May 12th, 1966

Dear Annie,

I'm sorry I haven't written since the day you were born. You caught a slight fever and had to stay overnight. I was so worried about you, but I knew you were a fighter. You kicked me like one too when you were inside my womb and you were screaming like one when you came out!

But if you asked me, your daddy was ready to pitch a tent and wait outside the nursery until you got better! He almost did so until Nurse Annette threatened him!

Oh, I should mention the particulates of your naming. To be honest, we had no idea on Earth what to me you since we didn't know if you were a boy or a girl (I would have loved you either way, but Daddy was over the moon to learn he'd been right all those months! Still is!). I opted to name you Patricia or Robert after my parents, your grandparents on my side, and Daddy wanted to name you Sharon or James after his parents. They had died when he was a boy and he was brought up by his grandfather, Charles. I reckon if not for the love of his late parents, Charles would have been his first choice for a boy name or Charlotte, for a girl. In fact, I actually quite like the name. Perhaps that was because I'm an avid fan of Charlotte's Web. Especially Charlotte A. Cavatica, the maternal, loving barn spider who spent the remaining time of her life weaving words into her web to save Wilbur.

But once you were born, I couldn't name you after my mother nor father, because it wasn't fitting and you were a girl. However, I did fold with Sharon as your middle name for a show of good sport after losing the bet. What bet? And why did I name you after a nurse? To be frank, months before you were born, I made a bet with Daddy. See, he wanted to be by Mommy's side while you were being born and proclaimed it to anyone who would listen on base! I love the man, but even I got tired of hearing him prance around about it! One minute, he's a serious, dedicated soldier, and the next he's just a puppy wagging his tail! I'd be annoying if not for his charm. Anyhow, I was regrettably annoyed that day due to mood swings and he was prancing again. So, I made a bet with him. Since he wanted to be in the room so much, he'd have to endure everything I was feeling. If he managed to get through without fainting, he'd get to name you. But if he did, I would name you and that was that! I personally believe he doubted I wouldn't pass out from exhaustion that I heard other wives did when they delivered and thought he'd be able to get one past me! HAHA! I got the last laugh! I broke his hand and he fainted at the first cry (and you started crying as seen as your head left my body before the rest of you did!) Nurse Annette was attending to me at the time and before during the contractions. She was an older woman who lost her only son in World War 2 (I was born 2 years before that war ended, thankfully!) and her husband afterward. She said despite her loss, she found it calming to work in a hospital. She may be ni stranger to grief for life goes on, but she adored happy beginnings such as childbirth. We had delightful chat during those 20 hours, so when you were brought into my arms by the nurse herself (and Daddy still hadn't awoken), it just...felt right to name you after the dear woman.

So, Annette Sharon, it was. And the only reason you have my surname is that your Daddy took my name when we married. He said it was a unique name and he wanted to be a part of it too. And your great-grandfather (his sole family) died sometime after we married and felt he should emerge himself in my family.

After that, soon as your fever broke, we took you home, we had you for the first few days to ourselves before the calvary came rushing to meet you. That first night, well...you made it clear you weren't going to easily accept being out into the world so easily. If we thought your cries from the fever were terrible, you were merciless your first night. You were always crying and we couldn't tell if we burped you right, fed you, changed you, or if you were just being fussy. Eventually, you tired yourself out and your Daddy, quick to spoil you, brought you to sleep with us. The next few days followed the same cycle until you accepted the inevitable (yes, my own words) that you were here and going to stay. After that, we had a small party which included Mommy and Daddy's friends, their children, and your grandparents who were determined to make the drive to Darwin just to meet you!

The next 6 months felt like a blur of fast-moving pictures at the cinema. Daddy invested in a camera sometime before you were born to help remember the moments we waited for you. And I reckon he got pretty good after you came. One of my favorites was when we took you to Mindil Beach for the first time. I still swear your eyes popped out at all that blue water before you. It's humbling really, you are my world but we're just small beings compared to something so vast. Vast, mysterious, and full of surprises. At that moment, I found myself compelled to tell you something, but I couldn't. I just let you marvel and splash at the waves that came before you. I have so much I want to say, but I felt that I could be content with just that moment.

Nowadays, you're trying to catch up with everyone and when you hated that you can't, you cry. I will admit that after 6 months, I'm no better at spoiling you than your Daddy is. We could put you in a crib all we want, but you'll only fall asleep in our arms or in our bed. To be fair, you mostly fall asleep in my arms, but you are completely your father's child. You may have my eyes and dimples, but you have Daddy's blonde hair and big personality! You're trying to crawl around now, but can get away with scouting and rocking back and forth on your hands and knees. Daddy and I have another bet going on about who is going to be your first words. You are now eating solids, but are an avid fan of apple sauce and sweet potatoes. You're always smiling and everyone you meet can't help but smile at you. And most of all, and I will not regret saying this, but you're almost sleeping through the night! Daddy and I need to sleep too. He's been hard at work recently and even he needs more energy to keep up with you!

I should go now. I hear you crying, likely waking up from your naptime. I just felt it was time to catch up and write another letter. I think I may continue to do this and who knows! You may feel inspired to write to me as well.

Loving you always,

Mommy