Something for all mamas

Remember when I said someone named abuelita / grandma showed up in my room one morning? Well, I have now remembered who she is – she is mami’s mami! Tonight, after putting me to bed, I heard mami say to abuelita that she had a special “girls only treat” and that “she needed to relax”.

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!

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!

Earth Friendly Baby and Kids

Shhh! Mami won’t like me saying this to you, but she does not see the point of buying special lotions, body washes or shampoos for me. She sees that other mami’s lather up their little ones with “extra special” soaps and oils, but she just doesn’t get it.

Mami just goes to our local Boots and buys whatever is on offer. Hey! It’s worked fine until now, I smell good, and I’m clean. I do have dry skin, and mami has tried to put lotion on me, but I don’t like the sticky feeling on my arms and legs and I wiggle and twist until I am out of her grasp.

She tries again every now and then, but I won’t have it! I’m like daddy, a simple, no fuss kind of guy. So when the nice people at Earth Friendly Baby and Kids asked if I would like to test out some of their lotions, shampoos and nappy cream, I had my doubts. Unfortunately for me, mami checks the emails so I wasn’t able to hide that from her. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try them out and then I thought, this could be my very first review!

Earth Friendly Baby and Kids don’t settle for irritated skin or unnecessary chemicals in their products. And the best part of all is that their pure and natural range of affordable, everyday toiletries for children offers everything mamas and daddies need at great value prices. That is the part mami liked the best.

Now I don’t know why, maybe it’s because I poop a lot, but I have very bad nappy rash. I sometimes cry when mami is changing me because it hurts so much. We’ve been using the Baby Organic Red Clover Diaper Care Cream (£5.49), and it made me feel better than the other stuff we use. It’s thick and soothes me right away. Mami and I like it very much, but mentioned to daddy that she would not buy such a small tube of nappy cream for that price when she can just buy a bigger container and have it last longer.

I still don’t like having shampoo and body wash on me, but mami and I were surprised at how yummy the organic chamomile Kids Shampoo and Bodywash (£3.99 250ml) smelled.  It left my hair soft and my skin feeling fresh. I give mami the go-ahead to use this on me again. I like playing with the bottles in the water and besides it distracts me from the hair washing that I find so annoying.

Washing my hands with the Kids Handwash

I also now wash my hands with the zingy citrus Kids Handwash (£3.99 250ml). I like it because I can press down on the pump and get the soap out by myself! It reminded me of the orange pieces I sometimes have for lunch. It leaves my hands nice and clean and it’s so much better than using wipes.

Lastly, as much as I do not like to admit it, the Baby Organic Calendula Daily Care Cream (£5.49) was the best of all! I still don’t make it easy for mami to put it on me, but since I was so relaxed after my citrus bath, I lay still long enough for mami to put some cream on my arms and legs.

She showed me how to rub it on my knees – it wasn’t so bad! I’ve noticed that my skin feels much better and its not as dry as before. The size of the tube is quite big and should last for some time. I think the nappy cream should come in that size too!

Earth Friendly have all sorts of other yummy smelling lotions, soaps and products for mamas and kids. You can find the Earth Friendly Kids and Baby products for your little ones at selected Waitrose stores, good baby and health stores and via http://www.healthqueststore.com/. 

Mami and I really like Earth Friendly and recommend you try it too!

 

I love you daddy!

Remember on Friday when I painted with mami?

We took my best artwork and made a sailboat for daddy!

I love daddy everyday, but mami said today was an "extra special day".

So this morning I mami and I sang "I love you, I love you, I youuuuuu!" to daddy at the foot of the bed. He woke up smiling and I jumped into his arms and gave him a big kiss.

Daddy holding me when I was only 1 month old!

 Here are just a few reasons why I love my daddy every single day:

• He takes me to the park on Saturday mornings and lets me pick up anything I want!
• He makes me yummy dinners and remembers that I do not like pasta.
• The view from his shoulders is much better than the view from mami's shoulders!
• No need to sing or dance with daddy - he appreciates silence like I do.
• When he works from home he picks me up a little bit earlier from nursery to spend more time with me.
• Gives me cake and cookies even after mami has asked him not to.
• He let me help him build the table with my tools.
• Even though he is not the best at speaking Spanish, he still tries to teach me words!
• He is the best at cuddling when I don't feel well
• But most importantly he makes mami very happy - and he kisses her a lot too! 

Best view of all!

I have many more reasons why I love daddy, but its bed time and mami is coming to pull me off the computer so I have to cut it short. I'll write more this week.

I hope all daddies out there had a wonderful day!

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

GOOOOOOOOL

 CHI CHI CHI, LE LE LE, VIVA CHILE!

Mami is a funny one. I can’t quite understand her. One minute she is complaining that daddy watches too many sports and the next she is checking the schedule for football games. Confusing or what?

Turns out, the Chilean team, also known as La Roja qualified for something called the World Cup . For those that may not know, it is a major fooball or fútbol event and only happens every 4 summers – daddy and I had a long chat while watching the USA v England game.

At tía Paula's house to watch the Chile v Honduras game

The shirt is too big for me so mami put it around my shoulders

Today Chile played Honduras – I had never seen mami actually nervous! But we won 1-0 and boy was it exciting when the first goal was scored. Mami and her friends jumped up and down yelling GOOOOOOOOOL! It was fun to spend the day with mami after not seeing much of her for the past two weeks.

Supporting La Roja  No 7 is Sánchez and No 15 is Beausejour

La Roja may be the team to watch - they are possibly the best Chilean team yet. I realised it is not just about the game, but about being proud of where you are from.

After the first goal I called my Great-Oma to celebrate together even though we are so far away. It also got me thinking that we really should visit soon. As soon as I get some alone time with mami I am going to ask if are any plans to take a holiday there (I could see she she was a little bit emotional especially after hearing the national song).

¿Alo? Oma ¿vistes el gol?/ Did you see the goal?

I know a lot of mamas don't really care much for sports but what do you expect? I'm a boy and I can't wait to start playing fútbol later on this summer!  (Daddy registered me last week) and Chile has provided a lot more excitement than some of the other games so far!

But don't think is ends with this game - I have to support team USA with daddy, cheer on Chile with mami and of course root for England! Who say's a toddlers life is easy?

What's your favourite team?

Thanks Mama Hen

Today was "one of those days". Mami was a bit down and I have not been myself lately. I don't know if its all of the teeth I have coming in or what, but we were both not quite right.

After nursery, I checked in on the blog and saw that Mama Hen at Mama's Little Chick had a surprise for me! I quickly went over to hers, and saw that she had tagged me with a Beautiful Blogger Award. Yah!
Thank you Mama Hen - you made us smile after a very gloomy day!

Now rules are rules, and I must tell you 7 things you may not know:

1. Mami thinks caffeine doesn’t really do much for her, but drinks coffee “just in case” and because it smells so good.
2. Mami wants to audition for Glee – she rehearses at home, so please, someone, give her a chance!
3. She loves The Carpenters and a Latin Pop. Daddy and I don’t understand her song choices, but we love her regardless.
4. When mami was 15 she wrote to the Mickey Mouse Club (MMC) and received a signed poster which included Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Kerri Russell, Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling.
5. Mami is scared of scary movies - she has never been able to watch them and if she does, it gives her nightmares. I don't blame her!
6. She can talk like Donald Duck!
7. She was constantly homesick for the first 2 years in the UK

There are so many mamas out there who have been so supportive of my blog. I would like to give this award to Foodie Mummy for her very nice comments and encouragment and to Utterly Scrummy for her delicious recipes and friendly tweets!

Congratulations and I look forward to reading about you too!

Fat feet, tight shoes

Denial, denial, denial. That’s what my mami is in – complete denial that her feet are bigger, wider, and fatter and that she will never again fit into the shoes she wore before I was born.

Daddy and I think she should have realised this by now, after all I’m 17 months this week. Get a clue!

Every month, mami goes into her room, takes out her shoes and attempts to squeeze her feet into them hoping that they would have shrunk back to size 4 (UK not US).

“All those shoes, and they don’t fit. What a waste!”

“I just can’t bring myself to give them away,” she says. Then daddy pipes in “not to mention all that money!”

(I just think why does she need so many? I just have 3 pair, and thats enough for me!)

See mami has a lot of shoes in size 4. And I mean, A LOT! Years of buying shoes, and now they take up space in her closet because now she is a size 5.

It pains mami not to wear her shoes

Worst part of all, she even has some stored in my room! I was playing with the closet door this weekend and managed to finally get it open. I was so happy to finally have been able to do it on my own, that I started taking everything out!

I was dancing around my shirts, shorts, pj’s and my shoes, when I picked up a blue shoe with a high heel. It didn’t look like anything that I would ever wear so I walked to the kitchen where mami was preparing lunch and handed it to her.

She looked  at the shoe and I realised that she did not know where I had gotten it from. She followed me to the room and she dropped to her knees, completely ignoring the mess I had made (that was a first!) and said “That’s where I put them!” and dug through the rest of the shoes she had put away a year before.

Seeing that mami was having so much fun, I helped pull out the shoes and even got a taste of a few of them (not too good, I wouldn’t recommend them, especially her sandals, yuk!)

And again she tried them all on, and again got the same result: fat feet, tight shoes. Silly mami, doesn't she know that feet grow? Like mine!

I just hope she moves her stuff out of my room!

Mamas, did this happen to you too? Did you go up a shoe size?

There's no business like SHOW business

Over the past few months I’ve noticed that mami often stands in front of the mirror making funny faces and her voice changes to a tone I’ve never heard before. She acts very, very different; like she is someone else.

Over the weekend, I saw her do it again. I had wandered into the bathroom hoping to get my hands on the toilet paper roll they often forget to put away, when I saw her talking into the mirror. I pointed up at her and called for her to look at me.

She kept looking ahead so I tugged at her shirt and she looked down at me smiling and said “hola mi amor, la mami esta ensayando para su estreno/ hi my love, mami is rehearsing for her show”. And then I realised, she is pretending to be someone else – just like when she reads to me and does funny voices!

 

Mami as Camp Commandante Regina R. Random (she's in the middle)

Daddy came in to scoop me up and said “see that, your mami is a “DRA-MA QUEEEEN”. Mami just looked over at us and said, “nooo, just a sensible artiste” and then they both broke out into laughter.

But now I get it! Mami is staring in her first play in sixteen years! She calls it her “London Debut”. After I was born she kept telling daddy that she wanted to do something for herself, really go for it, but didn’t know how. In January she joined an amateur theatre group in West London. She wasn’t sure if she would be able to dedicate the time but nowadays she is very quick to rush out the door on rehearsal days! Hmmm?

And here she plays "Maria" in Funeral Games (She's in blue!)

Mami gets to make all of those funny faces and voices in two Joe Orton plays; The Erphingham Camp and Funeral Games at Questors Theatre in Ealing, London. Opening night was Wednesday the 9th of June and runs through Saturday the 12th. She is nervous but really excited to be a part of it all!

I was excited too! But then I heard mami and daddy talking about getting a babysitter for me. Wait? What? After all that time I spent watching her practice; I won’t be able to go?! Oh no! Daddy said it wasn’t for little ones and that it would be past by bedtime by then.

I guess I will just have to hear all about it – and believe me, I will hear about it.

Countdown to CyberMummy

Since little ones can't attend the CyberMummy Conference, my mami is going on my behalf. Remember, I am the blogger here! She just provides the material.

Carly at Mummy's Shoes had the good idea to do a little virtual meet and greet in order to get more acquainted with all of the mummy's attending. It's difficult to keep track  - I should know!

So here she is, my mami!

Her name: Maria Jose Ovalle

My blog: Mummy's Busy World by me, Little M

She tweets for me: @verybusymama

She insisted I wear that monkey costume  - I wasn't thrilled.

Let see, she is about 5ft tall, brown hair and green eyes. Oh, and she speaks English with an American accent.

She has a bit of a funny laugh, but don't be scared off. She may break out in impromptu song and dance, but  its over very soon. She is a proud Gleek, likes to run for excercise, loves the theatre, had a big collection of pretty bags and shoes, and she takes her coffee with milk, no sugar.

She'll see you soon!

A week of spew and poo

Why do I always get blamed when we are all sick at the same time? Why can't it be that mami had a stomach bug and gave it to me? No one ever thinks of that - its always my fault! Every time mami and daddy feel sick they say "Oh, I think I've got what Little M has".

And last week was no different. On Thursday night I got sick all over myself and bed. After having my bedtime milk my tummy didn't feel so good and then I just couldn't keep it down any longer. The next day I heard mami saying she wasn't feeling too good and keep holding her tummy and scrunching up her face. On Sunday, daddy woke up saying his tummy hurt and mami had to come home from theatre rehearsals early because she felt she was going to "spew" on stage. I said it was nerves, but she failed to see my point.

On Sunday I felt tired, my tummy ached and admittedly was being very nasty towards mami. I just didn't want her near me - I just wanted daddy to hold and cuddle me. Mami looked sad as I shooed her away, but I just wanted my space, to be left alone and to whine and cry on my blanket on the floor.

By mid afternoon, the poo and spew began. Daddy was reading The Economist when he suddenly piped up and said "uh oh" and took off running to the bathroom. I still didn't want her to touch me so I tired to follow daddy, but he had closed the door.

After a few minutes, mami suddenly looked down at me, and just by the look on her face, one that screamed absolute fear and panic, she jumped up and ran out of the living room. I followed her into the hallway and I saw her banging on the bathroom door and saying (very loudly) in a panicked voice "please, I need to get in there, its an eeee-mmmerrrrgennncy" I couldn't quite hear daddy's response but mami kept saying "hurry please, PLEASE!"

Daddy soon appeared in the doorway and mami shoved him aside and locked herself in. Daddy came out and he looked just like he does when he comes back from a long run! I think he got it the worse, spew and poo. But hey, don't blame me! Any one of us could have given it to the other.

Mami re-emerged after a while and just shook her head and said "uuughhh" before sitting back down next to daddy and I.  Mami just stared straight ahead, I was snuggled up on daddy's lap with my blanket and dummy and no one said a word.

It was a long night - many more trips to the toilet by mami and daddy. To top it all off, my molars are coming through and I was in absolute pain - teething bites!

Tummy bug gone now. No more spew and poo - and I still say it wasn't my fault!

Festival time!

No wellies, mud or tents required for this festival! Erica at Little Mummy has organised The Great British Blog Festival in order to celebrate and get everyone talking about all things blogging!


I love festivals and blogging so I was happy to contribute a guest post. I wrote on the topic of being a new (and very young) blogger and the discoveries you make on a daily basis. Remember, I'm new at this! You will be able to read all about my day to day adventures this week over at Me the Man and the Baby.


As you know, I blog for mami and I am constantly trying to improve and looking to you mamas for support and advice. 

Today is the first day so please go and check out all the wonderful posts at:
Englishmum.com
Cafebebe.co.uk
Littlemumpreneur.com

I’ll let you know as soon as mine is up!

Little M

Mami and me days

Mami and Me Days

This week was a really sunny week and that means I get to spend more time at the paddling pool and my personal favourite, the sandbox! Mami goes to the office 3 days a week but on Wednesdays and Fridays we get to be together.

We take naps, play games, and while I am busy running around she does some laundry and cleans up after me in the kitchen. I don't really help out, but I do like to watch her vacuum! 

These are some of my favourite moments from this weeks "mami and me days":

I got to play with play-doh. And when mami wasn't looking I even got a little taste!

I finally got to use a fork - and I'm pretty good for a beginner!

Mami always lets me get dirty - and I appreciate that very much!

(I think she's just given up trying to hold me back)

I finally gave in and let mami hold my hand. Normally I don't like to be restricted, but lately I figured I might as well be nice.

After weeks of daddy hinting that I need a haircut, mami finally declared that she loves my curls too much and won't be cutting them any time soon.

 Mami 1 - Daddy 0

Nothing like a stroll with my feet propped up. I just love the sun!

And to top it all off, I love taking a nap in my buggy after a long day out in the sun

Hope that all of mamis out there are enjoying the good weather and making the most of it. What was the highlight of your week?

Are you the nanny?

Me at two weeks old! How can anyone doubt she is my mami?

It happened again.

It had been several months now, and it took me and mami by surprise.

Mami and I were in a store on the high street trying on summer shoes when the girl from the shop looked down at me, smiled and said “oh, he’s a cutie”.

“Thanks very much" I thought and I stopped chewing on the foam bar on the buggy and stared up at mami who was looking at me all gooey eyed like she often does. She was just on the cusp of thanking her, when the girl quickly cut her off and followed the statement with the forbidden question  “are you his nanny?”

“Nooooo!” I thought, "not again!"

“Of course she’s not my nanny, that’s my mami” I screamed out, but I don’t think she quite understood me.

I pointed up at mami who had already lost that twinkle in her eye and then, keeping very calm and collected mami looked  her square in the face, and in a very clear and authoritative voice (a voice I know very well) said:

“Nanny? Nooo. He’s all mine”

Clearly the answer did not suffice, because the girl looked from mami to me and back again as if doubting her.

She then did something that drives mami absolutely mad. In a high pitched faux baby voice (which I find ridiculous and very ineffective by the way) exclaimed at me  “Oh, no? She’s not your nanny then?...Noooo, she’s your mummy, right? Your mummy?!”

I just shook my head and kept pointing at mami who was holding a shoe in her hand. I’m pretty sure she was fighting the urge to throw the shoe at the girls face. Thankfully she didn’t and we were out of there!

See, the first time mami was asked that question we were both absolutely gob smacked. She flinched in disbelief when the older woman at the park asked, “Is he yours?” Mami was so caught off guard that she nervously smiled and said muttered “of course” and walked away.

“How could someone ask such a question? Of course he’s mine!” She would say later at home.

“Unbelievable!” I would hear her tell daddy. “I would never ask anyone that question!”

Being less mobile back then, I just lay on my back, threw my tiny fists in the air and flashed her a gummy smile to let her know that I knew she was my mami!

As the months rolled by we would occasionally come across another person who would ask if I "belonged to her".

“Of course I’m hers!” I’d squeal. I still did not understand why anyone would doubt that she was my mami.

We learned to deal with it and move on. But in all fairness, mami and I had no idea that half of London was full of kids and babies being looked after by nannies. After all, we were new at this!

Mami and I now realise that many of the mamis at the park are in fact nannies, and she too finds herself wondering “mami or nanny?” Although a seemingly innocent question by the person asking, it can hurt many mamis feelings, especially since they dedicate so much time to us! Mami would not want to hurt anyone’s feelings by asking that question, so we just keep it to ourselves.

Even so, when the girl in the store asked her the “forbidden question”, it stirred up old emotions for both of us.

I reminded mami that just as many people have very kindly come up to us to say just how alike we look. That quickly cheered her up and she soon forgot about the “incident”.

How about you mamis out there - have you been asked this question? How did you react? Is it more a city thing? (It has only ever happened to us in London) Tell me about it!