I don’t know if I knew what to expect when I had a child...

I’m pleased to report that having a newborn wasn’t as terrifying as I thought it would be.  Or maybe I can’t actually remember what it was like…?

One thing is for sure, I didn’t expect my sweet little baby boy to turn into a toddling monster!

I didn’t expect him to love the dog as much as I do, but he does.  He loves to cuddle him (though Rolo doesn’t like it) and kiss him (Rolo doesn’t like that either).  When he’s stroking him, he calls me to see.  And he likes that I tell him he’s such a good boy for being gentle.  

That being said, I didn’t expect him to walk around (following the dog), call my name, smile when I look at him and then give Rolo a swift kick up the bum!   

And when I get cross with him, he laughs!  He laughs and then does it again!  He doesn’t realise that I get more cross because I’m worried that one day Rolo might not react well…

I hoped that Vinay would one day enjoy colouring and drawing (not that he can do either very well, of course).  And I’m happy to say that he does!  He likes me to draw pictures for him – pictures of buses, tankers, cars, dogs, cats, snakes and monkeys.  All I can say is, thank goodness he doesn’t know yet how rubbish my drawing is!  He enjoys colouring (scribbling).  He even knows one or two colours.

I didn’t expect him to colour on the tables, sofas and walls.  And I certainly didn’t expect him to carry on doing it when he’s been told not to.  He calls my name, and when he has my full attention, he runs over to the white wall and colours on it!  And again, he thinks it’s funny.

I am thrilled that my child has a love for shoes – just like his mama 🙂  He LOVES them.  He loves wearing mama’s shoes.  Papa’s too.  

I did not expect him to want to try on his new shoes (stored in a cupboard for now as they’re still too big) *every* day and have a tantrum when mama says, ‘no’.

I know that Vinay loves buses, trucks, tankers, fire engines and police cars.  The fact that he gets so excited by them amazes me.  I didn’t think he’d ever move on from animals (his first love).

I did not expect him to shout, ‘MAMA! CANKA!’ every single time he sees a tanker (which is very very frequently).  And he keeps shouting, ‘MAMA!  MAMA!  MAMA!’ until I acknowledge the tanker.

I did not expect him to shout, ‘MAMA!’ and do the wheels on the bus action every single time he sees a bus (which is very frequently).  Again, he shouts and keeps on shouting, ‘MAMA!  MAMA!  MAMA!’ until I acknowledge the damn bus.

He likes to touch everything.  Open every cupboard and drawer.  Explore as much as he can.  And while this is ok within reason, there are some cupboards, drawers, things that he just can’t touch, play with, empty out.

I did not expect him to keep going back to that particular item, cupboard, drawer over and over and over again and screaming and stamping his feet when he doesn’t get what he wants.

I knew that having a child would mean having mess everywhere.  I’m not the neatest person around (LagosDad is much tidier than I am), but my mess is organised.  And I put stuff away from time to time.

I definitely did not expect one little person to make SO much mess.  And on purpose, as well!  I did not realise that he would throw his books on the floor whenever he felt like it.  Or that he would chuck his crayons around the room, even after being told (very nicely and sometimes quite sternly) not to.  

I did not expect him to actually watch me watching him do it!

A few weeks ago we went to visit a friend and her baby.  Vinay decided that he was going to throw the baby’s books all over the floor.  I did not expect this from him.  He is usually very well-behaved when we go out.  I asked him nicely (yet firmly) to pick up the books and put them back.  He ignored me.  Twice.  Or was it three times?  Finally, I said, ‘Vinay!  Aunty will shout at you if you don’t pick up the baby’s books and put them back!’

I did not expect him to look at my friend and then pick up everything and put it away!  To be honest, I was a little disappointed that the thought of someone he’s only met twice shouting at him, rather than his mother asking him, was enough to make him tidy up.

I don’t even know what to expect next!  

Any hints or tips from anyone?