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Dearest Baby Sophie, by Mary Mulvihill, July 23, 2003


 

Grammie Mulvihill's House

In Bettendorf, Iowa

July 23, 2003

Dearest Baby Sophie,

I have waited for you for a very long time. I had fully expected you father would be a girl. I waited for nearly twenty-eight years just for you!

I wanted a girl so I could sew for her. I was prepared to make all of her clothes. I actually made many t-shirts, shorts and overalls for your dad. I always sewed a Halloween costume and two glitzy creations for your dad's two dance recitals. But now, I have so much more time and skill to sew for you.

I wanted a girl with whom to have tea parties. I am keeping my eyes open for a beautiful china cup and saucer like my Grannie bought for me. I will keep it at my house for our special teas with lots of milk and sugar. I can show you Grannie's beautiful cup and saucer she received more than one hundred years ago. I will use the made-in-Occupied Japan cup and saucer she got for me. It will be an exciting search to find a perfect, beautiful, dainty china cup and saucer just for you

I will tell you the story of Grannie's wedding china. It will be yours someday. During tea we can look at the photographs of family back to my grandmother's grandmother!

I am so glad you are here. Now when a houseguest asks about the spinning wheel, I tell them that it is yours, just waiting for you to appreciate the story of how it came from Scotland on a sailing ship to what is now West Virginia and later traveled by covered wagon during the Civil War. How will it travel with you? I should take the time to learn to spin so I can knit more sweaters for you with yarn I have spun, but I won't raise sheep!

Sophie, I have so many stories to tell you about family letters and furniture that have always been a part of my life. I hope you will learn to love the family traditions and take the stories to your hear to pass on. I came to love Grannie's stories during the time I spent with her.

But don't grow up too fast, Sophie. I need to have a baby girl for a while longer before you become a young lady, which will happen all too quickly.

 

All my love,

Grammie


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