Get ready for the most gorgeous girl EVER! I have been waiting and waiting for Ella to fit into this dress so, once she did, I had to take some pics. She is so much fun! (Thanks to the Blackanns for the pretty dress!)
This smile melts our hearts! The best thing is that it isn’t even rare! She gives us these grins all the time. She loves to show off that Schmidgall wide-mouth smile!
Today Ella is four months old! Happy Birthday baby! These four months have been sweeter than we could have hoped. You bring so much joy into our lives. We love you!
We see the doctor on Friday for the four month stats. We will keep you all posted…
In DC, you’re either Redskins or Cowboys (that’s football). In Central Illinois, you’re either John Deere or Caterpillar (that’s farmin’). My Uncle Ed wanted to make sure Ella pledged her allegiance early on to JD, so he hooked us up with some matching shirts - SWEET (thanks Uncle Ed)! She’s a city girl but she’s got farmin’ roots and she’s gone green, like the rest of the fam.
This picture isn’t exactly the corn fields of mid-western soil, but at least we’ve got a patch of grass in the city where the state flower is the concrete roadblock…
I think Ella was doing the John Deere antlers in the 2nd picture.
We spent the weekend out “at the ranch” (as Joel calls it). Robb (Joel’s brother), Carrie, and our nephews live just outside the city in Manassas, Virginia. Though it is not super far, our schedules keep us from seeing each other as much as we would like. So, when we have some time off, we like to go out and stay the night. The whole family left after church on Sunday and stayed for Memorial Day.
The kids all started a business, giving five minute massages for a dollar. They made some money! They also washed our car. Robb entertained us with a neighborhood game of wiffle golf and the best barbeque ribs ever. Oh yeah, and he showed us what he has named “the best moment ever captured on TV.” He has this new high definition flatscreen television (nicknamed “baby Moses”) and he loves to watch nature shows because they are the best in HD. He made us watch these horrible scenes of baby caribou being eaten, etc. Well, the “best moment ever” is this slow motion shot of a shark jumping out of the water to grab a sealion in the air. Yikes! You can see every little droplet of water. It is a cool picture, though a little sad to watch.
The kiddies, just woken up
Guess who was Miss Popular??
Want some soda Ellie girl?
Friday is “Mommy Day” for our family. I am home with Ellie and we play, play, play!
Today we took a walk to Daddy’s office and also played in our backyard. I snapped some pics of the cutie in an outfit her Mimmy bought her. I LOVE her in sun hats!
(Check out the grass Joel has grown for his girls! We have some patchy spots due to bad sod but I am lovin’ it!)
“So, this is grass huh? Can I eat it?”
“Hey look! I got some in mt fist!”
“Yeah, I love my yard. I am just relaxin’ on my grass.”
“Erg, Mom, you know I don’t like tummy time!”
“I TOLD you I was done with this photo shoot!!!”
We have not been good at posting since I started back at work. I am only working a few days a week but it means we have to squeeze all the other things!
Last weekend, we went to move my sister out of her apartment at Philadelphia University. (She is officially a JUNIOR now - wow!) We stayed in a hotel just for the night and, in the morning, took Ella swimming for the FIRST time!
The pool was really warm so it was a great way to try it. She wasn’t sure what she thought. She never cried but she didn’t smile much either.
(This photo cracks me up. I didn’t have a swim diaper with me so I left her regular diaper on. It looks so full!)
Ella met her playmate, Giovanny, yesterday! Christina and I have big plans for special days - vacations, pool time, babysitting swaps - so we sure hope these two like playing together! We know they will. 
All I know is Giovanny has got to bulk up soon to defend himself from our little mover. I think that is why he wanted to come early, so he could grow up for playdates even faster!
Aren’t they ADORABLE? (Look, he is already trying to kiss her! Watch it buddy!)
It is my first mother’s day! It has been so special to celebrate motherhood this year. Not only am I a mom for the first time myself, but my own momma has been with us! This is the first Mother’s Day we have been together in years! She has been here for three weeks helping me with the baby as I transitioned back to work part time. Not only did it make me feel better but I am so glad for the special time Ella had with her grandma “Mimmy”.
I have always been close with my mom but this year I feel a bond even stronger than before. As I learn to be a mother myself, I am overwhelmingly thankful for the example she has set. I mean, everyone loves their mom but I really did get the best! She is the most giving, compassionate, accepting, patient, and friendly person that I know. Everyone that meets her loves her. I when I say everyone, I mean a LOT of people because she talks to EVERYONE. My sister Amy and I often look at each other smiling and shaking our heads as my mom hits it off with another random person she meets at a restaurant, in a store, walking down the street.
I hope that I can replicate the same closeness with Ella as I have with my mom. Both my sister and I call her daily and depend on her for encouragement, advice, comfort, and chit-chat. She listens to every story and every woe. When I asked he about it recently she said that to develop that closeness you have to be able to refrain from judgement. Lord, give me the ability to give Ella the freedom to be REAL with me!
Thank you mom for every sacrifice you made for me, everything you have taught me, and all the time you give to me. And thank you for loving Ella so much! Thank you for every poopy diaper, for every backache you got from rocking, for every sleeve covered in spit up, for every goofy voice you had to use and silly song you had to sing! This has been a special time for Ella and I to have with you. We love you SO MUCH!
