Dear Rebecca,
                  It's super early her on a Saturday morning. I have been downloading songs off of the internet all night. Your Mom has to work later this morning so I had better make this another quick one.
      Well, we finally got your Mom's Taurus into the shop. It broke down in late October or early November; I can't remember which, and has been sitting in the driveway ever since. We had so many Christmas expenses that the car kind of got put on the back burner. I know your Mom is anxious to get her car back. She only started driving a little over a year ago and she discovered that she kind of likes it. You were with her when she took her driver's test. Actually you stayed with Mamaw at the starting point of the course while she took the test. It'll be nice to have some mode of transport while your Mom is at work. Now I know how she felt all these years without a license. Even if you don't go anywhere it's still nice to know that you have the ability.
      You're into "Oobi" These days. What is Oobi? Come on, you remember Oobi and his little sis Uma. They are hand puppets and when I say they are hand puppets I mean that they are actual hands with eyes attached to the middle fingers. It's actually a pretty cute show. You started calling Papaw Papoo because Oobi calls his grandfather Grandpoo.
      You are picking up new words everyday now. You are such a smart little gal. Your Mom took you by the Gymboree Music & Play place this past week. If the car doesn't put us out too much money we are going to sign you up for a class and see how you like it. Your mom said that you really loved the preview class and I'll wager that you were the belle of the ball, as well.
      Well, I have to get in bed for a few hours. I'll try to post another blog post this weekend if I can get a few seconds alone to do it. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                           Hello my little sweetie. Right now you are taking a nap. I know it is early but you have been sleeping since nine thirty. You woke up at around six thirty this morning so I knew you would be tired early. I wanted to let you get your nap out before we leave, anyway. We are going out to lunch so that you can play in the play area at McDonald's today. I don't like having you holed up in the house when its cold; all we do is watch TV. We are also going to go to Gymboree and see about getting you signed up for some classes. What do you think about that? I imagine you might enjoy that very much. And the beauty of that is, Anyone who wants to go can take you. So I don't always have to be the one to go. That will be handy with Mommy working. And Mommy has to work to pay for things like that.
         I sure hope you wake up soon because we had an early breakfast and I am hungry and I know you are too. You had some cereal and a pear that had a bad spot on it that I had to cut off. You kept calling it an apple. You are so silly. You didn't eat all your pear so I wrapped it up and put it up for Daddy. He loves Pears. After breakfast I got dressed and while I was putting my make-up on you sat on my knee and put yours on, too. You were "powdering" your nose with an old powder puff I have. You were also stroking my blush brush across your cheeks. You are so cute! Then I changed your diaper and got you dressed and we put on Jack's Big Music Show. You danced and laughed and then you came to get me to dance with you. We danced all around the living room. We had a great big grand ol' time. Then we played tickle in the floor and I spun you around while you held on to the balloon Mamaw brought you yesterday. You thought it was funny to watch it go around and around. I could tell you were getting tired so I changed your diaper and got you some milk around nine o'clock and put you down for your nap. Which is where you are now. You should be waking up any second, though. I hope.
      I think Daddy and I are going to take you to the Children's museum one day when we are both off. It's got a Woodland area for kids your age and there are lots of neat hands on things to do for kids in it. Its called the Explorium. Its like a science museum. I considered taking you there myself today but we don't have a whole lot of time to spend there today because we have to go pick Daddy up from work. Also I don't like driving downtown. I don't know it well enough to do so. That's why we have Daddy to do things like that for us. Also, I want him there for that experience. He needs to be there. I think you will have lots of fun. Well little girl, I am hoping ya wake up soon so we can go eat! I love ya! You are so cute and sweet and smart and pretty!

Dear Rebecca,
                  It's been a little while since I last posted; sorry about that. I don't have much time to post this time. Mom is on her way home from work.
      We have had a nice couple of days this week. We have played and had all kinds of fun. You have started using rudimentary sentences like "Here Daddy, remote" and "help you". We love watching grow bigger & bigger and smarter & smarter every day.
      We went to the Texas Roadhouse this past weekend and to Sam's Club. We all had fun. Well, I will post a longer blog when I get the chance. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
     I am writing this blog from work. How am I doing that, you ask? I am writing it down on paper & then I will transfer it to the computer later when I get home.
   You went outside and played in the snow for the very first time today. You really loved it. I thought I would have some really good pictures to show for it, but the really CRAPPY camera I bought at the Hazard Wal-Mart for five bucks ate the dang film. Bummer. We did have us a grand ole' time, though. You looked at me like I was crazy when I plopped down in the snow to make a snow angel. Then you tried to do it, too. We went all around our block making footprints in the snow. Your favorite thing to do was to crawl through it. You kept wanting to go in the street. I guess you figured since everything was white you could play everywhere. You had a big time. We were very lucky you had a nice snowsuit to wear. Martin's kids gave it to you in the summer. It fit you really nicely, too.
   When we came in I fixed us "hot" chocolate (yours was more like lukewarm). I would say it was the real stuff, except I used Splenda instead of sugar to make it. It was good. You seemed to enjoy it. Then I cleaned you up & put you in a fresh diaper and we both laid down for a nap. We slept from about ten thirty 'til noon. Then you had a lunch of Alfredo noodles & meatballs along with carrot sticks. You seemed to love it, you gobbled it all up. We spent the rest of the day watching TV & playing together, you and I. Your had your baby you got for Christmas and you kept trying to give her a drink from her bottle and I would turn her head away really quickly and you would laugh hysterically. Daddy said he tried it later but the hysterics had passed.
   Daddy came home at four o'clock to take care of you & I went to work, which is where I am now. I better get back to it too, before I get in trouble! I love you!

Dear Rebecca,
                        Hello my pretty little baby girl. It's very early on Wednesday morning here right now. I had to work tonight so Daddy took care of you this evening. I am up so late because I wanted to get a head start on cleaning up the house while everyone was asleep. I knocked it out pretty quick with no distractions. I only have our bedrooms and Mommy & Daddy's bathroom to go tomorrow. Of course if I actually get my day off on Friday I will catch up on the laundry. Jenny at work called in because she is sick again so I have to work tomorrow on what would have been my day off. Bleh, I hate that. Anyway, you don't care about any of this mundane stuff.
         You have started saying "Hewe" (Here) when you hand us something or when you want something handed to you. That is so very, very cute. It melts my poor old tender heart. You are getting bigger & smarter & prettier everyday. I never thought I could love you anymore than the day that you were born but I was wrong. I only love you more with each passing day. It's positively indescribable. I know that Daddy feels the same way. We are so very lucky to have our little family. Maybe someday we can make our little family bigger. I wonder how much you would like that, a little baby brother or sister to play with. I bet you would love it.
         You opened a Christmas present Aunt Mary got for your half brother Dylan that you weren't supposed to open today. You were very upset when I took away the wrapping paper and threw it in the trash and told you that you couldn't have the car. You were just remembering Christmas but Christmas is over. You will get to open more presents on your 2nd birthday. Cheer up little girl! It's not that far away. Only six more months. You will be a whole two years old! How fun will that be.
           Well little girl, I have to work tomorrow like I said earlier. I am going to finish my drink and wait for the hot water to heat back up then take a shower and go to bed. I love you, little girl!

Dear Rebecca,
                  I told you it would be a little while before I posted on this blog again. It has been seven days. I probably could have posted earlier in the week because I have already taken two of my four sick days and I was here at the house Tuesday and Wednesday but I really didn't feel all that well and didn't want to use up my sparse energy on the computer. Both you and your Mom had been ill all through the Holidays; I had thought that I had dodged whatever bug it was that the two of you had but it was just waiting for me to get back to work so it could force me to burn up some sick time. I was hoping I would have all of my time when your Mom & I attend the Gretchen Wilson concert in late February. The concert is on a Thursday night and I plan on taking Friday off. I still have two sick days and five vacation days that I can take whenever I want. I suppose I will take a vacation day in February. Your Mom & I are going to use the concert as our Valentine date. I'm sure we'll have a good time and I'm also sure that you'll have a grand time a well. We don't know where you will be yet but I'm sure that whoever watches you will make sure you have a ball.
      Well, nothing really exciting has happened since the last time I posted. You pulled a "Samson" on us. What is a Samson, you ask? Well, when we had our cat that we both dearly loved, Samson or Sampson as your Mom spells it, he loved nothing more than a leisurely afternoon destroying our window shades. I know I had to buy at least one new set of shades every month when we had him. Well, after repeated warnings to quit playing with the large middle shades in the living room you eventually tore them up. This happened early in the week and I didn't get around to Wal-Mart until Friday so we had almost an entire week of having tacky broken shades.
      It took me so long to get the shades because Papaw had to work over everyday this past week and I had to drive myself to work and your Mom needed the truck directly after work so neither one of us could go get the shades on our own. Your Mom's Taurus is still not fixed yet. We're going to at least get it hooked up to the diagnostic computers later this month if we don't have anymore financial surprises coming in the mail. We may not have the cash to get it fixed but we will at least know how much cash we sill need to get the thing back on the road. Your Mom misses her car very badly. I know she will be so thrilled to have the freedom that her car affords her back.
      Well, your Mom has to work in the morning and she wants me to get up kind of early so I suppose I should get off of here and hit the proverbial hay. Oh, by the way, I know that you'll hate to here this but maybe you won't care one way or the other but Kentucky lost yet again yesterday. That makes three losses in a row for the first time in maybe over a decade. The Cats look like they are in trouble this year. I've always been a big Tubby Smith supporter but maybe the coach is the problem, He has to right this sinking ship and do it now. I hate this basketball season. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                              Hello my sweet little darlin. You are getting to be such a big girl! We took a 'walk' today together. You got to walk, too, where there was not a lot of traffic. You thought that was big fun. You are a good little walker. I am glad. I forgot just how much I enjoy walking. Mostly I pulled you along in your wagon where you sat and drank your drank and played with your toys, though. We tried to play outside a bit but your swingset was still all wet, even though it had warmed up quite a bit. We came in and had lunch of ham sandwiches and baked cheetos. You really liked the baked cheetos. You ate too many and it made you throw up today. I didn't even think about you eating them all up and having too much; you didn't have that many. Of course it could be because you have taken to sticking your finger down your throat, too. Not a good habit to get into.
      After your lunch and your nap you got up and we were talking about our day. I was changing your diaper and said "We went outside today and had a walk and played" You had been watching Oobi where Oobi and Kako had a play date. You shook your head and said "Yeah! Date!" I was amazed at you. You also grabbed my hair and said "Hai" which is your word for hair, and I said that's right, you are so smart, and you replied with "PRETTY!" That melted my poor old Mama heart.
      Well little girl - I just wanted to tell you a little about our day. I will post a longer blog when I am not so very tired. Headed to bed here soon so we can have a good day tomorrow! I love you!

Dear Rebecca,
Hey there my baby bird. Well, it's official, Daddy went back to work today. It was just you & me today, kiddo. I missed Daddy a lot and you did, too. This morning when I brought you to bed with me you rolled over and felt around for Daddy and said his name in a questioning tone, Daddy? Daddy?.. But he was nowhere to be found. Every now and then today you would sprout up and say that same questioning quote. You really missed him, and I know he really missed you. Still, we will be able to get back into our routine a little better with Daddy back at work. Maybe you will potty train a little better, too. You don't seem to be too interested in it. You did better before with it. We decided to stop then because it was too early, or so we thought. Maybe we should have kept it up. Well, we are new parents. Eventually we will get it right. I know that you are ready because you have words for the actions; you run and hide to do your business, and you are interested in what we are doing, especially what I am doing, whenever we are in the bathroom. You'll get the hang of it pretty soon, I know. You are so very smart and such a good baby that I don't foresee any problem. When you were weaned from the bottle I was shocked and amazed at how well you took to it. You were in mid suck and I just took away the bottle and handed you a cup and you went right back at it. You are so amazing to me.
      We had a pretty good day today, I think. We got up this morning and had a bowl of oatmeal and a piece of toast. You then had your strawberry milk and I had some coffee. You went into the living room and played with your toys and half watched an episode of Oobi while I tried to get some of the laundry caught up and cleaned the bathrooms. You of course periodically 'checked on me' while I was doing all this good stuff. After that, Aunt Mary called and said her and Papoo Lawrence were coming. I thought she meant right then since they were in Lexington and that is only a hop skip and a jump away. I decided to keep you up and not put you down for your nap just yet. That was around eleven. I gave you your lunch of four pieces of Pizzy as you like to call it, got you cleaned up and decided it was time for your nap being as how they hadn't even so much as pulled in the drive way yet. You laid down around noon and only slept about fourty five minutes before Daddy then Mamaw called on the phone and it (and probably the poo-poo you had in your diaper, too) woke you. I went and got you and changed your diaper and then got you dressed and took you outside for a walk in your wagon. I decided we weren't going to put our day on hold any more waiting for Mary and Papoo Lawrence to get here. We walked all around the bock and Mary and Papoo pulled up just as we were coming to the front door. We were going to go again but we just hung out with Mary and Papoo a while. We even went to the Antique Store with them so that Papoo could look for another record player. I think the one he bought previously from there is broken. We got back and Mary and Papoo stayed about another fourty five minutes after Daddy arrived home. Then they headed back for the hills of Eastern Kentucky.
      I cooked dinner while Daddy took a shower and you watched Dora. We all had a yummy dinner of Turkey Polish Sausage, cooked and simmered in apples and onions, Steamed Broccoli, Macaroni & Cheese, and diet soda. It was delish. Then We got all cleaned up from that and half watched a show or two while we played with you for the rest of the evening. Daddy played with you some right before the two of you finally went off to sleep. He had gone to bed but you hollered for him so he got back up. He is a good Daddy. All in all, we had a grand day together.
      Well, little girl, I am awfully tired. So I think I will call it a night so we can have another grand day together tomorrow. I love you, Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               It's early Sunday morning right now. My few weeks off are almost at an end. Boy, we sure have had a swell time together. You have gotten used to me being home in the morning and afternoons and I have gotten used to being home in the mornings and afternoons. I think that when I go back to work tomorrow that we will miss each other terribly bad. I have enjoyed being woke up by you in the late mornings. You would come to the bedroom door and holler out, "Dada Dada Dada" and Kristie would let you into the bedroom and you would crawl up into bed with me and wake me up. By the way, you have almost quit calling me Dada. You have started to primarily call me Daddy which is just as good but still it's kinda sad that you are leaving your baby stage and learning to pronounce my title. I still call my mother by Mama and I suppose you will too but lately you have also started calling her Mommy. She is sad over that too. I know that when you will eventually revert back to Mama for her but my days of being Dada are just about gone and that is a little sad. Back to the subject at hand, being woke up by my perfect little daughter is the perfect way to wake up in the morning. I hope you are not too upset that I won't be behind the bedroom door when you call for me. It would please me to know that you miss me but I don't want you to feel sad that I am not there. After the last sentence I checked our Powerball Lotto numbers and it appears that I will indeed have to go to work tomorrow.
      I forgot what we did Wednesday. I know that Thursday we all went to Lexington where I picked up my check from work; we then went to The Olive Garden and spent way too much money on lunch; then we went to Wal-mart where we bought lots of groceries, some stuff for you, Turbo Tax Deluxe and a Yahtzee game. We then came home and watched you dance to some Veggie Tales CDs I put in the stereo as a replacement for the Christmas music we had been listening to for the previous month and a half. You love to dance in the living room floor. You prefer to dance naked in the living room floor but your Mom is scared that you are gonna pee-pee on the carpet so you don't get to do much of your bare bottomed boogie. In between songs you yell out "Song! Song!".
      You just know that you want your music to play and you want it now. We love to watch you dance in the evenings. Yesterday afternoon you went up to your Mama and had her get up and dance with you. That just about melted her heart. After you finally went to bed your Mom and I stayed up to play Yahtzee and your Mom creamed me. Maybe we should have just saved the $6.50 and then I wouldn't be getting beaten at Yahtzee by your Mom. It was great fun though. Your Mom and I need to play games like that more often. It seems like it's a great way to communicate with each other. You can't very well chat while you are looking at the boob tube.
      Friday we all went to lunch at the Mexican restaurant on Crossfield Dr. that used to be Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken years and years ago. It's a pretty good place for Mexican in my opinion. We then took you over to Granny's where we all met up with Mamaw. Your Mom and I went to see The Chronicles of Narnia at the movie theatre. We don't get to go to the movies as much as we used to because we want to hang out with you too much, but we did want to see at least one film while I was off. The movie was really very good. Your Mom wants to purchase it when it comes out on DVD so you can watch it when you get older. I told her that DVDs might be an obsolete technology by the time you are old enough to appreciate it. On our way home we stopped off at Dairy Queen and got a shake and a dilly bar for you. Mamaw was watching you at our house so you were already there when we arrived. Mamaw said you had had an accident and had hurt yourself while we were gone. She asked us if we could spot the damage. I asked Mamaw if you had lost one of your legs because you had it folded up underneath of you and your knee looked just like a stump. Mamaw thought that was very funny indeed. It turns out that you had fallen and busted you lip at Granny's place. You had a little fat lip but you were fine. Mamaw said that you only cried for a minute or so and then it was all but forgotten and you were back playing with Mamaw and Granny.
      Saturday night you got to go out on the town. Uncle Rodney was having his birthday dinner and everybody was going. Your Mom is not feeling very well at all so I decided to stay here with her while you went with Mamaw & Papaw to Uncle Rodney's birthday dinner at the Lonestar Roadhouse in Lexington. While you were there you saw Uncle Rodney's brother's little girl Bailey. She is about two years old and I was told that when you saw her you went up to her and hugged and kissed her and you both were real sweet to each other. I wish I could have seen that. We really do need to find you some little friends of your own. Mamaw decided that she wanted to keep you over night and we thought that was a fine idea so right now you are asleep at Mamaw & Papaw's. At least I hope you are asleep. You almost totally over your little sick bug but you still have a stuffy nose and some congestion and it makes it hard for you to sleep so you have been getting up in the middle of the night the past few nights.
      You may be wondering why I haven't mentioned the Kentucky Wildcats basketball season much this year. It's because they really are terrible this year. I do believe that they will drop out of the top 25 next week. That's the first time they will be out of the top 25 in a super long time. I am just so disgusted with the way they are playing this year. I don't even want to write anymore about it so I will drop that morbid subject.
      I'm gonna let you go for now. I probably won't write again until after I have gone back to work and when I've been off for any length of time I get so tired when I am there that I just don't feel like playing on the computer much so I don't know when I'll be able to set down with you again; I hope real soon. I do love keeping this blog and letting you know what's going on with us all in the time before you can remember. Well, Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               Happy eighteen month birthday, little girl. For some reason I have always thought that a child was never truly a toddler until they had reached eighteen months. I have always felt that way, even before you were even a consideration to either your Mom or myself. So today, even though you have been toddling around for quite some time, you are officially, in my mind at least, a toddler. Congratulations.
      You are still a little under the weather. You were kind of fussy this afternoon but much less so than either your Mother or I would be under similar circumstances. You are such a sweet little girl, even when you are sick. Your Mom & I are both big whiners when we get a little under the weather. Tonight you were trying to play with your Little Touch Leap Pad and as you played you had your lip poked out like you were getting ready to cry but you kept right on playing. We hate it when you are sick because there's really nothing we can do to help you except give you medicine and lots of loves. I do think you are feeling a little better though. You are not nearly as snotty and you are no longer Rebecca the Red-nosed Toddler, so all that is a comforting sign. Papaw came by today and helped me put the Christmas stuff up in the attic. You cried after him when he left. You have started calling him Papoo as well.
      Well, not much has happened in the last few days. It was real warm outside early yesterday so your Mom & I took down the outside Christmas lights while you napped and then it started storming terribly bad. There were tornadoes in Lincoln County and Adair County where your Mother graduated high school from. I expect you will graduate from Woodford County the same as your dear ole' Dad. Go Yellow Jackets.
      I'm going to let you go for now. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
               Happy New Year, little girl! I know it's a day short but the year is still new so I can still wish you a Happy New Year. I tried to post yesterday but you are so sick with your cold that I had no idea just how long you would be napping for yesterday afternoon. You actually slept a good long while but I really didn't expect you to.
      I made a photo album and posted it on the webpage where the online version of this journal is kept. It has 204 images in it. I didn't think that I was going to have enough space on the server to put all of the album online but I did. I bet you I don't have much more though.
      Well, it's storming right now and I would hate for my computer to be hit by lightening so I will close out the first blog of 2006. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                  There's only a couple of hours of 2005 left. Like Daddy said, it has been a very good year. We had all kinds of good things happen to us this year. Daddy said to tell you he loves you very much and has had a very good year with you. He says he knows 2006 will be even better. I am so glad things turned out the way they did for us; as you well know Daddy and I have had years in the past that weren't nearly as wonderful as the one we've spent with you. You turned our whole lives around for the better. You are the sweetest most precious gift we could have ever asked for and we love you so very dearly. I know the the three of us together will have a very Happy New Year. Daddy is in bed already and he thinks he's pathetic for going so early on New Year's Eve.. I told him that he wasn't pathetic. He was just a grown up. Only kids stay up and hoop and holler all hours of the night in the middle of the winter. Kids or people with no sense.
      You poor thing, you are ringing in the New Year with one ringer of a cold. Yes indeedy, you are all stuffed up, with a runny nose. You have big red poofy eyes to match. And your little cough sounds so pitiful. Mommy's poor baby. You've kept right on smiling and being your cute and sweet self. However. You have never really been what I would deem a "fussy" baby. You get a little upset for a few minutes then you get over it. The only time I heard you fuss for longer than ten or fifteen minutes is when you had a really bad ear infection in both ears when you were just a tiny baby. I can't say as I blame you there though; ear infections are so very painful. I'd probably fuss and cry all day and night too. I hear you coughing in your room right now. You sound so sick my baby bird. I do hope you feel better soon.
      I have to say, though, that the best New Year I have ever spent is right here at home. With you and Daddy. There is no other place I'd rather be tonight. You two are the loves of my life. That being said, I think I will get off here and head to bed real soon myself. Thanks for everything this year, Rebecca. You made it the best year of our lives. We love you!

Dear Rebecca,
               We're almost through with this year. It's been a very good year for the three of us. You turned one and from a beautiful smart baby you turned into a gorgeous intelligent toddler, your Mother got her very first car, we were able to purchase our beautiful house and all kinds blessings. It's been one of our better years.
      You & I went to Lexington with Mamaw & Papaw and Allison Tuesday to purchase the shades for the kitchen doors. We all loaded up into Mamaw's van and rode up there. We got the blinds and crammed them into the van; we then met up with Aunt Lynn, Uncle Rodney and the boys for a late lunch at Fazoli's Italian fast food restaurant. Everyone likes Fazoli's except for your Mom, who thinks the spaghetti is overcooked. It's a good thing then that she stayed at home to clean up the house from all the gaiety of the Christmas Season, plus she had to go to work later that evening. We then went to a Goodwill store in Hartland and browsed around. I really didn't browse so much as chase you around the store and try to keep you from breaking things. We then returned to the house where Papaw helped me put up the blinds while you played with your new toy kitchen with Jon. The blinds look great. It will be so nice to be able to eat at the dinner table and not have to shade our eyes from the sun. Papaw & Jon left and we played awhile and you had a very late supper and went to bed at 8:30. As soon as I put you down I went to bed myself.
      We both woke up at eight the next morning so we had eleven and a half hours of sleep. I can't remember the last time I slept that long. I fed you your breakfast and put on an Elmo or Dora DVD for you, I can't remember which one. After awhile I decided to start taking down the Christmas Tree by myself because your Mom did it all by herself last year. It was quite the undertaking because everything I took off of the tree you found incredibly interesting. I would put something into the storage boxes and you would pull it right back out. Your Mom woke up just as I was finishing up with the tree. As I organized the last few remaining gifts for your Mom's family in Hazard I stumbled upon one last remaining gift to you from Santa that we had overlooked Christmas Morning. It was an Elmo's World DVD.
      We decided on the spur of the moment to go to Hazard that afternoon. First we got together some of your old toys that you really didn't need anymore and some clothes you had outgrown and we headed off to the Goodwill Store to donate them to charity. After we dropped the stuff off we went to the Golden Corral on the north side of Lexington. It was pouring down the rain on our way to Lexington but it seemed to clear up quite a bit while we ate.
      We left for Hazard in overcast but relatively decent weather. As we approached the halfway point, Campton, the weather took a drastic turn for the worse. It began to pour; I mean absolutely Pour. I continued to drive through the terrible weather because I wanted to get down there so we could get back that night. We eventually made it to Aunt Mary's place on Coal Ridge Rd. but the rain still failed to abate and I wasn't going to venture out on visiting trips in weather like that so we considered getting a hotel room for the evening but eventually decided we would save our cash and sleep at Aunt Mary's. Your mom washed some sheets so we could have fresh linens on the bed and we all bathed in Aunt Mary's nice big garden tub. We finally went to bed. Aunt Mary's furnace doesn't work and hasn't worked in years so they use space heaters. I tried to turn one on but it had a short in it so I became afraid of using any space heaters because I know how easily those trailers can burn. Your Mom & I were extremely cold during the night but we kept you warm and snugly between the two of us, but even you became uncomfortable when you woke up because you looked at your Mom and said "Cold!"
      We should have gotten the hotel, but we saved $50 by freezing our tails off. We got dressed shortly after we woke up and went to Hardee's for breakfast where I had a Steak & biscuit, your Mom had a chicken & biscuit and you had tater tots. We then went to Magic mart where we purchased a winter hat for you. You love playing with hats but you are not too keen on actually wearing one. We will insist that you wear this one, at least while you are outside in the cool air. We then visited your Aunt Carolyn which is your Mom's much older half sister. That was only the third time you had ever seen her. You loved their little dog.
      After we left Aunt Carolyn's we headed over to Aunt Carolyn's oldest daughter's trailer to visit with her family for the Holidays. She has two girls of her own and one stepdaughter. We got all of them Christmas gifts. Melissa, or as your mother calls her, Tweety wasn't feeling very well and I think maybe your Mom caught something from her because she isn't feeling very well now either. We called Aunt Carolyn's other daughter, Marietta from Melissa's place and arranged to meet her at Wendy's so she could take us to see Arianna. Melissa and Marietta are your Mom's half nieces so that makes them your half first cousins and that makes Arianna and Melissa's daughters Carol and Amy Ann your half first cousin-once removed. Marietta took us to see Arianna and the two of you got on like I wouldn't believe. The both of you were super well behaved and very affectionate and gentle with each other. It was so sweet.
      However, there was another little girl there as well. This little girls name was Lisa Marie and she was 23 months old. She had been in an abusive home and had been in the foster care system much of her short life. Even though she was nearly a half year older than you and Arianna the both of you were much bigger than she was. She tried to hug you and she just bowled you over. I was appalled and your Mother jumped to your rescue. There was no harm done because the poor little girl was just trying to give you a hug. As you and Arianna were setting on the sofa hugging and kissing this little girl became jealous and began to hit at the both of you. This little girls Mother didn't seem to be moving to stop her daughter from striking you or your cousin so your Mom once again intervened and pulled this child off of the two of you. It doesn't stop there. You had a toy phone and this little girl, Lisa Marie grabbed it away from you in a violent and angry manner. You just looked at her like she had lost her ever loving mind. Later when you got the phone back and you could see that Lisa Marie really wanted it you walked up to her and just handed it to her. You were so sweet. I then had to show off just how empathetic you are by going on a fake crying jig and getting a hug from you to make me feel better. You responded like a champ. I was so proud of you. Even Arianna has been conditioned to think that rough play and hitting is acceptable behavior for a little girl. Maybe I am wrong but I believe that in order to raise you into a proper young lady we must instill in you the gentle graces instead of violence. Nope, I am not wrong and anyone who would say so would be off of their ever loving rocker. You are very lucky indeed to have two such well adjusted and reasonably intelligent parents as your mom & I. I was proud of your mom and myself as well because we had done such a fine job with you.
      We took some pictures of you and Arianna while we visited and Marietta wanted a copy of them so we went to the one hour photo lab at Wal-Mart. We browsed some while we were there. I purchased an electrical cord reel for the outside Christmas lights and some windshield washer fluid because I had used so much of it on the trip down there and in running about Hazard. Your mom purchased a cheap $5 35mm film camera and of course the photos. We filled up the Explorer with fuel at Wal-Mart because we get three cents of if we use our shopping card and we went and had lunch with Aunt Mary. Aunt Mary paid for our lunch and that was very kind of her. We then went back to Aunt Mary's place and gave you a bath, waited for your hair to dry, stuck you into your car seat, turned on Elmo's World on your new portable DVD player and headed back to the house. We eventually got home and you were so excited to be back. You were just bouncing off the wall. We finally got you down at around ten p.m. or so and then your Mom took a shower to wash the smell of cigarette smoke off of her; it seems everyone in Hazard smokes cigarettes; and then she went to bed. I am staying up to post this blog and edit our Holiday DVD.
      All in all, we had a very enjoyable trip. Your Mom isn't feeling very well right now but I have insisted that she see a doctor tomorrow and maybe they will be able to fix her up. Poor Momma, she has a ton of stuff wrong with her right now. I hope she feels better soon. Well, I am going to let you go for now. I hope to post at least one more blog this year but if I don't get to I want to thank you for being such a special child all year long. No wonder you got so many presents from Santa this year. You have been an angel all year. Of course you turn two in July and they say children get unruly when they turn two. You may just show us what a hellion you can be yet. Well, no matter what happens in the year to come Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                  Happy Boxing Day, Little Girl. Well, Christmas was a smashing success. Christmas Morning you woke up and ran to see your toy kitchen that Santa had already set up. I'm glad that he did do that because I imagine that it would have been a bear for your dear ole' daddy to put together. You also got an Elmo purse, Elmo and Dora DVDs, a potty book, a doll baby with doll accessories, a dolly high chair & carriage, a play food set,, a Golden Book about God, a cleaning set with a broom, mop, buckets, a vacuum cleaner and a cart for all of the cleaning stuff; you also got a DVD player carrying case, a 7'' portable DVD player for the vehicles, new sippy cups, shampoo & conditioner, soap, forks & spoons, a Disney Princess flashlight, and a cartridge for a toy that we were going to give you later that evening. I have no idea how Santa knew we had that particular toy but Santa seems to know all. You must have been an extra special good girl this past year. After opening up all of your presents Mom & Dad opened up our presents we had for each other. I got some socks, a ratchet set and a battery booster. Your Mom got a set of brushes, a book by Dr. Phil called Family First, a waffle maker and a set of earrings. Mom fixed us all a big breakfast of sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, biscuits, gravy and we washed it down with milk and coffee. You didn't get any coffee.
      Time for a nap after our late breakfast. While you napped your Mom & I watched some of the new Dukes of Hazard movie. It wasn't nearly as good as the old television show. I took a nap myself halfway through the movie. Your mom cleaned up the living room as best she could while you & I napped. After we woke up we got ready to go down to Mamaw & Papaw's.
      We got down to Mamaw & Papaw's and I had to go back to town to get a can of Copenhagen. Jacob rode with me. We ate when I got back. Your mom was supposed to fix meatballs but she had forgotten them so we went to Dairy Mart and got some chicken. Everybody seemed to love the chicken. We had a yummy Christmas dinner. Then we opened up more presents. You got clothes and more toys plus a Little Touch Leap Pad with a cartridge from Mom & Dad and a cartridge from Mamaw & Papaw. Aunt Lynn & Uncle Rodney got a Dora sit n' spin for you. Granny got you some stuffed toys and we all had a great time.
      You went straight to bed when we got back to the house and Mama & I watched Cinderella Man with Russell Crowe and then we went to bed and then Christmas was over.
      We went to Lexington to buy some cheap Christmas stuff for next year and to get you a big toy box. We also had planned on going to Home Depot to get some blinds for the big french doors in the kitchen that Mamaw & Papaw were going to buy for us for Christmas. Mamaw wasn't feeling so good so it was just the three of us at lunch at O' Charley's and then we went and looked at the blinds and then we went home. I think we are going to get them tomorrow. We got home and Mama took a nap while you & I watched Sesame Street. Eventually Mama woke up and went to work, you took a nap and I came in here to upload the videos I took and post this blog.
      I love Christmas and I love you. The two of you together make me so very happy. This has been such a fabulous Christmas. You were quite a bit more into Christmas this year than you were last year and it was a thrill to see the look of shock and joy on your face when you saw all of your new stuff. I know that next year will be even better when you truly know what is going on with all of the Christmas regalia. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
Merry Christmas little girl. Yesterday was Christmas Eve and Aunt Mary and Papaw Lawrence came up to celebrate Christmas with us. What a grand and wonderful time we all had, watching you be in awe of present after present that they had brought for you. You got quite a nice little stash; You had 2 teletubbies, La La and Tinky Winky (you tried to push La La's belly to make her talk the way the Po teletubby you got for your birthday does, everyone thought that was so cute) that you loved very much. You also got a nice big Dora The Explorer's Back Pack set from Aunt Mary with things to put inside the back pack and she really talks. You really loved that toy. She brought you a small Dora Doll; a talking Elmo, a talking Elmo phone, and a giggle gabber Elmo. You also got two outfits and tons of other crap that makes a whole bunch of noise so we cannot have any sort of peace in the house. You always love the presents Aunt Mary brings you. She does a really good job picking them out for you.
      As Daddy told you previously, we did the extended family Christmas dinner yesterday evening at the Kingsway church. I just had to pause my post for a minute because you had woken up from your nap. I took you in the living room and gave you some of your brand new toys that you got for Christmas to play with and you are busy being entertained with those and a Dora episode called "A present for Santa". Anyway, everyone at the dinner thought you were OH so cute, as they always have. You wore your little Christmas skirt that Mommy picked out for you and everyone thought that was really cute too. You are always the life of the party. Mary and Papaw Lawrence even decided to join us at the church for the dinner and I was so happy. It was so nice of Mamaw and Papaw to invite them. They were really happy to be there and get such a good meal. They left before we did the gift exchange but we all had a lot of fun doing that and watching Mamaw get the crappiest gift of all, the Executive Saucer Shooter. She was none to pleased with that.
      Well you just wandered in here demanding my full attention and wandered back somewhere else and caused a crash of something so I better get off of here and pay attention to you. I will let Daddy tell you all about your wonderful Christmas morning and presents from Santa and of course we have a big Christmas this evening too. I love you, little girl. Merry Christmas!

Dear Rebecca,
                     Hello, little girl, and a very Merry Christmas to you. It's Christmas Eve. Momma is zonked and ready to shout Bah Humbug! But I don't really mean it. I am just tired I reckon. I am so excited to see you open your gifts on Christmas morning and watch everyone be in such awe of you on Christmas Eve that I can hardly stand it all. I know that you won't understand a lot of what is going on but I know you will think it is all very very fun. I love to see you have lots of fun.
      Last night when Mommy and Daddy went to pick you up at Mamaw & Papaw's you ran right past Mommy and straight to Daddy. That touched Daddy's big ol' soft teddy bear heart and made him melt. He loves you so much. I don't think he ever really expected you to be here. We had a long wait for you. But what a wonderful gift when you finally came! You're the best Christmas present of them all. I love you, Rebecca. Merry Christmas, my precious baby. You will always be my baby... I don't care how old you get. And I promise that every year I will say to you the same words I said just now "Merry Christmas, my precious baby". Even when you hate it. I love you, baby girl.

Dear Rebecca,
               Christmas is getting closer and closer. It's the day after tomorrow. I am excited about the new format; Doing Mamaw & Papaw's on Christmas night instead of Christmas Eve. We've heard from Santa and he has all of your presents ready to go and he says you have been a very good girl this past year and we were so proud to hear that.
      We went to Southern Lights Tuesday evening. We all went last year but it was on Christmas night when all of the indoor attractions were closed, anyway last year you were too little to really get anything out of it. We decided that this year you would go when we could go inside. First we went to Cracker Barrel Restaurant. I had what I always used to have and that is a chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes with gravy, two servings of green beans, corn muffins, a coca-cola and a chocolate cobbler; your Mom had grilled chicken strips with fries, mac & cheese, baked apples, a diet cola, and for desert she had a piece of pecan pie; and you had a hamburger with fries, a lemonade and a scoop of ice cream. It was a very yummy meal. I have a feeling we will not be making so many trips to Cracker Barrel in 2006. Your Mom & I have decided to really concentrate on getting healthy in 2006 and that means eating healthy and while you can eat healthy at Cracker Barrel it's not the easiest thing in the world to do so we will more or less avoid that place. We might go a time or two but not nearly as many times as we did in 2005.
      After we ate it was pretty dark so we went to Southern Lights. We got the around seven o'clock which is pretty early so we were able to more or less drive right in. We paid our fifteen dollars and started the drive, You absolutely loved the lights. You clapped and laughed and gasped in amazement at the sights you saw. You especially liked the horses they had rigged up to simulate motion. You had a fabulous time on the drive through the lights. Your Mom decided to get in back with you before we started the tour and she is so glad that she did. She loves Southern Lights but I think she enjoyed watching you and your reaction to the lights more than anything else.
      We got to the Horse Museum where all of the indoor attractions were. It was extremely cold so we put you in your umbrella stroller and wrapped a shirt around the stroller so you would stay warm. You had the coat that Mamaw & Papaw bought for you a month or so ago but the zipper busted so you weren't bundled up as we as we would have liked. We made our way to were Santa was seeing the children. We knew you wouldn't be too keen on seeing the jolly fat man, and when I refer to the jolly fat man I am talking about Santa, not Daddy, but we wanted to give you the chance to see him and we wanted to watch your reaction to him and get a picture. You really enjoyed looking at the Christmas trees as we waited in the queue but you also seemed kind of nervous about what was going to happen because you saw all of the children in front of us going to see Santa and you figured you would eventually have to do it too. Well, eventually you did. You would not go to him at all. He reached for you and you shrank into your Mama's bosom. She climbed up on the sled with you and you had your picture taken and then you reached for me with all you were worth. Next we checked out a talking Christmas tree that you seemed to like at first until it started singing. You then took off. You didn't want to have anything to do with a talking tree; I can't say as I blame you.
      After that we went to the petting zoo where you saw tons and tons of goats; of course you saw a baby goat the day before in the parking lot of the Dollar General Store in the back of an SUV. My Bambi Dee, your great grandfather, used to transport baby goats in the cab of his old red pick-up truck so seeing such a sight was not a big deal for me. You also saw a big ole camel that at all of my animal feed cone in one bite. You thought he was very funny. You giggled at him like the little girl that you are. We saw some giant rats known as a Patagonian Cavy. They looked like rats at the petting zoo but I just now looked them up online and they look more like rabbits there. You actually touched a kangaroo on the nose; you saw wallabies, a zebra, a tiny miniature donkey, a calf and some more goats. We washed your hands real well with the provided hand sanitizer and we went home. We all had a grand time.
      yesterday your Mom & I went to Lexington so you spent the day with Mamaw & Papaw. You had a lot of fun and got a new coat.
      Well, I'll let you go for now because you have awoken from your nap and you don't think it's a good idea that I be on the computer. You require my attention. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                  Once again, like last year, Christmas was in jeopardy. Lots of stuff happened yesterday that could have potentially damaged my warm Christmas glow. First it was revealed to me that Aunt Mary wanted to bring her latest boyfriend with her for Christmas Eve and have him spend the night in our home and have him watch you open Christmas presents Christmas morning. I have never met her boyfriend; I don't know his name or anything about him. I really and truly do not want perfect strangers joining us on the absolutely positively happiest moment of the year. Christmas in general and Christmas morning in particular should be timeless. When you think back on it or look at photos from years gone by things should always be the same. The same traditions, the same scenario and especially the same people. If Mary brought her latest boyfriend he will be an anomaly in the Christmas Mornings that I want you to experience. Maybe if she brings a new guy every year we could consider the nameless faceless boys she brings to be the constant. That was a small joke. It sounded funnier when I thought about it in my head. Anyway, Mama has decided, on her own that the boy wouldn't be a great idea. I didn't like the idea from the very beginning. He's not going to be here at all for Christmas; unfortunately, while Aunt Mary is going to be able to be here for Christmas Eve she will not be able to join us for Christmas Morning. She says it's because she has to work and maybe that's true but maybe it's because she wants to spend Christmas with her latest boy. I don't know one way or the other. I am disappointed over the fact that Aunt Mary will not be joining us Christmas Morning but your Mom was absolutely devastated. She cried over that fact. I felt bad for your Mom. Papaw Lawrence is supposed to be joining us this year for Christmas eve. I don't know if he will or not. I certainly hope he does. He decided not to come last year and it tore your Mom's heart out.
      All of that was minor stuff compared to the next blow that our Christmas traditions suffered. This is the second Christmas disaster in as many years; last years being getting all of our gifts stolen by the scum of the earth. Sunday night the church in which you attended your very first service burned to the ground. Mortonsville Assembly of God is gone. The church has been there since 1835 according to the news and it's been an Assembly of God church since the 1930's. I attended that church for part of my teen years. I have a whole lot of great memories regarding Mortonsville Assembly of God. It will be sorely missed by many people for many reasons.
      As you know, for the last decade or so we have used the fellowship hall at Mortonsville Assembly of God for Thanksgiving and Christmas night celebrations. We were just out there a month ago for Thanksgiving. Everyone in our family who loves Christmas was excited about having a Christmas night celebration since we didn't have one last year. The church burning down threw all of that into turmoil. Aunt Lynn was extremely upset and I was beside myself. As you know I love Christmas and hate changes to my Christmas routine. Christmas night was on the verge of being cancelled. Last year it was your Mother who stepped forward and saved Christmas. She hosted a small gathering at our tiny apartment for anyone who wanted to come. It was nice but it wasn't Christmas night as we knew and loved it. I called it Christmas Lite, Aunt Lynn called it Christmas Crap, which is a bit harsh but I know where she's coming from. This year Aunt Lynn pulled Christmas from the brink of disaster. She has arranged for the family to use the fellowship hall at King's Way Assembly of God, the church in which I grew up in, on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve at Mamaw & Papaw's has been moved to Christmas night. I know this sounds like change but I believe it's more accurate to call it evolution. I don't have a problem with Christmas evolving over time because as things change so too does the way we must approach the Holidays. I just do not like drastic and sudden changes in the way things are done. I know that the Christmases I knew as a child will not be the Christmases you will know but I can do my best to see that they are as close as possible. I happen to think that switching out Christmas Eve and Christmas night is a fabulous idea. After I grew up Christmas night lacked that one special thing that made Christmas such a magical experience, PRESENTS. So Christmas night was always kind of a let down from the frantic opening of gifts of Christmas Eve and of course now that you are here and able to rip paper with the best of them, Christmas Morning. Now Christmas Night will be the beginning of the celebration and we can send Christmas out with a bang on Christmas Night. As a child I spent Christmas Night at my Grandparents house ripping into tons of gifts and so now so shall you. As I think about it nothing is really changing at all. I just want you to know the Christmases of my youth and really this is the best way to accomplish that.
      So as you can see Christmas is back on track and I think it's healthier than ever. This is going to be one fabulous Christmas. Daddy loves Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                           Hello my sweet. Right now you are sleeping (I hope) in your room and Daddy was in bed but he got up to eat a brownie. He says he isn't having much luck going to sleep. However, he's barely been in there ten minutes. I can't go to sleep in ten minutes either. I think he caught me in the office with the door closed writing this blog to you and tried to sneak past me so he wouldn't have to deal with my grumpy behind. I have been grumpy today but I did not get enough sleep last night. Daddy has been grumpy too though because Daddy didn't get enough sleep either. He really ought to go back to bed. I think he is planning on taking you to church tomorrow morning. Possibly. Perhaps I can go, too.
      I missed you so much when I was at work today. Santa Claus was at work and I wanted so bad for you to get to come and see him. I had the truck though because my poor little car still is not running. Wahhh! I miss it so. Anyway, I don't really know if you would have went to see him or not. You were very leary of him the last time he was in the store. You wouldn't even take a candy cane from him until he pulled his beard down and showed you who he really was.. which was Jenny's (my co-worker's) Dad. You took it then but even then it was with caution. I think if you finally get to see Santa Claus this year that you might boo hoo and cry and not want to sit in his lap for any picture thank you very much.
      You did something so very cute a couple of days ago when I was wrapping presents. You sat and colored and watched Sesame Street for the longest time and were very good through most of it. When you got out of your chair though you wanted to be right in the mix of things. When I was loading up a box of presents to take down to Mamaw & Papaw's house, you grabbed one. I told you no and you cried. Then I looked around and you had another one and were trying to help me put them in the box. You are so very sweet and such a good helper. I let you put a few presents under the tree even and you thought that was such big fun. You do love the Christmas tree. I love Christmas but it's such a crazy time and everywhere is always so crowded that I get stressed out a little. Mommy just needs to take a chill pill sometimes, I guess. My favorite part about Christmas is Christmas morning. It's calm and quiet after all the gifts are open and everyone has a smile on their face. We're all getting ready to go to dinner and I can smell the food in the kitchen and it makes my mouth water. Then we get to go see everyone we care about and for a minute nothing is wrong in the entire world. Christmas was hard for me as a kid because I never had any real family to spend it with. As you know Mommy was raised in Foster Care and I didn't get to live with my Mommy and Daddy. Thanks to you & Daddy, and Mamaw & Papaw, I have a really family of my very own. I feel truly blessed. Well little one, I love you. I am tired and I think Daddy is waiting for me to go to bed so he can come in here and play on this thing. I love you, Rebecca!

Dear Rebecca,
                     It's very late here on Sunday night or either very early here on Monday morning. It all runs in together sometimes. I stayed up late tonight because I needed to get started wrapping some Christmas gifts for our family & friends. I already wrapped almost twenty presents and it seems to me I have barely made a dent in it. That's because you got way too much this year. Who knows what Santa might bring so you will indeed get even more.
      You are such a sweet and darling little thing. We went to church this morning and you stayed in the play area with all the other children. You were a little fussy and didn't really want to go with all those people you didn't know. I don't really blame you there. We are going to have to take you more often so that you can get to know those people. You did enjoy playing with the other chiildren, as you always do, however. After the service we went out to see the tree in the narthex of the church. There was a really big tree and a small tree over in the corner with angels on it. You pointed to the tree and said "Sat?" (What's that) To which I informed you that it was an angel tree, with angels on it. And you said "Gels!" and pointed to it. So I took you over to see it and you plucked a little blue angel off the tree with a little girl's name on it. Her name is Jenny, and she is four. This year what Jenny really wanted from Santa was a purple dress, some boots to wear to a party and a baby doll. We went to Kmart to get all that good stuff and jetted up to KFC to get some fried chicken for dinner. We are going to have to take the dress back today or tomorrow (Daddy will drive us, it is snowing outside, you really do like the snow, you call it 'NO!") because I realized it was a size too small when I went to wrap it this evening. It's due Tuesday at the church so I reckon we'll have to talk Daddy into taking us tomorrow if it's not too bad when he gets off work. There may be an extension due to the bad weather.
      We had a real fine time today. You entertained us as usual with your antics, taking bows and doing spins and jumping. You have started trying to bite Mommy and Mommy doesn't really like that very much. We are going to work on that. Anyway, back to the story at hand. Daddy and I watched Tv and you poked about in your room doing whatever it is you do in there. You half watch Dora and Boots but I think mostly you plot and plan new ways to horrify me & your dear old Dad. That's what toddlers do I reckon.
         I am getting ready to end this post, get something to drink, and go to bed, but, before I do, I want to tell you my favorite moment with you this past week. Early in the week you were standing on the couch after Daddy left for work very early in the morning. You let out a little toot and made a little circle with your mouth like "Oh My!" and then you turned and looked out the window, stuck out your tongue, let out a bigger toot, turned and looked at me, eyes wide, and said, Momma, Poo Poo!" You hadn't pooped when I changed your diaper but I guess your little toot was so hard it felt like you did. You are so cute & sweet and smart and pretty. I even love your stinky little toots. I love you so much. Goodnight my sweet little baby. Mommy loves you!