Happy Birthday Louise!

Dear Louise,
Time flies so fast! A year has zipped by and you have gone from a beautiful little bump of a baby to a lovely curly haired sprite of a one-year old!! It has been a special year of dolls, dresses, tights and pink! All grandchildren are a gift....but a grand-daughter is an extension of a grandmother's womanhood. I was the firstborn daughter.....your mother was my firstborn daughter...and you my firstborn grandaughter. Nothing prepared me for the the overwhelming feelings of the thread of women moving through the generations that I felt as I held you the first time!

I will love you unconditionally no matter what your interests or loves may be....but for now, it's so easy for me to imagine afternoons of baking together, teaching you how to make little quilts for your dolls, sewing sundresses, and reading Bobbsey Twins books with you. With two big brothers, parents that love sports and the outdoors, a farm to spend time on, and a Poppa who's nuts about baseball and fishing, I know you won't be short on opportunities to try out all kinds of activities. But for now, I'll indulge myself with somewhat gender specific dreams and not feel at all guilty!

We have many years to spend together. My hope for us is that we will build the kind of relationship that is unique between a grandma and her grand-daughter. I want to be the person that's like your mom, but NOT your mom...someone you can come to when you want to spend some time, try something new and different, find out why your mother thinks like she does....and learn about your family history.

So, Happy First Birthday Birthday Louise Florence Augusta Welbaum!!! With your middle names you carry the history of great-grandmothers and a great-great-grandmother before you. I wish for you their creativeness, strength, skills and "smarts". These were great women...you will be a great woman, too. But for now, you're just the brightest, most beautiful red haired one year old I know!! And this next year is going to be so much fun!! Grandma loves you, honey!!