Dear Isabella,

Your Grandparents from Missouri just left today after staying with us for a week. It was a lot of fun. Mostly, you had a great time with Grandpa Neil especially. In fact, I think he tried to sneak you off in his suitcase this morning. :-P It was a pretty relaxing time, and we went to the Getty and the Museum of the American West. We went swimming at Titi Maritza's house and ate a lot of really good food. It was a vacation for us too, since it took our minds off our financial woes. The only bad thing was that your Grandma tripped at Maritza's house and cut her hand open. Since it was Labor Day, she spent about 6 hours in the Thousand Oaks emergency room for a measly 3 stitches. I'm beginning to think it's going to be tradition for Grandma to get hurt or really sick every time she comes out here. On the upside, Daddy has an interview in San Francisco on Friday and an interview at UCLA on Monday. Also, it looks like two swimming pool deals went through so that will translate into some ca$h. You have cut a couple more teeth (some first-year molars) and still talk incessantly. However, I still don't know what you're saying. Although you did say "hi" to me and Grandma yesterday. I'm a little sad that you seem more like a little girl than a baby anymore. It's so fun to watch you grow, but it seems to be going so darn fast. I think that's why people buy those miniature dogs that fit in a tea cup. Cuz puppies grow into dogs and they're not as cute anymore. I'm so glad I get to spend all this time with you...I can't imagine missing this and it would totally suck not to see all of your firsts. You have taught me more than I can explain about life and love. I hope you get to experience this too.

Love,

Mama