Back on our feet...

Hi everyone,
So my time in Spain has come to an end. I thought we were going to stay here forever - I really like spending time with my Paps and it's nice and sunny here.
But he's back on his feet (much like me in this picture) so my work here is done.

I think we're coming back in March for another blast of Winter sun. So I'll look forward to that.

But just because I'm going home, don't think I'm getting back into a boring routine. Oh no! I'm off to London and North Yorkshire over the weekend, and I may well find time to pop into my baby group to see if my friends have grown as much as me.
I am going to meet baby India over the weekend, too. She arrived just as Mummy and I went to Spain. I'll teach her a few things about feeding and crying and how to get your own way. I've certainly got it under control in our household.

Mummy says that I keep saying ABBA - she was trying to get me to say it to Aunty Claire on the phone the other day - but as I keep trying to tell everyone, I'm not a show pony. I'm just naturally gifted and funny - I can't perform on-demand.

I'll write more when I've got used to wearing a big coats and lots of layers. I think I'll be suffering from SADS before too long...

Talk soon, love Little Lottie xxx

My Paps has got his pot off, hip hip hip hooray...

Hi guys,
Paps had his plaster cast removed at the end of last week!
The doctors say his leg isn't broken any more, but he's still walking with a slight limp. He says his leg still feels heavy. But he is driving, walking the dogs... everything. He seems much happier.

I'm still having a great time in Spain. I have been playing outside lots - Mummy put my travel cot in the garden so I was contained, but I kept making her laugh by standing up in it and holding onto the edges. It's hard work though! Good thing I've suddenly developed a bum - my arms can't hold me up for very long and I keep falling on my behind.

Paps has a housekeeper called Maria, and she loves to sing Spanish nursery rhymes to me. I love it when she sings to me - but I don't know how to tell her I haven't a clue what she's saying. What's Spanish for pardon?

I am no longer a boobie baby. I am on solid food with a couple of bottles a day. And I am even able to feed myself with the bottle. Though I do cheat and rest it on my toys when no-one is looking.

Paps took me out last week and bought me a new toy - he held up all these different soft toys and they were ok, but nothing really caught my eye. But then he held up a Fox and I was smitten. So I now have a new best friend, Foxy. I'm a Foxy girl.

So that's the news from Spain.

Lots of things are happening in the next few months - my Uncle Andre might be coming over from Hong Kong, which would just be brilliant, and Aunty Claire is coming over from Australia when I am one.

I'm also going on holiday for a few days with Mummy, Daddy, Uncle Len, Aunty Michelle, Aunty Claire and Uncle Andre to a place called Blackpool. Not sure what it's like - they're talking about donkeys and towers and dirty beaches and they keep laughing about it... sounds delightful!
I'll let you know how we get on...

Talk soon,
Love Little Lottie xxx

Latest look at Little Lottie...

My best friend Foxy, and I...


But Mummy, I'm not Amish...

Happy talking, talking, happy talk...

Video taken on Friday January 19 2007 - aged 7 months

Hanging out in sunny Spain...

Hi all,
Hope you're all well and that 2007 has been kind to you so far.
It's being kind to me in so far as I'm not freezing in Devon - though I do miss my doggy Zeus.

Paps is getting better - his plaster will be coming off for good on Jan 19th, and he is so excited to be able to be fully mobile.
Mummy, Daddy and I made him a pretend shoe out of an old sandal and some sellotape, which he was able to put on the bottom of his foot to help him get about. Poor Paps.

Mummy, Daddy and I have been having a nice time in the sun, and I am back in a good routine, which I think they're all pleased about.

Daddy is going home for a few days this week as he has to go to the dentist, but he's coming back and by that time Paps will be out of plaster and on the mend, and we can all have some fun.

I am not the youngest in my family anymore. Mummy's cousin Graeme and his wife Amanda, who live in Canada, had a little boy on Thursday. He's called baby noname at the moment, but I am no longer the youngest in our family. I'm a big girl!

Uncle Andre send me some cool stuff from Hong Kong - apparently he looks just like my Daddy. I think I will find that very confusing when I am giving him a cuddle. Hope I get to hug him soon!

OK, I am off to practise my Spanish on Charlie, Chica and Jackson.

Talk soon, love Little Lottie xxx

I heart my Paps...

What did I say about dressing me up...

Making a meal-time mess...

Chitter, chatter...

Hi everyone,
Hope you're enjoying the festive season - I am!
Well I guess the biggest news here is that I have said my first word... it was Mama and unfortunately I said it when I woke up this morning, my Daddy's birthday. Whoops!!!
He didn't seem to mind, though - I gave him a couple of full nappies.
Mummy has been telling people that I've developed this fake cough. She's right, but its such fun to cough and watch her, Daddy and Paps look to me immediately to make sure I'm OK. I've not been able to keep a straight face since I started playing this game with them.
I've also started doing a little girly scream, though I think they've all got bored of it since I did it all through lunch at a local restaurant.
What can I tell you - I'm a vocal girl!!!
Anyway, Paps is babysitting me tonight when Mummy takes Daddy out for his birthday. They're going for Mexican, not that it will make much difference to me... I am weaning myself off the boob! Formula is LOVELY and I like taking a bottle these days.
I'm growing up fast...

Not sure what the plans are for NYE, but I know I will be wearing a tartan dress as a salute to my Scottish Grandparents. It's a tradition my Nana used to uphold, and make Mummy, Aunty Claire and Uncle Len follow, so I'm carrying it on. Great Aunt Margaret in Canada sent me a tartan outfit for Christmas, so I'll give that a whirl.

Anyway, I hope you have fantastic New Year celebrations, and I hope 2007 is good to each and every one of you.

Much love and talk soon,
Little Lottie xxx

Tis the season to be sleepy...

Feliz Navidad...

Hi all,
Hope you had a fantastic Chritmas.
I had a lovely time - it was nice and sunny in Spain so I was able to eat my Christmas lunch outside. Very nice.

I spent most of the day in my Santa suit. I'm still not sure about it, but Mummy, Daddy and Paps all thought I looked very cute in it - complete with black santa boots.
I was, as you would expect, totally spoiled with gifts this year. I got far too many things to mention - thanks to all of you - but I think my favourite is my new dolly called Emily. I really love her.

The big relief on Christmas Day was that my Daddy was able to join us at all. There had been such bad fog in the UK in the days leading up to Christmas, and most flights had been cancelled. I was really worried he wouldn't have made it, but am thrilled to say he did. I think Paps is enjoying the male company - Mummy and I can be a bit girly some times.

We had a vegetarian Indian banquet for Christmas dinner. It was very yummy indeed.

So that's me really - we're going to be in Spain for the next five weeks, when my Paps should be out of his plaster.
He's bombing around in his wheelchair now, and seems to be able to do most things without too much drama (apart from take a bath...)



Talk soon and Feliz Navidad,
Little Lottie xxx

Mercy dash to see my Paps...

Seasons greetings!
I'm in Spain!!! Mummy, Daddy and I weren't supposed to be getting here until Christmas Eve, but my Paps had a fall last week and broke his leg so Mummy and I came over straight away and are looking after him.

He is in a wheelchair, but is as fast as I am in my stroller.

I have been sitting with him and chatting to him quite a bit, as well as bouncing on his good leg.
We all went to see Nana at the cemetery yesterday, which I am sure she would have got a good laugh at. There was Paps in his wheelchair, going down a little but very steep ramp in the cemetery, with me on his lap (mummy couldn't push a wheelchair and a stroller) and Mummy not really able to slow us down. It was great fun. I think we'll be doing wheelies next.

Daddy is coming on Sunday, and I am looking forward to seeing him and letting him look after me a bit more so Mummy can look after my Paps.

I'm getting bigger and braver by the day, but with this courage comes danger, so I'm told. I crawled off the bed the other day and gave Mummy the fright of my life. I banged my head too, but it is ok. Not a mark actually! I think I heard Mummy talking about a straight jacket... I'm hoping that was only a fleeting thought.

As you can see from my picture this week, I have mastered the art of drinking ouf of a cup. I was a little unco-ordinated before and kept tipping it over myself, but I have mastered the art now I am in Spain. I need to drink all these fluids because of the lovely weather here.

Anyway, I will write more at Christmas, but until then, talk soon and Merry Christmas!

Much love, Little Lottie xxx

Ripping into the pressies (a little early...)

Little Miss Happy-go-lucky...

Fourteen more sleeps until santa comes...

Hi all,
Hope you're all well and set for Christmas.
I am looking forward to it - presents have already been pouring in for me. Thanks so much. Does this happen every year?

What to tell you about the last few weeks... I am now over a stone in weight. Apparently I'm slighty under weight, but I find that hard to believe since I have tasted Chocolate for the first time and can't get enough (relax - I'm not eating by the truckload... it's from my advent calendar and I get to suck a TINY piece).
I am still loving my solid food - parsnips are YUMMY! I am also using a big girl's sippy cup with handles on either side. I've not quite mastered the art yet, though. Sometimes I can get nothing out and other times I tip it all over me!!! D'oh!

I am also now too big for my bouncy chair so have graduated to a high chair. It's great being so tall - I can see heaps more stuff.

Uncle Lenny and Aunty Michelle came to see me this weekend. Uncle Lenny is funny - I think he needs his ears testing. There was I, chatting away to everyone, and making new sounds. My current one is ha-ba. Well, Uncle Lenny was convinced I was saying handbag (I WASN'T). I don't even know what a handbag is.


I've also started laughing but I've heard Mummy and Daddy say it is a fake laugh. There is nothing fake about me - I am just copying the sounds I hear around me.

I really like chewing the leg of the coffee table. I think it's the combination of varnish and dust, but I can't get enough. So, you can imagine my frustration in that it takes me about 20 minutes to manouvere myself from the rug to the table, and Mummy about two seconds to swoop down and put me back where I started. I guess I'm not supposed to be using the table as a teething ring...

Anyway, I think that's all my news for now. I'll keep you up to date as Christmas approaches. I am really very excited about it!!!

Talk soon, love Little Lottie xxx

See me in action...

Hi all,
We've FINALLY manged to overcome some technical difficulties, so allow me to present some video footage of myself taken since June 2006...

My first bottle

Daddy and I have a dance

Mummy and I making thank you cards

If you're happy and you know it, kick your legs

My first smile

Life is a playground...

Hello everyone,
I can't believe it's almost Christmas. Aunty Claire has sent me a Mr Men Advent calendar, not that I can eat the chocolate yet. I would like to.
I'm LOVING real food at the moment. Mummy gave me pureed sweet potato and I'm not kidding, I just couldn't get enough. Same with the pureed apples and pears, though they've been a bit tricky for my relatively new constitution to process.

I've got two favourite toys - the giraffe in the picture above, and a scrunchy colourful butterfly. All the toys I have keep me entertained, but they're my particular faves at the mo. I'm sure I'll switch preference when Santa Claus has paid me a visit.

Auny M came down to visit this weekend - it was so nice to see her again and to her show her what I can do.

I've decided I'm an ABBA fan. Mummy was in the kitchen the other day and Waterloo came on and i couldn't help but try to pull myself up on the couch and bounce up and down in time to the music. They sound fantastic!! I think these Bump and Rhyme classes are beginning to pay off.

I'm going to bed earlier and earlier these days, too. I'm generally sound asleep by 8pm, once Mummy has read me a little bit from Charlotte's Web.

Looking forward to going to Spain again - only four more weeks to go!!!

Talk soon, love Little Lottie xxx

My Paps and I having a cuddle...

I'm a big girl now...

Hi all,
Mummy and I are back from Spain now. We had a lovely time - so nice to be away from the rain of Devon in November.
The morning I was leaving, I discovered how to make a couple of new sounds. I seem able to blow a raspberry and then follow it with a lip-smacking sound. I was doing it to Paps, and he was doing it back it me for ages. It keeps me occupied in the mornings when I wake up, too.
Not sure if I mentioned it, but I'm in my own room now and loving it. Daddy gets up really early for work, so this way I am not disturbed. I love it!

I went to parent group on Friday and the two teachers were in fancy dress foe the Children in Need charity. I was cared for by a bear and a fariy! I lovd it. Mummy went off to make a book for me with the other mummies and I stayed with the bear and the fairy and all the other children. It was great fun.

I had my last set of injections last week, too. I was big girl and didn't cry and so thats me done until I am one. Hurrah!

I'm on some solid food now - lots of baby rice and I had pureed apple on Saturday, which was a taste sensation. I really enjoyed it. Mummy gave me a sniff of a chocolate wafer - it was heavenly!

Anyway, that's all for now.
Talk soon, love Little Lottie xxx

A little bit of winter sun...

Hi all,
Mummy and I are in Spain this week with Paps. It was great to see him and he has been looking after me quite a bit so mummy can do important things like take a bath and wash her hair.
Paps says that I am talking much more now than when I was last here!

I've been so tired with the heat - I've been going to bed at 8.30pm and not waking Mummy until 6am and even then I've been feeding and going back to sleep. I don't know, it just seems the older you get the more tired you become.

Mummy, Paps and I went to a vegetarian restaurant in Torrevijea a few days back - it was delicious! And of course we've been up to visit Nana at the cemetery lots too - I want to show her all the things I can do, and all the pretty clothes I have that I know she would love.

We're going back to the UK on Wednesday night, so I'll write more when I'm home. We'll be on the Christmas countdown then!I've no idea what Christmas is, but it sounds FUN!

Talk soon,
Love Little Lottie xxx