On November 8, 1960 at 12:25 A.M. our son Richard was born. You sure did give your mother a hard time, though. I was admitted to the hospital on November 7 at 3:00 P.M. Mother and daddy were a little nervous as we have looked forward so much to having a baby again. You were overdue so Dr. Wooly decided to bring you on. They took me to one of the labor rooms & daddy went out into the waiting room. They gave me castor oil to start the contractions, but it seems you were stubborn about coming out. So from 3:00 P.M. on Monday to the next morning around 7:00 I was getting contractions but not regular. Dr. Wooly came in then & checked me to see how far I had dilated. He decided to break your little home, waterbag. The contractions really started then. Your daddy stayed with me as long as they let him. I think he felt every pain I went through. Finally, I was taken into the delivery room around 11:30 A.M. You were born at 12:25. I felt your head come out, and then the rest of you popped our. All the nurses & the doctor were so surprised to see how big you were. They expected about a 6 pound baby, but you showed them & came out weighing 8 pounds, 3 1/4 ounces & 20 1/2 inches long.
Rolled over from stomach to back.
Coos & talks, can hold and reach for a toy. Sucks thumb, when on stomach can scoot all over on tummy. Can hold head up real good.
Can roll over from back to stomach; can stand up holding my hands; can change toy from one hand to the other; pushes himself backwards. Try's to crawl but can’t yet. Eats about 3 cans of baby food a day plus 5 bottles (6 ounces) & cereal. Wants people to play and talk to him. Starting to have a temper. Likes to be outside. Likes to watch other children play. Is a stinker in church. Burps up quite a bit. Starting to develop his own personality.
Tina’s your first part Persian kitty. We got her for you when you were 5 1/2 months. You really loved her and loved to watch her play.
Crawls backwards now. Gets up on back legs when on tummy. Can say "da-da" now. Laughs a lot and talks a lot. Big flirt with the girls. Everything he sees belongs to him. On the verge of crawling forward. Can sit alone for a short length of time. Likes animals and children. Acts like a horse (bounces all the time). Doesn’t like to sleep very much. A little spoiled. Can hold toys and grab toys very good, now. Kisses mommy and daddy. Likes to play with daddy’s hair. Has a big time watching Tina play.
Has 2 teeth (bottom, front). Can crawl forward now. Also can sit himself up. Cut first tooth May 29, 1961. Second tooth June 2, 1961. Eats about four cans baby food. Not so much milk now. Is on homogenized milk now, about six ounces each feeding. Has a lot of curiosity about things. Is very irritable now, since cutting teeth. Sits alone, falls over occasionally. Wears 12 month clothes.
My has he got teeth now. Two (front) on top one more on top. Can’t swallow junior food yet, likes teething cookie though. He can sit alone plus pull himself up in crib or play pen. Can walk around playpen. Crawls all over and gets into everything. Likes to get into pots and pans. He doesn’t like to be told no and pouts and cries when told so. Likes the TV also to turn it off. Likes to be outside in playpen. Can’t be left alone in stroller or feeding table, will stand up in them.
Has cut his 6th tooth (top, left). He is getting terribly spoiled. I have to play with him or pick him up all the time. Can walk when I hold his hands. Bangs his head a lot when crawling. (Doesn’t look where he is going). He is lonesome for playmates. Tired of his baby toys. Can stand alone for a few seconds.
Likes to scream and yell. Can walk when you hold his hands. Starting to eat table food (soup, cookies, etc.) I put him back on Pet as the regular milk was getting too expensive ($16 to $20 a month). Loves juices. He is getting used to strained meat. He loves furry stuffed animals & likes to bury his head in these animals, also in blankets. Takes anything that's within reach on the wall off. Minds pretty well. Took his first step on August 24, 1961. Can take several steps at a time now alone.
Walks all over by himself now. He is getting to be very independent. Doesn’t like to hold my hand outside. Wants to walk alone. Can say: da-da, mom, ma-ma, hi. Doesn’t eat very much strained food now. Doesn’t care for crackers, candy, etc. Likes a lot of loving even though he is getting to be more independent. Has two friends: Debbie (same age) and Leslie (2). Doesn’t sleep in. Up at 5:30 A.M. Becoming more a little boy every day. Raises his hand when you speak to him. Recognized me and Jerry very much. Doesn’t care for strangers and cries when left with them.
Added a new word - yea & sometimes yes. Can shake his head no now. Starting to take junior food better. His favorite habits are sticking his tongue out and spitting, squeezing his nose and blowing through it. Whines a lot, which can get on our nerves. Stuck a coat hanger in his eye when he was 10 months. The curve of the hook pushed his eyelid out. Took him to the doctor’s. It scratched the eye a little but otherwise was okay (we were very lucky). He has banged his head so much it’s a wonder it’s not deformed. Get colds quite often (due to climate) and coughs a lot. Doctor thinks he might have an allergy to dust. Loves to walk out door and won’t hold my hand.
Your party was at 2:00 P.M. on November 8, 1961. The friends you invited were: Leslie & Debbie Allen, and 3 children of Mrs. Jones. You had a carousel cake, Kool-Aide, ice cream, M&M’s. You had party hats and paper whistles. You had so much fun eating your cake and ice cream with your hands. The gifts you received from your mommy and daddy were: 3 pairs of coveralls, 3 polo shirts, 6 undershirts, 10 pairs of socks, 2 pictures, 2 stuffed animals, squeaky toy, ring toy. Grandpa & Gramma Hoeffer got you a rocking horse. Your aunt and uncle, Pam & Frank, got you a snowsuit. Your grandma & grandpa Lowe got you a wagon and a bathrobe. You loved playing with the balloons & you loved squeezing them. You had a wonderful time on your first birthday.
I put him back on baby food (strained) because he didn’t like junior food anymore. Recognizes daddy, doesn’t like to be left with anyone. Getting to be a mommy’s boy. Cut his 8th tooth (on bottom). Can run now. Not so clumsy now. Had a birthday party for him. He really had a good time. Sleeps very little now. Starting to go towards bright light plugs.
Cut 2 molars on top (10 teeth in all). They are bothering him quite a lot. Getting to have quite a temper if he doesn’t get his own way. Throws himself on his rear-end and cries. Likes toys which are complicated. Runs to screen door when daddy comes home, cries when he goes to work in morning. Says by-by, da-da. Can wave goodbye and hello. Is very leery of strangers. Eating three meals a day: egg, cereal and fruit in morning; vegetables & meat dinner at lunch, plus a bottle of milk at nap time (12). Meat (1/2 can) vegetables and custard for dinner. A total pf 5 cans plus 3 bottles milk plus juice in between meals a day. Can hold spoon and try to feed himself. It’s definitely right-hand. Likes sweets and popcorn. Doesn’t care for snow. Likes to go driving in car. Walks around in stores with mommy and daddy when we have the time and not in a hurry. Can climb now, have to watch him. Likes people to chase him. Is very happy.
He is getting terribly spoiled and whines a lot. Was in the hospital again for 3 days with the croup (oxygen tent). Cut 2 bottom molars (12 in all). Won’t eat now (due to cold). Can climb on couch (but in no hurry to get down). Likes to climb up stairs from basement. Can understand very well. Can copy words by watching mouth. Gives us a kiss. Kissed daddy on chin. Won’t go to anyone, cries terribly.
We got you a parakeet when you were 14 months. You liked to look at it and watch it chirp.
Well, we finally got his smallpox vaccination. No complications and it took well. Also he is now on junior food. He’s starting to eat more table food, too. We are having trouble with his sleeping habits. Wants to stay up at night. He really loves 2 of his stuffed animals (mouse and dog). he can give us a hug now. He likes to help put the dishes and silverware away from the dishwasher. He can say some new words. We got him a bird and it got loose one day and he chased the poor thing all over the house. He just loves animals. He can get down from the couch after falling a couple of times. Has temper tantrums (throws himself on the floor when angry). Try's to help me around the house. When he hurts his finger, wants you to kiss it. Loves to play with daddy on the floor. Can say: pee-pee, da-da, or no. Watches TV especially cartoon animals. Starting to combine words to make sentences. Loves to go on drives.
When you were 15 months old we got you a German Shepherd puppy (6 weeks old). We named him prince. You two really had a lot of fun together.
Two more teeth popped through his mouth, making a total of 14 teeth (2 top incisors). East mostly table food now,, occasionally some junior food, also. He is really becoming a big boy now. He comes up to me or daddy and kisses us on the mouth. When he doesn’t get his own way cries & runs down hall to bedroom. He can hold cup & drink from it very well now, also he feeds himself with spoon. He can handle it real well. He has very good table manners, chews with his mouth closed.
He is eating all table food now. Especially likes corn, pork chops, Rice-A-Roni. Don’t care much for carrots, potatoes, lover. Loves bacon but not eggs. Likes banana’s. Loves fruit juices and cookies, candy, crackers. Doesn’t eat so much as he used to.
He has a slight cold this month, the first illness since Christmas. I think he’s finally used to this high altitude! No new teeth. He is getting more hear (needs a hair cut). Also taller. He’s got the terrible habit now of putting his fingers in his ears or nose. I’m afraid he might hurt himself. Rammed a tinker toy up his nose. Lucky nothing serious. Likes to play in dirt also with rocks outside. Sometimes won’t take nap in afternoon. East out of spoon when he wants to but most of the time with fingers. I have to keep an eye on him because he will feed the things he doesn’t like to Prince (dog). He throws things a lot now, which results in a few spankings. He is getting very independent, won’t come when you call him or ignores you. Likes to watch TV or look at books. Also likes to stack blocks and play with animal cards. He still loves stuffed animals and clings to old mouse. Likes to play like swimming in bath tub. Runs a lot and falls. Likes to jump up and down (dancing).
Bottom 2 incisors came through, now a total of 16 in all. He is starting to pick up more words. Some of the new words are: Gog-gi (Doggy), tee (tea), wa-wa (water), dad, uh-ha (yes), chee (cheese), ba-po (bottle), ni-ni (bye-bye or to go outside), te-dat (see that), ow!
Loves to play outdoors in the dirt and throw rocks and dirt in the carport. Pulls his wagon & wheel barrel around cluster area. Loves to put dirt in his tea set dishes. Also to stack his blocks. Loves to play with balls and balloons. Likes to scribble with crayons or daddy’s colors pencils.
He can step up and down steps now, falling occasionally. He is also starting to show signs of jealousy when I give any attention to other children. Wants to hang around with me when I am over at friends houses. Is shy around strangers. Doesn’t take to anyone right now.
Cries right from his heart when doesn’t get his own way or can’t have something he wants. Doesn’t eat very much but doesn’t look like he’s lost any weight. He is still very husky. Likes to dance (skips feet). Loves to play with my hair rollers.
Boy, this sure has been a hectic month. It seems he’s just changed overnight. He’s very restless now and doesn’t know what to do with himself. He’s bored with his toys and is leaving his babyfood and going into being a little boy. He doesn’t know how to play with other children but watches them and try’s to keep up with them. He talks you crazy now and wants you to pay close attention.
At two you are quite a young man. It seems like you have grown overnight out of boyhood into a young man. Some of the words which describe you at this age are: full of life, mind of your own, very lonely for friends of your own age, rebellious, craves affection & demands it, very affectionate, jealous, moody, destructive, temperamental.
You can really talk now. Anything we say you can say also. You can say sentences now. For example: "Turn the light on" and "Holy cow". Everything you see you ask: What’s that? Your mind is very open and just like a sponge you absorb every little bit of knowledge we tell you.
Life is a big problem now for you, you have no friends to play with and you are very restless and bored. Mommy tries to understand but you are very hard to please right now. Daddy plays a lot with you, which you enjoy very much.
You have a little sister now. You are not too jealous of her only at times. You like to kiss her but at times you slap her because mommy might be showing her some attention. We hope you two will be very close as you two grow older.
We have you off the bottle except for at night and nap time (HA). You won’t take a nap and get up anywhere from 4:00 A.M. to 6:00 A.M. You usually go to bed around 6:00 P.M. You sleep very restless.
We are trying to pottie train you but you are very difficult. The doctor says to just take it slower.
You still love to look at books and enjoy it very much when we tell you what each picture is. You like me to explain what each picture is.
You are pottie trained except for at night. We though we would never succeed in teaching you. But when you finally caught on you really went fast in learning. After about two days of occasional accidents you now can stay dry all day plus doing bowel movements in pottie chair. We are so very proud of you. You are saying more and more sentences now. You weight over 35 pounds and 36 inches tall. Your hair is blond and gray eyes. You love to wrestle with daddy. Also it is so much fun when we take you to the playground. You try to play with Belinda but you are a little rough right now. She really likes you. You can say your name "My name is Richard Lowe" b y heart. Your vocabulary is really getting huge. You can say any word we tell you, without looking at our lips. We believe your I.Q. is higher than average. You like to dress yourself and can do fairly well. You try & lace your shoes but it’s a little difficult now. You still can’t pronounce your S’s very well.
You now weight 38 pounds. Your hair is still blond. You love to mimic everything we say. You are starting to get some freckles on your nose. You look kind of cute.
At 3 years old you are so very intelligent. Your vocabulary is as good as ours. We are very proud of you.
By the time I was four years old, I began experiencing what the doctors called extreme hyperactivity. In human terms, this means I was driving my parents nuts. Since doctors always seem to want to solve the immediate symptoms, they prescribed me some tranquilizers. If anybody had asked me, I could have told them why I was hyperactive. It was all of the candy and sodas that I was scarfing down.
Actually, I’m being a little hard on my parents here. I didn’t realize until well after leaving home what an extraordinary affect that candy and caffeine has on my body. However, I do believe my doctors should have asked a few more questions about my life-style, instead of just trying to cure the symptoms.
Within a few months this hyperactivity settled down, probably because my young body began adjusting to the ingestion of large amounts of sugar and caffeine.
At four years old you weigh 42 pounds and 42 1/2 inches tall. Your hair is blond and your usually have a butch.
You know your address and can tell anyone. You can count to 5. You know how much two things are.
You are very restless and bored with your toys and everything around you. We have taken you to a pediatrician for tests as you are too active (hyperactivity). The doctor has you on tranquilizers to help you relax.
You like me to tell you "I love you"! You are very much in need of affection and praise. Your whole world revolves around your family. You love your sister very much and treat her very nicely.
My earliest memory is a particularly poignant one. I was in the living room of our apartment. It was evening. I remember my mother and father quietly sitting in their chairs reading or doing needle-point or some such thing. I was petting the family dog (Laddie, I believe.)
Laddie was a mongrel. He didn’t have the best temper, and I apparently did something which really pissed him off. He growled, snarled, and then bit me. I screamed and ran away. My parents must have thought I was teasing the poor dog, because they smacked me.
At 4 1/2, you now have a toy collie (male) named "Laddie", 2 cats "Miss Muffet & Suzy".
At four years and eight months you weight 45 1/2 pounds and 45 inches tall. Your hair is still blond.
You are adjusting well to life in general. You play better with your playmates. You are off tranquilizers (have been for about six months). You are very intelligent and eager for school. You still have a preference for cats. You love to build waterfalls, dikes, ditches, houses, etc. You have tantrums when you don’t get your way. Most of the time we are very proud of you. You can shake hands and say "How do you do"! You do just about everything we tell you. Also you love to hammer and nail things!. (Who knows, you might be an architect).
At 7 years old you are a very fine boy. Well Mannered, you still like to run things. Have a temper but things build up before you explode. You like most children, get hurt but hide your feelings. You are quiet & doing excellent in school. In math you excel, also science. You are capable of doing more than 2nd grade work but I don’t want to push you as you seem content. You’ve met some new friends in our new home named: Curtis who is 4, Ronnie also 4. You get along with Belinda but not quite as well as when you were both younger. You still love & care for her very much. You were very worried when she went in the hospital with convulsions & wanted to see her.
Unless otherwise noted, all photos and text is Copyright © Richard G Lowe, Jr.