"June 5th. Mary Ellen stood up by herself for the first time. Hannie was minding her while I went in town - when I came home she was splashing in the tub. We put her in the play pen on the piazza & she got so interested in playing with the beads on the side she let go & stood by herself.
Back to May ... - Mary Ellen got her third tooth below on the right of her two first teeth. Just in time for Hannie's wedding
June 28 - Mary Ellen took her first step - upstairs on the piazza for Hannie.
July 2 - Daddy, Mary Ellen & I went down to Buzzards Bay for the day to see Hannie & Norman. Mary Ellen slept part of the way down so she was in a good mood - she loved the water which was a great surprise because I took her to Revere one day with Peggie & she wouldn't even stand on the sand never mind the water. Therefore we were all surprised to see her go right in, splash around, even creep thru the water. She got all excited when she saw John swimming and called him at the top of her lungs ...
MEM and my mother
MEM and NormanHannie and MEM
MEM, Norman, my mother and father
MEM, my mother and father, and Hannie
"July 5 - Went to Buzzards Bay again, took Rita. Mary Ellen slept part of both ways - enjoyed the water also the spray which was going on the lawn.
July 8th. Went up to Waverly Oaks for a while - Mary Ellen had a good time watching the ducks.
July 15 - Took Mary Ellen up to Lake Walden - she really enjoys the water - even tries to drink.
July 16 - Went to Nantasket for the day - Mary Ellen didn't care for the waves but was very happy in a little inlet of water which all the little kids were enjoying. John looked so funny in the babies' pool.
July 23 - John, Mary Ellen, Ma, Hannie, Chris, Richie & I all went to Nantasket. Ma got a big kick out of Mary Ellen creeping thru the water up to her chin. She really loves it & is quite a sight in her big white hat. She was so worn out she slept all the way home.
July 30 - Went to South Boston to see Josie in a wedding. Mary Ellen was very good in church which was quite surprising. Her only comments were 'Baby, Baby' when she spied another baby - went over to John's house afterwards & Mary Ellen had an exciting time with the dog. He knocked her down a few times but she always went back for more.
July 26 - John, Mary Ellen & I saw General Douglas MacArthur today after waiting almost two hours. It was very exciting - Main St. was mobbed with people cheering & clapping. As soon as he went by Mary Ellen & J.J. both started bawling. That's how much they thought of the famous general.
July 28 - Mary Ellen really started to walk - up till now she had been taking a few steps when we coaxed her to or to go from one to the other but today she started walking of her own free will. She looks so cute waddling around the house.
Back to Aug 3 - of course I've left out a lot of things but if those things aren't written down at the time it's awful hard to remember them afterwards. Mary Ellen is walking like mad now - it seems funny when she's upstairs to hear the little footsteps & realize it's her. She says lots of things now - Daddy, Mummy, Ma, Hannie, Dickie, Barbara, Hi, Bye-Bye, Down, On, Bow wow, Baby - Kout for get out, Wa wa, bu for butter, brr for bird, ball, Kitty. I think she finally associates Mama or Mummy with me - just in the last couple of days. Before that she called me Mamie or something like that & called Hannie & Ma 'Mummy.' She calls Hannie & Ma by name now and is finally getting straightened out on who's who. The poor child gets all kinds of bumps - yesterday she fell, nose in the dirt, chasing Chris & had three scratches on her nose. Today she fell against the bed calling Daddy & has a bump on her forehead & a big welt on her cheek. She has two red bumps under her chin - I don't know where she got those so you can see she takes quite a beating. No wonder she sleeps so well - she's awful good now. Writers cramp forces me to stop."
"Aug 4 - Daddy was baby sitter tonight while I went to the show with Madeline. Mary Ellen only fussed once & John washed & waxed the floor while I was gone. It seems so good to be able to go out without worrying about her & as she is so crazy about John I never worry when he's home.
Aug 5 - Went for a ride up to Concord & back. Mary Ellen was hanging out the window like all kids love to do & also dangling her babies out. We had to put a stop to that as John didn't feel like going back looking for them. Daddy went out tonight & I was baby sitter.
Aug 6 - John took me in town & while I was shopping he kept Mary Ellen in the Boston common. She almost wore the two of them out chasing the pigeons. She was all excited over them. On our way back to the car she ran over to some old man that was sleeping in the grass saying 'Baby, Baby.' John caught her just in time."
"Aug 9 - Daddy & I took Mary Ellen down to the Stop & Shop to get the order & had an ice cream at the Green Meadows afterwards. Mary Ellen was playing peek-a-boo with the couple in the next car. It's one of her favorite games - she's always 'peeking' at the Ryans thru the fence.
Aug 10 - Very hot & muggy today. John had to go to work early tonight and of course this was the one night Mary Ellen was looking for him like mad. I put her to bed at 8:15 and at 10:00 she was still awake calling 'Daddy, Daddy.' Hannie & Norman came in so I picked her up knowing she wouldn't go back to sleep then. When she came out she looked all around calling Daddy & when Hannie put her up to the window she yelled it out into the dark & stillness. She'll be as bad as Liz yelling 'Get off the roof.' We all went upstairs and watched television till 11:00. Mary Ellen had a gay old time with her stones and a couple of magazines. She was kissing a picture of some army officer calling it Daddy. We also discovered her chewing a piece of old gum that she had with her stones. She must have picked it up out in the yard. Lord only knows who was chewing it before her. We came down at 11:00 & she's out like a light now - sound asleep.
Aug 17 - Mary Ellen got another tooth - lower right four. We have a hard time getting a look at it but I manage once in a while. Every time I try to look she puts her finger in her mouth, grins & says 'tee tee.'
Aug 30 - Another tooth - upper left four - this one is almost impossible to see."
I vaguely remember hearing about Lizzie who would be yelling at night. She was Elizabeth Cullen - she lived in the single family house beside the triple decker. I seem to remember that the yard was always overgrown. I think we used to be half afraid of her - but how old would she have been if I remember her? The 1940 US Census reports her being 66 and single - she was not working. She lived with her 66 year old sister Sarah Cullen who is 69. Sarah is marked as a widow - if she was a widow, wouldn't she be Lizzie's sister-in-law?
"Labor Day weekend - Sept 1, 2 & 3 - Rained continually - couldn't go any place. John & I went to the show Monday, left Mary Ellen in Ma's care - Jim & his kids were there also so it was quite a mad house. Ma took Mary Ellen & Cynthia to the store & Ma discovered on her way home Mary Ellen had tucked a 25 cent magazine (pocket size) under her arm & walk out of the store with it. When we got home she was still wide awake.
Sept 5 - Went to a shower for John's brother's girl. Mary Ellen was sleeping when we left but was up watching the Japanese peace treaty conference on television with Ma when we got home.
Sept 7 - Mary Ellen walked out front door and over to Ma's door yelling 'Ma, Ma.'
Sept 8 - (Sat.) Woke Daddy up at three o'clock and went for a walk to the square - Daddy pushing carriage."
"Sept 9 - Went for walk - beautiful day - Daddy pushing carriage. Had to look along the street for stones for Mary Ellen to keep her amused. Started women's mission - when I got home Mary Ellen was all lipstick, Daddy was all perfume. Mary Ellen had brought downstairs Rita's combination lipstick & perfume stick - need I say more.
Sept 10 - Went in town - Daddy was baby sitter. Had a little confusion over getting a ride home. John met all the street cars Hannie & I weren't on.
Sept 11 - Daddy's birthday - 31 years old today. Mary Ellen & I went shopping for birthday presents. We got a hammer from Mary Ellen & a fifth of Schenley's from me. Had a birthday cake & ice cream with Hannie, Norman, Ma & Chris as the guests. Mary Ellen & Chris blew out the candles. "
"Sept 12 - Went to St Luke's to the novena tonight. John took Mary Ellen for an ice cream while Ma & I were in church. We were waiting for them when they got back and Mary Ellen got so excited when she saw us she yelled 'hi' so loud some man going by stopped & went over to the car to see her.
Sept 13 - John came home late this morning bearing candy and wishing me a happy birthday a day early.
Sept 14 - Mummy's birthday - I'm 30 today! I got a card & a dollar from Mary Ellen, two pairs of stockings from John.
Sept 15 - Daddy took us shopping this morning before he went to bed. When he went to take some bundles back to the car Mary Ellen wouldn't stay with me while he was gone but went running after him yelling 'Daddy, Daddy.
Sept 16 - Went to new cousin's christening today - Daddy's sister's baby - John Brian. The big crowd didn't phaze Mary Ellen at all. She said 'hi' and 'bye' to everybody. She liked the baby & kept going to the bassinette saying 'baby' even when he wasn't in it.
Sept 17 - Went to doctor today - he told me I'm going to have another girl. It would be nice to have a little sister for Mary Ellen.
Sept 20 - Today in Star Market Mary Ellen stood up in the basket (not unusual) but held her arms out and yelled 'whee' while I pushed her around. She was in a rare mood having already run all over the bank while I was cashing John's check. All the cashiers were watching her & she really put on quite an exhibition for them. Tonight in Stop & Shop she got away from me when we were on our way out, dashed to the other side of the store & came waddling back a bag of yellow popcorn in each arm. They were almost as big as she was.
Sept 21 - Another tooth for Mary Ellen today. Mary Ellen walked home from Stop & Shop today - very long trip as she sat on every step we came to - also insisted on paying a visit to church where she pulled all the booklets out of the stand.
Sept 22 - I was up & down to Mary Ellen all last night. I almost went mad - it seemed as tho I'd just get to sleep and bingo I'd hear 'Mummy, Mummy, Daddy, Daddy'. What a night. "
"Today Mary Ellen & I went riding with Hannie & Norman over to Filene's in Belmont. Mary Ellen pushed a doll carriage around and we had to tear her away from it, crying of course. Norman bought her a new 'baby' which didn't even help matters too much.
Sept 23 - Daddy & I took turns getting up to Mary Ellen last night & we were both exhausted this morning. She's having trouble cutting her teeth. Went for a ride on the new highway Rt 128 this afternoon - beautiful day.
Sept 24 - Mary Ellen slept good last night thank goodness - what a relief to get a decent nights sleep. She helped Daddy cut the grass today & screamed and kicked her heels cause she couldn't push the lawn mower by herself. Hannie finally took her upstairs to forget her troubles. Did some housecleaning today and took a ride to Central Square didn't buy anything.
I forgot - yesterday Mary Ellen came out of the bathroom twice with her hair all plastered to her head with water. The only solution I could think of (horrible as it is) is that she put her hands down the toilet.
Sept 29 - Two of John's service buddies, Henry Aleo & 'Frenchie' (from Atlantic City) & his wife came to see John today. They had quite a reunion, discussing past escapades, etc. They thought Mary Ellen looked like me. John made some high balls & Mary Ellen went around to everyone smacking her lips & saying 'tea, tea." She was draining my glass of root beer and saying 'ah' just like a veteran. I finally had to send her upstairs after she got tangled up in the lamp cord & made a scene, screaming & stamping her feet cause I wouldn't let her play with the dirty ash trays. After she left there were no distractions & they had plenty of chance to discuss their hectic days in the Navy.
Sept 30. John & Mary Ellen met me after Mass - Mary Ellen with a dirty face & her hat on backwards. Went out for a ride in the afternoon. Jim & the kids stopped in for a while. Jimmie is huge compared to Mary Ellen but she seems much older - guess it's cause she's walking & talks much more.
Oct 1 - Daddy took me & Mary Ellen up to Newtonville shopping in the morning. Went down the street in the afternoon with Hannie. Had to drag Mary Ellen screaming out of Grants toy department. She got hold of a doll carriage & hated to leave it.
Oct 2 - Went down the street with Hannie - Mary Ellen drooled root beer candy down the front of her new pink overalls & good coat.
Oct 3 - Rained today - no outing for Mary Ellen. Hannie bought a new dress for Mary Ellen for me - plaid & she looks very grown up. My baby is fast disappearing. She's getting so big & talks so much it's hard to believe it's really Mary Ellen.
All set for Joe Manning's wedding
Oct 15 - John James Jr born at 2:59 P.M. 6 lbs 7 oz, 19 inches long.
"You have a BOY!
That's sure good news ..."
"Bet no one else could fill his Shoes!
Glad to hear you got a baby boy. I still think Mary Ellen is the tops. Mrs. Devaney"
This picture was taken the week of October 15, 1951 per the back of it.
Oct 22. Came home from hospital - John, Hannie & Mary Ellen came to get me. Mary Ellen seemed so big & so different - looked like Alice Ryan to me. Wonderful to see her & be home again. John James is very good."
There are no other entries for October 1951, but there are some pictures that were taken out in the yard - I'll include them now.
Chris, MEM and Dad
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