All this odd stationery isn't a hint – we're just trying to use it up – ask Virginia if she remembers Hotel Raymond? [Reminds me of Jean using different stationery for the same reason in 1989 as referenced in her letter to HH on his bike trip!]
Monday --
April 18, 1949
Dearest Mother & Daddy,We arrived back in Cleveland about 9:00 last night after a very pleasant spring vacation with both you and the Uibles. Catherine stood all the traveling fine – loved the lull of the motor for the only time we heard from her was our stops either for red lights or rest stops. The Tuesday we drove to New Vienna was so warm – and yesterday so cold – it kept raining or sleeting the whole way back. Harold finally had to stop once to scrape the ice from the windshield in order that the wipers would work.
The girl who was to come to help the Uibles never showed up – she had also promised to help another woman but wasn't able to do either – she's pregnant and not feeling too well. It so happened that the girl's mother works in the Wells Mfg. Co. (the business that Harold's father has) -- so she agreed to come instead.
Mary had gotten home Sunday so was fairly settled by Tuesday but not feeling too chipper yet. [Assume Aunt Mary was in the hospital after Marianne was born on April 4.] Marianne is so tiny -- but just in the short time we were there we could notice how she'd filled out. Of course they are quite happy that it's a girl yet they had rather expected a boy. They had planned to name him Christopher after Bill's father and brother. Joseph takes quite alot of attention as he's at the age of getting into everything & has to be watched constantly. Mary's going to be very busy when she's back on her own. He's real cute though & Marianne & Catherine will soon keep him in tow.
Harold's father thinks that the Wells Mfg. Co. is really progressing now and will be quite a stable business so Harold will go in with him after the Bar is over. He did seriously consider coming to New Cumberland but finally decided on New Vienna.
Please inform Jeannie that we received our Independent today in tip-top shape with correct address and all so just hope she's not pestered any more by the Cleveland Post Office or us.
Harold's mother brought us some nice things from Florida -- a white seersucker sport shirt for Harold – a combination swirl bush & comb for me and two different kinds of rubber panties for Catherine (one pair like the one's you gave her) and a pair of Playtex rubber ones. Also a dozen of those knitted diapers – called Pant-Ease – shaped to fit. They're awfully nice at night cause they are extra warm.
They all seemed to think that Catherine looked like the Ballantynes with her full face and pug nose. I don't think they expected her to be quite as chubby altho Mary found Joseph's Baby Book and he weighed the same as Catherine at birth and one ounce more than she at ten weeks – 12 lbs 9 oz in comparison to her 12 lbs. 8 oz.). He isn't very large now – has a small frame – similar to Bill and also seems to resemble his maternal grandfather.
Mary and Bill gave Catherine a toilet seat which will come in mighty handy in the near future – it's one of those natural wood ones with back and foot rest and guaranteed not to scar the toilet. (Joseph made some marks on their new seat.) Harold's Aunt Mary and Uncle Harry [Hiestand] came & brought both Marianne & Catherine two pretty little flannelette kimonos trimmed in pink. I'm afraid C's are too small altho I haven't tried them on her. I washed them tonight so Mary may have four instead of two.
Rev. O'Connor called on all of us with his wife an hour after our arrival Tuesday. Then Wednesday he telephoned & asked if we might be interest in baptizing Catherine & Marianne. We decided against it until she's a bit older. Harold did go to Sunday School & I met him & stayed for Church.
Harold was busy cutting lawns & making a garden. Saturday he cut the grass while it was half snowing.
We brought back four dozen eggs with us which consist all of our complete larder in the refrigerator with the exception of Catherine's formula & medicine. Eggs there 38¢ a dozen. Here Grade 3 are 55¢. Milk has gone down again – 2 qts for 31¢. Buttermilk is 13¢. [Dad would have liked seeing the prices!]
Catherine stuck to her schedule quite well while in New Vienna but had to have a cry before she went to sleep each evening – after Mother & Daddy Uible had gone to bed – awakening them each time. The last two nights she slept downstairs.
Today she has been quite awake and hungry but I think it's making up for yesterday (she slept all day & night and never had a bottle or evening cereal due to our traveling). I gave her a bath at 6:30 & she was sound asleep by 7:15 – now we're to awaken her at 11:00.
Norma was over and Jane has been fussy today too. She wanted me to see the new curtains her mother-in-law had made for their living room & bed room – short striped tailored drapes -- pretty but I like long ones better. In their rush to get things packed into the car they forgot Norma's shoes which had set right by the car door. The woman above us told her neighbors that Norma & Jim had a big fight & Norma threw her shoes at Jim & then they raced off together.
I was certainly shocked to read about Jesse [or Jane?] Cunningham's death in the paper – that's too bad when they have such a young baby.
We did the wash tonight & didn't have too much so also did that pink & white machine-made quilt – was so quite dirty as we have been keeping it on top of bed – to pull up for naps, etc.
Will write again soon – hope to hear from you – need a postal card?
Love to all,
Jean, Harold and
Catherine
P.S. Harold's mother also prefers the name of Catherine to Katie.
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