The Schmidgalls

How this gorgeous creature is the combination of Joel and me, I will never know…

Sunday is always a busy day for our family. Ella was exhausted yesterday and fell asleep on the way home from church. I carried her up to her crib and as I came down the stairs I heard a drip, drip, drip. I felt my stomach sink because I knew it meant something bad. I hurried into our dining room…and gasped! Water was dripping from everywhere! I knew immediately what it was so I raced up to our guest bathroom. The toilet had overflowed and was running down onto the first floor. I grabbed my phone to call Joel but just then he walked in the front door and I exclaimed, “Our house is melting!” The paint was sagging and that is just how it looked!

We hurried to the basement so Joel could turn off the water and I could grab old towels…and we realized the water was dripping into the basement as well! Ahhhhhhhhh!

So, it is confession time. I was so excited to post a blog about our new diapers. I had recently ordered “G diapers” because I was tired of the stinky diaper pail. Most people buy them for environmental reasons because it is a cloth liner with a…flushable insert. I suppose I don’t have to tell you more than that. I should have known our plumbing couldn’t handle it. I had been flushing the diapers so the water dripping down was poop water! (In defense of G diapers, they really are cool and, even if you don’t flush them, they decompose easily in the trash so they don’t sit in a landfill.)

My husband has been very gracious and has yet to scold or blame me. He is hard at work trying to repair the damage. Brace yourself…

Ready for a closer look?

Yep, this stretches the entire length of our dining room.

While I am feeling sorry for myself, I might as well show you our other drama.

A few weeks ago, I went in to get Ella from her nap and, as usual, she was standing at the edge with a huge grin. I was perplexed by the brown flakes around her mouth. I looked down and gasped! My child had been chewing her crib! My little gopher child has been using her gorgeous cherry crib as a teething ring!

I was so sad when I told Joel and started sniffling. He said, “Babe, this is just the first of many things she will ruin.” I explained that was why I was crying! This represented the first of many things mommy loves being destroyed.

Yep, she chewed up the side too.

Here is Ella’s view, from inside the crib.

I have since reminded myself that most of the world would never dream of having many of the wonderful things we do. When everyone told us how our lives would change with kids, I didn’t know it meant poopy dining room and chewed up furniture! Stop laughing!

Weight: 22 pounds, 10 ounces (75th percentile)
Height: 30 3/4 inches (96th percentile)

Joel was disappointed that she dropped below 99th percentile in length. Give the girl a break!

The doctor was amazed by Ella. As she ran and danced and chatted the doc said, “Wow, I am very impressed! She is physically and developmentally advanced.” When I called Joel on the way home to boast to him he said, “Whoa!!!! Let’s not be too physically advanced!” haha!

It has taken me way too long to post these pics! Ella had a blast at her first birthday party. It was a “ball” birthday - her invites said “Let’s have a ball!”

Check out the cake! My friend from work, Kristen, came and helped me make it.

Here is the birthday girl in her party dress. Isn’t she gorgeous?

“Go-Go, aren’t you so excited for my party?!”

“Happy Birthday to you…”

Violet wants some too!

“I take a bite like this?”

“It tastes funny! So sweet!”

“Ah, a spoon! Much better!”

“Want some Daddy?”

“These are all my friends!” (except a few that got sick)

Millie, Giovanny, Ella, Taylor, Violet, Kylee, Felix

“Kylee liked my cake too!”

“Violet decided she was ready for nap time.”

“I showed Taylor my books.”

“Everyone was so generous! Thank you!”

“I am a toddler now!”

Thanks to the Battersons for kicking off Ella’s karaoke career!  This is a little pick me up for the west coasters…