The baby is doing well, too.

Feb. 9, 1954

Dear Marie

Happy Birthday! Happy Valentine's Day too!

I'm here at Betty's you know. And glad for the opportunity to return the baby care favor I've owed her since Jill was born.

Betty is getting along very well. She seems so much stronger than when Randy was born. She is up and dressed every day although she takes it pretty sensibly easy.

The baby* is doing well, too. She still wakes up two or three times during the night. But it is to be expected from a baby so small. She doesn't eat much at a time, but she likes to eat often.

I brought Jackie with me the rest of the family are "batching it". Mark is in kindergarten and goes only a half day, but Ruth feeds him lunch and watches out for him for the afternoon until the girls come from school. Bob has to be out of town a day or two each week - and on those days, all of them will stay overnight at Haakensons.

Randy and Jackie have been really good pals. There's enough of an age difference to avoid the quibbling of comtemporaries. Randy has been under the weather yesterday and today has had a temperature of 100 degrees or over. He seems lively enough most of the time and it's probably nothing serious. He'll probably stay home from school tomorrow though. He really has it handy here. His school is just over the back fence.

Just realized I haven't written you since Christmas and thanked you for the lovely things you sent us. Betty opened her gift from you first. (They were at our house) and I just drooled! So I was most pleasantly surprised to find my gift was the same. I wear ear rings all of the time - even around the house - so they will be put to good use. I have a new cobbler's apron just the same shade of scarlet, too.

Bob's tie is just perfect! I made him a navy blue checked vest for Christmas and your tie was a perfect complement. He has worn both constantly.

The children really appreciated their gifts too. We made this a very "practical" Christmas this year, so the toys you sent were most welcome indeed! One could easily see you have children for you picked gifts perfectly suited to their age interests. And how nice it was for Ruthie and Becky to include their very own gifts! And made by themselves too, I'll bet. The little sachets are tucked away lovingly in their drawers.

How is Frank and his work. Any tempting job offers? Wouldn't it be fun if he found a good opportunity in Portland?

*The new baby is Robin Pritchett Church, born January 25, 1954.