Fri. Nite – 9:30P.M.

Jan, 28, 1944

Dearest Preston:

You certainly have a funny attitude towards things since the baby names. Guess I’ve failed again somewhere . . .

I love you honey. I still love you – I always will love you. I want you to know.

The baby was pretty good last night. I was so tired after him two o’clock that I went to sleep before I hit the pillow. He slept then until 3am so 1 gave him a little water instead of feeding him and put the hot water bottle to his feet and he slept so nice until 6. He had the colic this afternoon ; he ate too much , got even 4 ounces when he should have 2 or 3. Weighs 7.8 today. You should hear him scream when he gets his bath! Until I get to his back and he likes that. He certainly does like to get dressed up. His little George is healing nicely. All in all he is an awfully sweet baby : the reason I wanted you to come home next week was because I want to have the baby baptized while Bob is here as I want him and Pat to be God-parents with Mother and Dad. I thought since we named him for “pappy” Searle, it would be nice to have Mom and Dad as godparents. Then too Junie is coming home from Ford Meade on a furlough. See what you can do, sweety. Please don’t laugh at me for suggesting this – but maybe you could get a 3 day pass under the circumstances. It’s worth trying for anyhow. I won’t be satisfied until I see my little Preston in his Daddy’s arms. And if you are going to be sent over seas – as I suspicion [suspect] you will be – it will probably come quickly. I know owe some money and it will inconvenience you but my love is a little selfish even yet I’m afraid. I rec’d [received] an announcement from Mrs. Gardener today. The baby’s name is Randall Lee

The baby has two more dollars – he’ll soon have a bond.

You can never deny your child honey. I think he is the image of you. His heed sets so squarely on that little long neck.

I think I’ve changed. Daddy says I don’t have a girl look anymore but that I look like a woman and I do. Right now I look kind of drawn and my eyes have black circles under them but that’ll disappear when I get some fresh air and exercise again. It’s a strain however living a mother (gosh – I can’t realize it yet)you wonder all the time if they’re all right, if they’re too hot or too cold, why he’s crying if he’s hungry or what would I do if he really got sick. Thank the Lord for what nursing experience I have had. I’d be lost without that knowledge.

We are also fortunate that I have a place to start out in instead of our little room. I think it saved you a little money, doesn’t it?

There is one girl who just had a baby and whose husband got home over a 20 day sick furlough. He left a couple ago and when they put him on the train, he told them to tell her he wasn’t ever coming home again until the damn war was over; he felt so badly. She’s going down in a few weeks but then she has the baby on a bottle. She was nursing him but started to worry so about how he felt about leaving her and the baby, that she lost all her nurse. Ye gods! The way I worry I should be dry too but I have more than ever. I guess it’s because I do want to nurse him so much if I can. Every time I pick him up, I say “and you have to eat, little Preston, So you can weigh 200 like your Daddy” and he will too.

All these regrets about Jap. Atrocities makes me shudder in horror and pray all the harder for your safety and quick return. I’d go mad, I think, if I knew you were missing, oh, not nearly mad I guess. It’s amazing what the human body can stand under strain. I have every faith in you to come there. I just know you will. If you should go across, I guess it would be best if you sent your wedding ring home, don’t you think? I’d understand. I’d rather have it then have some damn Jap or German cut off your finger for it. What do you think?

How’s everything with you , honey – and everyone I know.

Grandpa came over to see the baby and the first thing he said was “ what a cute little nose” Norma is almost as excited with him as she is about Pam. Everyone comes just when I am feeding him. Boy I don’t have any modesty anymore but then there isn’t anything more natural.

Here I am just rambling on and on. It’s been so long since I wrote a long letter but I feed a little better today and the baby is sleeping so well that I guess I’d better take advantage of the opportunity. Aunt Pearl and uncle Irwin are here now.

I didn’t have any letter today and so it seemed like the day would have end. Well, tomorrow is another day.

Guess I’ll sign off for now and lay down for a while as it’s nearly time to feed the baby.

I love you again. I hope I’ll be seeing you soon. I am not going to coax even though I want to see you so much; if you don’t want to come really then it wouldn’t be any consolation to me and yourself either – if you just obliged. Anyhow I love you and want you.

Take care of yourself for us, honey, and keep smiling.!

Goodnite darling. I’m thinking of you always. Write to me.

Always yours,

Marguerite