To Stella, eight months old

Dear Stella:

As of Wednesday you have officially been on the earth (not including the time you were in Mommy’s belly) for 8 months. Do that 24 more times and you’ll be ready for your drivers license. You celebrated your eight month birthday with me in San Diego. I am here directing The Violet Hour at the Old Globe. You can read Grandma’s letter to you below and hear all about the amazing time we had the first few days here before I started working.













It was really great of Grandma to come here and help us get set up. I was worried about making the apartment here comfortable for you and Ranny and figuring out where the playground was and the supermarket, etc. etc and getting everything you would need all organized before I started rehearsals. Grandma was such an amazing help. I kind of felt bad dragging her all the way out here away from Grandpa and her work. But the thing is, now that I have you I understand that she really didn't mind at all. In fact, she was happy to be asked and relieved to be needed. Having a daughter really helps you understand your mother and how she feels about you. That is one of the many great gifts you have already given me. And one day I hope that you will ask me to help you get your apartment set up. (But I hope that that apartment is right around the corner from where Daddy and I live and not across the country. Even if it is just for six weeks.) You are my most important and favorite job and I hope that you will continue to need me even when 95% of your sustenance is not coming from my body.

What Grandma did not write in her letter is that you are, perhaps, the most dangerous baby who ever lived. It is a good thing that there is so little furniture in our apartment here because there aren't too many things for you to bang into you or impale yourself on. We have also stopped being design snobs and are loving the wall-to-wall carpeting. You fall, my heart leaps out of its chest as your head crashes to the ground with a thump but you just pop right back up and continue your climbing. I try hard to keep up with you and protect you but I don't want to stop you from challenging yourself and practicing your new skills. But you seem to have very little idea of what you can safely achieve so it's a little scary. I am happy, though, that you are a risk taker and I guess a few little bumps aren't going to kill you.

This month you learned to play the kazoo. You actually managed this feat before we left New York. Somehow you figured out how to play it and get a lush kazoo sound by blowing (humming?) in the wrong end. At the beginning of the month (also before we left home), you and I went to a Music Together music class. It was really fun playing with the different instruments, singing and dancing. At the end of the class the teacher invited all the kids to come up and see her guitar. You started crawling right for it. I was very proud that you had such interest and attributed it to the fact that Daddy plays it at home for you fairly often. But the second you arrived at the guitar you used it to foist yourself up to standing. I guess it wasn't the instrument so much as it was an object of appropriate height. When we took the class I was amazed to see the five month old beside us who happily sat still throughout the class playing with the different instruments. At that point, you occasionally would sit in a kind of leaning position but never for long. However, in the past few weeks you have become a master sitter.

Since we’ve been in CA you have basically stopped sleeping. Your naps are really short and you are pretty much up the entire night. You are notsleeping in a pack n play in my bedroom but after you wake up the first time, I bring you into bed with me and then we both dontsleep together. I am not very happy about this but I feel like we can’t be too hard on you. After all, I’ve brought you to a new time zone and a totally new environment. It must be a lot to adjust to. Your entire universe has been transformed. Plus your Daddy/Morning Playpal is nowhere to be found.

I bought a little blow up duck bathtub for you to use here and you seem to like it a lot. Today in the tub you discovered bubbles. The California Baby soap/shampoo we use made a few little bubbles and you tried to pick them up and were playing with them.













Avocado is now your favorite food. Ranny brings you to rehearsal on my break every day and I try to have some in my lunch so that you can share it with me. You also love water – especially out of a regular cup or in a store bought bottle (not a baby bottle). You are babbling quite a bit, making all kinds of new sounds and practicing them incessently. Except when you are tired. Then you get very quiet and serious. Everyone comments on how wise you look. I sometimes think that you are having very profound thoughts and are really frustrated that you don't yet have the language to express them.

Thanks for putting up with my working and for being such a sweet little girl. You do sometimes whine and protest when I leave (which secretly makes me feel pretty good even though I don't want you to be sad) but you are mostly very accommodating. Except the notsleeping part. That's a drag.

Love,
Mommy

Grandma Helaine Had Fun With Us In San Diego

Darling Stella,

Having just returned from San Diego I am so excited by all the wonderful memories I have of so much fun with you and Mommy. We had alot to do to set up a temporary home for you while Mommy directs "The Violet Hour" and Daddy designs the set.

To briefly recap the four day adventure you were a good girl on the plane although mostly what you wanted to do was to walk around and see passengers. A long flight it was, and you never cried even though six hours is more than you can stand without crawling.

Mommy fed you and comforted you all night every night since you did not sleep so well when we arrived (jet lag), and I got up with you in the morning which I adored. Your sweet face and big smile are a great way to start the day, especially since you love early morning cuddles. You are willing to lie still and be kissed for fifteen minutes before it becomes imperative for you to stand up (headboards are good for that because the fall on a bed is not scary for Grandma!).

Mommy, you, and I shopped for two days for food, household items, and toys, and that was okay with you although you hate the car, and the car seat, but if I am in your face you don't cry. As long as you can see interesting things in the stores you are happy, so mostly we kept you in the Baby Bjorn so you could comfortably look around. Mommy has strong shoulders!

On Sunday, Easter Sunday, Mommy took us to the San Diego zoo, and you were very happy there, taking it all in, looking at nature (trees, waterfalls, flowers growing in the ground...things you do not see in NYC although you had little interest in the animals except for the giraffes which you DID notice). You became so exhausted by this adventure that you fell asleep just before we arrive at the Panda bears. We laughed because you missed the highlight but you had a great time anyway. You giggled all day, and made us so happy. Ask to see the sticker photo we took and see you with your tongue sticking out and me and Mommy laughing.

I love your Mommy, Stella, you are lucky to have such a wonderful Mom, so loving, smart, and intelligent. You also have a terrific Dad, and I bet you can't wait to see him tomorrow when he arrives at your new San Diego apartment. You seem happy with your life our darling little Stella.

You made me so happy when you cried when I left to do laundry. We were having a wonderful time playing and you know me well now and you love me. That is good because Grandpa and I plan to be around for a long time to play with and we love you a whole big bunch.

I already miss you more than I can stand!

Much Love,
Grandma Helaine