January 28 1953

Wed. 28th Jan.

Dearest Mummy,

These are the rest of the pictures, so I won’t be able to write much. Thank you so much for your last letter of the 19th- I will get down to a proper answer to all your letters & blue crosses soon, but I am trying to write thank you letters gradually & it is taking all my energy!! Re. the pictures, I meant to tell you that Cec & I are sure that Linda remembers you- she repeats “G’annie” after us & keeps turning back to the to the pictures with you in again & again, & each time she looks she says “G’annie”. I don’t know if she realizes that it is she herself or not- she grins when we point & say “Linda” but looks as if she didn’t believe us! I didn’t realize until I saw those pictures how much her hair has changed since you saw her – it is long now – as long on her as mine is on me! – & beautifully curly! All around the sides & back & wavy on top- & we still put a bow at one side!

She looks very sweet & the long curly hair makes her look quite grown-up & not babyish. We are trying to take some pictures of Lindy & Charlie, but the weather is most uncooperative- dull & cloudy each weekend. It is cold & snowy – heavy fall last night & today – but very few of those sunny, clear cold days that we had last winter. Must stop now as I want to add a list of as much of Lindy’s vocabulary as I can remember, so that you will get some idea of how much she is talking. She will tell a story now, like “Daddy – car – snow.  Bye-bye Daddy”!

Lots & lots of love from all of us – XXX from Lindy XXX from Charlie

                                 Cyn

Cookie- Tea (loves it still)- Hot coffee- Spoon- Up-down- Hole- There!- Bam! (when she bumps herself) Bagoo (Pillow- don’t why!)- Thank you- Please- Mummy- Daddy- Dan- Nancy- Baby- Lee- Barry- Jim- Joanne (doll)- Tap- Water- Towel-  Coat-coat- Boots- Mittens (m’ims)- Hat- Boy- Book- Bow-wow- Dirty- Donkey- More- Milk (That’s what she calls the Milkman)- Button- Man- Lady- Egg- Soup- Apple- Snow- Knee- Toe- Mole (she has a tiny one on her foot)- Up we go!- No-no- Soldier- sailor- (on her curtains)- penguin- birdie- bunny- lamb- cow- horsie- cat- Open- Meat- Potatoes (‘tatoes)- Refrigerator (‘rator!)- Store- ski- Upsidaisy!- Dinner- Plane- Sky- Can’t remember any more just now.  She feeds herself entirely alone too & it is wonderful- I wash dishes & have my meals &  she goes ahead eating beautifully!

In fact, I had always been told my first sentence was: “Dan, ski,  up-si-daisy!” as I watched him from the window…