Names in this letter are and their relationship to my mother are:
- 'Ma' was Olive Letha Rose Schnack, her mother-in-law
- 'Pa' was Jochim Walter Schnack, her father-in-law
- 'Cindy' is Cindy Lou Schnack Arsenault Coffell, her daughter
- 'Chuck' is Charles Elbert Rose, her husband's cousin
- 'Betty' is Elizabeth Ann Olmsted Rose, Chuck's wife
- 'Jake' was Walter J. Schnack, her husband
- 'Irene' was Irene Orvetta Cole Schnack, herself
Wuerzburg, Germany
June 19, 1955
Dear Ma and all,
Here it is Father's Day. Did Pa have a happy one? Jake spent his getting breakfast, warming bottles, and doing the wash.
No, Cindy didn't cause a bit of trouble getting into the world except for making me miss my spaghetti supper. In fact, it all happened so fast that I hardly knew what was going on. She was in a big hurry.
We have been taking pictures of Cindy on our new camera. I'm hoping they turn out good so we can send some home. She is such a cute little doll that we don't want you to miss out on too much.
I didn't know Ray Nearing had been sick. What was his and Mr. Spargo's trouble?
No, we haven't seen or heard from Chuck and Betty yet. Do you know their address?
We kiss your tiny granddaughter all the time, Ma, so one of them was from you. Yes, it would be
nice if you could just drop in and see us sometime, wouldn't it?
I meant to write as soon as I came home from the hospital, but am just now getting to it. I was terribly cranky and tired the first few days I was home, too. It's a good thing Jake had a leave or I don't know what I would have done. He did practically everything for me. He has been so wonderful to me and Cindy Lou that I shouldn't have been cranky, but I was.
Yesterday was the first real good day I had. Not cranky once and had company for supper. There was just one extra, though; a friend of Jake's whose wife is in the hospital with a new baby.
I bet you were surprised to hear of the baby coming early.
I started to breast feed but I started having trouble with my breasts and my nipples cracked, so I had to quit Tuesday night. My breasts hardly ache at all any more but my nipples still don't look good. My breasts are
just about empty now, too. If I'd known what it would be like, I wouldn't have started but that is one thing you have to try out. Next time it might be alright.
I think I had better go bring Cindy inside before it gets too cool for her.
June 20
I guess it wouldn't have gotten too cold for Cindy outside for quite awhile. She was really sweating.
Cindy's hair was almost black when she was born, now it's getting lighter and is brown. Maybe it will get real light and be blonde. I don't know where she'd get it from, though. You should see her hair. She's not bald by any means. She has plenty and its long.
Her daddy fed her last night at ten and I folded her diapers. Jake says he likes to feed her once in a while.
He teases her, too. He tickles her feet so she will jerk them and teases her with the nipple
when she's hungry.
Cindy woke up this morning just before Jake left for work. I think she wanted to say good-bye to him and he kissed her before he left.
Cindy will be two weeks old already on Wednesday. It doesn't seem as if she was born that long ago. Time will go much faster now that we have her. When Jake is on TDY, the days won't seem quite so long. He goes on TDY for three days on Thursday.
Just two more days and I'll start Cindy on vitamins - poly vi-sol.
For her formula, I'm using SMA and have already used over a can in less than a week.
I should be getting my work done up but if I don't get this finished this morning, I never will. I can't seem to think of much to say in a letter anymore except about Cindy. She's just about all the world to me now. It seems good to have two to
love and two to love me. I think Jake is going to make a wonderful father. It's already showing through.
If we had been told a year ago that we would be parents now, we wouldn't have believed them, but it is oh so nice, especially with such a sweet little girl. I don't even mind her disturbing my sleep at night. I don't know what I'd do without her now.
I kind of sound as if there's no girl better than ours, don't I? That's how mothers are supposed to feel, anyway, instead of vice versa, isn't it?
I must close now and do a little straightening up. I'll try to write again next week but if I don't make it right on time, don't worry about us. We are doing real fine; just as healthy as can be.
Love,
Irene, Jake, and Cindy Lou
Hi folks,
Well, I finally did it and I'm about as proud as anyone about my new daughter and her mother.
She sure is a little doll and I don't tease her half as much as Irene says. Say mom, how much more has to be done to the Lincoln? Gee, it seems to take a long time. I don't need it but will in November. I'll send money about September to get a license and I want to know if you can get me 5-10-5 insurance. Mom, would you go to Oneonta and get me three copies of my birth certificate? I need them so I can get Cindy's birth certificate. I'll need them as soon as possible. There is a lot of paperwork to go through to get her birth recorded. Gee, I'm mad when I think I have to be gone for three days. She'll be a big girl when I come back. The weather here is warmer now but still cold at night with quite a bit of rain. They still ski at Garmisch though. They have 121 inches of snow there yet. Well, I'll close and we'll write again soon, so until next time, I remain
your loving son,
Jake
No comments:
Post a Comment