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!

No twitter or computer, just mami and me

So happy to spend time painting with mami!

I mentioned in my last post that I had not seen much of mami in the past two weeks. She had been extra busy and daddy had to take over for a bit. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE daddy, but I missed mami!

She wasn't around in the evenings for dinner, to give me a bath or read to me. When she was around, she was rushing me along and very tense.  I don't know what I did, but my feelings were hurt and I clung to daddy instead. Mami was sad when I wouldn't cuddle with her, but I think she that made her realise how I was feeling, and quickly changed to make sure I wasn't sad anymore.

This week mami was back! Oh how I missed her and her funny faces! It felt like the good old days - just us, going to the park, reading, dancing and eating yummy lunches. And typical mami, she had a surprise for me. Today, on our mami and me Fridays, she brought out the paints!

In complete control of my art

It just so happens that I love to paint! Its my favourite activity at nursery and mami and I had never done that together. So you can imagine my excitement when mami set up the small table in the kitchen and let me "freestyle" paint.

At first I picked up the paint brush and dipped it in the blue - then I added some yellow and dabbed at the red. Very civilized and under control.

Did mami really expect me to stay clean?

I brushed the paper and then, just as mami was encouraging me to do more, I thought "forget this!" and stuck both of my hands in the paints and smeared it all over my face, hair and on the gate. 

Leaving my mark in the kitchen

Mami just looked at me wide eyed, I stared back thinking "did you really expect me not to make a mess?" but then she laughed and kissed the small spot on my forehead that did not have paint.

Freestyle painting

She let me go wild and when she turned to get the camera, I decided I would add a little colour to the kitchen floor!

Black and white is so boring - yellow and red brightens it up!

Mami then reminded me that we were making a special card for daddy's day on Sunday so I did eventually paint on the paper.

They are abstract pieces. I hope daddy understands them.

To daddy made with lots of love, Little M

I know that a lot of mamas are very busy, but remember that us little one's love you very very much, and despite our moods, we miss and need you lots! It was nice to have mami's full attention and not have to share my time with the computer or twitter.

Mami read an article in the New York Times about the risks of parenting while plugged in and it got her thinking about how she spends her days with me.

So mamas, why not turn off the TV, shut down the computer and take a break from twitter and plan an extra special activity with your little one? And please come by and let me know what you have in mind!

Get planning!

P.S. Because I did make a big mess, I thought I would submit this to the Messy Play Challenge by Huggies Wipes

Little M's Bilingual Corner

Hmm? What is a four letter word for poop in Spanish? C-A-C-A

The Funny Side of Being Bilingual

London is a terrific city, no denying that! What makes it vibrant and exciting is the wide range of languages you hear on the street everyday. After doing some very serious research at my local sandbox and paddling pool, I realised that there are a whole lot of us little ones not only speaking English, but another language too!

Remember my post about being bilingual? Well, it got me thinking, with so many mami's out there raising a bilingual family, why not start a little corner on my blog where all mami's and daddy's in a bilingual (or multilingual) home can stop by to post their thoughts, ask questions and more importantly, share funny stories!

So get your passports ready, because on the first Tuesday of the month I will pose a question/topic and feature a country to get you talking and we can learn from each other too! You do not even have to be bilingual, you might be a British or US expat elsewhere, etc. Because believe me, there are plenty of funny moments when more than one language is involved!
So what do you think? Why not tell your bilingual mami friends to join so we can get this going.

Let me know if you are interested in joining Little M's Bilingual Corner by leaving a comment below and a little about yourself, what other language(s) you speak, what country you are from twitter name. Make sure to follow mami too @verybusymama.

besos,

Little M

Have I got news for you!

Before going to bed tonight, I peeked at mami’s latest twitter posting and found out she feels more tired after spending a day with me than when she goes to work! (@patygalilea, @positivedivorce, @activekiddies and @activemarketing all agree so this post is for them as well!) And as if that wasn’t enough, she said work for her was a much needed break. Well, this may come as a surprise to you mummies but the feeling is mutual!

I speak for all Little One’s out there. We too need a break from being at home all day. I enjoy going to nursery to get away from the constant nagging, but I am also the first one to run to mami when she picks me up!

Below are some of mami’s complaints and my solutions to making her life easier:

She is constantly running after me! – She would be less tired if she just let me be. I just want to be free to chew on the corner of the table, pick up lint, open cupboards and taste everything I can get my hands on. Is that too much to ask?

She says feeding me is very messy – Oh loosen up! Truth is, I love food! As a matter of fact I am sort of a "toddler foodie". I don’t just eat food, I experience food; I enjoy squeezing the mashed potatoes through my hands, rubbing tuna fish on my checks, and gently massaging soft noodles through my hair. It's liberating. Try it!

She tells daddy that dressing me is a mini-wrestling match – oh it sure is! You should see her trying to catch me so that she can get me dressed. Eventually I settle down, but once she gives me that trusting smile and says “good boy” I quickly do the twist, kick and drop move I have mastered and in a flash I'm out of the room. It wouldn’t have to be this way if she’d just let me hang out in my jammies all day.

She says I poop too much – I do, so what? I always get the urge right before going out. You should see her face! At first she looks puzzled, and then she picks me up and sniffs my bottom. After realising its a poopie, she rolls her eyes back, lets out a loud sigh, drops her bag and keys to the floor and calls me into the room. Sorry! When you gotta go, you gotta go!

My crying wears her out – excuuuuuuse me! If only you understood what I was saying the first time around I wouldn’t have to resort to extreme measures. We both speak the same language (two as a matter of fact) and I understand almost everything she says, so why are we having communication problems? I can’t wait until she learns more words – it’s getting ridiculous now.

Well, I’m going to leave it there but I could go on. However, this in NO way means I love mami any less!

So mummies, next time you are tired, and “need a break” why not just give us a break and make life simpler. Help us, help you!

So, who’s tired now?

P.S. – That's me in my jammies (refer to 3rd point)