Dear Becca & Grant;
                     I tell you something, Becca, you've been so good that Santa Claus, or Ho-Ho as you call him (this drives your father NUTS), has gotten a ton of things that were on your list and even some that weren't on there at all. You are a really good little girl. Today we went and got you a pumpkin to paint. You really enjoyed that. You spent three hours on that deck painting that pumpkin if you spent one. You told me that you were going to paint it until there wasn't any orange left on it any more. I didn't think that it would look to much like a pumpkin if you did that but I didn't dare discourage you from your artistic endeavors. You're a really good artist. The other day you drew a picture of Dracula to rival Dr. Seuss or whoever it was who illustrated for him. I don't know where you got that because me and your dear old Dad, we can't draw a straight line. I got really tickled at you, however, when you came inside packing the orange paint asking me to open it for you so you could use it. I informed you that you didn't have to use the orange paint to paint the pumpkin; the pumpkin was already orange. You informed me that you liked to paint the pumpkin orange. Well. Duh. Silly me. I helped you paint the pumpkin for a while but apparently I wasn't doing it right so I told you I was going to go in and fix us some coffee and you told me to bring yours out to you. You really are a hoot, little girl. You entertain me to no end.
                  Oh, Grant! You are smiling more and more every day, cooing and making sounds - 'talking' to us and just lighting up your whole face with emotion. Every day there's something new with you. I am so impressed with everything you can do for the first time; be it smile at sissy or whack her in the head. Sissy's not so impressed with the whacking in the head part. She brought you a Dandelion from outside today and showed it to you and you smiled so big that it made her heart swell. She's really good with you and she loves you so very much. Whenever she's eleven and she's fussing at you for knocking over her tween makeup or losing one of her earrings because you tried to use it as a BB just remember that when you were a little baby, she loved you, held you, cared for you, protected you, and above all, she WORSHIPPED you. She loves you like no one else! One of these days you won't believe it and neither will she but it is true.
                  Daddy is astounded with you, too, Grant. All over again we get to experience the things we experienced with Becca and we never thought we'd be so lucky. I thought Becca would be the only child we'd ever have and initially I never thought we'd be lucky enough to have her. I also never thought we'd be lucky enough to be married for nine years and have this wonderful home and all these wonderful things around us and two beautiful, intelligent, wonderful children. Ya'll have a Daddy who'd do anything for you. He's in love with the two of you with his whole heart. I feel like I'm in a big happy (sometimes stressful), bright (sometimes tiring), round (but sometimes bumpy) bubble that no one or nothing can pop because I have this family I never thought I'd have. We're all very lucky people indeed.
              This evening we baked some cookies Becca. They were Halloween shaped cookies. Some were orange pumpkins and some were various shaped cookies that were regular sugar-cookie colored. We had a good time doing it. Mostly you had a good time eating the dough that was left over from plucking the shapes out. That seems to be your favorite pass time when we bake; eating the batter or the dough. It was mine too. I had a real good time doing that with you. We need to make time to do that more often; We can buy the pre-made dough and it won't take but a minute. I want you to know I value the time I have with you; every second of it. Every word that comes out of your mouth is important to me. Even when you tell me I stink, like you did when I was rocking you after I rocked Grant to sleep this evening. You still have the pillow that was in your crib as a baby and it says "You are the sun, the moon, and the stars to me" - Truer words have never been spoken. And Grant, too. He's just one more star in my happy little bubble sky. Mommy loves Rebecca and Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
                  Becca's been real good this week from my point of view; maybe Mom will have a different opinion but she's been as good as gold when I am around. Grant isn't old enough to get in any trouble yet so I guess you could say he's been as good as gold as well.
      I was off Monday for Court Days in Mt. Sterling. I don't know why Court Days is one of General electric's days off but I am not complaining. I broke my regular eye glasses Sunday night so we decided to go to Lexington and have them fixed. We took the glasses by Professional Optical and they said they would have to order the piece I needed. They glued it up real nice and as long as I am careful with them I shouldn't have any trouble. We then went over to Toys "R" Us and let Becca have a little look around. Becca absolutely loves that store. She had a ball in there. She found probably 250 items she wants Santa to bring her. She was especially taken with a Barbie Laptop computer toy. She said it was just like my laptop. We told her before we went in that when we told her to do something in there that we wanted her to listen to us right away and not whine and fuss about it or we would leave. She did everything we asked of her. Even when it was time to go she didn't throw a fit. Mom & I both were so proud of her. After the toy store we went to Mi Mexico for lunch. Mom & I have been going to Mi Mexico together since before we were dating.
      We used to go everywhere together before we were dating and we called each other constantly. I really think that we were actually dating at the time but for some reason Mom didn't want to admit it. Our whole courtship was kind of weird in my opinion. It's a long story and y'all will have to ask us about it sometime. It filled with drama, comedy and heart break but of course it had a happy ending because here we are with two wonderful children.
      Becca didn't have school this week because Woodford County had a Fall break this past week. Mom had an interview with the Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital, actually she had an interview to work on the Cardinal Hill floor of Samaritan Hospital. She thinks she may have gotten it. They sent her for a drug test, called her references and did a criminal background check on her. She wants this job and the extra cash would most definitely come in handy. So I hope she gets it.
      Thursday night Becca spent the night with Mamaw & Papaw again. Becca really enjoys being down there. She loves playing football with Jakey and Jon. She told me the other day she wanted to grow up to be a boy so she could play football. I really don't think that's gonna happen.
      Friday after work Mom, Grant and I drove down to Mamaw & Papaw's to pick Becca up. Becca had found a terrapin that she named Peppermint. Sadie got hold of poor Peppermint and tore his shell up a little bit. When I got there Becca, Jakey, Jon and myself all went for a walk. We got up on the old Lillards Ferry Road. It was all downhill and steep too. It wasn't too bad going down hill but we all knew that going back up would be a challenge but we weren't going to go that far so it was no big deal. We went a little farther than I had planned on and then we went a little farther on again and by that time we could see the Kentucky River so we decided to go all the way down to see the river. We all had big fun. The boys and I skipped rocks and Becca tried but hers all kept sinking. She decided she was going to go fishing. She grabbed a stick and put it in the water and she caught a leaf. She was quite proud of that. We stayed down there for quite some time and then it was time to head back up the hill. We stood up to go and Becca asked me to carry her. I told her she would have to walk and she started crying so being the big softy I am I put her on my shoulders and started back up the steep hill. I got maybe a quarter of the way before I had to stop and put her down. I asked if she could walk now and she said that the brambles that she had gotten on her clothes were hurting her and she couldn't walk. The brambles weren't anywhere near her skin but she just hates to get brambles on her. I picked her up again and I didn't make it hardly any distance before I had to put her down and take another rest. I told her that she was going to have to walk because I just could not carry her any further. She started to cry and fuss and said she wanted a sucker. Jon had eaten all of the suckers he had brought so we were out. Jakey found a sucker in the chest pocket of Becca's overalls and she started trudging up the hill sucking on her sucker. Becca and the boys were moving at a much more jaunty pace than I was. I had two sticks I had picked up along the path and were using them as walking sticks. I bet I looked pitiful with my two walking sticks. We finally got home and I didn't think I was going to make it up the hill to Mamaw & Papaw's house but I eventually did. I was so glad that was over.
      Well, I am going to close out this post. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
                  We had a big day in Kentucky sports yesterday. Yesterday morning we had the kick off of the 2007-2008 Wildcats basketball season with Midnight Madness. I didn't talk too much about basketball last year because it was a depressing topic. Last year was Coach Tubby Smith's last year and this marks Coach Billy Clyde Gillispie's first year as the coach of our beloved Wildcats. I liked Coach Smith but he wasn't much of a recruiter. Coach Gillispie has already landed us a couple of great players for this upcoming season. I can't wait.
      This afternoon the seventeenth ranked team in the nation, Wildcat Football team defeated the number one ranked team, the LSU Tigers. Kentucky hadn't beaten a number one ranked team since 1964; three years before I was born.Wildcat football has never been all that good but it's been fun following them this year. They have a 6-1 record with their only loss coming at the hands of the currently seventh ranked, South Carolina Gamecocks in Columbia, South Carolina. Kentucky should rocket up the polls again this week. We were ranked seventh until the loss to South Carolina.
      Papaw closed the pool down Monday. It was very warm Monday; in the nineties. He picked the perfect day to close the pool down because the rest of the week the temperature dropped like a rock. By Wednesday Becca was wearing long pants and a jacket. Of course she ended up getting poop on her t-shirt and pants and ended up wearing shorts and just her jacket the rest of the day. I am glad that fall is finally upon us. Fall has always been my favorite time of the year. There's hay rides, bonfires, football, cooler temperatures, Autumn leaves and Christmas is right around the corner.
      Becca got in some huge trouble this Thursday. Apparently she picked up something at school that she really shouldn't have. Momma was looking at the proofs of Becca's school pictures but Becca wouldn't quit batting at the paper. She wouldn't quit when Mom asked her nicely so she told her to stop in a more forceful tone. At that point Becca actually spit in her dear Mother's face. Momma said that she had never been so angry in all of her life. Becca got the worst spanking of her life after that little stunt. I don't think there will be any more face spitting going on from Ms. Becca anymore.
      Mom still allowed Becca to go down and spend the night with Mamaw & Papaw. She played football with Jon and walked the new dirt bike trails that Uncle Rodney & Papaw have been cutting out of the side of the cliffs on Papaw's farm. Becca, Grant and Mom joined Mamaw and Auntie Lynn Friday for a day of shopping at Kohl's, Wal-Mart and assorted other places. Mom spent most of her shopping time feeding Grant. Becca decided she wanted to go back down to Mamaw & Papaw's again. Mom was just beginning to come down with a bug that now has her tail kicked so she let her spend a second night with Mamaw & Papaw.
      Tuesday Grant smiled at me for the first time. Momma says he smiled at me earlier and I commented on it but I swear I don't remember that. I remember when I was changing his diaper and he looked at me and smiled a little smile. It melted my hard hard heart. He's smiling quite a bit now. I have noticed that when he smiles big he kind of looks like Aunt Mary which is not a bad thing at all because when Aunt Mary cleans up she is a very attractive person. It's funny that Grant looks like Aunt Mary because people in Hazard have been telling Aunt Mary that Desiray looks like Momma.
      We have decided to start giving Grant a tiny amount of cereal with his last bottle of the night because he has been eating all night long. It seemed to work the first night but he still wakes up a bunch for food in the middle of the night. I started this post at around 12:30 and had to feed Grant and that took what seemed like forever. It's now 4:36 and I just now got him back to sleep and in his bassinet in our room. Grant has been sleeping in our room in a bassinet that Momma and I bought at a yard sale. Mom was tickled to death to find the bassinet. She had looked at a brand new one identical to the one we bought used and it was more than twice the price.
      I gave Grant a bath a couple of times this past week. It was forever until I had the confidence to give Becca a bath but I reckon I felt like I had given Becca baths without killing her so it wasn't that big a deal to give Grant a bath. It was a big deal of course but I wasn't hesitant about it is what I mean. It's always a joy to give Grant a bath. He loves his baths so much; just like Becca did at that age and she still loves them to this day.
      Becca has been behaving herself at school very well since her week of time outs. I informed her that Santa Claus called me with his concerns over her poor conduct at school. She's been cleaning up like she is supposed to and she informs me that since she is doing such a good job cleaning up at school that Santa can come and see her. She's looking forward to Christmas. She told Mom the other day that when Mom put up the Christmas tree she was going to lay in the floor and watch her. Mom told her that was a good idea and then Becca laid in the floor and waited for her Mom to start putting up the tree. It's still quite a bit early to be decorating for Christmas. It's not even Halloween yet; another big day that Becca is looking forward to.
      Well, I'm gonna close out this particular post now. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
                  Yesterday was Papaw's birthday. I think it was his 59th birthday. Mamaw, Papaw, Mom, Becca, Grant, Uncle Rodney, Auntie Lynn, Jacob, Jon, Allison and myself all went to the Golden Corral in Nicholasville for Papaw's birthday. Mom, Allison, Mamaw and myself all took turns feeding Grant while we were there. We then all went to the Wal-Mart over there in Nicholasville. Becca got a new pink bubble jacket with "Kentucky" written on the chest and "UK" on the hood. Allison used some of her hard earned Kroger cash to purchase both Becca and Grant a really cute outfit. That was really nice of Big Sissy. She's a real good girl. While we were there we heard from Kris Kringle. He said that the elves already have the greatest majority of Becca's Christmas gifts ready to go to the wrapping department. He said he was waiting on any special requests she might have. We asked her if there was anything she might especially want. She informed us that she wanted a tubby-tubby because she couldn't find hers. I didn't tell her this at the time but the last time we cleaned out her toy collection we got rid of it. She told us she wanted a Po tubby-tubby named Po. I hope Santa will be able to locate a Po tubby-tubby. We're gonna help her write a letter to Santa with any more special requests. I heard from Santa earlier last week when Becca had all of her time outs at school. He said she had lost one of your big presents. I believe he said it was a bigger and better doll house. I certainly hope she is good enough next year to earn her Loving Family Doll House. St. Nicholas also told us he had a few items for Grant but he was mostly going to bring him clothes and stuff like that.
      After Wal-Mart we went down to Mamaw & Papaw's for birthday cake. While we were down there Becca played football with the boys while Grant had another bottle. Mamaw really enjoyed feeding him. After we all had cake Becca and I got in the pool. Jon and Jacob joined us and to my great surprise so did Mom. She said she wanted to get in the pool at least one time this year when she wasn't pregnant. That was the very last time we will be getting in the pool this year. I think Papaw is going to be closing up the pool for the winter Monday afternoon.
      After the pool we all sat around and talked about Bambi Dee's Mom, your great-great grandmother who would have been 140 years old this year in 2007 and his grand-mother, Mary Melinda, your great-great-great grandmother who would have been probably 160 years old. I find genealogy fascinating. I wish had the time, resources and knowledge to go back and construct Becca & Grant's family tree. I missed the best chance for learning more about my maternal branch of my own family tree when Granny passed away. I had been meaning to sit down with a pad of paper and just talking to her about her and Bambi Dee's family trees but I just never got around to doing it and I hate that.
      I'm gonna let y'all go for now. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca and Grant,
                                 Becca last night you spent the night with Mamaw like you usually do on Thursdays. You both really enjoy that. At least I know you enjoy it. You wanted to go again tonight but Mommy would have missed you too much. One night at a time is enough. When you got up today Mamaw and Auntie Lynn decided to go to Wal-Mart and they came to pick me and Grant up so we could go with you. We had lunch at Fazolis. You had spaghetti and I had Fetticini Alfredo with chicken. I forgot what Mamaw and Auntie Lynn had. We all had salads. Grant had Nestle Good Start with DHA and ARA. He had to take some of his to go. We went to Kohl's first and Grant fell asleep. No one but Mamaw bought anything and she bought you some bracelets and hair ties. They are very cute. Then it was off to Wal-Mart. Mamaw bought you some dresses and a turtle neck and I bought you a pair of boots. Autnie Lynn bought you a box of strawberry whoppers, Becca. Mamaw bought Grant some bibs. We were at Wal-Mart forever so he had to eat again while we were there. Once again he had to take some of his to go. As far as I know you were good at Wal-Mart. You were with Mamaw most of the time and you rode in her buggy. I bought you a pair of boots and a nice matress topper for your bed. With the mattress cover Daddy bought it has made a world of difference. It feels like a pillowtop mattress now.
                           Grant, you pooped an awful mess at Wal-Mart directly after I got you changed into a clean and dry outfit. Of course, poop got all over that outfit. I just had to put you in a onesie and some socks. I felt terrible but then I saw a woman in the store with an eight month old baby with nothing but a diaper on. It was a wet diaper at that. People are odd.
                  After Wal-Mart Mamaw and Auntie Lynn stopped at the dollar store. We stayed in the car and you fussed the whole time because the windows were rolled down. I don't know why you did that. Then we came home. Dad talked to us for a minute and went to bed. I got Grant to nap in his bouncer and he is still there. You and I played 'Macaroni Monster' in the kitchen. That's where I tickle you and you have to say Macaroni to get me to stop. We also played "This Old Man", "Superman" and various other games that involved me tickling you. I got you a snack and you went into the living room to watch Little Bill before bed. I went into the kitchen to check on something and I heard Grant holler. I asked you if you bothered the baby and you told me that you pinched him on his finger. I was upset but I didn't yell. I don't think you did it to hurt him. Earlier we had been popping each other's toes and fingers. I just told you that we don't pinch babies because it hurts them. I made you softly apologize as he was already going back to sleep. You finished little Bill and I got you ready for bed and put you down.
                   Grant you got a ton of compliments everywhere we went. You are a beautiful baby, and a good one at that. You have finally woken up and are ready to eat. Daddy is getting your bottle ready and he is going to change your diaper and feed you while I finish posting this blog. You've been sleeping so good in your bouncer all this time. You've started smiling and you are SO CUTE when you do it. Daddy hasn't seen you do it yet but I am sure he will soon enough. You are crying wanting to eat. Daddy just shut the door so you wouldn't wake up your sissy. That's a good idea.
                   Well Dad wants me to feed you Grant so I will let the two of you go. Mommy loves Rebecca and Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
                  Once again it's been quite awhile since I have posted here. I usually post on the weekend but I went to bed early both Friday and Saturday night so I didn't get the opportunity to post.
      Last week Becca got a time out three days out of four at preschool last week. She's done really well since then though. That's about all that went on last week.
      Monday Becca and I hung around outside for awhile after I got home. We drew on the porch with her chalk and we played hide & seek. When it was my turn I climbed the good climbing tree in our front yard. She found me easily enough but she was fascinated with me up a tree. She had to climb it as well. She got onto the absolute lowest branch and that was okay with her. She leaned against the branch and told me she was a monkey named Gate and her mommy monkey and poppy monkey lived in the tree. Her mommy monkey was named Tree and her poppy monkey was named stick. Eventually she changed all of the names. Her monkey name became Sunflower; her monkey poppy was named Mrs. Dykes after her preschool teacher and her monkey mommy was named Mrs. Bush after the teaching assistant in her class. Becca loves Mrs. Bush. She informed me that they all sat on the couch in the tree and watched the "wood" tubby-tubbies, which of course translates from toddler speak to teletubbies. They ate pizza as they watched it. She began telling me about the pizza and the pizza became more and more fanciful until when she was finally done with the story she had a pizza named Super Super Chinese pizza with talking pickles and a Spiderman tattoo, not an eating pizza but a flying pizza in a box. I really enjoyed talking to my super smart and sweet daughter that day. She really tickled me with the magical way her tiny mind functions.
      Yesterday after I got home from work we went to Wal-Mart in Lawrenceburg. As we drove over Tyrone Bridge I told a tale I once heard about Granny when she was younger. Granny used to walk across the train trestle there at Tyrone. Becca piped up and informed us that she went across that trestle with Granny. She sat in Granny's lap while Granny made her way across the trestle in her wheelchair. After she told us this tale she sighed real big and in a sad little voice she said that she missed Granny. It brought a tear to my eye because I too miss my wonderful Granny. I just wish poor Grant could have known her. He really missed out on knowing a super special woman.
      Tonight Becca went home with Papaw to spend the night down there. That's why I've had time to post this little bit to our blog. Your Mom used this time to get some extra sleep.
      Well, it's getting late and I got in bed late last night so I suppose I had better call it a night. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Grant,

Tiny little baby,
All wrapped up in blue,
I wonder if just maybe
An angel sent me you.

I love your soft and downy hair,
And your long and curled-up toes,
Your tiny little hands,
And your sweet little button nose.

I love your little chubby cheeks,
And your crinkled, dimpled chin
Your soft little squeaks,
And your soft and fragrant skin.

Every day you're growing bigger,
And soon, no longer a baby will be,
But for right now, I figure
Your favorite person is me.

Someday you'll grow up,
Play and wave to me from afar,
But right now I can enjoy the wonders,
Of the baby boy you are.

Becca,

Little blonde-headed girl,
With a will so strong,
Did you know the world,
Will some day sing your song?

Little blue-eyed angel,
With the pink-lipped crooked smile,
Did you know your sweetness
Would the hardest heart beguile?

Little spinning princess,
With your fancy dancing dress,
Did you ever guess,
That your kisses are the best?

Did you ever wonder,
Why I can't take my eyes off you?
Why I sit and think and ponder
At the fancy dancing blonde-haired princess,
With the eyes of blue?

It's because you are my heart and soul,
My morning sun and my moon at night,
You make my life full and whole,
My little girl so bright.

Mommy loves Rebecca and Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
                  We all went down to Mamaw & Papaw's for a cook out last night. I rode on the newest dirt bike trail down there while Mom, Becca and Grant stayed up on the deck. I have no idea what y'all were doing. It was finally time to eat. We had burgers, hot dogs, baked beans, mac & cheese, potato salad, iced tea and cheese cake. Jon, Jake, Rodney and I went down to Papaw's garage to watch the Kentucky Wildcat football team beat the Arkansas Razorbacks. The football team is having a pretty good year this year and that hardly ever happens.
      The week has been pretty typical I suppose. I have started letting Mom go to bed early during the week and taking care of tucking Becca in and feeding Grant by myself. I had a bunch of late nights this past week. Mom deserves her sleep though. She's a hard worker. I know it can't be easy trying to entertain Becca and looking after the needs of Grant.
      I think we had our last swim for the year Friday night. I got in slowly. Everyone said I was crazy for getting into the water. The temperature of the water was 74°, not real cold but certainly not as warm as it has been this summer. Becca decided she was going to get in and she walked up to the edge of the pool and jumped right in. I thought that it would be too cold for her when she climbed out but the only reason she climbed out was to jump in again. We had lots of fun in that pool this past summer and I'm sure we're gonna have even more next summer when Grant will be able to join us and Mom won't be too pregnant to move.
      The new fall T.V. season starts this week. I'm gonna give a rundown on the shows we intend on watching this year. Let's start with Monday. Monday at 8:00 we plan on watching a new show called "Chuck"; we aren't going to be watching them on the day and time they are on. We will be TiVoing the shows and watching them when we get the chance. Anyway, "Chuck" is about a computer geek that works at a Geek Squad type of outfit called the Nerd Herd. Maybe there is no longer a Geek Squad when you read this so let me explain what that is. It's a service provided by Best Buy. The Geek Squad are computer techs who will come out to your house and fix your computer. Anyway, this geek or nerd, if you prefer accidentally downloads government secrets into his brain and he has to become a spy. Monday at 9:00 we'll TiVo "Heroes". That show is about people with special abilities. It was the biggest new show of the year last year. I really enjoy it. At 9:00 "Journeyman" comes on. This show is about a fellow that can travel through time. That's what Monday looks like.
      Tuesday we have nothing we are interested in at 8:00 but at 9:00 our favorite show is on, "House", this is a program about an obnoxious and rude doctor who's hooked on drugs. He is rude to his staff and to his patients but he is brilliant. It doesn't sound like much of a show but it is hilarious and interesting. We love it. At 10:00 your Mom's favorite show comes on, "Law & Order:SVU". This is a cop show.
      Wednesdays we have "Lost"; this show is about people who are marooned on a mysterious island. It's really a freaky show. and then "Criminal Minds" comes on; this show is about FBI profilers. Then a new show called "Life" comes on. This show is about a dtective who spent 12 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit and now he's back on the force.
      Thursday brings us "Survivor"; this is a reality show where they put a bunch of people in a wilderness setting and they vote each other off. Next is "CSI"; thsi show deals with Crime Scene Investigators in Las Vegas and finally we have "Without a Trace" which deals with the missing persons division on the FBI.
      Fridays we will be TiVoing "Ghost Whiperer" which is one of two shows we watch dealing with a woman who talks to dead people. The other one is called "Medium"; it will be coming on on Sundays this year after football season is over. I like "Medium" better than "Ghost Whisperer". Next we have a new show called "Moonlight"; it's about a vampire who is a private detective. Your Mom likes vampire shows and spooky stuff like that. Then a show I like comes on called "Numbers"; it's about a mathematics professor who helps his brother who is an FBI agent solve crimes with the use of math. It sounds boring but it's actually very entertaining.
      Saturday & Sunday looks like pretty barren as far as T.V. goes. I guess we will be trying to watch what we TiVoed throughout the week during these two days.
      What shows were on when I was three and my sister was a newborn like my two kids. "Gunsmoke" came on on Mondays in 1970-71, Hee Haw came on on Tuesdays, "Hawaii Five-O" came on on Wednesdays, "Ironside came on on Thursdays, "High Chapparral" came on on Fridays, "Mission: Impossible" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" came on on Saturdays, and Sundays brought us "The Ed Sullivan Show", "Walt Disney's Wonderful World" and "Bonanza". I remember most of these from syndication but there was a ton of stuff on the list I was using for this information that I had never heard of. I just thought that little bit of pop culture history from your Dad's time would be interesting.
      Let's take a look at what was on when your Mom was three. During the 1980-81 season on Mondays one of the best shows ever aired was on, "Little House on the Prairie". I loved that show and still look at it when I catch it on cable. Tuesdays brought us "Happy Days" and "Laverne & Shirley", on Wedensdays we looked at "Diff'rent Strokes" and "The Facts of Life", we had one of the other greatest shows ever on Thursdays in "The Waltons", on Fridays when I was growing up my family loved watching "The Incredible Hulk" and "The Dukes of Hazzard", Saturday was another golden television memory for me because we got to watch "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island" and on Sundays, even as a ten year old boy, I appreciated the certain talents of the women on "Charlie's Angels. I've had fun doing this.
      Well, Grant has been asleep all night so I am sure he will be waking up very shortly for a bottle so I will close oit this post. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
                  We had planned on nursing Grant on the breast. We had heard about all of the wonderful advantages of breast feeding and all of the "breast is best" slogans and we bought into it hook, line and sinker. It was supposed to be better for baby's immune system, cut down on the chances of obesity, it promoted bonding with the mother and a hundred and one other great things that breast feeding was supposed to do. I am sure that all of these things are absolutely true but they failed to mention the drawbacks to breast feeding. Poor Mom had been in a zombie state since she got home with Grant. He was nursing every two hours for at least and hour and sometimes much longer; day and night. She hadn't had any sleep and she was becoming quite unpleasant to be around. We bought the breast pump but Grant was always on her breast and when he wasn't she had so many other pressing concerns to attend to that she never had time to pump and when she did she wasn't getting enough to allow me to help pick up the feeding slack. That was another thing I personally didn't like about breast feeding. It may very well promote bonding with the mother but as the father I felt like I hardly knew my son at all because there was nothing I could really do for him. I so enjoyed my time with Becca feeding her and I think that we bonded in that way. Becca is a strong, healthy, intelligent and beautiful child and she was bottle fed so while the breast may very well be the best, formula isn't the evil substance that the breast feeding propagandists would have you believe. The other day I came home from work looking forward to a nice relaxing evening with my family and when I walked through the door my poor wife was sitting in my chair looking like she hadn't had any sleep for five days, my daughter had every single one of her toys strewn about the living room floor in addition to her bed covers and the house was in a state of disarray. Mom is a wonderful house keeper so this was not like her at all. I encouraged her to allow us to switch to the bottle. She balked at first because she had had her heart set on breast feeding Grant. Eventually she relented and so he is now a bottle baby. He seem to be thriving on the bottle just as much as he did on the breast and I am just now getting to bond with my son by being able to take part in the feeding process. Mom finally got a good nights sleep Friday night. She slept for twelve hours and looked like her usual beautiful self Saturday.
      I also sat up with him all night last night and I couldn't seem to get him to sleep much at all and now Becca is up and I want to go to sleep so I am going to close this post out, go get Mom up and go to bed. I wanted to post a nice long post but every time I would sit down here he would cry. I have been working on this post since 1:00 this morning. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

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!