27 Oct 1937
Dorothy Griffin to the Griffins / Washington D.C.
Dear Folks
We're still the proud parents, and not fit company for anyone, as all we think and talk is the son who is one month old today and is growing so fast. He weights 8 pounds 1 ounce tonight, and is just beginning to see objects. He growls and tugs away at his pad beneath him, works himself down to the crib from one to two feet every time I feed him. He's a good alarm clock too and wakes within ten minutes of his feeding hour almost and each time. All in all we think he's pretty nearly perfect, and each of us claims to have given him his good disposition although to be honest he's got a much better one than either of us. We were going to take some snapshots of him today but I learned out to be the rainiest day of the year, so we'll have to wait for the sunshine. I warn you though that he screws up his face tightly and clamps his eyes tighter at the mere suggestion of bright light. You won't be able to tell much about him.
That was thoughtful of you and generous of uncle Less Smith to send us the information on formula. Perhaps Less knows the doctor who looks after the baby or has heard of him - E. Kirby Smith. He's a western man, did John tell you? - and is supposedly one of the outstanding pediatricians in the city. I still wish we were near home though so we might go to Less with the baby as he would have a more personal interest in him. Unless there is an emergency I take the baby once a month for the first four or six months for a general check-up and diet change and additions, then less often as he grows older.
The little feller is getting quite a wardrobe these days in the way of gifts. He now has three definitely boy sweaters and an adorable knit suit that he will be able to wear about Christmastime. So far he's worn knit gowns and wrappers exclusively, and will do until November 27. I don't put him in the tub until November last or the first of December, but oil him instead - did I tell you all this?
Some friends of ours who live near us just had a boy ten days later than ours. A coincidence is that the grandmother knows you Mother Griffin - her name was Carrie Jones, from Wellsville and she married a man named Brown. She was a girlfriend of mother's and they are quite elated with their grandsons. John's stenographer sent the baby a beautiful sterling spoon.
Sunday John took me for my first outing. We rode through Arlington Cemetery in the bright sunlight and the autumn colors were as vivid as paint pots. It was gorgeous. I felt like Rip Van Winkle waking up to a new world, as when I went to the hospital everything was still deep summer. He wanted to take the boy but mother argued him out of it as he is still such a tiny one and it was quite windy.
Donald must be at the mission home now. What a new world is opening for him. I remember how John was - this thoughts already in France and so preoccupi3ed that I felt he might as well be gone right then. Our hopes for his eagerness to serve are high, and he must know he has our best wishes for happiness and satisfaction in his work. John feels that he can gain much from it. I hope he's able to come this way as it would mean so much to John, but we understand quite well that it may be impossible.
We were glad to hear of Elsie's new work and hope that it is more agreeable. She's a good kid and deserves a few good breaks even if she is a Beta and sent to the A.C. Tell her I'm out doing myself even on the mush business. I fairly gloat over my morning dish and John is beginning to think it's a phobia with me. Also, we've started on Chili again. Yes, she knows our menus by heart.
Love from all three of us, although Snooky hasn't confirmed my sending his -
Dorothy
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