Party time!

Hi all!
I've had another busy week... life is just so hectic at the moment.
I started swimming lessons this week. Mummy was very nervous about it, and I have to admit when I was put in this special waterproof nappy I did wonder what was going on, but I LOVED it. Mummy had to sit me on the side of the pool and let me fall in. When I finally came up for air Mum looked terrified, but I was kicking my legs and chattering away. It was great - can't wait for next week!!!

Daddy looked after me for a couple of days this week, and I tried to make a run for the stairs. He's on the ball, my Dad, so he was right behind me, but I almost got up the first stair. Freedom... I can smell it, it's that close!

I met the local vicar for the fist time this week. He came over to bless the house and Mummy, Daddy and I, and to organise my christening in June. I crawled over to him and was pretty keen on taking a lump out of his knee, but I gave him lots of smiles instead and held onto his beige slacks... great for dribbling on!

It was my baby group friend Sam's first birthday yesterday. I was feeling a little under the weather, but Mummy and I went along for half an hour. We left HOURS later... Mummy couldn't get me away. All my friends were there AND there was a ball pool with slide and heaps of toys to sit on a drive. I stacked one particular sit-and-ride toy a few times but I didn't hurt myself. I didn't even cry! Well, I am almost one...

I've had a bit of a cold and have been a bit chesty this week. Could have been the swimming... anyway, Mummy wangled an emergency appointment at the doctors, but the nice man in the white coat said I just had a sniffle and he made me laugh lots. I especially liked it when he looked inside my ears. Great fun.

Mummy and I went to Tescos this week and guess what... I sat in the babyb seat for the first time! I was a bit scared at first, as I couldn't see where I was going, but by the end of the shop I was smiling and waving at people. Such fun.

My gums are still very sore - I should have a fair few teeth coming through in the next while. But I am still smiling!
Hope you are, too!
Talk soon,
Little Lottie xxx

PS: Ciao to my Great Aunt Margaret and Second Cousin Mary Ellen, who've just started reading this. Welcome to my world!!! xxx

I love standing up...

Hi all,
Hope things are good with you.
I'm well - had a bit of an adventure this week with Daddy. We were driving up to London in Mummy's car, and she was driving our campervan up as she's sold it to Aunty M (are you with me so far?).
Well, Mummy got to London OK, but Daddy and I broke down and had to be towed back home and it too ages. Mummy was worried as she couldn't contact us, Daddy was stressed because I was out of my routine and I was fed up because I have three teeth coming through and it hurts.

So Mummy was in London by herself and it was just Daddy and I for the night. We had fun though.

We've been going out to the Common in the village lots so I can crawl around without bumping into furniture. I love it and it makes me so sleepy.

The vicar is coming over to see me this week to talk about the Christening in June, which is not long at all. It sounds a bit odd, dunking me in water, but Mummy seems really keen.

I'm still standing up all the time. I won't even lie still when I am getting my nappy changed - I like to stand too much. I've heard the word willful used about me in the last few weeks and I suppose that sounds about right!

Anyway, I'll keep you posted on the teeth as they come through, and when I finally let go of the furniture and toddle about. Can you imagine the looks on Mummy and Daddy's faces when that happens? Classic. And to think, this time last year I was still in my Mummy's tummy...

Talk soon,
Love Little Lottie xxx

A party on safari...

Hi everyone,
Hope you're all well.
I'm good - I had a very busy weekend. I went to my first birthday party, a friend from baby group just turned one and asked me along to celebrate.
I wore my khaki shirt-dress (see picture above) and had an absolute ball.
I ate melon and pizza, had a go on a few sit and go toys and fell off a bicycle, grazing under my chin. But I had a great time.
They even had this big, long canvas tunnel and I crawled all the way through it. I think Mummy and Daddy had as much fun as me!
And when I left the party, I got a present - white chocolate buttons and a tamborine. I can't wait to make lots of noise with that!

Mummy has signed me up for swimming lessons - I start next Friday. Apparently it's in a heated pool so I should be ok. I think Mummy is more nervous than I am, but I need to understand how water works as Paps has a pool and I want to make sure I am safe when I am at his house.

Meal-times have become a bit more of a challenge in recent weeks, as I've realised if I hold the food in my hand when I'm in my high-chair, I can give it to my doggy Zeus. He loves it but Mummy and Daddy had a bit of a freak out because it means they can't tell if I've eaten enough. So, poor Zeus gets sent outside when I am eating. That said, I am also mastering the art of squishing the food in my hand and making it stick to the underside of my high-chair table. Hours of fun!

I am spending much of my day standing up and get quite upset when I have to lie down. I am pulling myself up from anything I can hold onto, and if I can't do it I put my head on my arm and cry. I get sooooooooooooooooo frustrated. Hopefully I'll be walking by myself in the next month.

Anyway, that's the news from me.
Talk soon, Love Little Lottie xxx

I'm forever blowing bubbles...

Happy Easter one and all!

I love chocolate!
I know I may be regarded as a little young to indulge, but I LOVE it.
Aunty M came down from London on the weekend with her sister Sukhi, and they brought me white chocolate buttons.
WOW.
They're amazing!!!

All well with me. I am now fully crawling, much to Mum and Dad's great fear. I am now totally mobile and EVERYTHING is within my reach.
This week I managed to have a good chew of a slug before Mummy managed to prise it from my mouth. I've had a quick lick of Zeus's pigs ear. I think I will end up being a carnivore after all!!

My current favourite tricks are to scream and squeal as loud as I can for no apparent reason, and to stand up against the kitchen cupboards and slam the doors. hours of fun!

I love the soft toys my Nana got me before I was born. They all make 'grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr' noises and keep me entertained while I have my nappy changed.
I'm also rather fond of my koala, too.

Anwyay, I'll write more soon, and hopefully I'll have a few pics of me in action on the crawl!

Talk soon, love Little Lottie xxx

Ironing to earn my keep...

Trying to send myself back to Paps...

Hanging out with my folks...

My media assault on the world...

Hi all!
I've been on the TV!!!! I can't believe it - I'm a TV star at nine months old!
I was at baby group the other day and TV film crew was there as our group had opened the first Milk Bar for breastfeeding mums and bubs.
So obviously they filmed the kids breastfeeding... I'm a big girl and don't do it any more, but I was on the news item LOADS!!! Lots of close-ups of me playing with all the toys they have there. I think I was playing with a mirror at the time.
We've contacted the TV company responsible, as I'd love to get it on my YouTube page and here on my blog.
I'm a multimedia baby, arent't I??

Other than my TV debut, all is well. I played under a big rainbow-coloured parachute at baby group the other day, which I loved. I laughed and laughed.
I also have invites to two birthday parties, which I am looking forward to.

I am crawling backwards at the moment - it's great for getting myself wedged into small spaces. And under the table. I love it.

I love having my photo taken - each time Mummy and Daddy get the camera out I start smiling and posing. Apparently my Nana was the same, and Aunty Claire does it too. I must have got it from them!

And it's Easter next week and Uncle Lenny might be coming down to say hello to me. I hope so - I love him.

So that's me.

Stay tuned for footage of my TV debut in due course.

Talk soon, love
Little Lottie xxx

Video... clapping my hands

Having fun on my hols...

Hi all,

Sorry for the lack of posts - I have just been so busy having fun!!!

We're in Spain looking after the dogs for Paps. He's gone to the UK to watch football and horses. Hope he's had a nice time.

I've had fun this week. It has been so much warmer in Spain than in Devon, so I've been able to roll around naked in the garden and get some sun. It's been lovely.

I've also been out to lots of restaurants with Mummy and Daddy, though I've been asleep most of the time. I think the sun has taken it out of me!

I had my first taste of pizza this week - it was very yummy and I fed myself. I'll be having more of that, please.

Mummy and Daddy think that I have started saying 'Hello' and 'Hola'. To be fair, it could be more luck than accurately pronounced words, but they seem excited enough. Although I did hear Mummy say that my 'Hola' did sound a bit like 'Allah', whatever that means...

Guess what - I have been brushing my teeth! I have a purple and glitter toothbrush, and we use it a couple of times a day to keep my teeth clean. It's a really odd feeling, but I think it is doing some good. I can't wait to do it myself!

I have been taking Jackson and Chica for walks in the pine forest every day. It's so much fun in there... like a whole other world. And I laugh every time Daddy kicks the ball for Chica... it just tickles me for some reason.

Anyway, that's my news from my hols. I think we're going home on Sunday, which is Mother's Day. Am I supposed to buy something for my Mummy? Answers on a postcard, please!

Talk soon, love Little Lottie xxx

Hold the phone... with my teeth

Introducing my second cousin Russell...

He's the newest kid on the block as far as my family is concerned... Russell Blake Mackrell.

He's just two months old - I'm an old lady by comparison.

Do we look alike? He's certainly got more hair than me.

I'm off to Spain later today to say hola to Paps. I'll keep you posted.

Talk soon, love Little Lottie xxx

I love to play...

Hi everyone,

Hope you've had a good weekend.

I am well - I'm off to Spain on Wednesday, which I am sooooooo looking forward to. I might even get in the water if it's warm enough. And I'll definately be trying to walk on the sand. Atleast if I fall down, I won't hurt myself!

So what else have I been up to? I saw the health visitor last week, who said I am a very tall girl. I am 79cm in length... I was 51cms when I was born. So that's quite a growth spurt!!!

My doggy Zeus and I are still playing well together. Here we are sharing the rugby ball Uncle Lenny got me before he knew if I was a boy or a girl. We have lots of fun with it!

I am still loving clapping my hands, but not on demand. We did 'Pat-a-cake' at playgroup on Friday, which has lots of hand-clapping and I went a little shy and didn't join in.

I am still loving spending time with Daddy when Mummy goes out to work. We have FUN!

Mummy is working on taking more video of me with her camera, so you can all see how much of a chatterbox I am. My favourite thing to do at the moment is to wake up at 4am and either start clapping in my bedroom, or chat to myself and see if Mummy and Daddy come in to chat, too.

I've heard Mummy starting to plan my Christening, which I am looking forward to. Time seem's to be going by so quickly at the moment - can you believe I am almost nine months old?? Incredible!

Anyway, I'll write more from Spain.

Talk soon, love Little Lottie xxx

Introducing... my first two teeth

Growing girl...

Hi everyone,

Hope you're well.

I've had another lovely week. Mummy has been at work again and Daddy and I have been hanging out. I love spending time with my Daddy, and we've had lots of fun.

Mummy thinks I'm having a growth spurt. I am growing out of my clothes so quickly at the moment - I'm into 9-12month stuff right now, and at the rate I'm growing, I won't be in that size for long. What can I tell you... I just love my food!!!

I've started feeding myself my bottle, toast, rice cakes and carrot fingers, but they're the snacks inbetween my yummy main meals. Current faves include cheesy pasta, porridge and sweet potato, broad bean and broccolli puree. I just can't get enough.

I am getting very frustrated that I can't crawl in a conventional sense. Truthfully, I think I'm just going to skip it... I'm already standing up all the time and hanging onto the furniture. I hope to be walking before I am one.

Mummy has taught me how to clap my hands, and I love doing it. I love tricking her too - I went to giver her a cuddle in the kitchen, with my arms outstretched, and when she came closer instead of cuddling her I clapped my hands! It was so funny.

I have my first birthday party to attend soon - a little boy called Sam in one of my baby groups. He always gives me kisses when he see's me - and I, in turn, pull his hair. I'm not big on kisses at the moment, but I'm sure that will come.

I don't watch TV much, but I really really love Sponge Bob Square Pants - he's so funny and colourful. I sit so still and quietly when he comes on the TV.

My doggy Zeus and I have been playing together more and more, though sometimes I get confused about which are his toys and which are mine. But we're working it out!

So that's the news from Devon this week.

We're off back to Spain on March 7th - can't wait to see my Paps again. But I'm sure I'll talk to you again before then. There are pictures of my teeth, so I'll get these on here as soon as possible.

Talk soon, love Little Lottie xxx

Musical youth...

Hi everyone!

So, I've had a very busy week.

Mummy and I have been back to my baby groups - it was good to see my friends after such a long time. We've all grown so much.

Mummy and I also went to the Bump and Rhyme class I love so much, but we were the only ones there so the teacher lady made Mummy sing nursery rhymes to me by herself. I think she was a little embarrassed.

As you can see by the photo above, I've been playing my piano lots. It's a foot piano for in my cot, but it works just as well in my high-chair. I love singing along, too.

It's been a week of Daddy Daycare for me, too. Mummy went to work a few times this week and Daddy and I spent our days together. It was lovely to have him at home and we had a great time. I missed Mummy a bit, but she came home full of smiles so she must have had as good a time as we did.

I've been back to the health centre this week for my check-up ... I'm 8.5 kilos and apparently developing perfectly for my age and length.

I've also two MORE teeth coming through - the front top ones this time, so four in total. The top ones are still cutting through the gums and have been keeping me awake at night, but I think they're almost through. I'm not really sure what to do with my tongue now - my teeth may be small but they're sharp!

I'm almost crawling, and am getting really frustrated that I'm not fully mobile yet. I can roll and commando-shuffle my way anywhere, but it would be so much easier if my upper arms were a little stronger. Ah well, hopefully ti won't be too much longer.

So that's the news from Devon. Mummy, Daddy and I are heading back to see Paps in Spain on March 7th - he's going over to the UK for a few days so we're going to look after his house and dogs for him. It's a bit chilly and rainy here in England so I am looking forward to the sun.

Hope you're all well - talk soon.

Much love, Little Lottie xxx

Look what my Uncle Andre made...

I'm a little Eskimo...

Hi guys,
Just a quick one to let you see some new pics. Still none of my teeth - yes, that's PLURAL!!! I have TWO bottom teeth now, but they're a little too small to be photographed at the moment.

So you like my lovely new winter coat? My Nana's friend Aunty Pam bought it for me - I saw her and Uncle Malcolm when I was in Spain last month. It keeps me toasty warm, and what can I tell you ... I'm just about the best-dressed baby in Devon!

I got a lovely parcel from Aunty Nicole in California - lots of bath toys. There's this great penguin and it sings a song and when you lie it down it gurgles the song. There were heaps of great sea creatures and the ones that haven't made it into my bath (as yet) have made it into my mouth.

I have started singing lots - not quite sure what it is, but I have a nursery rhyme jukebox on my baby walker and I sing along to that for hours at a time. I think I am rather tuneful!

I'm off to get weighed and measured this week so will let you know how I'm doing development-wise.

Talk soon, love Little Lottie xxx

My Paps calls me smiler...