Piggyback ride!

I heard mami complaining that her arms hurt from carrying me around and that I "weigh too much".

Well, mami, what do you expect? With the way you feed me, of course I'm going to grow!

But I admit, recently I have wanted to be carried everywhere we go. I don't know what it is, I just want to be cuddled and held. Is that so wrong?

So last week mami found a new way to carry me. It's much more fun and I think her arms don't hurt as much.  She calls it a "piggyback ride".

Mi amiga, mi mami/ My friend, my mami

I just jump on her back, wrap my arms around her neck, hold on tight and off we go!
 

We ran around the park chasing squirrels and scaring away the birds. I felt safe with mami because those birds can get crazy sometimes. So if they did attack they would get to mami first and I could hide behind her back.

So very safe for me!

I think this way of being carried is working for both of us. I get to bounce up and down and we are not too far off the ground which scares me a little when I sit on papi's shoulders.

But I do have to be careful not to squeeze her neck too tight, otherwise she can't breathe. Uh oh.

A perfect afternoon

Enjoying a lovely walk through Chiswick House Grounds with papi.

What a perfect afternoon!

Dark figures on the sidewalk

I learn something new everyday.

Really! It just never ends.

Mami and were walking back from the park on a sunny Sunday morning when I noticed there were two dark figures on the sidewalk and they did exactly what we did.

 That's us!

When I moved my arms up, it moved too. When mami jumped up and down, it jumped too.

We walked, and they walked. One was really tall like mami, and the other was little like me.

Then a doggy walked by moving its tail, and the dark figure moved its tail too.

What was going on?

Then I remembered that at night when I am getting ready for bed mami moves her hands in front of the lights and makes funny noises. And these dark figures were very similar but much bigger.

They were us!

 My best discovery yet - my shadow!

Mami said they are called sha-dows or sombra in Spanish.

How cool is that?

New friends

I love meeting new friends! Today mami and I went to the park and met with Jacqui of Mummy's Little Monkey and Little Lucia. 

Jacqui has a big belly and can't run very fast. I think mami said she has a baby in there. Really? I kept looking for it, but it never came out.

Maybe next time.

I was a little shy a first. I don't like to go all out with people I've just met. Lucia smiled at me and then she just took off running! Poor Jacqui had to get her from the other end of the park! 

I, for once, decided to play it cool and actually be on my best behaviour and sat with mami at the table. But it didn't last long. After having my mac and cheese for lunch, I was outta there!

We did end up in my favourite fenced in area of the park. I think Lucia liked it too because we could hide behind the trees and also see the ducks.

We understand each other very well!

I like Lucia, she makes funny faces, and likes rocks too.

Here's other stuff we did today:

• We chased the doggies around the park. There were big ones and small ones.
• Gave each other rocks - she had a good selection! I was impressed.
• She shared her raisins with me - and then we threw the boxes all over the ground!
• She helped herself to my juice and then gave me some too! I love being taken care of.
• When she ran off with my doggy I quickly tried to get it back but she's way faster than me!
• Mami let her play with MY ball. I couldn't believe it!  (well, it was an act, I don't even like playing with it)

Thanks Jacqui and Lucia - we will come see you very soon! And maybe the baby will come out to play.

bye bye

 

 

 

 

 

Mami rocks

Abuelita/grandma is gone bye bye. She left on an aeroplane.

I miss being with her. She reminded me a lot of mami. Sometimes she kind of looked like mami too. Even her laugh was the same. I liked feeling that mami was close by even it wasn't really her.

I can tell mami is extra tired again because she has to wake up early instead of sleeping in. Abuelita would take care of me, and mami is having a very hard time getting back into our routine. Bless her, she does try!

Yesterday, after "resting" all day we went for an afternoon in the park to get back to our old selves.

But I didn't recognise the way.
We went on a new path.

The ground was different.

 I kept looking at it. I had never seen this before. They were all over the place!

What where these little pieces everywhere?

I took a step and my feet made a funny sound. I took another step and felt a something inside my shoe. I stopped to bend over and touch them. I rolled them in my hands and they made a cracking sound. 

Can I eat these?

"What is it?" I wanted to know. It wasn't like anything I had ever touched before. They didn't feel or look like the sand from the sandbox, they were not soft like the grass, they were not sticks.

So what could these be?

I held some out for mami, and said "eh".

She smiled at me and said, "thank you for the rocks mi amor"

"Rocks"

"R-r-r-r-rocks" that's what these are. Rocks"

I piled as many as I could into mami's hands and hid some in the buggy to play with later. It was the best afternoon!

Just mami, me and lots of rocks.

The boy who lived in a box

Wordless Wednesday

Cool, huh?

Dear mami

Dear mami, 

I love you a lot and I missed you and daddy when you were gone.

Abuelita/grandma and I almost melted here in London because it was so hot, but we made it. Next time can I go with you please?

We did lots and lots of things.

First thing abuelita did was cut my hair! She heard daddy say I had a “mullet” and she cut little bits off the back. Did you see she put my curls in a bag for you?
Because it was so hot, abuelita let me hang out naked! Yesssss! No nappy and no shirt. I was just drinking my cold juice when suddenly water came right out of my willy! I did this twice this weekend, once behind the TV and another time next to your bed. I think you stepped in it. Sorrrrrry!

My teeth hurt again! I woke up at night and I don’t think abuelita was too happy about me crying. But just for you to know, she didn’t get up right away. You may want to have a “quick talk”with her.  Just like you do with daddy.

te quiero mami y papi/I love you mami and daddy

I'm very close to saying my first big boy word. I've been holding back - but when I shout out "heeeh" that’s my way of saying Hola/Hello. And "neh -neh- neh" is how I pronounce "no". Remember mami, I have a British accent, you don’t.

Oh, and you know that baby gate you put in the living room to keep me from playing by the fireplace? Well, you can just put it away because I can squeeze through any opening! Got between the sofa and the gate and abuelita couldn’t find me! 

She kept saying “Little M, Little M ¿dónde estas?/where are you?” So funny! Got black stuff on my hands and I made a little drawing for you on the wall by bookshelf. Did you see it?

Lastly, don’t be upset with abuelita, but she gave me candy when we went to the fair on Saturday. It was so yummy!

I drew this picture for you it says I love you very much mami and daddy and I am so happy that you are back and take me with you next time.

te quiero mucho
Little M

Hot hot hot!

I've been very sticky and wet lately. I have never felt like this before. I feel warm all over just like when I was sick a few months ago - but I feel fine.

I hear mami and daddy say "hace calor/its hot" and that now it is "verano/summer time". There is a lot more light and sun than I remember and on some days its so hot that mami doesn't even dress me - and that never happens!

Mami says she want to eat my toes - I hope she doesn't!

I'm going to be 18 months soon, so I would have had a summer before, but giving it another thought, last summer we went to Chile when it was hot - and it was cold there in July! Daddy said it was winter there when it is summer in the UK. 

So this is my first real summer - and I'm loving every moment!

Mami sometimes looks a little flustered and her cheeks get red. She is constantly folding up magazines or paper and waving it in front of her face. I once saw her pour water on the back of her head - silly mami.

I don't know why she doesn't just take off her top and shorts like me. It sure helps keep me cool!

Whatever mami and daddy say - I sure do love verano/summer!

I don't have to wear socks!
I can see my toes through my shoes :)
I like being able to feel the sand and sun on my legs
My shirts don't cover my arms
No jacket to put on before going out - I don't like them at all!
I can drink as much juice and water as I want
I get a bath, every single night!
We go to the park 3 times a day
I get to eat with no shirt on
I get to splash aournd at the paddling pool
Ice cream! Mami gives me an ice lolly on our way home from the park - yummy!
Abuelita comes to visit - that is the best part of all!

Summer is great - I wish it could stay like this all the time!

Activity overload

I'm not sure what has come over mami, but she has been on activity overload! Last week she let me make a mess painting, then we made a sailboat for daddy's special day and on Friday we went to a dance party at the park.  Who knows what she has planned for this week!
It all started very early on Friday morning. Mami was dressed for the day when I woke up and instead of letting me play in my jammies like I usually do, she dressed me right away.  After having my milk and toast, we headed out the door into the bright sun and turned to the right at the High Street. I didn't know where we were going, but then suddenly I remembered that we were going to the NCT Cheeky Monkey’s Tea Party at our park!

Auntie Lis trying to win me over - I just want my dummy!

Anxious to have fun,  I pointed the way towards the gate. However, right before arriving we turned off and mami just sat on a bench.   

"LETS GO, COME ON, COME ON!" I rocked back and forth in the buggy so that mami would push me.

She smiled, rubbed suncream on my legs and said, "hang on Little M, we are waiting for Auntie Lis". 

"Huh?" I thought. "Who is that? LETS GO!"

But then, I saw a familiar face.  It was Auntie Lis! Then it all came back to me. Earlier in the week I had invited Auntie Lis a fellow blogger to come and spend the day with us. She is mami's friend and they use to work together too. She is not a mami so being around so many babies was new for her. But I'm still her favourite little guy!

She was crazy!

We arrived at our usual spot at the park to find balloons on trees, a colourful parachute and lots of mamas and buggies everyone! I had never seen the park so full. We made our way to the parachute where a lady was dancing around acting crazy and singing very loudly. She looked familiar to me. Seeing her jump around I remembered that she was Amanda from Amanda Action Kids! 

We danced to Justin Beiber's "Baby, baby" (mami really likes this song, although she doesn't like people knowing she has "Bieber Fever") and a faster version of head, shoulders, knees and toes! Poor Auntie Lis, she didn’t know any of the words to the songs! So funny!

The dancing looked fun enough so I moved to the music and clapped my hands. All this was cutting into my nap time, but I saw how happy mami was so I put on a little show for her. I played under the parachute for while and let mami and Auntie Lis talk and drink their coffee. Mami just loves to drink that stuff; almost as much as I love to drink my milk.

 Mami and I before the dancing started

I tell you, its not easy having to entertain. The life of a performer is tough, so you can understand why a nap and milk was in order.

Thankfully mami got my message and we headed home. Walking under the shading of the trees on along the high street, I dozed off and woke up in my bed!

For lunch we had a yummy pizza at Zizi’s. I don’t think Auntie Lis realised that I ate pizza too and she was very impressed with my appetite. 

“I have lots of teeth” I said pointing to my mouth and showed her all the ones I have. 

She ooed and awwed – good thing she did, because they are extremely painful to get!

Our day ended by walking Auntie Lis to the train station then daddy coming home right before I headed off to bed. 

Little did I know that the next morning I would wake up to find myself with a new roommate. Mami says her name is abuelita or grandma. She does look very very familiar. Hmm? Let me figure out who this abuelita person is and get back to you this week. 

Mamas: what sort of fun activities will you be doing this summer?

My busy world

Mami's My Busy World

I really should rename this blog My Busy World. I’m fed of everyone thinking that a toddlers life all fun and games. Take it from me, a tots work is never done!

Yesterday mami and I took a car to a photo shoot for Pregnancy and Birth Magazine (more on that later) .What’s the big deal you say? The big deal is that I am not use to sitting in a car seat and looking out the window.

Midway through our trip, my tummy didn’t feel too good and I threw up all over myself! Mami got nervous and was desperately cleaning me up with wipes.

We were nearly there, but I had to sit in my dirty shirt and shorts for the rest of the ride. It smelled yucky and all I wanted to do was get out of there! As soon as I was out of the car, I felt much better...ahhh, fresh air!

But that little incident got me thinking, who says being a tot is easy?

We are expected to dance, sing and clap on cue – you try having to perform for everyone you meet! Its tiring and I’m not always in the mood to do so.

After doing a poop, I have to wait around for mami to smell me and change me – you try playing, sleeping and sitting on a loaded nappy, its not fun.

Mami por favor, ¡no mas fotos! /Please, no more photos!

When we are out, my nap schedule it completely thrown off – what if you had to sleep in a chair? I know mami wouldn’t like that.

There is way too much kissing going on! I'm expected to kiss mami when she asks – every day mami? Really? I’m a boy – maybe every other day.

I am expected to stop and pose for pictures all the time - can't a boy get a break? No photographs. Just for one day please!

Going to nursery is lots of work! I have to paint cards for mami and daddy, do a daily sing-a-long session, feed the ducks and strive to keep my toys from being taken away. Just typing it all out makes me tired!

I've had to cheer on three teams in the World Cup - Chile, USA and England. I've got to keep mami and daddy happy!

So there you have it, a tot's work is never done.  Oh, and not to mention I moonlight as a blogger!


Okay now, Mami's is singing the alphabet song again and I need to call it a day. Got a busy day ahead of me.

¡Buenas noches!
 
P.S. Mami and I will be in the September issue of Pregnancy and Birth Magazine - keep your eye out for us!

Sun, fun and blogs

Friday was a beautiful sunny day here in London and I spent my afternoon at the paddling pool and sandbox (there I am in the picture, cute huh?) But the events leading up to my big day included several bumps in the road.

My mami is not an easy woman.

The sun does funny things to people. Mami was really happy this morning, singing and telling me about all of the fun things we were going to do. After getting me dressed in shorts and a t-shirt and packing my bag, mami suddenly runs back into her room and begins digging through her closet.

After rummaging for a very long time, I wandered in to see what all the fuss was about. She was sitting on the floor going through bags of shoes and old dresses. Her face looked a bit worried, not the smiley face she had moments before and said to me "Ay Little M, mami has nothing to wear! Nothing fits and my toes are not ready for this weather!"

We just looked at each other for a few seconds, then I decided I needed to cheer her up and I opened my mouth and laid a sloppy kiss on her cheek. That did the trick! She quickly stood up and swooped me into her arms and spun me around laughing.

Not sure what she was so worried about, she found a comfy dress and summer sandals despite her toes. I don't know about her, but my toes are summer ready! :)

Just before heading out, I saw mami's blackberry blinking. She turned to get a bottle of water and I quickly grabbed it and ran into my room. And there it was, the tweet that made the start to our weekend even better:

"@verybusymama congrats on making it into the ParentDish UK Best Blogs Roundup"

Wow, wow, wow - I couldn't believe it! Such an honour! I clapped with delight and gave mami's phone back to her. She was very impressed at my willingness to hand it over. She looked down at her tweets and as she scrolled through her messages, I saw her smile get bigger and bigger. I couldn't have been happier.

We did make it out, and the mixture of the summer warmth and our recognition on ParentDish UK was enough to propel mami's legs to walk faster and make it to the park in record time!

P.S - She forgot all about her toes when we got there - all the mummies had theirs buried in the sand too!