'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...

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...