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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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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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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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.

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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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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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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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!

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!!

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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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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