Words for the Wingmen

Dear Elder, Sister & Family,

Any noteworthy news since I last wrote is certainly superseded by the arrival of our beautiful daughter Nora Marie Schenewark. Personally, I'd be very satisfied to end the letter right there and go pick her up right now, but you all are important too so I'll try and hammer out some more details as to her arrival.

First, she has a fantastic sense of timing, choosing to come AFTER Thanksgiving dinner, but before her Grandpa and Grandma had to leave town. Evidently, however, she couldn't wait long because AnneMarie's labor began not very long after the Turkey had been served.

AnneMarie tried to rest at home and I kept her company until three that morning when we called it and headed into the hospital. After observing her for an hour, our kind nurse worked her magic so that AnneMarie was admitted that night. Soon after she got an epidural and at 3:21 pm our daughter was delivered.

Of course that makes it sound so much quicker and easier than it was, but my heart was full of eternal gratitude for my incredible eternal companion who, over the course of almost 24 hours in labor, and over the last 9 months, has never ceased to amaze me with her strength, spiritual and physical. And, of course, her beauty : ) That love only continues to grow as I get to see her as a mother.

We spent Friday and Saturday night in the hospital and had a wonderful experience with the staff at Utah Valley Hospital. The food was much better than any hospital food I remember eating (Shrimp fettuccine alfredo?!!) and the nurses were fantastic. Also, I kept Nora company on her several trips to the nursery, some in the dead of night to monitor her vitals. What a magical place? Each time I visited, all was still and lined up in a row, lots of sleeping babies surrounded by Christmas decorations. Magical. Thank you to family who visited, especially Uncle Hunter who swang by and was kind enough to bring muffins and sugar cookies. Fast start out of the favorite uncle gate.

Bottom line: we love Nora, I'm pretty sure she loves us, and we're very blessed that AnneMarie is healing and feeling well.

In other less important news, I took the LSAT yesterday. Nothing notable there except to say that if, in the future, you have to take a standardized test early one morning, be considerate to your fellow test takers and keep your enthusiasm to funeral parlor levels. Anything more is nauseating and frankly scary. Also, AnneMarie was so sweet and made me breakfast early before my test and slept on the couch--on the couch--so that she wouldn't wake me when getting the baby. <3 p="">
Also, because Nora is so easy as a baby, we even had a little date one afternoon this week when a favorite Neapolitan pizza parlor was giving away free food. While AnneMarie and I enjoyed pizza perfection, Nora did what any self-respecting gastro enthusiast of her age would do and fell asleep while inhaling the intoxicating aromas of Italy that swirled around her.

Love to you all!

Tanner, AnneMarie, & Nora