8 teeth!

...and today Mommy found that I had cut my 8th tooth...finally!

Yesterday was my Papa's birthday. We celebrated with Papa, Gramma, GG, Papa Roy, Papa Ray, Aunt Kelly, Uncle Ed, and Emma.

Today I'm going to help Mommy clean the house...I enjoy making a mess, even though she wants to clean it up. It should really be fun!

my uncle joe

...my Uncle Joe came over to visit me yesterday.

He's not really my Uncle Joe, but Mommy and Daddy call him that. He has known my Mommy for 17 years! That's a really long time. I sure loved trying to feed him my yummy dinner!

My Gramma and Grampa Martin came to visit me today too! We had such a great time playing with all my toys.

I had so much fun with my visitors today!

my friend, Lily

...I got to play with my friend, Lily on Saturday.

We had so much fun as our Mommies and Daddies visited with one another. I can't wait to spend more time with her again.

papa ray

...today the week ended by hanging out with Papa Ray.

Papa Ray, Papa Ray, oh how I love my Papa Ray.

It ended up becoming a busy week, full of adventures. Monday was spent with Gramma Brown, as Mommy teaches every Monday. Tuesday was spent with Mommy - we played and I was able to say "eye" when touching my baby doll's eye. Wednesday we hung out with Miss Jessica and Miss Lily at the Coffee Bean. I even gave Miss Jessica a big hug and gave her a couple pats on the back - the new thing I do to comfort those that comfort me. Then yesterday Mommy taught the Crombez sisters, which are now my friends too! And today - we hung out with Papa Ray.

We are planning for a fun weekend. Miss Jessica and Miss Lily are coming over tomorrow with Lily's Daddy for dinner. Sunday we have no plans at all. Mommy says that Daddy is going to start redoing their bedroom. Mommy is having Daddy paint and install a new closet in their bedroom for her birthday. Daddy plans on starting with the closet this weekend.

Well - that's the scoop!

big girl

I'm getting SO BIG! New size for me! On Saturday Mommy realized that my shirts were showing a lot of arm and my pants were getting very short. So I am in 12-18 month clothes now. Even though they are a bit big - Daddy says it's better to have something a bit big than too small. So Mommy has to roll my pants up, but I definitely enjoy the bigger size (and the new clothes).

petting farm pictures

Here are some pictures from my trip to the Heritage Park Petting Farm last week.

another tooth

...yes, I have 7 teeth now...and another is trying to come in.

Last week was a very busy week. We had so much to do, Mommy and I. However, she is hoping that next week is a little less busy and a little more relaxing. This should be the case.

We spent today with Gramma. We had fun in Plymouth, and she even bought me my Birthday dress. Yesterday we spent time with Miss Jessica and Miss Lilly at the Coffee Bean - we just love it there! And we had a nice time visiting the petting farm and Miss Monica and Mr. Asher on Tuesday.

Like I said, wow, what a busy week we had.

playing through the day

...yes, that's me playing the piano!

I love to play the piano...sometimes I let Mommy help me play.

Today Mommy & I are meeting Miss Monica and Mr. Asher at the Petting Farm in Taylor. I have never seen animals like that before, so I'm excited to visit. We also haven't seen Miss Monica and Mr. Asher in a LONG time...so it will be great to visit with them too.

We ended up not getting together with Miss Jessica and Miss Lily on Friday. Mommy said that Miss Jessica had to help her Daddy with a move - but we will see them this Thursday. We also have a day trip with Gramma Brown planned for Friday. And Mommy gets a tooth filled tomorrow...so...it's a VERY busy week. Every day a new adventure!

Hopefully yours is just as busy...and just as fun!

6 is a great number

...I now have 6 teeth.

February 1st brought a new month and my 6th tooth. It is my 4th bottom one - and it really has been painful. However, last night I slept 9 hours straight...then another 2 after that! I really am getting better at that sleep thing too.

On Wednesday I went with my Gramma Brown to the Detroit Institute of Arts, or as Mommy calls it, the DIA. We saw the Claudel and Rodin exhibit. It was really exciting, as it was my first time at an art museum.

Today we are meeting Miss Jessica and Miss Lily at the Coffee Bean in Plymouth. Mommy and I really look forward to Friday afternoons.

celebration of birthdays

...this weekend is a birthday weekend.

Today, when I wake from my afternoon nap, we are headed over to Gramma and Papa Brown's house for Papa Roy's Birthday. It'll be fun to see the Brown family.

Then, tomorrow, we are celebrating Grampa Martin's Birthday. We were supposed to celebrate his birthday last weekend, but because we were sick we changed the party date. Unfortunately it means that Aunt Sarah and Uncle John cannot be with us...but we'll see them soon I'm sure.

yeah Mommy!

...Mommy has been accepted to Wayne State's Grad School!

Mommy will be going back to school in the fall to study and hopefully achieve a Masters in Library and Information Science, with a certification in Archival Administration. Mommy is very goal oriented and determined to do something new now that she's in her 30's.

Go Mommy!

double digits

...yes, today I am 10 months old!
Actually I'm 306 days old (homage to Uncle John). Mommy says it's so hard to believe that I'm almost a year old. She says that these 10 months have really sped by...I can believe her. Every day is an adventure.

I'm still cruising everywhere and really want to walk. Of course I'm just not there yet. However, I have started to call things by their names:
*baby doll - baaba da
*my Mommy, and all three cats (Mia, Misty & Milo) - mama
*pictures of babies & myself or talking to myself in the mirror - baaba
*my Daddy - dada
*when I see new people, or people again - hiya

I've also cut more teeth, so the total # is 5. Mommy says the other 3 are just around the corner. I love music and I can dance and play a variety of rhythm instruments. I love to head-bang, as Daddy calls it, when I'm walking with my wagon.

Unfortunately I'm sick with my second cold. I had another one at 6 months. I had a fever for a couple days last week, but it wasn't until the weekend that I had a plugged nose. Then last night I had a hard time sleeping without coughing. Mommy & Daddy are taking good care of me though, but it's no fun to feel bad.

101.2

...the temperature I had at 2:30am this morning.

Yes, I have a fever...but Mommy and Daddy gave me some Tylenol and it seems to have helped a bit. I don't have any other visible problems to show Mommy that I have a cold or something else. But I have been crying very easily...I wish I could tell Mommy how I feel!

a new cousin

...yes, this summer will bring me a new cousin.

My Aunt Sarah (Daddy's sister) is expecting. The little one is expected in July. Mommy and Daddy think it will be a boy. Due to a communication misunderstanding, Mommy and Daddy continue to call the baby "Wicked". It seems appropriate if Aunt Sarah has a boy and he is wicked. Afterall, Daddy had a little girl that is so sweet and easy-going. Sarah will have to have the wicked boy baby.

Of course I'm just excited to have someone to play with when the Martin side gets together.

and one more makes five

...yes, I have 5 teeth now!

It seemed to take forever to get the first 2, but in two weeks I've got 3 more! Three teeth on the bottom and two on the top. Mommy says that there are 3 more teeth to go...but for now...I have lots of teeth!

Daddy has been home the last two days. He is working from home while his car gets fixed in the shop. Icecicles damaged the hood on Christmas Eve, and now Daddy is working from home while people fix it. I really want to spend time with him, and I get confused that he isn't home to play with me.

mirror mirror

...mirror mirror on the wall, who is the prettiest baby of all?

ZOE!

happy 2006

...happy New Year everyone!

Last night Mommy & Daddy had Aunt Kelly, Uncle Ed, Emma and Uncle Joe over to celebrate the end of 2005 and the beginning of a new year - 2006. They had appetizers and we all sang and dance. It was really fun. Of course everyone left by 8:30 and Mommy & Daddy were even asleep by 11pm. Mommy & Daddy were up most of the night on Friday (cutting teeth), so they were VERY tired by 11pm. Anyway, by midnight we were all up again because our street sounded like it was blowing up! Well, I enjoyed it...but Mommy & Daddy were not happy to hear the "sounds" of the new year.

Mommy says that people make resolutions to do things different in the new year. Like lose weight or find love, or even get a new job or go back to school. Mommy told me that she planned to make a resolution in 2006 that would have me taking naps in my crib by myself. However, a couple weeks ago that resolution was already achieved. So now I have no idea what Mommy will be hoping to achieve in 2006 -

But all I have to say is...

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

more teeth for me

...and then I started cutting two top teeth!

Last week I started cutting my two top teeth (well more than just swollen lumps on my gums). And two days ago Mommy saw the left top one! Yesterday she thinks that the right one was following right behind!

It seems like the Crombez sisters are my good luck charms. Both times I was cutting a tooth it finally popped through the night after they came to piano lessons! Pretty crazy, huh?

after christmas

...but the charity continues.

Mommy & I packed up some old clothes and toys and took them to the Salvation Army today. We actually spent some time yesterday "boxing" up the items because it was Boxing Day. It's not a holiday traditionally celebrated in the United States, but Mommy says that it is a charitable day. A day that most don't really understand. But Mommy says that it is a day to give to the less fortunate. Mommy has decided to institute the Boxing Day tradition to our family Christmas celebration. Sometimes it's the small things in life that leave the biggest impact. Mommy says that giving to others less fortunate - even what seems like a small amount to us - can make a big difference to someone else.

have yourself a merry little christmas

...let your heart be light.

Mommy's favorite Christmas song is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." She likes it because of the fact that is talks about friendship, family and the hope that next year our current problems will be long forgotten.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Let your heart be light.
Next year all our troubles will be out of sight.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Make the yuletide gay.
Next year all our troubles will be miles away.

Once again as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Will be near to us once more.

Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow.
And Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas now.