Senior Day at the Zoo!

We had a great time with G. Aunt Deb & G.G. Shorty at The Toledo Zoo on Senior Day a few weeks ago.  It's amazing we made it out of that place alive - huh Deb ;) 

"Groucho Stella"

Stella would like to play homage to the late and great Groucho Marx whose birthday was today Oct. 2.  And it is he who has one of the best one-liners ever and in which i am going to adopt when leaving a friend's dinner party some day....

"I have had a wonderful evening....and it wasn't this."  hahahaha the thought of me saying this as i hug someone goodnight after leaving their lovely dinner party is just CRACKING ME UP!    just picture it. 

Happy 60th Great Aunt Snookie!

My aunt Snookie, Stella's Great Aunt, turned 60th this Saturday Sept. 24 and what a FIESTA we had for her at Aunt Joyce's!  Live Band, teaky torches, and all the margaritas and mexican food your little heart desired!  Emilee & Lola came into town to celebrate with us, although we decided instead of bringing the girls for the first few hours of the party to just have Tonya show up earlier and we headed out just the two of us.  It was a great weekend!

Watch Out...Cousin Jeremy Has Got Some Moves!  This is the first time, as his mom Snookie claims, that he has ever danced with her - so i was sure to get this moment on video!  You both look great on the dance floor!

Lola & Stella

The girls with Stella's babysitter, Tonya.  She brought them each a gift bag of goodies tied with a balloon.  I think they enjoyed their night with her.  And Lola was such a good girl with Stella - being very patient with a 2-yr. old that can be sensitive sometimes!

Toddler Trails at Wildwood

I discovered this program through a friend, Toddler Trails.  It happens the first wed. of every month and it's adorable.  We go for a short nature walk in the woods with a guide who is very in tune with toddlers.  She is very animated when talking about all the animals and sounds you can come across while at Wildwood and holds the attention of Stella very well.  She finds crickets and catepillars and deer prints and shows them to the kids.  It's really cute and Stella really enjoyed it.  So did I.  It was a beautiful day for our first Toddler Trails which occurs mid-morning.   After our walk our guide gets a basket out of all kinds of animal puppets but Stella and her friends were more into the fountain of water and running around with each other.   Here are a few pics of Stella enjoying playing with her friends Davis, Brooklynn, and Sienna after the hike.  Next time I'll remember my camera so i can get some shots of our little "hike."  Thank You to Jill for taking pics this time per my request!  Jill is the mom of our very own "Ladies Man", Davis!  This cute blondie is always surrounded by a bunch of cute girls on many of our playdates...and there are no complaints on either side as you can see in the pics they love to play together :) The girl with the pink hat on the most adorable springy curls is Brooklynn, Stella's Toledo & Up North buddy (they can be seen dancing on the pontoon boat in the July posts).  And Sienna, the cutie with the magenta matching flower & fleece jacket is a new friend of Stella's.

Stella & Uncle Todd Kayak

Stella Loves Her Coca Cola

Stella Skypes Over Lunch

Stella's New Word....and she says it more than once ;)

Stella just learned the word NO - and she isn't afraid to use it let me tell ya....and these two videos are evidence!

And I've read that you should record your bundle of joy displaying all kinds of emotions and not just the happy ones just for the sake of it.  I've never recorded her crying, not as a baby that seemed cruel...but here we are in the toddler phase and she can be quite the actress at times.   Anyway - she was on a roll and it just screamed home video - make sure to watch through the end of this as our "converation" gets pretty amusing.

Stella First Year Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

I received this photo book free from Shutterfly and therefore I was subject to a certain number of pages...otherwise I would have put in alot more pics of Stella with family & friends - because you all know this Mamarazzi has alot of pics of Miss Stella to share ;)  P.S.  Regardless of you looking at this photo book online here - if you come to our home I will make sure you see this precious book in person! ;)

"Good Morning America's" Most Beautiful Place in America!!"

Please check out this link esp. if you are near Michigan!! Leelanau County, which is where I grew up vacationing and now am so lucky to enjoy watching our Stella grow up on family vacations here as well at my parents lake house, was just voted "Good Morning America's" Most Beautiful Place in America." Too Cool!!! And Too Beautiful!! 

Click Here!