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124 Jan. 10 - Wed. 12:00 N. My dearest darling: Wendy and I have been having a rough time of it since last night. Poor little sweetie, she has a miserable cold - change of weather I guess. I was awakened by her crying at 2:00, and she cried steadily for an hour without stopping. Nothing I tried to do for her seemed to help any. I took her into bed with me, rubbed her back, propped her up, fed her boiled water, changed the pants - finally I wrapped her up and started walking the floor. About 3:30 she fell asleep completely exhausted. She woke me up again at six this morning, but when I put her in my bed she went back to sleep til 8:00. Her father's daughter - she packed away a good breakfast! She has a fever, but that's to be expected, and now she's sleeping after taking a big drink of orange juice. I sure wanted you - it's particularly lonely up with a sick baby in the middle of the night. Guess I was a little frightened, because Wendy has never awakened feverish during the night before. Helen stayed with her, while I went [pg 2] downtown for nose drops, mail and a few odds and ends for the box I'm getting ready to send you. It was especially good to get mail from you - the wedding handkerchief (I'll send you another soon to keep) Wendy's letter and handkerchief (she will love it - she might use it for a kerchief to go with her first raincoat). I loved the letter and will put it away in her baby book. She will answer it when she feels a bit more chipper. Happy to hear that the books finally arrived. I do love you darling - much more than I ever thought I’d be able to give myself to anyone. It is really a full and complete love, and all for you. If I didn't have our love to keep me going, I never would have gotten thru these first few months. Didn't know quite what to get to put in the box besides food. Finally picked up some odds and ends - colored embroidery and crocheting thread, colored pencils, marbles, china cement and another tin soap dish. Will bake the cookies this afternoon and send the box tomorrow, together with ‘China to Me’ - one of the few books I've read recently and thoroughly enjoyed - Still have to finish Belden and Fleisher. Had a note from Bev today - she hasn't been able to get out of Columbus yet because of the weather. 3:45 P.M. Wendy sure has me busy keeping her amused. When everything else fails I improvise [pg 3] a little jig, and that's always good for a laugh! She just whacked her head with a tablespoon - 'scuse please while we kiss the hurt - all better - Wendy and I baked butterscotch cookies for you this afternoon, and finally got the box ready to mail - also in 2 separate packages Emily Hahn and a supplement from Parents Magazine. We had a mild earthquake on Sunday which I forgot to tell you about. I didn't happen to feel it, but lots of people did. 7:30 P.M. If you were home now I’d just put my head on your shoulder and have a good long weep. I'm so tired I just feel numb. Wendy cried so hard and long when I put her to bed - that finally I just wrapped her up well, and brought her in here in front of the fire. She shows no signs of being sleepy - talking, and banging her hands and feet on the mat. It begins to look as if it will mean another session tonight - She isn't feverish - just wide awake, and not at all interested in going to sleep. If she keeps this up she'll have to play nurse to her mummy. Someone said the other day that she’d probably start talking early, and keep up a steady stream of conversation - I'm beginning to believe them. Think I will give her some nose drops, and put her back in bed - wash the dishes and go to sleep myself. I'm too tired even [pg 3] to read. I love you dearly - Bobby Will leave this open for a P.S. to let you know how the sprout is coming along. 4:15 A.M. Well we've been up since two and I'm at my wits ends to say nothing of my eyes being half closed. Wendy is now lying on the bed, chewing a comb, and talking to the lamp. She had a one hour nap yesterday, and slept from 10-2, and that's all -surely she's got to get sleepy sometime. Think I'll try giving her her breakfast bottle now and breakfast at the regular time. I keep telling her - if she goes on like this she's going to be an only child, but even that doesn't seem to bother her. What would I ever do if she was twins right now! 4:45 Well, I guess that worked - food seems to be a cure all for just about everything in this family. And so to sleep --- 9:00 A.M. Everything under control - Wendy slept til 8:30 - Love you sweety- B.
