SUMMER DAYS...

Eleni got her early Birthday present this past Friday, a new wakeboard and gave it her best shot on Saturday. She had the hang of it after practicing in the living room that morning. She got up and made it a little ways, before her first face plant. few more sessions and I think she will have it down! Daddy was very proud! Cousin Ava also made an attempt too... Gotta love the fearlessness in these little girls. Marlo took her first swim in Floyd Lake on Sunday now that the water has warmed up enough. She seemed to really liked it.

Hard to believe it's the end of July already.... Hope all is well

Tony&Girlz

PHOTOS..Photos...photos!

Thanks to Ashley Danielson for taking some photos of the Girls.... Enjoy!

Marlo Says Hi!

Watch Me!

Eleni Riding Her Bike!

Happy 4th of July!

Marlo is 3 Months old (13 weeks!), Eleni learned how to rider her bike without training wheels... Now it's time to find her a new 16"er (bigger girls bike). Summer is finally here and we've been out enjoying the boat on the water. Eleni has been on the wakeboard with me, and tubing with Gunnar and Ava. Hope you all are having a great Summer!

Love-Tony, Nicole, Eleni & Marlo!

Sorry, I've been slacking....

We are all doing well here, sorry for the delay in updates. 5 days old to almost 10 weeks!
Full update to follow. For now, Here are some pictures since that's what most want to see.

Will Summer ever show it's face?
As Eleni says daily, "Rain rain go away, come again some other day."

5 Days Old!

Marlo is now 5 days old. She was weighed this morning by a visiting home nurse and she came in at 8lbs 4oz. after weighing 7lbs 11oz when she left the hospital. She has been on a two hour feeding cycle around the clock for the most part and spends most of her days sleeping. Eleni is still loving and glowing about being a big sister! Eleni just got her big sister present, Baby Alive which she can now feed and change it's wet diaper and be "the Mommy" to her baby. Guess what she named her?.... "Marlo Rose, but I'm going to just call her Marlo." We are very proud and loving every minute of it!

Welcome Home Marlo!

We are home! Marlo has finally figured out the nursing thing.
Eleni is Super proud and we are all doing great!

It's an exciting time here at the Schmitz house.

With a major blizzard welcoming Marlo's entry to this planet, it was a good weekend to be snowed in at the hospital. With spring fever running though our veins the past week and a half , it was nice to just shut the blinds, block out what was happening outside and take in Marlo's first few days.

Here's some new pictures.
Tony, Nicole, Eleni & Marlo

SUPRISE!!!.......It Is a GIRL!!!

It's a GIRL!
Marlo Rose
Saturday April 5th, 2008 10:09pm
8lbs 2oz. 19 1/2" long
Nicole was amazing!! I'll get into detail more later.
No drugs, meds, or epidural, She continues to amaze me!
I love you Nicole!
Welcome to the world my "little girl"!

Still Waiting......

Nothing yet, but some things are starting to "contract" off and on keeping us up last night.
Could be today, tonight, tomorrow, Sunday.... Stay Tuned.

Due Date = TODAY?

Well, it's our Official Due Date, and ......no Baby yet.

Our Dr. Appointment was fairly uneventful. "Could be any day, could be a week. We'll either see you soon, or at your appointment next week." So, not a lot to go on there. Dilated t0 1cm right now, same as last week actually.
Tonight Nicole and I went for a walk down to Zorbaz for some pizza as the weather was nice and Eleni rode her bike. Hoping to stir some things up to see if we can make some things happen.....The pizza was good, and cold Summits were good for me! Eleni got some Sponge Bob stickers out of a vending machine, that was exciting!........waiting...... To be continued.

IT'S A GIRL!

April Fools!

With one day until our "Due Date" Nicole is done working and at home relaxing & waiting for our little one's special delivery. Not sure when the stork will make the drop, but we are ready and when we ask Eleni, she always says, "Tomorrow". She's been saying that for two weeks though and her names are, Butterball if it's a boy and Rosebud if it's a girl. (from the movie Snow Buddies) She's pretty persistent that those will be the names and when we throw out other options she says no. . . . So we'll see how she takes it when the day actually arrives and we give the little one a Name.

Stay tuned, as I'll try to keep this updated more often in the next couple days.
We also have a Dr. Appointment tomorrow so we'll see how everything looks!

Anxiously waiting.... Tony & Crew

March 18th, 2008

It was finally the Official Adoption Day!
March 18th, 2008 Eleni officially became, Eleni Kate Schmitz and legally "My Daughter".
It was a very exciting day and we were joined by our Families and all went out to dinner afterwards. Aunt Kari got balloons which we released after exchanging special words. And of course we also had Cake and Ice Cream... It was an eventful day, and one that Eleni and I have been looking forward to.

Nicole is now at 38 Weeks and the excitement of our little bee-bop's arrival is rising!
Nicole's sister Katie called the other night and said, "I just bought milk with an April 4th expiration date, you know it's close when the milk expires after your due date!" We'll let's hope our due date isn't too far past the milks! Here is some recent belly shot... Isn't she cute?!

Grand Superior Lodge

Nicole and I got away on a little "Babymoon" weekend. A little relaxing getaway by ourselves to venture up to the North Shore and enjoy some time together prior to our new arrival.
We stayed at Grand Superior Lodge just north of Two Harbors (40 miles north of Duluth).
We headed out early Saturday January 26th (Mikey & Jade's Birthdays) and made a stop in Duluth and had lunch with some Friends (Ryan & Jane and their new little baby girl, Andi) We then did some bumming around in Canal Park prior to heading north up the shore. We arrived at the Lodge around 4pm took a swim in the pool, and relaxed. Sunday we did some snowshoeing at Gooseberry Falls State Park and had an early dinner at Betty's Pies. We watched a movie and Nicole got in a good nap and I read a little. Monday we were up early after a good nights plus rest and did an early morning ski at Gooseberry at sun up right along the shore of Lake Superior. Then back to the lodge to shower up and to Duluth for lunch and some shopping. It was a great getaway and very relaxing, The baby loved it! The baby is really starting to push and stretch in Nicole's tummy, it's fun too feel it's little limbs and joints push on my hand (and Eleni's). Nicole is feeling good and her comfort level is creeping a little more towards the uncomfortable level but she's hanging tough! I've been busy with the baby's room too, sanded the hardwood floor, painted the ceiling and walls, just stained the floor last night, just need to do the top/finish coats and it's time to start moving stuff in.... Exciting!...That's all for now.... -Tony and crew.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Happy New Year everyone!
We've had a great holiday week celebrating with our families and friends. Christmas Eve at my parents house and Christmas Day at Nicole's Mom's. Eleni and I got out Ice Fishing a couple of times catching a few bluegills and crappies enjoying a fish fry one evening. I've been out skiing a few times with Eleni and Nicole getting out one time too! (see pictures) Eleni is really starting to get the hang of skiing which is good as she is getting a little heavy to lug around in the backpack. Yesterday afternoon I spent out at Maplelag skiing while an Alberta clipper rolled through dusting us with an inch of fresh snow. last night for New Year's Eve Katie, Eric, Trish, Bruce and Nicole and I went out to eat at the Fireside and made some rounds visiting friends at some house parties taking advantage of Nicole being our DD for the night. Hopefully you all had a great Chirstmas and wishing you all a great 2008!
Tony, Nicole & Eleni (and baby!)