13 Oct 1937
Dorothy Griffin to the Griffins / Washington D.C.
Dear Mother and Dad Griffin
I can only express my feelings at this time in the words John read to me in the hospital. "There are a few shining hours in life. A few hours when the worldly wisdom of a sophisticated age falls away like so much veneer, and fundamentals are clear and bright. The little bridge of time between the staccato hour when your baby was born and the everyday days ahead is one of these. It should be a time to remember; a time filled with sunlight and rest and soft wooly blankets, and the first exciting signs of the kind of person your baby is going to be. Only the things that concern you are really important, for the wise know when not to be wise, or cynical or modern. Social upheavals and economic worries are flickers on the path; the things that bring love and health and laughter to children are the things that matter. Hold on as long as you can to this shining hour of understanding."
Right now we are in a little world of our own, the three of us - almost a dream world - and I can understand for the first time why people have big families. In a way I wish our little son could be just as he is for a long time. He's so sweet and so good, and his dad is thrilled with him that he won't let me feed or change him when he's around.
When the pediatrician came to look him over it tickled John to pieces for him to say "Lad, you're certainly going to have to grow to fit those feet!" He has the boy started to growing now, as the little tike is long and skinny and the rascal takes over 21 ounces of formula a day now as compared to 14 ounces last week. Dr. O'Donnel, my doctor, told me that he would probably be a taller man than John as he has a big frame and was very long for his weight. He also said that he would definitely resemble John, the thought, and I certainly hope so. But as yet he looks mostly like himself. He never cries and the last two days he's a real little alarm clock, as right almost on the hour he starts begging to be fed.
John told you about his long black hair. It hangs right over his neck in back and he has long sideburns, but I doubt that John told you he has a dimple in his chin as he thinks it makes him look like a sissy. And the nurses at the hospital all exclaimed about his hands, such lovely long fingers he has and nails that any gal would envy, which again are like John's.
We were at the hospital two weeks lacking a day. Fortunately I had taken out hospitalization last fall and so our hospital expenses were under $30, whereas otherwise they'd have been about $150.
We're getting along beautifully. Between mother and John the diapers are kept up. I use Denison paper pads in them so we never have any nasty washing to do. The baby is so little that I'm to oil him for a month yet, and then after I begin bathing him he is to be oiled most of the winter. Mother comes over in the morning and washes out his nighties and shirts, pads, etc. and straightens up the apartment and between feedings [ ] the tyke and I sleep like logs.
The package came yesterday. I was so tickled over the surprise doggy. It's adorable and in his crib with him now. The sweater is lovely, but he won't be using it for some time yet, and the slippers are the funniest cutest things and just about fit! The slip is lovely too. Did you just do that tatting?
John's stenographer sent him a sterling spoon yesterday - does he rate the gifts! And I think we'll keep him.
Affectionately, Dorothy
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