Going for a stroll on a summer's day

And she's off...

Hi all,
Big news from me - I'm finally walking. Truthfully, I've been able to do it for ages but just didn't feel the need, but on Friday - aged 13 months - I took my first unaded steps. Well, it was more of a stroll actually, which has frightened the byjesus out of my Mum and Dad!
I was at a playdate at my friend Sam's house and I wanted to see Mummy but she was in the other room so I just decided enough was enough and I walked :-)

I do seem to be terrorising my doggy Zeus though - now I am up and running I can chase him all over the place - it's on!
Apart from that, life is pretty normal. I was at work with my Daddy yesterday, and it's Mummy's birthday tomorrow so I'm hoping there will be cake. It's my lat week at baby group before the summer holidays too, so already it's shaping up to be a hectic week.
Hope all is well with you - I'll try and get Mummy to post some video of me walking in the next few days - it's real! I really can walk!
Talk soon,
Love Little Lottie xxx

+++STOP PRESS+++STOP PRESS+++STOP PRESS+++STOP PRESS+++ STOP PRESS+++
Here's my first walking injury - still a little unsteady on my feet!

I've been teething and pooing...

Hello hello hello!
Latest news from Devon is that I'm not very well. I seem to have picked up a little bug on my travels (and lets face it, I've done enough of that in recent weeks!). I'm teething like mad and seem to be filling my nappies like there is no tomorrow, but I'm still laughing and chattering like a little monkey, but it is a but tough when you've got a mouth full of cut gums.

On a happier note, I had my health check last week which revealed I'm the right weight and height for my age, so I guess this means I won't be getting picked on at school.
I've been back to my toddler group this last couple of weeks, too. It was great to so many aunties, uncles and cousins here but it was great to hang out with people my own age again!

My American passport arrived this week too, so I guess that means I'm primed for a trip to Disneyland. Are there any takers??????

Hope all is well with you all. And thanks again for your kind birthday and christening gifts. Mummy and I did the thank you cards and they're in the post.

Talk soon,
Love Little Lottie xxx

Donkey rides and fun parks... it must be Blackpool!

Hi all,
My sincerest apologies for lack of blogging in recent weeks. I've been whizzing around all over the place... my birthday was in the midst of the busiest three weeks I've known in quite some time.

Following on from my christening and birthday celebrations, we had a relatively calm couple of days at home with our houseguests. Aunty Claire and Mary-Ellen came to my swimming lesson, while Uncle Andre dragged us all onto the common in Torrington for an inpromptu photoshoot. Can't say I blame him... I'm very cute and it had FINALLY stopped raining!

We headed up to Blackpool the weekend before last. We'd hired a 7-seater vehicle and set off in the dead of night to beat the traffic. Some six hours later we arrived at Blackpool and I didn't really know what to make of it.
It looked like it used to be lots of fun, but there weren't many people about and I think we were all a bit tired.

Still, once the sun came out it was a whole other story and we all got into the seaside spirit. I even rode my first donkey!!!




I was introduced to fairground rides at Blackpool, too. At first, it was just the 50p sit-and-ride shows, but we all went to the Pleasure Beach and I have to say I am hooked on all the fast rides!
From Alice in Wonderland to the Cheroplanes, I went on as much as my height and pocketmoney would allow.


Blackpool was great fun. It's a long way from home, though, and the torrential rain on the Monday meant it took us so much longer to get home.
Aunty Claire and Mary-Ellen left us at that point, and with Uncle Andre off in France, it's just Mummy, Daddy and I. That said, we are currently in London trying to sort out my US passport.
I tell you, life never stops!

Hope all is well with you,
Much love Little Lottie xxx

I'm such a thrill-seeker...

Bunny girl...

'Happy Birthday to me...'

The Charlotte celebrations...

Hi again!
I've had the most exhausting two days of my short life, but it's been great!
It was first birthday yesterday - I was thoroughly spoiled with lots of great pressies. Better than anything, my Uncle Andre, Uncle Len, Aunty Michelle and cousin Mary Ellen came to see me from all over the place. I felt thoroughly spoiled, and had a lovely day.
I was still pretty tired from my late flight and had a little bit of jet-lag, but hey, I am just one!
Today - June 20th - was my big day. I had my baptism and birthday party today, and it was great fun.
I wore a beautiful dress for my christening (thanks Aunt Jean), as you can see ...




The baptism was lovely - the church was pretty and my Aunty Margaret and Uncle Pete came down from Manchester to cheer me on. I was pleased that the water at the baptism font wasn't too cold.



After the christening, we headed back to my house for some snacks and lunch ahead of my party. My friends from baby group came over, and they hung out with me and my family (there were lots of people in my small house, but we had a great time).
We all got a bit tired around 4pm, so my friends went home, my family cleaned up the house and I had a nap.
But not before I had my birthday cake and enjoyed my first ever chorus of Happy Birthday to you.
What a BRILLIANT day. I can't wait until I am two...


Thanks to everyone near and far for their cards, pressies and good wishes. I'll be getting my personal assistants to send out the thank you cards shortly!
Talk soon,
Love Little Lottie xxx

From holidays to birthdays...

Hi all,
My sincere apologies for the lack of email updates... I've been inundated with visitors, and I've been on hols too!
My Aunty Claire arrived from Australia almost two weeks ago. It was great to meet her again, and I wowed her by filling my nappy for her to sort out. I am SO considerate.
A couple of days after her arrival, she, Mummy and I went to Spain to visit my Paps, as I hadn't seen him for a while.

It was lovely and warm - I was in his pool loads and at the beach. I loved the sea, although I did have a little a toilet emergency in the waves... :-)
I ate out lots while I was in Spain. I went to the vegetarian restaurant The Spice Hut... TWICE! We also went to The Wok, the local Chinese eatery for Aunty Claire's birthday. I took her to the beach and swam with her for her birthday and we had a lovely time.

I missed my Daddy, but I knew he was ok as his twin brother - and my uncle - Andre was over for Hong Kong. Sounds like they had lots of fun hanging out.
We left Paps on Monday and arrived back in chilly North Devon just an hour before my first birthday, but I was wiped out after the late flight back so didn't really stir. It was nice to be home with my Daddy and my doggy, but I miss my Paps.
Talk soon,
Love Little Lottie xxx

This time tomorrow... I'll be one!

Hi all,
apologies for the lack of postings, but I've been on holiday with Mummy and Aunty Claire. It's the middle of the night in Devon now, but I will write more tomorrow... when I am ONE!!!
Talk soon,
Little Lottie xxx

Getting some pressie-opening practice in...

Ready to pounce...

They keep me locked up, you know...

Hi all!
Do you like my cage? Paps sent it over for me because I was getting into everything and up to mischief. This way, Mummy and Daddy can keep me in one place, and generally away from the stairs which is officially my favourite thing to climb at the moment!

Life is good - I am still swimming atleast once a week and love the water. So much so that Mummy and Daddy take me to the local pool on the days I don't have proper lessons. I can't wait to get into the pool at my Paps' house. I'm hoping he'll swim with me. I'm going to see him next Sunday with Mummy and Aunty Claire, who will be here from Australia by then.

Another of my favourite things to do is to hide the car keys! I just love keys, but I think it's annoying for Daddy when he wants to go someehere but can't!

I now have all four of my front teeth through - two and the top, and two at the bottom. Hopefully they'll be fully through in time for my christening photos - I want my smile to look as beautiful as possible!

I've been going to the common lots to play on my trike, and spent yesterday at work with Daddy at the beach. Mummy burned herself but thankfully I was in the shade for the most part, so just have a healthy glow. Looking good!

Anyway, time for bed for me. Only 19 more sleeps until I am one! Can't wait to be a big girl...

Talk soon,
Love Little Lottie xxx

'Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go...'

Water baby...

Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, the sunshine in...

Hi all,
Thought I would show you my lovely new waistcoat that Aunty Jessie brought me from India. It's so snug and warm, and I've not seen anyone else wearing one... especially not looking as cute as me!
I love my tricycle. It has a big pole at the back so Mummy and Daddy can push me and make sure I don't jump onto the road. I've got this tune in my head all the time at the moment... I think it's Born to be Wild or something, but I think it suits my cycling escapades.

I did my first painting this week. Well, if you don't count the foot-painting debacle when I was five weeks old! I used yellow paint, some sponges and my hands, but the paint itself didn't taste very nice. I thought it would take like yogurt, it was a similar colour, but apparently not!

I am still chattering away... I seem to be great with the d and g sounds. I say Doggy and Daddy all the time... I'm working on the rest of the words! Well, I am just 11 months old.

Anyway, I'd better get back to it. I'll get some more pics on here asap.

Talk soon, love Little Lottie xxx

How much is that doggy in the window...

Hello everyone,
Just to let you know that I have officially learned my first work - it's doggy. I even understand what it means, and when I say it go over to my doggy Zeus and pull his leg.
I have a new night-time routine now, too. I won't go to bed unless I am allowed to climb the stairs all by myself. I'm really fast at it, and am pretty fearless! It's great.
I am a bit of a terror on two legs at the moment, so Paps has sent me a cage to play in. It's not as it sounds... it's just a way to keep me contained and safe so Mummy and Daddy can do important things like go to the toilet and into the kitchen without worrying about me hitching a ride to London!
Hope all is well with you!
Talk soon, love Little Lottie xxx

I looooooooooooooooove cake!

I had my first piece of chocolate cake this weeek. It was fantastic, but a little messy, as you can see...





I know I need to work on my eating ettiquete, but I hear I'll be having more cake... especially with my birthday around the corner!

Talk soon,
Love Little Lottie xxx

Ho-ho-ho what a monkey I am...

Hi all,
I've had a GREAT week!!! So busy, and I am feeling much better. Might be something to do with the fact that Mummy and Daddy went out last weekend and bought me swing for the garden, a rocking dog (apparently it's like a rocking horse, but a blue dog), a tricycle and a toy that I push around to help me get balance.

I love my swing... I can make it swing by flapping my feet about and I could spend hours in it if I was only tall enough to get in by myself.
The rocking dog is a different story - I can get on and off by myself, though it did take some practice. Mummy caught me trying to get on it by myself and I was slumped across it, stuck on my tummy!!!
And as for my push toy, I struggled with that a bit as the wheels went faster than my legs would carry me, but I seem to have mastered it and when Mum came home from work on Fri night I pushed it across the room with one hand, walking, and waving at her with my other hand. I'm getting co-ordinated!!!

One of my favourite things to do is to lie under the clothes horse and pull all the clean but damp washing off onto the floor. I think it drives Mummy crackers. I've also taken to climbing onto things and launching myself off them.

I do like looking at myself in the mirror, and although I won't give anyone a kiss, I like to kiss what I believe is my own reflection!




With a bit of determination and lots of encouragement, I climbed our stairs this week, too! All 12 of them! Daddy was behind me all the way and Mummy was at the top, but I managed it! I conquered my very own Everest.

It was week two of my swimming lessons this week. I love is so much!!! I think I embarrassed Mummy though... the instructor was talking to all the parents about what they could expect in the lesson. All the other Mums were in the water but looked like they wanted to stay as dry as possible. Certainly, they weren't keen on getting their hair wet. Where's the fun in that??
So, I splashed and kicked and chatted until everyone was soaking!!!
I really am a water baby!

Big news from me - my christening is booked for June 20th. Uncle Andre from Hong Kong, Second Cousin Mary Ellen from Sicily and Aunty Claire from Australia are all coming over. It will be a league of nations! Then we're all off to Blackpool. Lots and lots going on!!!

I'll keep you posted!
Love Little Lottie

Hanging out with my Mummy...