Girl's Day Out - Go Panthers!!

Can I just tell you how much I am enjoying the age Lottie is right now?  3.5 years is by far the best age I've experienced thus far.  I want to treasure and soak up every minute with her.  She is smart, sassy, independent and most importantly has a heart of gold.  Can she stay this age forever?  Pretty please!

Last Sunday, her and I ventured out to the Panthers game.  She loves going as much as I do.  She never complains and walks miles with no fuss.  The perfect little fan.  I so enjoy our days out with one another.  

Here is a look back at our girl's day out - Panther style!

Carolina Panthers - Division Playoffs

Boy do we love our Panthers.  It is a shame we weren't able to finish off the 49ers to head to the NFC Championship game.  Oh well - there is always next year.  We are still a pretty new team so this time next year, I am hoping and praying we pull it together and make the playoffs again.  The energy around the city was electrifying come game time.  It was the best we have witnessed when it comes to these Carolina fans.

Since we have season tickets, we were very fortunate not to have to fight to get a playoff game ticket.  And being since Lottie absolutely adores the Panthers, it only seemed fitting for her to go to the game.  She is a tried and true little Panther fan.  She has been marching up that ramp to the upper deck for the past three years whether it be in a carrier, being held or walking up on her own.  She is always quite the little trooper when it comes to going to the games! 

And to hear her run around the stadium screaming, "GO PANTHERS!" is absolutely adorable!

Her only request usually is making sure she gets a popcorn and a program.  She loves throwing back popcorn and reading through the program.  The highlights of the program are normally the Panther mascot and the cheerleaders who she loves. 

Here's a look back and mine and Lottie's day out at the game - we had such a blast!

 

Lottie's first Panther face paint.

 

Flo Rida performed at half time

 

Tailgating in the cold, eating a sandwich

 

And Finally..............

 

Lottie jamming out during half time!

 

Gosh, I love this kid! 

 

 

 

I can't believe football season is over!!!!!!!!  And can we talk about that Super Bowl...........Awful! 

 

Bring on August - I have a feeling Lottie will be fighting tooth and nail to go to every home game. 

Miss Independent

Pretty sure I missed the memo that said between 18 and 19 months old, my child would become Miss Independent.

Every day I pick her up from day care, she asks to drive (hold my keys) and refuses to hold my hand as we walk to the car.  If I attempted to carry her to the car, I had better prepare myself for world's worst melt down.  She has decided that she is officially a big girl, can walk to the car on her own and doesn't need me to steer her there. 

This past Sunday, we took her to the Panther's home opener against the Saints.  We tailgated with our tailgating buddies, then walked to the stadium.  Lottie of course was determined to walk the whole way.  I thought for sure that after 10 minutes of walking, she would be worn out and asked to be held, but NO, she walked through the crowds (holding my hand) to the stadium and up the ramp (not holding my hand) to our seats.  The only time I carried her were up the steps to walk into the stadium and up the steps to our seats.  The girl LOVES to walk and wasn't tired or give out whatsoever.  Thankfully we started walking to the stadium around 12:15 p.m. b/c it took us until 12:45 p.m. or so until we actually got to our seats to sit down.  The girl may LOVE to walk, but dang she is slow!  :)

Lottie did great at the game!  It was a much different experience than taking her last year when she was 8/9 months old.  She was clapping and dancing along w/ the Top Cats.  She sat like a big girl in her seat, snacking on fruit snacks and chugging Gatorade (disaster - all down the front of her).  Unfortunately we got a little wet, but Lottie didn't mind.  She loves the rain!

Big Girl - she loves Brats!  Who would've thought?

That face.........

I guess at this stage, I can't help wondering what happened to my little baby?  I mean she was just born last year.  But having said that, we are having so much fun right now!  I can't wait for some of the upcoming outings we have planned to take her to in the fall! 

Weekend Wrap Up

This past weekend was a BUSY one!  Last Friday, I had off work for Veteran's Day.  I was so excited to spend the whole day with Lottie.  First things first, we headed to JC Penney for her 9 month photos.  What a disaster!  As soon as I sat her down in front of the camera she froze!  She didn't smile, nothing!  I was doing all the things that normally gets her cracking up, like singing the ABCs, making silly noises, tickling, etc. - but NOTHING!  Finally after numerous attempts to crack a smile, I resorted to picking her up, spinning her around, throwing her back and forth in my arms until she was in hysterics.  I then quickly put her back into position on the floor in hopes the photographer got the shot off.  Let's just say the 9 month photos didn't exactly turn out the way I had hoped.  Oh well!!! 

The rest of the day was spent at Michaels, Walmart, Target, cleaning house and playing with the little one.  I'm pretty sure Lottie's highlight of the day was the shopping experience at Walmart.  She loved sitting like a big girl in the cart.  She was laughing, clapping, making a clicking noise with her mouth (funny) and acting like she was having the time of her life.  We strolled through the Christmas section and her eyes looked like saucers with all the lights, inflatables, trees, etc.  Speaking of trees, we spotted a cute little pink tree that I'm thinking of getting for her.  It was $20, but I'm thinking on Black Friday it might be $15.  Frugal here......

Before her 9 Month Pictures

Walmart shopping trip!

Pink Tree

Saturday - I went and had Lottie's Christmas photos taken.  I know, I know - I am a NUT JOB when it comes to taking pictures of my baby!  I honestly just can't help myself - she will be grown before you know it and I'm sure that after this first year, the photos will not be taken as regularly.  Don't judge!!  :)

Saturday night was my friend Danielle's 30th surprise birthday dinner / celebration at Jade in Ballantyne.  What a cute little restaurant!  Steve and I ordered a large plate of sushi that was delish!  I think we'll definitely be going back! 

Here are a few fun photos to share!

The Birthday girl and I

The Group

Sweet Amanda and her b/f (tarhole  :-))

Sheesley and his g/f

Matt and Danielle

Steve and I

Double Fisting

Yummy cupcakes Matt ordered

Hope you had a great birthday D!!!  Steve and I had a great date night out!  :)

On Sunday, the girls and I finally managed to tailgate and get to a game together.  We are all BIG Panther fans.  We tailgated with good food, mimosas and good conversation. 



Jeanette's brother Chris (police officer) w/ our troops

A great way to wrap up the weekend and show appreciation for Veteran's Day.  We wouldn't be able to do the things we love to do and enjoy freedom without our troops.  A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU!

Meet Me at the Pumpkin Patch

Friday - last Friday was Pajama Day at day care.  All the infants wore their pajamas including the teachers.  Steve bought Lottie a pair of pumpkin pajamas a couple of weeks back.  Let me just stop and say that Lottie has Steve wrapped around her finger!  Every time he runs out for a quick trip to Target or Marshalls, anywhere - he always comes back with two or three outfits for Lottie.  It is so funny.  But I guess that is the thing with having little girls - EVERYTHING is so darn cute, you can't help it!  He always says, "Well, I couldn't not buy my little girl something."  Steve is going to be in TROUBLE when she gets older. 

She was being a little wiggle worm, so couldn't really catch a still picture! 

Snuggle time with Dad before bed on Friday night!

On Saturday, Steve spent most of the morning cleaning the garage out (there were so many boxes of diapers, etc. out there)  While he was busy doing that, Lottie I and I went to visit my grandma.  She has a big birthday coming up in November!  95 years old!  I'll never live to see 95!  :)

On Saturday afternoon, we grabbed a late lunch and took Lottie to the pumpkin patch to finally pick up a couple of pumpkins and of course get photos of Lottie!

She was just staring at the hay, not moving an inch!

Late Saturday afternoon, Steve continued to clean the garage and I went through all of Lottie's clothes that she could no longer wear and packed them away.  I swear the girl has more clothes than I do and she is 8 months old! 

After a long day, Lottie was bouncing away in her jumper while I was sitting on the couch working on a project.  10 minutes or so went by and I didn't hear a peep so I walked over to see what Lottie was doing and she had passed out in her jumper.  I was dying laughing.  She had her hands over her eyes and was out.  Guess she was SLEEPY! 

On Sunday, we tailgated with a few people that Steve used to work with.  Everything was great until the game started.  The stadium was FULL!  I haven't seen the stadium that full since we were in the playoffs a few years back.  The noise level was just too much for Lottie.  It scared her half to death so we left right before half time and came home.  Poor baby.  She did so well at the last game we took her to, but then again, it wasn't near as full as it was this time around. 

So looking forward to this weekend!  My sister and brother in law are coming into town to see Lottie!  My sister hasn't seen Lottie since Labor Day Weekend so she is DYING to get back home.