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

 

 

 

 

 

I tried it! Plum Foods

It’s no secret. I love to eat and I have a big tummy to prove it. I weigh 13.5kilos and as mami says, the scales don't lie.

That's me on the scale!

It was a dream come true to open up a box full of delicious Plum foods a few weeks ago. After all, I am a toddler foodie – and I know what is yummy and what is yucky.

Some of the food mami makes is yucky – I can tell you that! Anything green and I won’t eat it. She tries to fool me and mix it in, but oh no! I pretend to eat it and then I throw it on the floor.

There were lots of different kinds of snacks, cereals, fruit packs and little pots. All have been eaten by the way! And it wasn’t just me – I saw mami eat some few of the biscuits with her tea. I knew it wasn’t just me.
Here are my two favourites:

Mami served me the Four Grain with Mango and Banana Fruity Porridge. It was very yummy and you guessed it, fruity! It reminded me of my baby days. I haven’t had this in a long time because I’ve moved on to toast but it was nice to have for old times sake. Even mami had a bowl because she had run out of her cereal.

Mami liked that it doesn’t have extra sugar and for mamas looking for gluten free food – this is perfect for you!

Then there are my all time favourites, the fruit and vegetable pouches. I could eat those all day long! Mami thinks I don't realise that I'm having vegetables, but they are so yummy and smooth that I dont mind at all (oh yes, and mami says they are really nutritious too!)  I can eat them anywhere and save some for later.

There are some other baby foods which mami use to give me (which I won't name here) and they were YUCKY! I didn't like them and no matter how hungry I was, I would not eat it.

But not with Plum, they taste like daddy could have made them. Apparently they are also good for me (that's what mami says).

Don't believe me? Look how happy I am after having the Lemon Chicken, Sweetcorn and Tarragon!  Or is that the Mango and Banana? I can't remember, but I do know it was gooooood!

Yum and Fun!

You can read more about Plum at http://www.plum-baby.co.uk/. If you really want, you can also become a Plum Mum and taste them for yourself! I really recommend that you do.

bye bye

"gordo" (it means chubby in Spanish and that is mami's nickname for me)

My Great Escape

Today I gave mami a VERY BIG SURPRISE.

When she opened her eyes she wasn’t expecting to see me at her bedside. Ha ha ha ha!

You should have seen the look of complete shock when she realised I had climbed out of my crib and walked into her room.

“Yeah, that’s right mami. I know how to get out now!”
See, I’m tired of having to wait for mami to come get me when I wake up. I know she can hear me crying, so why does she take so long?

After my morning nap I, just wanted to get out and play. I cried out for mami, and no response. I cried harder and nothing. I waited and waited and still no mami.

“She’s taking a nap too” I said to myself. And boy was I right.

I thought, “I may be in here a while” and took it upon myself to make my escape.

I am a great climber, I can get up and down the sofas, chairs, my buggy and mami and daddy’s bed. My crib isn’t that much higher. So I began to climb.

It wasn’t easy, but I didn’t give up! I ended up very sweaty. First I stepped up on the side of the crib. Easy. I just dug my feet on the netting and was able to creep up. Once I got to the top, I swung one leg over onto the side table then the other and slid down to the floor. Even easier.

Getting out of the room was trickier, but I played with the door handle and managed to get it open. Score! I ran to mami’s room and just as I had thought – there she was SLEEPING!

I ran in, stood next to her bed and said “HEY”. She slowly opened her eyes and said “Little M, ¿qué haces aquí?/What are you doing here? How? ¿Cómo?”

She sat up and said “You got out!”

I just clapped my hands, offered her my dummy and ran into the front room. "Get up mami, time to play!"

That will teach her. She's not the only one who can be sneaky!

In it to win it!

Philips AVENT: Win a set of 3 Truman Cups

Mami and I have been really busy lately!

With her running, my rock collecting and working on getting nominated for a Comso Blog Award we are pooped!

But not too tired to bring you a very special giveaway!

Philips AVENT, the No.1 recommended childcare brand by mamas in the UK got in touch and asked if I would like to giveaway a set of 3 New Truman Cups to one very lucky reader.

These 260ml/9oz cups keep water or juice cool and fresh longer and they are non-spill which makes mami very happy. They have a hard spout, making it more difficult to bite. And as you can see, they are decorated with educational story-telling designs. I really like the blue one with the bunny watering the plants!

So you want to win too? It is really easy!

All you have to do is watch this fun video about toddler feeding with mummy Lucy and little James





Then answer this question:

What percentage of toddlers feed with their hands?

Please make sure you are following my blog (add to Reader or on Google Friends Connect) and leave in the comment box below:

• The correct answer
• Your Twitter name/or best way to contact you

One entry per person please.

The competition is now closed. Mami and I selected a winner using a Random Number Generator.

The winner of the cups is @mummygetsyummy!

Congratulations!!!

bye bye and ¡buena suerte! (that's good luck in Spanish!)

  

A day called Monday

Mami and daddy always talk about different "days".

Its not easy for me to know what day it is.

All I know is:

• Some days I go to nursery

• Other days its just mami and me

• Then it's mami, me and daddy!

Oh, and I also know that I go to sleep when it is dark and wake up when there is light outside. In between I take a nap, but that is only for a short time and mami turns off the lights to make it look dark. But she can't fool me!

After being at home with mami and daddy and after 3 sleeps, it is time to go to nursery again. Mami calls this day Monday, but she says it with a loud groan. Mami doesn't do well on these so-called Mondays.

I tend to sleep in on this day, especially after all the fun I've had with daddy over the past days. Mami wakes up panicking because "we are running late!"

She pulls me out of my crib, says "Little M, you didn't wake me up!" (What does she expect? When I do wake her ups she takes ages to come get me!) and then big rush begins.

Her eyes are puffy and her hair is messy. So funny!

She quickly gets me dressed and brushes my hair with her fingers and yells out "ya, vamos. VAMOS!"

Then before you know it, we are running down the high road to catch the bus.

It's pretty much the same every single Monday. And on top of that, she always forgets something:

"Oh no! I've forgotten my keys"

"Oops! I left my lunch in the fridge"

"Ahhhh, I forgot my Blackberry" (this causes the worst reaction of all!)

Once she even had on mismatched socks! Silly mami.

I don't know how she copes for the rest of her Monday. But as for me, I'm pretty chilled - 12 hours of sleep does wonders!

How are you on Mondays?

Bye bye
Little M

A tiny favour please...

I saw that Cosmopolitan, a magazine for mamas is launching the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards. Not my first reading choice, but I thought it could make mami very happy.

She was looking at the site last week, but she didn't say a word to me about it.

I later went on the computer and thought, "I should put my blog forward for the Lifestyle Category. After all, being a toddler is serious business!"

And because I can't really nominate myself in the fashion or gadget tech categories!

If you like what I write, or have laughed at any of my stories, could you nominate me please?

Just click the logo above, select Lifestyle and that's it! (well, you have a write a few things, but I hope that won't be too difficult)
My promises

I promise to be really really nice to mami. I promise to eat all my food and not throw it around the kitchen. I promise to let her kiss me. I promise to give her more kisses. I promise I won't poop as much (well, sort of)  I promise not to cry right in her ear. I promise to let her wipe my nose. I promise to not  pee pee on the floor. I promise I won't take her makeup brushes and put them in the toilet. I promise to take longer naps. I promise to use my own toothbrush instead of hers.

Phewwww, think that is enough!

Thank you very much lots of hugs and kisses

bye bye

Little M

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?

Mami runs. Part two

My mami is running. And not just after me!

Let me explain. First she is going to run a 5k (or 3.2 miles) in Hyde Park in September and then a half marathon (13 miles) in October.

If memory serves me right, I have seen her run before...but that was back in my baby days. I’m a big boy now!

The excuses

“Shouldn’t you be training for the Royal Parks Half Marathon?” daddy asked mami as she was a about to eat another chocolate reindeer she had in the fridge.

“Arrrrg, yes! I know, but I can’t run now, I’m tired!”

“Well, you have to start soon, otherwise it will be painful”

“Ok! OK! I’ll start this week, I’m just not motivated” and ate the chocolate.

The miracle

Then on Sunday, it happened. Mami went for a run. And not just her, but daddy and I too! I cheered her on from the buggy and held her water bottle. When she needed some I would hand it over to her.

The challenge

What pushed mami out the door? A very nice lady from Arthritis Research UK had contacted mami and me that week and said she had seen my blog. She asked if mami would run the Adidas Women’s 5K Challenge on their behalf to let other people know more about juvenile ar-thri-tis.

I really don’t know what that means, and it was really difficult to spell (I cut and paste it!). But after listening mami talk to daddy, I can tell you a little more about it.

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis or JIA is a group of illnesses that share similar symptoms. Idiopathic arthritis is arthritis with no known cause and, just as in adult arthritis; it causes inflammation, pain and swelling in the joints. Ouch!

It is very sad because 1 in 1,000 children in the UK hurt from this and can begin at any age and is more common in girls. But the good news is that JIA doesn't turn into the adult kind of arthritis. There is more information, but I didn’t understand it all.

I will try to blog about her training each week and let you know more information on juvenile arthritis as I learn more along the way.

Mummy to 5K

Oh, and its not just mami running! She was able to get some of my blogging friends out and running too! They started the “Mummy to 5K” hash tag on twitter and Rachael @karamina made a pretty badge for everyone to put on their blogs. I put one up for mami. See it on the side?

Each day other mamas are joining in on the challenge. So far, I see that: @cafebebe @karamina @kahanka @climbingtikes @jennypaulin @ngowers and mami @verybusymama are all set to run! If you want to join in, just click on the Adidas Women’s 5K Challenge Link and register and leave your link below!

And daddy (who is a runner too) says don’t forget to get a good pair of trainers – otherwise it will hurt!

Happy running!

Bye bye!

MotherCare, more like MotherDOESN'TCare

I may be little, but I know when mami is happy and when she is not happy. This week, she has not been very happy.

Before leaving the waters and coming home, mami and daddy had everything ready for me. My bed, my clothes, toys, blankets and nappies. Most or all had been bought at a store called Mothercare. Daddy really liked their selection and would say "they have everything we need!"

In November (mami mentioned the month) before travelling on a plane to visit abuelita, mami said "we need a lightweight stroller, I don't want to take the big one the on the plane" Daddy agreed and said it would be good for nursery too.

And guess where he went to buy me a new pushchair? That's right; he went to our favourite store, Mothercare.

Now its summer time and just the other day the back wheels broke off. I was surprised because we only use it to go to nursery. I have had my other buggy since I was born and nothing has happened to it!

We went to our nearest store, and they said we were past the 6 month guarantee. Mami asked if it could be repaired and they said we would have to pay for it.

But wait! According to an email from customer support:

"If it has a manufacturing fault and you return it after 28 days, we'll repair it. If  we can't repair it, we'll exchange it or give you a refund."

The email went on to say:

“If your pushchair doesn't have a manufacturing fault, has been used and isn't in its original packaging, we don't refund or exchange it.”

Very sneaky! Based on advice provided by email customer support anything that is a “manufacturers fault” should be replaced but in the store they bully you into thinking this coverage only lasts 6 months. So which is it?

Talking to daddy she said, "Either they don't believe their own brand is of good quality with just 6 month warranties or they are trying to pull a fast one."

Daddy and I looked at each other and he said they should rename themselves either MotherDoesn'tCare or CustomerSupportDon’tKnow due to the conflicting messages.

Some of mami's friends on Twitter also said they were unimpressed with Mothercare items and their service and had moved on to other shops for their essentials.

I know mami, when she says something she means it! Says she won't be shopping at Mothercare and wanted me to write about it to let you know to be careful when buying anything from them.

What are your experiences? Is mami right to want them to replace the pushchair after only 8 months of use?

A very secret club

Oh no! I completely forgot to tell you about me and mami's first Secret Post Club experience! See we are part of a very secret club where bloggers exchange gifts every month. Its so much fun!
Last week the doorbell rang and mami panicked because she was still in her jammies - so funny! She quickly put on her jeans and a robe and ran to the door. The mail man handed us a box and after getting the tape off the box, mami handed it over and said "here Little M, this is for you".

Wrapped in pretty colourful paper was a some sort of lip makeup for mami (she loves that stuff!) a cupcake magnet, a pretty notebook, a carrier bag with flowers and a tray to make ice lollies for me! Yessssss! YUMMMMY!

Mami read the card and I couldn't stop clapping with excitement. I love paper and boxes!! She looked over at me and said "Little M, mira/look, our secret friend is Julie from All About Us and Such Like! Lets take a picture to send her to say thank you!"

Opening our presents. Thank you Julie!

Julie made mami and me very happy!

So, today was our turn to send our present to our secret friend. But, shhhh! I don't want to ruin the surprise (but I did help choose the gifts by pointing to what I liked at the shop). I wrote her a special note with my green crayon and I hope she can read my writing!

You can be part of the club too. Just read the directions and promise to follow the rules. And you can be anywhere in the world, not just in the UK. And if you are lucky mami and me will send you a nice present!

Bye bye,

Little M

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

Someone named John Lewis

Last week, someone named John Lewis asked mami and other blogging mamas along for a lunch to talk about Christmas. There's that word again - Christ-mas...Chris-t-mas? I still can't remember where I've heard it, but I am hoping to figure it out soon. All I know is that toys keep being mentioned which makes me very very happy! I think John Lewis is a friend of mami and daddy, but I can't be sure.

Here's what I do know about someone named John Lewis:

• Sells very beautiful furniture and good quality homeware
• Has a team of friendly people who are always willing to help and treat you very nice
• Has almost everything anyone could ever want in just one place!
• TOYS!  Has a wide range of fun things to play with for us little ones!
• Mami and daddy have always been very happy with anything they have bought from him
• Mami and I spent a lot time over at his when I was little because the cafe is spacious
• The baby changing rooms are the best mami has ever been in!
• Daddy doesn't like to shop, but if he has to, he only goes to see John Lewis
• He is very generous. Gave mami a Flip Mino HD Camcorder to record my dance moves and funny faces

When mami told daddy all about her day, he just smiled and said "Ah, don't you just love John Lewis at Christmas? I miss just being able to walk over". (Apparently we use to live near John Lewis and we would walk over for tea, afternoon lunch and sometimes buy things this person had on offer).

Mami said she arrived at One Mary-le-bone, (phewww, that's a tough one to pronounce!) which is an old church, and walked through different rooms that were filled with brightly coloured clothes, carefully knitted sweaters, pretty shoes, a big kitchen, beds with big puffy pillows, wallpaper with paint on them, and fluffy sofas.

But most importantly, she said there was an entire floor full of TOYS! Awwww, yessssss! They had scooters (my favourite!), a drum set, (my uncle has one and I want one too) and even an electric guitar! All I know is that it makes a loud noise, yah!!

I just can't believe I missed out such a fun day! I did over hear mami and daddy saying that they will be visiting John Lewis again. I sure hope they get me a scooter, or anything that makes lots and lots of noise! Those are my favourite kinds of toys - come to think of it, the toys I have that use to make noise don't work any more, hmmm?

Looking through the catalogue, mami said she wanted "one of everything" and daddy looked like he had a tummy ache when she said that.

She quickly told daddy "don't worry, I won't over do it. At least not until Christmas".

Mami just laughed loudly and re-arranged the new pillow John Lewis had given her on our corner sofa, and hung up the pretty printed towel.

Before leaving the room, she smiled and winked at me. Sneaky mami! I know that look, it means she will definatley be visiting John Lewis again!

Simply and honestly me

Been busy here entertaining my abuelita/grandma who is visiting for a few weeks. Hard work I tell you, I have to show her where my milk is and which cup to give me, how to open the door to take me out, and which park to take me to.

Poor abuelita, she can't keep up with me and she tells mami that she is "muy cansada"/ very tired after spending a day with me. Funny how everyone I spend a day with seems to say that. Not sure why?

Either way, I have not had much time to blog, being cute is hard work too, and I've been doing a lot of that lately!

Last week both Holly at Its a Mummy's Life and Emma at Mellow Mummy tagged me with A Blog with Substance and The Blogging Meme. Boy was I excited - not only because they are very lovely and pretty mamas (mami met them at CyberMummy), but because we have been reading their blogs for some time now. Thank you very much!

A Blog with Substance - Holly asked, why do I blog?

Simple. I blog to help mami keep a record of all our fun and sometimes "difficult" experiences (those are her words by the way). Years from now she will enjoy looking back and reading about our early days together. Especially if one day we leave England and move to the USA, she will want to remember all of our adventures here. That, and I remind her what its like to be a little one.

My blogging philosophy in 5 words: Keeping it honest and simple

The Blogging Meme - Emma asks:

What is my favourite blog? Ooh, hmm? Ah yes! It's got to be Foodie Mummy! French expat living in Ireland, Foodie Mummy deals with life as it comes, loves football (well, not the French team at the moment) and is always very honest about her daily adventures as a new stay at home maman. Go and visit her, you won't regret it!

Blogger I respect? A fellow bilingual mama, Steffi over at Mummy do That! is brining up her little one to speak both German and English. I know that it is no small task, and mami and I salute her for that.

Best blog to join with? No weekly write ups or links to worry about. Just stop by RedTedArt blog for craft and art ideas. Mami is not very good with paints, but I always stop over at Maggy's blog for new art projects mami and I can do together. A few weeks ago we made a mini-sailboat for daddy that I saw on her Get Crafty with Children section. He loved it!

Best post by fellow blogger? Ha! this one made mami laugh out loud "Google yourself and you shall find" is a post by Nordica In London about Googling her blog name and coming up with a very different result than expected. Check out her post to see what its all about.

A Blog with Substance goes to: RedTedArt

Bilingual Corner No 2 - What's your name?

Gracias to so many of you for writing about being bilingual and the funny stories you posted for the first Bilingual Corner! Its all just for fun, so this month I thought I would talk about our names! See, I realised that being bilingual not only means speaking two (or more) languages but experiencing different ways of doing things – traditions I think mami calls it.
Let me make it easy for you: 

Mami is from Chile
Daddy is from the USA
Which makes me, Little M a Chilean/American born Brit – cool huh? And that’s a whole lot of different traditions going on there!
 

And so the name selection process began...

When I was still in the waters, I could hear mami and daddy talking about what to call me once I came home. It was a bit muffled, but I could sometimes make out parts of their conversations. I tell you, I knew a lot more than they thought when I finally left. Including my name, Little M!

After a day of non-stop bumping around in mami's tummy, when the waters did eventually stay still (which now I now know means that mami was sitting), I could hear mami say “he is going to have English last name, so I want him to have a Spanish first name, but easy enough to pronounce”

Daddy would then say “Any particular names you had in mind?” then mami would say a few and then they would both just go silent. From what I gather, it took them a long time to finally agree to my name. Mami really wanted a Spanish name and happily daddy agreed too! (As long as it didn't have too many "R" because he has a hard time with those still, hahaha!)

When I discovered my name...

I was so happy when they finally did start calling me by my name, “Hola Little M, its daddy” I’d hear him say, and then again, and again and again. So that’s how I knew he was talking to me!

I liked hearing their voices through mami’s tummy and sometimes I would even put on a little show for them and kick my legs or move my arms around.

More surprises...

After being in the outside world now for 18 months (well, almost) I realised that Little M is in fact a Spanish name, however, we have all discovered that it is also a German, French, Portuguese, Finnish, Nordic, and even Lithuanian name! (Daddy saw that a few biathletes in the Winter Olympics where also named Little M and that made him very very happy!)

So I guess mami and daddy made a great choice  - although I still get funny pronunciations at nursery. Don’t they hear how mami says it? Silly people.
 

Your turn...

 

Now I ask you, do you have a first name that maybe is traditionally used in another country or language? Or the other way around? Is someone else in the family named that? Did you choose it to remind you of where you come from? Does it set you apart? Have you had difficulties with it?

So far, no problems here! I've even met a few Little M's although they were not so Little – and when people hear it, they say they like it!

Write and link...

Can’t wait to hear your stories. Please remember to mention Little M's Bilingual Corner and link back to my blog on your post!

I will add a Linky so you can come back and leave your post so others can read it. 

 

Out of this world - CyberMummy 2010

The day finally arrived! This past Saturday, mami woke up extra early to meet all of MY blogging friends at CyberMummy at the Ibis Hotel in Earls Court!

I followed mami’s tweets throughout the day on daddy’s laptop and saw that minute after minute she was meeting more and more great mamas! I sure wish I could have been there, especially since I’m the blogger!
I was most excited about mami reading my blog post at the end of the day. The night before I heard her tell daddy “I’m really nervous”.

Daddy just told her to read slow and I shouted out “don’t forget to tell everyone hi on my behalf and thank them for reading!”

Before I knew it, the day flew by and mami was back at home with a HUGE black bag. Mami came in absolutely glowing and talking very very fast – her cheeks were red and she was smiling really big!

“You should have seen all the mamas there!" she shouted out. "It was amazing!"

She picked me up and said,

“Little M, everyone sends their love to you! The reading went very well and even though I was nervous I made sure to let everyone know you are the blogger!”

I wanted to know if she had been able to talk to everyone, she brushed my hair back and said,

“Sorry mi amor, there was so much to do and see that I wasn’t able to meet everyone”.

I think daddy was slowly losing interest in what she was saying and changing the subject asked,

“so what’s in the bag” and mami jumped up and said:

“Oh! You won’t believe this” and she unzipped the black bag.

Daddy and I just stood there watching as mami pulled out packet after packet of Asda wipes, nappy creams, some sort of cotton pads, Tommee Tippee bottles, Plum snacks, a frisbee, baby spoons (hey! I don’t need those!) more creams, and even pasta ! Daddy couldn’t believe it!

I couldn’t stop clapping with excitement and threw everything all over the living room!

I don't know what you mamas did to my mami, but she went to sleep before me!

I waved bye bye from daddy’s arms and we closed the door and let her rest. Ah bless her, it was hard work networking and having fun all day.

I want to say GRACIAS to Susanna, Sian and AlphaMummy herself Jennifer for a great event. Maybe next year I will be able to come too?

Thank you to everyone for meeting my mami and for following my blog. I hope to meet some of you some day! I started the blog for mami and I promise to keep writing about our busy lives.

Bye bye! Little M

Christmas, Chris-t-mas?

Mami and Chef Phil Vickery

I don't know how mami spends her days. She takes the train after leaving me at nursery, but after that I have no idea how she fills her time. I have heard her talk about her "office" and "work". But that is as much as I know.

So when she came home last week talking about seeing new toys and food for something named Aldi, I was even more confused than before.

"There was a room full of delicious food and chocolates and fun toys in another!" She told daddy.
I perked up from my high chair. "Toys?" I thought.

"It was Christmas in July" she exclaimed 

"Aldi has a whole range of toys, I had no idea they had anything other than food at their stores. Remember Aldi stores from Spain?"  She asked daddy and emphasising the word Spain  (I don't know what that is either) but daddy just thought for a moment and said,

"Oh yes. They have toys there?"

"Yes! That's the German store. I had forgotten they had them in the UK. They have amazing prices" said mami.

"They had a display of all products that will be out for Christmas".

"Christ-mas, Chris -t -mas" I thought slowly. I know that word. How do I know that word?

"So what else did they have?" asked daddy.

"Hold on!" said mami and she ran out of the kitchen into the living room. She came back with a white bag and began taking out chocolates and cookies.

"Yummy!" I thought and pointed for a piece. "No Little M, you finish your dinner"

Daddy looked at her and said "well, this isn't very good for your diet" Mami just snorted at him, took the chocolates out of his hand and put them into the fridge. I could tell she couldn't wait to eat them! I can't blame her because I want some too!

Changing the subject quickly she said "well, the best part of all is that I got to meet with Phil Vickery!"

Daddy stopped stirring the sauce and looked at mami wide eyed "You did? How? What's he like?" he asked excitedly.

"Well" said mami slowly, "He's a really nice guy. Very funny, big advocate for getting kids cooking.  He's been working with Aldi stores for 2 years now."

"So that's what Aldi is, a store" Got it.

"Oh, really?" said daddy "Wow! I had no idea"

"Oh yeah, he's got an online school called Phil's Cooking Academy that helps kids learn to cook from scratch. Something I want Little M to learn when he's older".

"Sure! I've seen daddy cook and I want to help too" I shouted out. Mami looked at me, wiped away some sauce from my cheeks and kissed my forehead.

"So, did he give you any advice?" asked daddy

"Of course!" Said mami and read off a list of tips that Phil recommend for all mamas:

• Bulk cook so that you can freeze 2/3 of it for another day - Daddy smiled because he does this already.
• Keep your meals simple and have balance of sweet, fruit, veg, meats - Mami smiled this time because she cooks very very simple. Daddy rolled his eyes.
• Fast-food does not mean junk food. He says you can have healthy packaged or frozen food that is fast and easy to make but that does not mean its "junk"  - No reaction. Guess they both agreed.
• Kids should be introduced to a variety of foods early enough so that they are open to try it all later on. He said it is something called "flavour profiles" - Daddy perked up and said "its like muscle memory, the mind doesn't forget"

"Don't forget meeee" I thought. And I threw some mashed potatoes at mami to get her attention. She turned to me and said, "Okay mi amor, lets get you in the bath".

I still need to figure out what this Christmas business is all about and how it involves toys.

At least I learned that Aldi has "great value" for money as mami says, a yummy range of fresh and frozen foods, and Phil Vickery on their side!

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!