together. Well, at least until you are teenagers. Ha,Ha!
                      Well, I need to pick up the house a little bit before Becca and I have to get dressed for her test. Remember, Mommy loves Rebecca and Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
                  The time is drawing nigh. Only nine more days until Grant's scheduled c-section. We're both so excited to see you, Grant. Your Mom will be so relieved to have you out of her tummy. Earlier today she couldn't feel you kicking and moving like you should have been doing so she went up to her doctor's office and they did a stress test on you, which you passed with flying colors. She was supposed to go in tomorrow but since she went in today she doesn't have to go back until next Wednesday, which will be her last doctor's appointment until your delivery.
      Your Mom is more than ready for you to come out of her tummy. She can't sleep, she can't eat anything without getting sick, you've descended down into the lower part of her tummy and you are reeking havoc on her previously broken pelvis. She is more or less miserable right now. Today she took Becca to daycare so she could rest. She felt so very guilty for doing this. She says she wants to be able to run and play with her precious daughter for the remaining short time that she will be an only child. I told her that if she needs a break then she needs to take a break. She's a great Mom and sometimes she needs some time to herself,
      Not only is this pregnancy so much more difficult than when she was pregnant with Becca but it's record breaking hot outside right now. The temperature was 101° today which was a record. Our thermometer here at the house said it was 105° outside. Much too hot to be pregnant.
      I went and picked you up from daycare today and then we went to Little Caesars for two five dollar pizzas. We came home and I showed you how to dip your pizza in ranch dressing. You really liked that.
      Well, I'm gonna close this post out. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
               We thought we might have had our newest member of the family arrive Friday night; I mean you, Grant. We are at about the same time in your gestation that we were when Becca arrived and your Mom went into labor on a Friday night after we had gotten back from Wal-Mart and guess where we went Friday night. If you guessed Wal-Mart you would be 100% correct. I had planned on going out there Friday after work by myself but your Mom and Becca decided to join me. We left the Explorer in the G.E. parking lot and headed towards Wal-Mart. On the way there we stopped off at Logan's Roadhouse where I had a grilled chicken salad and a tea, your Mom had an assorted appetizer plate and a tea and Becca had a hot dog and fries. We headed on over to Wal-Mart. Your Mom was having an incredible amount of pain just walking around in the store. I insisted that we go back up to the front of the store where your Mom would be able to get an electric cart to ride around on. I'm sure she wishes she hadn't have came. She was in a lot of pain. While we were there we bought a few items for you, a new battery charger for my electric drill, a cheap compact electric screwdriver for quick jobs, tooth brushes for Becca, a spiral notebook, a potty for Becca to use outside at Mamaw & Papaw's, batteries for your swings, hair bows for Becca, extra smoke alarms and some odds and ends that I can't recall right off the top of my head right now.
      We got home and I was tired and your Mom was tired and in pain and we ended up snapping at each other. We put Becca to bed and then your Mom tried to lay down for the evening. After an hour or so she got up and said she was going to drive herself to the hospital because she was having intense pains. She thought I was still upset with her. I wouldn't hear of her driving herself to Lexington in her condition so I called Mamaw & Papaw and they came up to the house and took Becca Boo Little, my pet name for her, home with them. I was excited because I thought maybe we would be having a baby boy soon. I shaved and ran around like the proverbial headless chicken. We eventually got underway. The pain was extreme for your Mom at the hospital but all they could do was give her an ambien and a percocet and send her home. She was very disgusted with that. She said she could have done that at home. We stopped off at White Castle on the way home because it was about five in the morning and it had been a long time since we had eaten at Logan's. I got double White Castle Burgers, onion rings and a chocolate shake and your Mom got chicken ring sandwiches, a one white castle burger, fries with cheese sauce and a diet soda. We waited in the line at the drive-thru forever because apparently that's when all the drunks and drug heads get the munchies. We got home and your Mom went straight to bed. I sat up awhile because that's what I do.
I eventually went to bed and slept until nearly one in the afternoon while your Mom got her first really good sleep in a long time. Drugs are a wonderful thing if you don't have a problem with them. She slept until after four o'clock that afternoon.
      By the time she got up I was already down at Mamaw & Papaw's with Becca in the pool. Becca and I stayed down there until it was good and dark. Becca swam and played with Papaw's dog, Sadie. Mamaw fed Becca some tuna salad and some fruit and then she went down to Auntie Lynn and Uncle Rodney's for a burger and chips. When it got dark she was ready to come home because she is in an afraid of the dark phase right now.
      So far our weekend has been a rather busy one but not as exciting as it will be when you finally show up. Your Mom is anxious because she is in so much pain and I am anxious because I want to see you. I know for a fact that your Mom wants to see you because she's wanted another little bitty baby since Becca got too big to be considered an infant. You'll be our last one I am sure of that. We had planned on making you our last one anyway and after the murderous pregnancy your Mom has had to endure this time around I am sure those plans are written in stone. I think if you had have been our first child you would have been our only child because Becca was never as difficult in the womb as you have been. We're looking forward to welcoming you into our humble little family.
      Some weeks ago Mom and you, Becca went on a long walk or rather Mom walked and you rode your electric scooter you got for your birthday. When she came back she was in intense pain in her hip. I am afraid that her pelvis that was broken four years ago when she was hit by that car while she was riding her moped is bothering her again. It must be separating because that would explain the pain she has been having. Like I mentioned in the previous paragraph your Mom has had a heck of a pregnancy this time around. Her varicose veins are really bad in her legs and some of them have developed blood clots and she has developed varicose veins in her lower abdomen as well. Not to mention she's at her most uncomfortable right now and it happens to be the hottest time of the year right now.
      As a result of her damaged hip she really can't or rather, shouldn't be exerting herself anymore than she has to right now. I want her to send you, Becca to daycare or down to Mamaw & Papaw's while I am at work until she has your brother but I don't think she will do that. She loves spending time with you even if it puts her in extreme agony. I know that she plans on leaving you with Mamaw & Papaw Sunday night so she can go to the doctor on Monday morning. Papaw took off work this week so they could paint the inside casa de Mamaw & Papaw and they plan on really trying to get things wrapped up on Tuesday so maybe you will go to daycare on Tuesday. I wouldn't bet on it though. Your Mom put you in daycare Friday so she could rest and she felt guilty as sin for it so I don't think you will be doing much daycare. Y'all better appreciate your Momma because she has really went through the fire for y'all and I am sure that you will put us both through a flame or two before you're both grown.
      Thursday night my ftp program would not allow me to upload our blog to the server. I eventually determined that it was Time-Warner's problem and I got on the phone with them for what seemed like hours. They had no idea what I was talking about. I was getting a weird error message and they kept telling me it was a virus or malicious software on my system. I told them that the research I had done indicates that it was not my problem but was instead a problem with their servers. I kept getting the run around from the polite but clueless support person. I decided that I was going to have to shell out some cash if I wanted a decent website because the free space provided with my internet account was unusable. Saturday morning when we got home from our trip to the hospital I set up a new domain name called www.DnKLanham.com and web hosting through a company called GoDaddy.com. GoDaddy had a rather racy advertising campaign a few years back when they had a commercial on during the Super Bowl that made fun of the "wardrobe malfunction" of Janet Jackson's halftime show from the Super Bowl the year before when her booby was exposed to the entire world. Anyway, they had the best prices and they seemed to be the hosting company choice for novices like myself so I went with them. I set up my hosting and got my entire site uploaded and I am almost a day into my three year term and so far I am satisfied. I hated it that my isp provided site quit working on me because I really didn't want to spend money on this right now but this is a big hobby of mine and at least we have an easy to remember website address.
      That's it for now. I'll keep y'all up to date regarding Grant and his grand debut. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca and Grant,
                     Becca, you are in here in the living room floor because you were not wanting to sleep in your room last night. Daddy brought in your mattress, We spoil you a little bit when you are sick, and that is OK, It's four thirty in the morning and I think I've slept a total of two hours now. I was sleeping on the couch to keep a good eye on you and you reallly haven't stirred much all night so hopefully you are feeling a little better. And that will make one of us.
         Grant, you will be here two weeks from today, if not before. I go back and forth between wanting you to be born now and really wanting you to wait until the 24th. I have a lot of stuff I need to do before then, but then I think that I could do most of it after you got here anyway. We'll have to see what God's plan is.
          Daddy said he lost his whole blog last night. I hope he can get it back. Well, I am going to close my eyes and try to get a little more sleep. Mommy loves you two!

Dear Becca & Grant,
                  Grant, if you were born today you would be a term baby. There's no way you could be a preemie now. Both your Mom & I are glad we don't have to worry about that anymore. We have a c-section scheduled for the 24th of this month which is fifteen days away. I can't wait to see you. It's like waiting for Christmas; of course you may decide you want to come earlier than the 24th and that is not like Christmas at all. This week has been the hottest week of the summer so far and your Mom has been absolutely miserable. The temperature has been pushing 100 degrees with 60% humidity which makes the air feel like it's 114 degrees. Monday we went down to Mamaw & Papaw's so we could swim and we all enjoyed that a whole lot. Gravity isn't as much of a strain on your Mom in the water and the water was 86 degrees. It was heavenly. We've been busy doing stuff all week so we haven't been able to make it back down there. Tuesday Mom had to retake her nursing assistant test.She says she might not have done too great on the test because she didn't get a chance to study much. Wednesday night we took our first inside trip to the new Kentucky Fried Chicken for the buffet and then we did a little grocery shopping. We've been as busy as little bees. We still have lots to do before you come out to join us.
      Becca, you are a sick little girl right now. You had a bad night last night and your Mom took you to the doctor this morning. When you got there you had a temperature of 102.2 degrees. Both your Mom and I were extremely worried about you. It turns out that you had two ear infections, probably as a result of your love of Papaw's pool and a nora virus. It made your head hurt, your body ache, your tummy ache and it makes you all around miserable. I am going to bring your mattress in here in the living room tonight and you and Mom are going to camp out in the living room. You took a nap today for the first time in months and months. We knew you were sick when you took a nap. After your nap you felt better and you helped me clean out the coat closet of about forty pounds of toys. I threw away about seventy percent of your toys. I put a shelf in the closet to use as a baby storage unit for Grant. When it was time for you to go to bed you started feeling much worse.
      Well, it's time for me to go set you up in the living room, Becca and take a shower and go to bed. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
               I go back to work tomorrow. I'm going to hate that because I have had so much fun with you the past two weeks. Like your Mom said, I don't remember all the fun things we have done this past week. I know we went to the Lexington Children's Museum one day this week. You enjoyed that a lot. Mostly we hung out down at Mamaw & Papaw's and swam. Your Mom didn't join us at the pool much this past week because as Grant gets closer and closer to joining us outside of Mommy's tummy she has gotten more and more uncomfortable. We've been staying down there until well after dark and you are going through a phase were you are afraid of the outside after it gets dark. It's very disturbing for your old Daddy. You can really freak out on me. It's weird because as long as you are busy you are okay but if you take the time to notice that it's dark then we have problems. We chased lightening bugs the other night for a long time but once you got bored with that you were sure that the trees were out to get you. Everyone tells you that you have nothing to fear but that just doesn't seem to cut it. I think you have had a dream recently were your Mom takes you to a dark cave where monsters live. You have mentioned it all week. I try to explain to you that it was just a dream and it never happened but you insist that your Mom took you to a monster cave. I ask you if you really think your Mom would do something like that and you say that she did indeed.
      Your little brother is going to be joining us very shortly, of that I am sure. Probably sooner than we are planning on. Well, it's late and I need to get in bed so I will close out this post. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca and Grant,
                  We all had us another big day today. Dad says he's forgotten most of what we've done this week, and honestly so have I. I know that we went to the Aquarium on Monday. I know that you and I spent three hours at Falling Springs Tuesday and nearly twice that at Mamaw's pool. I left you there at Mamaw's for a few more hours and then Daddy went to get you. You and Daddy went to the park yesterday and you rode your scooter around the trail, but it was too hot to play on any of the equipment, so y'all went back down to Mamaw & Papaw's house to swim. From what Daddy tells me, y'all really had a good time. He said that you went down into the woods and looked for fruit to plant on your 'fruit trees' (sticks you stuck in Mamaw's yard) and that you also played "Dog" with Sadie. You informed me, however, that you didn't get to play "SmayStation'" - Playstation with Jakie and Jon. I'll let Daddy tell you more about that since he was there. I stayed here and rested as much as I possibly could yesterday. I missed you all a lot, though. I'm used to having you two knuckleheads around. Right now, though, I need to rest as much as I can.
                  But, there was no rest for the weary today. Today we all got up early so that I could go to the doctor and get an ultrasound on your baby brother. We waited on the doctor to discuss the results but he was busy delivering youngin's so we decided to have him call us with the news. You getting VERY bored. Then we went and got some lunch at Golden Corral but we were sorely disappointed in the food and the service. Not the waitress, however. The cooks were slacking. I had to wait almost the whole time we were there for a hamburger. You fell out of the booster seat in your chair and hurt your little eye. I think we'll avoid Golden Corral for lunch from now on. We should have stuck to Burger King.
                  After Lunch we went to the 'Explorium' - formerly known as The Lexington Children's Museum and let you play with all the exhibits they had in there. You had lots of big fun but you weren't too sure about sitting on top of those really tall model horses. We dressed you up like a jockey and sat you on top of Barbaro to get your picture taken. I think being that high up made you a little bit nervous, especially after your fiasco with the booster seat. We went to the Bubble Room and you REALLY enjoyed that. I think that is one of your favorite exhibits. It's one of mine and Dad's, too. Your old Dad and I are both big kids. That's OK though, because it's NEVER too late to have a happy childhood. I believe the Bubble Room was your favorite exhibit the last time we were at the museum. However, this time it was the pit that sucked marbles down it with gravity. You LOVED watching those marbles go down in that hole. There wasn't a whole lot of balls this time. Dad and I recall there being a ton of balls the last time and a gazillion kids playing near it. You kept getting the balls and holding on to them until all the other kids left so that they wouldn't get your balls. We finally had to get you to take your turn and move on to see something else. You stepped on the feet piano and played music. You hit the xzylophone with the rubber flip flops and also played music. We looked at the beadles, and you said they couldn't move because they were dead. (You were right!) You and I also had a big time playing at the dinosaur table. Then we dressed you up as an African/Indian. You had on an African headdress and a Native American smock. Mommy is such a nut sometimes.
                 We went downstairs and you played in the toddler area for a few minutes but got bored with that easily. Then you went over and saw the teeth and several other things, but you were really interested in doctoring the babies and looking through the microscopes. That was the end of our three hour tour, so to speak, and by that time we were all plowed. We stopped on the way out and got you a souvenir of some fingerpaint and went to the potty. We went to get some gas and something to drink at a filling station downtown and then we got underway to go to Mommy's other doctor. You and Daddy sat in the car while I went in and took care of business. We got home at around five fifteen and shortly thereafter Daddy went to bed and has been in bed ever since. You and I stayed up and you ate some supper of raisins and a PB& J Uncrustable. You also had some white milk and later for your snack a tiny little ice cream cone. You watched some of Ariel in your room but I wanted to be with you and you wanted to be with me so you climbed up in my lap with your nightly chocolate milk and laid back to watch Doodlebops, Go Diego GO!, and Max & Ruby. After Max & Ruby it was five after eight so I took you to potty and get your teeth brushed and flossed and rinsed. Then we got you a new pull up and crawled up in your bed and read a nursery rhyme book together twice. I then sang you a lullaby and I haven't heard a peep from you since. You were really tuckered out.
                  I don't know what we are doing tomorrow. I know that Daddy has to mow tomorrow and we have lots of bills to pay so it will probably be something around the house. Remember, though, no matter what we do, or where we go - MOMMY loves Rebecca. And you, too Grant. I can't wait until we can do all of these fun things with you, TOO!

Dear Becca & Grant,
            We all had another big day yesterday. Your Mom woke me up at around noon and told me that she wanted to take you to Kid's Place right next to the Lexington Athletic Club, one of the few gyms in Lexington that I haven't had a membership to. I got right out of bed and took a shower and then we headed towards Lexington. We forgot to get any cash in Versailles so we stopped at Wal-Mart and your Mom ran inside and got some money from the cash machine there. We then went to Kid's Place. It was like a McDonald's playland with an extremely serious problem with Steroid abuse. This place was huge and the slides had to be forty feet long and just as high. They had bouncing areas, rope bridges, slides designed to be crawled up, fireman polls and tons of other cool stuff. The thing you enjoyed most was the ball pit. You spent probably seventy percent of your time there in the ball pit. We played some games with the tokens your Mom got by going online and finding a coupon and I think we all had fun playing the games. You won enough tickets to get a tiny toy skateboard, some play money and a single purple crayon. You told us you like that place better than the McDonald's playland. You have to pay an admission price to get in to play at Kid's Place though so McDonald's playland will still be our primary destination for indoor fun.
      After you were done playing we went to Cracker Barrel were we had an early supper. Your Mom had the sunrise sampler, I had the country boy breakfast with steak and you had chicken tenders with carrots. You ate your Mom's apples and you and I shared a great big bowl of grits. You & I like grits but Mom doesn't care much for them. As always when we go to Cracker Barrel you had to play with the Jack in the Box before we ate. You always have to play with that Jack in the Box. You also associate Cracker Barrel with Pop Rocks candy. You have to have a bag of Pop Rocks, which you call Tooth Poppers every time we go there. I don't know if they still make Pop Rocks when you read this or not. They first came out when I was a kid and then they quit making it for decades and just in the last five or so years they started putting it back on shelves. Pop Rocks are a carbonated candy that literally explodes in your mouth. The candy is yummy and it's fun to eat.
      After Cracker barrel we went to Babies R Us and bought a few items for Grant and we got you three outfits for when cooler weather hits. We all enjoy browsing around Babies R Us. It's especially fun when we are about to have a baby. I can't wait for you to get here, Grant.
      We then finished off the night by going to Wal-Mart. We bought a few more cool weather clothes for you, Becca and three cans of Barbasol shaving cream for you to play with in the tub. Barbasol is the cheapest shaving cream. We also got a can of good shaving cream for me, a bottle of Listerine, bubble bath, toiletries for your Mom's hospital bag for when she delivers Grant and assorted other sundries. We left Wal-Mart when it was good and dark. You were so tired you asked if we could go home, Becca and you never want to go home.
      We got home and put you straight to bed after you watched a few minutes of a show. Your Mom and I stayed up for awhile watching Mommy's tummy jerk about as Grant kicked her from the inside. We got your diaper bag ready Grant and Mom prepared her hospital bag. Grant, we are ready for you, little boy.
      It's late as it always is when I post a blog. I am going to hit the proverbial hay now. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
            Well, we've all had a pretty good week together. Especially just you & I. Saturday I took Jacob & Jon to see Transformers at the nice new theatre in Jessamine County. You and your Mother joined us at the theatre but y'all saw Ratatouille, a Pixar/Disney movie about a rat who was also a French chef. After the movies we all went to Red Robin for burgers and chicken. After Red Robin Mom went home to rest while you & I along with Jon & Jake went to McDonalds so you could play at their playland. You and Jon had fun but poor Jacob was bored out of his mind.
      Monday your Mom & I decided to have a day to ourselves. We won't have much of that when Grant gets here so we took you to daycare and fixed us some breakfast and watched movies all day long. We watched a horror movie called Dead Silence, a sci-fi type movie called Children of Men and an action movie called Crank. We had a great time. You also had a good time at daycare. I like to take you to daycare occasionally because it develops your socialization skills. We don't know anybody with children your age.
      Tuesday you had to have a cavity filled. Your Mom had a doctor's appointment at around the same time that you did so I took you there by myself. Auntie Lynn was there with her kids at the same time. You did so great at the dentist office. You had been dreading it all along but I was so proud of the way you handled it. After you finished we took Jon to McDonald's with us so you could play at their playland again. We brought Jon home with us and you and Jon watched professional wrestling and he threw you all over the living room in a wrestling match of your own. Your Mom doesn't like you to watch wrestling but you weren't really watching wrestling; you were playing wrestling with Jon. Auntie Lynn wanted me to have a look at a problem she was having with her computer so you & I took Jon home and you got in the pool for a little while but it was cold. You ended up playing with Jon until almost eleven that evening. I fixed Auntie Lynn's problem and we went home and you went straight to bed.
      Wednesday I took you to the playland at McDonalds again. We don't always get something to eat so that's why we can go there so much. Sometimes we just get sodas or an ice cream. You played for quite awhile. We then went to Lowes to look for a spark plug. We browsed awhile and you enjoy looking at the toilets with no water in them. You really seemed to enjoy looking at the large home appliances for some reason. We then went to Home Depot because we couldn't find the spark plug at Lowes. You saw Chick-fil-a and wanted to go to their playplace as well. We went into Home Depot and didn't find the plug there either and then since we didn't have anywhere we needed to be we went to Chick-fil-a for sodas and some play time. We stopped at an ice cream parlor for sundaes and we browsed around in the Dollar General Store for awhile and then we went home.
      I have no idea what we did Thursday but on Friday we went to the Newport Aquarium. You had a really nice time.We saw piranhas, electric eels, poisonous frogs, poisonous snakes, exotic birds, otters, penguins, an alligator you called Aluitious after an alligator on Pinky Dinky Doo, fish of all sorts and of course we saw sharks. They have an exhibit where you can touch a shark and you wanted to touch one but when we got there you spent all of your time getting up your courage to actually do and ended up not even getting close. You put your fingers inside the shark tank a time or two but you would not touch one of those things for love or money. Both your Mom & I touched a shark. We bought you a small stuffed shark in the gift shop that you named Sharky. We then went to eat at a 50s themed restaurant called Johnny Rockets there at the Newport on the Levee shopping and entertainment complex. It had some really great food but the service was terrible and what ticked both your Mother & I off most was that the tip was included in the price of the meal. I don't mind tipping but I like to decide on what I will tip and this waitress who was ironically enough named Patience, did not deserve a tip as large as the one we were forced into giving her. Needless to say, we didn't add anything else on. We will not be returning to that place. After our early supper we came back home.
      You've been doing great on your potty training. You poop in the potty every other day now and you go pee-pee in the potty more and more every day. You're finally getting this potty business down.
      Well, I've been sitting up all night and if I want to spend any time with you today I had better hit the proverbial hay. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!