Big Week for Lottie

The last week has been one of those weeks where several things happened all at once in Lottie's world.

First, her 3rd tooth arrived, the other bottom front tooth. I don't have a picture for this because getting pictures of a baby's teeth are incredibly difficult (think trying to get a picture of an alligator's teeth).

Second, I started working again. I am keeping 2 little boys--Rowan, a 19 month old and Finn, a 3 month old. They are very sweet, but Lottie is having to adapt to sharing her mommy, toys, and home. True to her social butterfly self, she is handling it well.

Third, this weekend we traveled to our future home--Gadsden, AL. More to come on that later.

Fourth, she started signing. We have been using sign language with her, and she signed "more" this weekend for the first time. She also does "finished" now. It is very handy; though, I think she signed "finished" to me this afternoon with a bit of an attitude. I guess it is starting.

Fifth, she started crawling on all fours. She crawls on all fours until she decides it is too slow or she falls to her belly, then she resumes army crawling.

Finally, she successfully pulls up on the furniture. She has been working on this awhile and could pull up on low things like a suitcase, but Friday, she successfully pulled herself up on the coffee table. Since then, it has been non-stop pulling up on things. Today, she fell and cut her lip on her first tooth, but that didn't stop her. About 30 minutes later, she fell and bumped her head. She was standing back at the coffee table minutes later. She also cruised a little today (took a few steps while holding onto the coffee table). She is on her way to walking!

It "snowed!"

Actually, we got iced, but it was fun all the same. It fell in perfectly round pellets and sounded really cool, like TV static (the good kind). We went out and played last night while it was still falling.

You can kinda see the round pellets in the flash of the camera.

As you can see, Chris tucked Lottie into his duck hunting jacket and toted her around. I thought she looked like a floating head.

The next morning, the world was bright and crunchy...

... so we had to go play again. 

Lottie is holding an icicle

By lunch time, it was already melting. The water was running under the ice on the street. I took a video because we thought it was cool. All you north folk probably think this is ridiculous. Haha.

Crazy to remember that this time last year I was pregnant in the snow.

Studying up for her future

I already mentioned what Chris and I are doing to get our girl to Aggieland in this post and this post. Now our girl is doing her part:

Studying intently

Pointing to Elephant Walk (yep our little Ag is in a John Deere onsie)

Showing off her special book

Only one word for this:

WHOOP!!!

Visiting Luke - Part II

Lottie dictated a letter to her Daddy about the first part of the trip, and I will share the last little bit. We spent the final 3 days hanging out and just soaking up baby cousin time. For the most part, they played separately since Lottie "pats" and flings toys, but when they were together, it was really precious.

We also helped give Luke a bath...

...just like Aunt Sarah and "Luke" did when they visited.

We really had a great time and loved spending time with everyone and the incredibly precious Cousin Luke. It was great enjoying Luke as a sweet little newborn, especially since he eats like a champ and may be close to Lottie's size by April. His hands and feet are already about the same size as Lottie's (Lottie's foot is on the right).

He is going to be such a cutie chunk of a baby boy. We love that little man! Thanks Bros, Sarah, Luke, & Zoey for hosting us!!!

Lottie's First Tooth

Lottie finally got her first tooth.

It took a little while for one to come in, but I was slow to get my teeth, so it wasn't too surprising. I guess it is farewell to the sweet toothless baby grin and on to working on good dental hygiene.

We are moving to Alabama

Yep. You read that right. We are moving to Gadsden, Alabama in August for the last 2 years of medical school.

The hospital in Gadsden is a great match for Chris. The program is really good, and they have a very strong family medicine residency program.

We are very sad to leave Spartanburg. God blessed us here with an incredible church and wonderful friends and "family." However, we are excited about the adventure ahead of us and the opportunity to live in a new place. Please be praying for us as we work through all the details and go through the hectic moving process. And, we welcome any information about Gadsden that anyone may have!

Dear Daddy - Visiting Luke

Dear Daddy--

This is my second time away from you, and boy do Mommy and I miss you. When we left you Tuesday morning, I got to fly on a plane for the second time. Mommy says I was really good. I slept the first half of the flight. When I woke up, I got my own seat since the plane was very empty. I even ate my snack off the seat's tray like a big girl.

During the day, Mommy and I hung out with Gigi and Poppa. Poppa watched me while Mommy and Gigi went to the grocery store. I decided to reveal my skill of sitting up from laying down to Poppa several times. Mommy says I was sneaky by keeping that from her. Tuesday evening, we met up with Great Gran, Great Papa, and Great Unk Chuck for dinner. Great Gran and Great Papa gave me some new books. And, that Great Unk Chuck is so silly. He fed me some guac, which I loved. Mommy says that means I am a Texas girl.

Wednesday morning, Gigi, Mommy, and I left for Waco to spend the week with Uncle Brian, Aunt Sarah, and Luke. We have had a great time playing with them.

 As you know, on Thursday, Mommy went to Austin for a memorial service, so I spent the day with Gigi, Aunt Sarah, Uncle Brian, and Luke. Gigi said I was very good. She even gave me milk in my new straw cup, which I love.

Friday was the best day. We went to the Cameron Park Zoo. It was so cool. There was an aviary with ducks, pelicans, herons, and gulls. We got to walk through it amongst the birds. I loved seeing all the birds so close. And, of course, I loved the giraffes. They are my favorite.

 

Luke didn't seem to enjoy the zoo as much as I did. Mommy said I slept through the zoo the first time I went, but I don't think I would have slept through the giraffes.

My first visit to the zoo - 7/24/2014

I loaned Luke my hat because he was cold, so Luke wore my pink hat--hehe. Uncle Brian got in trouble from Aunt Sarah because he used my sleeping cousin as a map holder. I didn't see the problem--it sounded like something you would do. Luke started crying when we were by the cougar exhibit. Both cougars woke up and stalked us as we walked around their enclosure. It was really creepy. Other than that, it was a lot of fun.

That night, we had dinner with Great Aunt Karen and Great Uncle Chris.

Great Aunt Karen let me eat rice off her plate and fed me queso. I LOVE CHEESE.

Today it was rainy and cold, so we stayed in. Mommy and Aunt Sarah took pictures of Luke and me in my onsie that says "My Cousin is my BFF." Mommy told me it was a little tricky since I don't know how to touch a baby. I don't know why she said that--I was just patting his head like I do the dogs. They never seem to care.

We are obviously having a great time here with Gigi, Poppa, Uncle Brian, Aunt Sarah, and Luke, but we really really wish you were here too. Thank you for the card--Mommy and I love it. I like to read it over and over.

We love you lots and lots and lots, Daddy!!!

- Your Lottiebell