Tuesday Zoos-day with Autumn!

Today's Zoo day was especially fun because Stella rode her first train...and Autumn joined us!

Meet Autumn, Stella's future babysitter some day :)  She is such a sweet sweet girl.  Autumn attends The Toledo School of Arts.  She enjoys playing the Cello (like her mom!), cooking on the grill with her dad, and drama class!  And...she just received a 3.8 GPA.  Good Job Autumn!   Stella and I had a great day with Autumn, Jill & Davis at the zoo today. 

And Stella wants to especially thank her for the little Wolf stuffed animal she bought her today & the orange elephant rattle gift.  Look Autumn, she loves it  :)

Mama-razzi Monday!

Introducing Stella's Mama-razzi Monday.

Each Monday i will feature a misc. photo of Stella "spotted" somewhere taken by none other than, me,  The Mama-razzi.    Enjoy.

Stella was spotted at Poppycock's in Traverse City, looking very chic in her new favorite hat, waiting on her lunch date, Britny.

Dinner With Friends & Grandparents

 Stella enjoyed her dinner date with her grandparents, Mary Pat & the Glinkski's!  She can't wait to see Mary P. back in Florida next year and is hoping it's true she brings along her granddaughter.  And you can certainly tell Mike G. is a baby guy!

Stella's Very Own In-House Bellerina Studio

Well i said i'd get one in here at our house for her after our visit with Britny's Montessori School.  She loves it....and what a better way to introduce it to everyone than with Stella in one of her tu-tu's.  The vertical part of the video doesn't last long after i realize what i'm doing.

Visit from Sarah & Izzie

Stella met Sarah for the first time today...and Izzie too - Sarah's "little girl" (her chocolate lab).  And thanks to Sarah - Stella ate her first crackers, and not baby ones but regular Club House Crackers.  I've been a bit leary on the foods that are not pureed.  It was great to see you Sarah!

Stella Turns 10 Months Old Today!!!

For her 10 month old photo Stella is featured here in her super adorable purple polo dress she received from her JoNanna (one of my absolute favorites, thank you!) and next to her most WONDERFUL "Stella Weekender Bag" handmade by her Jeamma and co-designed by her mama.  And I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Thank you Thank you THANK YOU SO MUCH MOM for all your hard work making her bag.  This is something she will use forever.

P.S.  Take special note of the embroidery Jeamma did - Stella Jane on the popcorn stands and Toledo Zoo on the elephant's howdah.  It's adorned with pockets on all four sides.  The inside is just as fabulous as the outside and the matching toiletry bag was a surprise bonus! The zipper pulls are even cute! 

Happy 10 months old to our Stella!  Just when we think we cannot adore, love or goo-goo gah-gah anymore over of you baby girl, we do.  :)  We love you so much.  xoxoxo- your mama & daddy

Father's Day 2010: Justin's First!

 
Happy 1st Father's Day to my love!  We love you so very much, Jen & your baby girl
Happy Father's Day to my dad, Ter-Bear!
Happy Father's Day to Justin's dad, Grampy!
Happy Father's Day to Stella's GREAT Grandpa Shorty, my grandpa - who doesn't look too shabby for 92, huh!

Up North June 2010 Series...

First day Up North with Jeamme & Great Aunt Snookie.  The photo of Snookie and Stella looking at each other is so sweet to me.

Up North: The Wade's!

Stella had such a great day visiting with Margo and being entertained by Asa & Sterling.  And she of course lovvvvved spending the afternoon in T.C. with her Brit Brit.   One of her highlights was visiting The Children's Place - the Montessori school where Britny has taught for years, specializing over the recent years in the infant room - where Stella couldn't get enough of the "baby ballerina area" (as i call it)...i of course will be creating one & installing it in our tv room for her as soon as i get back as she loves to stand up on her own!  I have never seen something as clever as this for a baby.  Kudos to the Montessori peeps!
Britny - you should be so very proud of your school because it truly was awesome.

Up North: Suttons Bay

This phrase goes for both she & I ;) as my husband and most people who know me can attest too.  And check it out - Stella looks like she got into some wine.

 Stella enjoyed her very first ice cream cone - thanks to the lady who owns the parlor, she offered and i just couldn't decline.  Don't worry - she only had a few licks....well she didn't understand how to lick the ice cream so she nibbled on her Sleeping Bear Supreme Vanilla.

Up North: On The Lake

Up North: Shopping!

 Mad Woman's Attic.  Yeah, that's about right.

Up North: All Pooped Out....

...from shopping

Up North: Craft Hour

  I always seem to be good at putting my friends and family to work for me - but i know these crafty ladies did not mind as they stiched away Stella's Birthday Banner with the beautiful lake view.  And Stella played on her blankie.

Up North: Can't Wait To See Daddy

Stella can't wait to come home to Daddy.

Up North: Sunset

Dinner On The Terrace...ok patio

Stella & Herb

Herbs that is.  We took a field trip today to Jacob's Garden so i could finally get my herbs so Stella can enjoy tastier meals.

Visit with 2nd Cousin, "Farmer Raymond"

 We trekked it all the way to the other side of town, Oregon, to see the Zaks, where Stella was excitedly greeted by Raymond's daughter Jacqueline, her arms open wide, "It's A Baby!!!"  I picked up my tomato plants from Farmer Raymond while Stella got to pet the family cat Angel -- who by the way was more like a little Devil as she hissed at my little Stella (but she didn't seem to mind a bit).  Thanks for the plants Raymond - now i just need to remember which kind of brew you like to swill so i can drop that off next time i see you this summer.  Jacqueline, thank you for being so very sweet to Stella! Dova, it was nice catching up with you while we girls all dipped our her feet in your pool :) but next time i am showing up with our suits if that's ok!  Till then Zaks - enjoy your summer!  xoxoxoxo

Bow, Bows....and More Bows!

 So i got sick of rifling through Stella's small box of a million hair bows and i decided to make her a "Bow Frame".  I used the same fabric that my mom used for her crib bumper & closet curtain and then i chose two 2 styles of ribbon to layer up.  Here's a before the bows were attached pic and after.   The bows slide and clip onto the rose ribbon.    I chose the roses because the elephant in her painting is holding a red rose.  Oh to live in the world of a stay home mommy, huh :)

BTW this is all just in time for Stella to start ripping out the bows from her hair and drench them in her saliva as she chews on them like a teathing toy.  But don't worry, i'm adamantly working on training her to keep them in as i have quite the investment in these things and Miss Stella is going to learn they are for wardrobe not chewing ;)  (yeah, right, i know)

Zoo-sday Tuesday

 

This week Jill & I invited my friend Denise & her precious daughter Brecken.  As you can see Brecken is sporting a very cool lime green cast and it didn't stop her from being on a mission....To See The Giraffes!

It was another great zoo day for us as the weather was picture perfect and our babes lasted 4 hours whine free!  We were even able to see Twiggy the baby elephant - which was very important to Stella as you all know her obession with the elephant.  Oh wait.  That's her mama.

Visit with Great Grandma Alice

I think it's suffice to say that Stella always brings a smile to her Great Grandma - my Grandma Alice.  And i also think it's suffice to say Vice Versa :) although in this pic Stella is really into her new toy i got her - purchased at none other than HOBBY LOBBY.  As people close to me know of my addiction to this store.  I simply cannot stop. 

Northwest Ohio's Very Best!

Stella made it into the Summer 2010 Edition of  "The Buzz Book"! This is our Region's Quarterly Publication - A Guide To The Very Best In Northwest Ohio.  And um, I'd have to say that Stella is definitely one of the Very Best in Northwest Ohio ;).

Anyway, they have a feature called "Buzz Kids" - kids sporting anything Bee related.  Thanks to Lola, Emilee's daughter, Stella was gifted these adorable Bee sockies and the Mama-razzi here took one of my favorite photos of her wearing them.  Per Jeamma (which is btw Stella's name for one of her grandmas, my mom) we sent the photo to the Editor for consideration and she made the cut!   I would not have known it as they did not contact me telling me so but luckily Stella and I greeted my parent's neighbor the other day and she proceeded to tell me "I saw Stella in the new Buzz Book!" So of course I headed like a bat outta hell to one of our local Toledo's vendors and grabbed a bunch of them!  Don't worry Grampy and JoNanna (which is btw Stella's name for her other grandparents, Justin's parents) you have one coming your way.  And, Great Aunt Janice - you have yet another brag piece for your coffee table (wink!) cuz i gotcha one too!