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Oct. 7, 1958
Dear Mother,
The sleepers arrived yesterday, & they're super! We've never seen anything like them. They look like they're designed to keep her warm in outer space. By the time she's old enough to wear them, that may not be so fantastic a thought. It won't be long, probably about 6 or 8 months. Right now, she's still in kimonos & nightgowns, moreso the latter as the nights grow colder. I have some pajamas that will fit her now, but as long as it's not too cold, the nightes are a lot easier to get into when a change is in order. Those cleverly arranged zippers on those sleepers are going to be very handy. Thank you very much for thinking of us.
We rearranged the living-room furniture again the other night, putting She's mat near the coffee table, & the legs have suddenly become a goal in her travels. I keep finding her on her stomache with one or both legs wrapped around one of the legs. She doesn't exactly crawl. She inches, usually backwards, & makes some progress by rolling. She gets off her mat more & more every day, & the living-room will soon be her oyster. Whenever she gets a few feet from the mat, Jeff comes over & looks at
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2 me, as if to say "That's not right, put her back."
Wed. The blue nylon robe arrived yesterday. It's a very pretty thing. I'm going to put it away, since Jim gave me a very nice blue robe for Christmas last year, & for frillier occasions, I have my negligee. That nylon robe will be just right, however, when I go to the hospital to have James H. Standley III (that's what we ordered). God willing, that will be at least 1 1/2 years from now. Thank you again for thinking of us "just for ducks."
Last night, we got back another roll of film, all of She, of course. As soon as I get the duplicates, I'll send you some of the better ones. Maybe, we''re prejudiced, but that kid is sure photogenic, in spite of the sour looks she saves just for cameras.
Right now, she's lying here, in front of the fireplace, playing with a piece of tissue paper & watching the fire. I usually light a small fire in the mornings, just to take the chill off of things Since we have an unlimited supply of firewood, its a lot nicer than turning on the heat, & She likes it. By the way, she has begun to recognize her name. When you call "She", she turns her head & looks for the source of the voice. Since Eileen is two syllables, we will wait a while to teach her that. In the mean-
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3 time, She just seems to fit such a busy energetic little character. Yesterday, I put her in one of her very frilly bonnets, & it just didn't look right. Maybe it's me. I'm so used to seeing her in an undershirt & a diaper. She does look especially nice in some of her dresses, however.
Jim is currently putting in extra hours here & there, in preparation for a three-day vacation of fishing & farming at his uncle's place near Yuba City. We haven't been up there since before she was born. That's where the picture of me on the little tractor was taken.
Before I forget, please send me Joan's address so that I can thank her for the flowers. I think you sent it before, but that segment of my "letters-to-be answered" is in such a mess that it's going to take a while to straighten it out.
Saturday, Paula, Chick, & I are going up to the De Young Museum to see a terrific exibition of Van Gogh's and a rare marble bust by Cellini, that was recently discovered & acquired. We'll take She along. This bust was only recently authenticated, making it one of two Cellini's in the U.S. We are loading She's subconscious with an awareness of the arts. Chick plays the classics on her hi-fi for She, whenever we're over there. Unfortunately,
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my favorite Van Gogh won't be there. Maybe you remember, I had a print of it hanging in the living-room at 804. When we decorate this place, I plan to have it framed & handing on the living-room wall. The original is in a private collection, & the paintings we're going to see are from Holland & public U.S. collections. The exhibit will be in L.A. next. If you're at all interested, it's worth the trouble to see it.
Paulsey is coming over today to watch She & the world series, while I go Avon-ing. I usually take She with me, but she weighs a ton so it will be nice to have her at home for a change. When she gets a little more accustomed to her stroller it will be easier, but by then I will probably be back to work. The county is scheduled to call me anytime after Nov. 1.
Before Paulsey comes, I have to achieve a semblance of order & civilize the kitchen. We're having bean soup for dinner, one of the recipes which I have mastered, so I have to lay out the ingredients & thaw the smoked ham hock. I alternate the recipes I have mastered with experimental menus, to keep Jim's digestion on an even peel. A ratio of 2 old stand-bys to one experiment keeps us in good shape.
Love, Marcia
P.S. Wedding negatives soon. Don't you remember, you already brought me Grandmother's gray coat. It's very nice.
