Stella Hits The Carnival!

We went to the Traverse City Annual Cherry Festival today, on Great Grandma Stella's Birthday, July 8th.  This is a week long festival and Miss Stella hit the carnival and rode her first carnival ride!  JoNanna, i know you will barely be able to watch this video - but don't worry she was fine and SHE LOVED IT!  And the video is blurry because of the zoom Ter-bear had it on but in the beginning look for when Stella totally waves to them from up above and the photo above of her on "The Crazy Bus" with the huge grin reflects how she was in video....but you can't see the detail.

It was a fun-filled day for her of playing the carnival game with the ducks in the water where she grabbed her very own and won a prize (a big yellow floating squeaking duck), watching the "Air Dogs" show where dogs ran and leaped into a giant pool & they measured how far they went in the pool and people watching or shall i say "carnie watching".  And Stella topped the day off with one of her favorites, a complimentary mini-ice cream cone from the Sleeping Bear Ice Cream Parlor in Suttons Bay.

As you can see above, i could not resist this "photo opp!" as i call them which happens probably 100 times a day of Stella in front of the carnival ride with all the sweet cute flying elephants.  And it reminds me of my search for some elephants that my dad can add wings to for her nursery.  I need to get back on that project because i do not have enough things in her nursery ;)

Happy 3rd Anniverary to Us!

Had a wonderful Anniversary dinner at Stella's in TC, Michigan.  Justin and i said the same thing to each other "thank you for the best gift of my life....Stella." Are you gagging? It was a wonderful day and evening. 

 And thank you to Justin, he bought me this Eucalyptus necklace & earrings i had admired back in March in Florida.  Beautiful, i love them.  And with the mommy brain that i've been having lately, i was searching the "Modern vs. Traditional Gifts" for SECOND wedding anniverary...when hello, it is our THIRD.  So i bought him something made out of cotton.  i bet all of you can guess what.  yup, a Jeep T-Shirt.  but it's a very cool one and it came all the way from the U.K.  Ed

 

Editor's Note:   So I'd have to say these two pics i took of her today have to be in the top 5 Best Stella Photos Ever!!!!

Off The Charts...in Cuteness AND Weight!

As Stella's proud and gloating mama, I declare her to be Off The Charts in Cuteness!  And her pediatrician has recently declared her to be off the charts in another catergory.  Weight.  She had her 10 month appt. a few weeks ago and although she was riding that 3% for weight for some time, she officially went off the charts.  No concerns though and he jokingly told me i should just tell people i have a VERY ADVANCED 4-month old.  Ha! 

As much as she is under the average, even under the Below Average group, this little peanut of ours eats like a horse.  She's now being introduced to "real people food" - thanks to her Jeamma while being up north at the cottage.  Bits of shredded chicken salad leftover from my mom's garden tea party - she loved it.  Heavily buttered toast which her daddy fed to her this morning.  If it were up to me, i'd still have her on the liquid diet (it makes me a bit nervous, the chuncky foods! but i knowwwwww, it's time.)

Stella's First 4th of July!

Stella is featured in her 4th of July dress which was just "whipped" up by Jeamma that day - made from recyled striped hoody shirts.  I love this dress on her.

Stella had her First 4th of July!  And she enjoyed the Leland July 4th Parade in town where she saw Clydesdale Horses for the first time and experienced her first Fireworks.

She's been a bit off schedule since we've been up at the lake - basically 10 to 10 right now.  On the 4th she went to bed a little earlier though around 8:30 so we figured she had set the plans for us that evening - she'd for sure be sleeping at 10pm and we would have to watch the fireworks from the cottage as opposed to from the boat on the lake.  But Stella had a different plan in mind as she awoke just an hour later at 9:30, and as HAPPY and RESTFUL as can be (what? only that one hour of sleep).  So we suited her up for the night boat ride & the cool breeze and Jeamma, Ter-Bear, and us hopped on the pontoon at dusk (the day is very long up here so dusk it just shy of 10pm).  Stella was THRILLED!  She loves to spot boats (and ducks) on the lake and she points endlessly at them.  This night there were boats & pretty red & green boat lights galore.  Everyone was headed north on the lake to get a front row seat of the Leland Fireworks.  The big booms didn't phase her and actually at one point she seemed way more interested in Ter-Bear as he sat at the wheel of the boat then the gigantic colorful fireworks show!  She was such a good girl for her first 4th of July - it was really special.

Happy Birthday Aunt Hadley!

 We love you!  xoxoxo, Justin/Jen/Stella

Chess Anyone?

Chess anyone?  Yes please says Stella.  AT 30 PAST MIDNIGHT on july 3.

Swim Date with Davis

 Thank you Davis - your backyard is like an aquatic wonderland!

p.s. Jill, lunch was deee-lish

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!