Lately...

We're back in Utah. Ty is on the job hunt and has a few good leads. I think he's applied to jobs in almost every city in the country so we could really end up anywhere at this point. We're happy to be around friends and family and have been having alot of fun. Otis is getting really close to crawling- he gets on his hands and knees and can scoot backwards and hop forwards, but mostly likes just going up into a pike on his head like down-dog in yoga.

Otie turned 7 months. As you can see he chewed through the first "7 month" sign, so we had to make another one. (p.s. the panda bear is somewhere on a boat getting shipped over with all our stuff, I really hope to have it and everything else I need before the 8 month pic!)

He loves (mostly chewing on) this IKEA Atlas. It's the perfect size to set in front of him
he got his first tooth!!
We had a great Easter with family
spent some time at the beach
lots of giggling with Grandma



He could bounce in this jumper all day

So long mates!!

Otie's buddies planned a little going away party for him at Hampstead Heath. These people really know how to picnic like pros, the food was delicious!They surprised us with some nice gifts, including a little picture book for OtisOtie and Pearce- looks like Otis is about to punch him in the face


Otis and Cate

Can't wait for the reunion in New Zealand!

Other friends we are going to miss dearly is everyone the London North Ward.
Jean and Peggy are some of my favorite people in the whole world. Peggy is almost completely blind and would always ask me to bring "Otis William" right up to her so she could see the "dignified young lad"This video doesn't do them justice, but they were always reminding Otis that they were his "English Nannies"

Yum

Otis is loving real food. He was never too keen on rice cereal- he would eat a little then just spit it out or blow his lips together. Sweet potatoes and zucchini, on the other hand, he will basically inhale and he gets frustrated because I can't get it to him fast enough.




Not the best video, but a little example of how he used to blow his lips together instead of eating the rice cereal

Ireland

My favorite way to travel is to wake up not knowing what you're doing that day or where you're sleeping that night. We happened upon this barn in the countryside that had been converted to little places to stay. There were sheep out the window, we had brown water and owners were a really cool old Irish couple who brought us homemade scones when we arrived. It felt very authentic. The last morning we woke up to see this huge rainbow- it was perfect.
We travel at a much slower pace these days, with frequent stops at parks to play, McDonalds to eat and the side of the road for Otie to have a break from the car seat.
Waiting to catch the DART train into Dublin

Hike to Glenda Loch

Trail to Upper Lake

Some final London sightseeing

Hanging out by Big BenWe took the Overground train to Richmond to see Kew Gardens. All Otis wanted to do was eat the flowers
A little over-excited about the flowers
Ty on the treeline terrace
Another day we went to Grenwich, because Ty hasn't been there yet. Of course it wasn't as excited as when I sprinted there with Nanette to see "the weather ball drop", but fun nonetheless.

Ty and Otis on the Prime Meridian
National Meritime Museum
All tuckered out on the tube after a long day. Otie makes a perfect heard rest. I think the lady next to me was sitting with her back to me so I didn't sleep on her shoulder.

Remember when....

Otis was 10 days old?


I don't think I ever posted these. Oh how time is flying...

6 months

As you can see from the soggy, ripped up corners on the paper- this month Otis is less interested in the panda, and more interested in eating the paper.

We went to our last appointment with Dr. Wengrowe- he kept saying, "I'm really going to miss this happy lad"

weight 18lbs 9oz
length 28 inches

I guess this is posted a little late, but I'm trying to get all caught up with pictures from here before we move. Otis is so much fun right now. He is such a little flirt. He is so smiley at strangers. I love going on the tube with him because everyone keeps so much to themselves normally, but he will just stare at someone until he gets there attention and it's so fun to see the happy reactions he gets from people.

He's 6 1/2 months now and just this week he is getting so sturdy and can sit up on his own. He loves eating real food...and loves rubbing it all over his face and hair- this deserves a whole post of it's own.