The life of Muffin!

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Christmas Time!

Merry Christmas!!

This was really the first year where I GOT this whole Christmas thing. Momma explained to me that Christmas is when we celebrate Jesus' birthday. She read me books (my favorite was "Who Was Born This Special Day) about his birth, and sang me songs! I want to hear "Away In The Manger" just about every night! I also like the "Little Drummer Boy" and have her sing that to me a lot too. We did all sorts of things this year to celebrate! We went to the Zoo to see the Christmas lights, we decorated Christmas Trees, went shopping, wrapped presents, made cookies... The list goes on.

We celebrated Christmas Eve with Momma's family. We spend a few days before then at my Aunt & Uncle's house where my Aunt C let me help her decorate one of her Christmas Trees.

This is Aunt C. She's a good sport and sat still while I applied lots of play make-up to her. That was one of my gifts this year, play make-up and I just loved applying it to everyone who would let me.
This is Uncle C and my cousin J (I have lots of cousins with a J name). Uncle C's friend was standing in the doorway watching Uncle C play with J and I. He's a lot of fun and I loved climbing on him and having him hang me upside down. Everyone came over and hung out with us while we were in town. Aunt C hosted a "girls night" where we made necklaces and decorated Christmas Cookies. Daddy made Tacos for everyone.

I really liked the part where we decorated cookies! I put frosting on them, and glittery gel, and sparkly sugar and anything else I could get my hands on!

I was very good at it!! I liked adding the Red Hots a lot too, and licking my fingers, and tasting the frosting and putting the spout of the get tube in my mouth when no one was looking! I was very proud of my work! We all got together on Christmas Eve Morning and celebrated together. We had breakfast and played together until it was time to open our presents. I waited so patiently!! I got all kinds of great presents this year! One of the things I really enjoy doing these days is playing dress up, and cooking! Uncle D and Aunt C hit it right on the head with my new Chef's dress up clothes that went along so nicely with the cooking toys I got from Gramma and the big girl baking set that Uncle B and Aunt J bought for me!! It even went along wonderfully with the Cool Bake oven that Grandpa and Grandma got me, but I didn't know that until the next day! Here I am putting on my oven mitt and my cousin J leaned over for a great photo op! I had so much fun getting to know her and playing with her! She's about three years older than me so she was still young enough to want to play with toys that I like.And of course I had to pose in my full Chef's get up! Momma about died when she saw this!! But who wouldn't? I'm so darn cute!!

Later that evening we went to my great Aunt M and Uncle L's house to celebrate Christmas Eve with Momma's huge family! Right now I am the youngest, but soon there will be new cousins to play with! Otherwise, when my Cousin J isn't in town from SC, the closest cousin I have in age is several years older than I. My cousin I and my cousin T adore me when I don't have anyone else to play with. They keep me busy and let me play with the big girls. My cousin I is the one on the far left in the picture below. She thinks I'm just great!!

Momma's family is really big and can be a little overwhelming. For the most part I jump right in and play with the kids, but sometimes I like to sit on daddy's lap while he plays cards.
And then of course Gramma is always there to rescue me from the masses when I start feeling a little insecure.

The big event of the night is that we get a very special visit from Santa Clause! Last year I was so not into that, but that was our first meeting. Momma and Daddy took me to the Zoo a few weeks before this and I saw Santa there. I decided to go up and have a chat (I mean, he had candy canes after all!!) so that Santa and I could do a little one on one and get to know each other. So when he stopped by on Christmas Eve, I wasn't scared!!
My gift was the very first one he pulled out of his sack this year! I willingly walked up and sat on his lap! No tears, and if I was scared, I was pretty good at hiding it! Momma got it all on video, and this was the picture Daddy took with his phone, so its sort of blurry. When I saw Santa a few weeks before this and he had asked me what my favorite toy was, I tolled him a dolly. And that's exactly what I got from him on Christmas Eve! A Baby Alive who coos and bounces up and down! I love her!!

Christmas Day...


After the party with Momma's family we drove back home so that I could wake up in my own bed and we celebrated Christmas with our little family early that morning before going over to Grandpa and Grandma's house. As soon as we got to their house we all opened our presents!
I sat next to Grandma a little bit while I opened my gifts, and I sat on Momma's lap a little. I decided to try on all of my new jammies, and my robe...all at the same time!!

And of course all of my jewelry from my new Princess game, and my new boot slippers!
Grandma made a great dinner with Lasagna and Chicken, both of which I really love! And My Aunt M and Great Grandma came over, and my Aunt L and Uncle R and of course Uncle Nigh Night and Uncle T were there! It was so much fun opening all of my gifts and playing with the puppies. Even the puppies got presents!! I really enjoyed Christmas this year! Its a busy couple of weeks with lots of traveling, but I love seeing all of my family! And the food is really good too!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

First stop, gifts galore!

We stopped at momma's friend house on the way to my uncle's today so that we could exchange gifts! It was so much fun! I just loved my microphone and my beauty set. I even tried to give my friend C a mini make over!
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Friday, December 17, 2010

Tree decorating

The muffin decorated her own Christmas Tree this morning. She sure does love to glue. Momma funds all sorts of weird little doo-dads for her to glue on stuff. Today her tree consists of a tiny bird sitting on a snow drift, ribbon (because all trees have garland), snow flakes, reindeer, a star, and baby rattles...don't ask, they're for the baby bird!
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Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Anything to play in the snow!

I let the muffin play outside in the snow for a bit this morning while the car windows defrosted. Little did I know I was going to get my driveway shoveled!
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Tuesday, December 14, 2010

A Spot of Tea

The muffin enjoying a wee bit of camomile tea on this ever so blustery day! She got so excited when I said I was making tea. She came running into the kitchen when I tried to put it in the microwave and said "No momma! I gid out da I'm a lido tea pot showt an stout here'd ma handow here'd ma spout!". Meaning she wanted me to make it in the tea pot on the stove so she could hear it whistle! Silly baby!
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Monday, December 13, 2010

Soup to soothe

Today the muffin had to go in for her much over due well baby visit. We had to find a new doctor. Unfortunately the muffin had to get an immunization. She did so good! No crying or tears, just a sharp "ouch" and an offended look, which kind of made me giggle. The nurse gave her a pencil with Santa on it, which she just loved! The muffin seemed to like her doctor and was very chatty and friendly with her. Afterwards we had to go in for a routine blood panel where they check iron and lead levels. Again I thought the muffin would flip out, but she didn't even flinch (the chic was good!) and watched with a lot of interest as they pulled two vials of blood from her. The nurse said she had great veins! In the end the muffin got a pencil and three stickers, not to mention a fancy round band aid! I decided to bring her to Panera for a special bowl of soup after it was all said and done. She did such a great job today and I was so proud!
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Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Let's go to the beach!

The muffin is pretending she is at the beach! Funny little muffin! Its Christmas time!
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Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Li'l Chef

The muffin making her own peanut butter & jelly sandwich this morning!
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Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Story time

The muffin is making progress. She sat on the rug way over there on the right all by herself today. I didn't even have to tell her to. The muffin is excited to pick out books about Christmas today.
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Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Lights before Christmas

Enjoying our time at the zoo for their lights before Christmas celebration!
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Siku at the zoo

We took daddy to the zoo today to see the baby polar bear Siku. He will turn 1 year old in a few days. The muffin just loves this lively bear. Luckily for us the viewing area is in a nice warm building because baby it's cold outside!!! Muffin and daddy got a lucky up close encounter with Siku!
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Sunday, November 14, 2010

Playing!

Our friend C has been so sweet playing with the muffin during our visit this weekend. Muffin is loving all of the attention and fun! This morning C let the muffin brush her hair! It was so cute!
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Thursday, November 11, 2010

Christmas/Birthday Gift Ideas

Here are some Christmas/Birthday Gift ideas for the Muffin this year. Please be aware that there are MANY people who will see and use this list and perhaps you should let me know should you choose to purchase anything from this list. Some of the items on this list have links attached to them so that you can see a specific item. Most things are subjective and need not be identical (unless stated) and are here as a reference only.


Wears a 3T-4T in clothing. She loves all things glamorous (Tu-Tu's are #1).

Wears an 8 Wide to a 9 Wide in Shoes. The glitzier the better. Boots are huge too (she would need a size 9w).

Money (which will then be put into a savings bond for her).

She has an 18" Darla Doll from "You & Me" (Toys R' Us) and would like clothes and accessories for this doll. She also has a 14" Doll from Mattel, along with a 13" and an 11" doll. All of these dolls could use clothes, shoes, diapers, accessories. (We have a stroller, a shopping cart, a high chair, and a baby carrier and a bed). She does not have a boy doll. Please refrain from ANY Bratz brand items.

Zhu Zhu Pet tracks (we bought her the Fun House with Patches, Jilly, the ball, the spiral, the garage, the skateboard turn, & the bedroom/bathroom)

Wagon (for her to sit in, not her dolls)

Slippers that have rubber soles or grippers. Needs to be sock like, not slip on. Boot like would be fun too, size 9-10

Dress up clothes (she has Disney Princess ones)

Play make-up (not actual make-up, things that look make-up like)

Any type of Pass or Membership to anything kid related, like Green Field Village, Detroit Children's Museum, Imagination Station, Ann Arbor's Hands On Museum, etc. We have a Toledo Zoo pass.

Mellisa & Doug Brand Art Easel (its compact for easy storage)



I have also created a Wish List at Toys R' Us of things I think she would enjoy. Don't feel like you have to buy specific things listed, they're just ideas and references.



Muffin loves these:

Anything with stickers, and crafty things.

She loves anything that requires dexterity (like putting the checkers into the slots of Connect Four, or putting pegs into wooden blocks, or playing with the tiny pieces of games like Blokus, Memory, Dominos) and anything that let's her match things, put things together, or place small bits into small spots.

She loves games.

She seems to enjoy all things Mellisa & Doug Brand (we have lots of puzzles and string/bead/card threading toys)

All things water fun

All things cooking fun

Dress-up

All things dolly

Snow fun (though we do have a few sleds)



Things she has a lot of:

Crayons, Coloring Books, Paint, Markers, etc.

Stuffed Animals

Baby dolls (but I doubt she'd mind more)

Books

Legos (we have the table)

Tinker Toys

Lincoln Logs

Clippos

Dollhouses & Accessories

Play phones

Play food, dishes & kitchen toys

Puzzles

Instruments (Piano, Guitars)

Play-Doh (we have the desk and lots of accessories)

Bikes and other ride on toys

Magna-Doodle

Aqua-Doodle



Things she's not real "into":

Character's, the exception being Elmo or other Sesame Street ones. She likes Princess themes too, and on occasion Dora (though she doesn't know who that is).

TV/Movies

Kids Music (CD's)

Instruments

Dolls or Characters that are animated and/or talk (Tickle Me Elmo)


I hope that helps. Please keep in mind that there are gifts on here ranging in all prices categories because I will be using the list myself when I shop. Please do not feel offended or pressured to spend more than you had in mind on any gift. If any of you have questions, let me know. I will probably add to this list as the weeks go by (you will not get those changes via email and will have to visit the blog to see them), and I will certainly add to her Toys R' Us Wish List.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Some bunny special!

You know she's cute as a bunny!
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At the zoo with Ice and Arayray

Zoo fun on this gorgeous day!
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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

My first trip to the dentist!

Today was my first trip to the dentist. I was pretty apprehensive at first but my hygienes was very nice and did a great job getting me to relax. With in a few minutes I had my mouth open wide and she was cleaning away! In the end I think it was fun. I got a new toothbrush, floss, toothpaste and a toy! Momma and daddy were so proud and got lots of video of me in the chair!
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Monday, November 1, 2010

Walking in the autumn sun!

The muffin enjoying a walk with her great Aunt M in the beautiful sun, crunching all of the leaves!
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Sunday, October 31, 2010

Trick-or-Treat!!

Halloween. The Muffin really got into all of the festivities this year! We started by decorating our pumpkins. The Muffin had a fun Mrs. Potato Head kit for her pumpkin, while Momma and Daddy "cheated" using templates.



Then it was time for getting on her Ballerina Dragon Costume!
You know she's super cute!!
Stopping to pose by our three pumpkins!
So excited to get started!
So...Off we go!
It didn't take me long to get the hang of it! Trick-or-Treat!! She marched up to doors, knocked and said "Trick or Treat!" and waited patiently for her candy!
We walked and walked.
And stopped for some Cider and Donuts...then walked some more! We were out for an hour and a half before she announced that she was tired and wanted to go home! Before going home we stopped in at Great Grandma's and Aunt M's to show off her costume and begging abilities! Walking up the front walk Muffin said "It's so hard to walk!" which we assumed meant her legs were heavy and tired and the costume was adding to it! But once home she perked right up and began digging through her fat loot! She even got to eat a few pieces! She was thrilled to see that she got Play-Doh, Crayons, Pencils, a Toy, a Ring, Money (some dude gave her five bucks!!), chips, pretzels, crackers and lots and lots and LOTS of candy!

She was so happy! We even let her keep quite a bit to snack on in the days to come! After we were done Daddy read her her favorite Halloween book "By the Light of the Halloween Moon" (also known as the tickely toes book in this house) before bed.
Clearly she just LOVES her Daddy! It was a great day and everyone had a ton of fun!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

A new profile picture


Check out this photo of the Muffin in a birds egg!! I mean how awesome and perfect can you get?? The better part was that she asked to get in it. She must've seen other kids in it. I gotta hand it to the zoo, they sure do have a great kid's education center!!

Friday, October 29, 2010

The big preparation!

The muffin has been learning all about Halloween these past couple of weeks. Daddy and I have been reading her fun Halloween books. Cliffords First Halloween and By the Light of the Halloween Moon are her favorites! We spent a few days this week pumpkin hunting and carving and getting her Ballerina Dragon costume ready for the big event. She was very excited to get everything ready and in order this evening and is so excited to go knock on every ones door and say "Trick or treat!", she's already a pro!
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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Diva Pumpkin!

The finished product!
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Pumpkin Fun

Momma and daddy took me to the turkey farm today where we played in little houses, went through a maze, played on a castle and a ship and fed some chickens. The piggy was a naughty pants and tried to bite momma, but I gave him a good talking to about that! We also picked out pumpkins to decorate for Halloween and came home to have fun with them. I have a Potato Head kit to decorate my pumpkin with! It turned out quite fun! Momma carved a skeleton in her pumpkin and daddy carved a silly face! I had to go to bed before they we're all done so momma and daddy are gonna wait to put candles in them until tomorrow night. I just know I'm gonna love that! I've been very excited about going Trick-or-Treating this year. Momma and daddy have been reading me all kinds of Halloween books and showing me pictures from last years adventure! Everyday I talk about it! This year momma is taking me to her families hay ride on Saturday, and then Sunday were gonna go in our neighborhood with daddy too! I am very excited. This year momma's even gonna let me have a tiny but of candy!
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Its all a balancing act!

This morning the muffin learned to stand on one foot! She picked it up like a pro!
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Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Maybe its a mustache!

The muffin did this today at story time. It has eyes, the dots are his nose, he has a mouth and those semi-vertical lines? Who knows, maybe its a mustache!? Its the first face she's really drawn here at home.
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Small steps!

The muffin? Well she gets nervous about crowds of kids, especially ones she doesn't know. Story time at the library is a classic example. I have to pry her off of me! But today I told her she had to sit on the rug and I would sit back a ways in a chair. After a few minutes of not letting her off the rug she inched her way over to the huge dog pillow to sit down. She ended up about 8 feet from me! We'd stand up to sing and she would edge back to the edge of the rug by me, but as soon as the song was over she'd rush on back over to the dog pillow. It was quite funny. I'm glad she is slowly venturing out.
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