The tiny whine came from bubba who was currently laying on her playmat, before Mama even looked up from folding laundry.
“Yes, babygirl?” she answered softly.
Little one peeked over the top of her bunbun, paci wobbling between pouty lips. “Can we get a pet otter?”
Mama smiled immediately because this had apparently become today’s very important subject.
“Mhm.” She nodded seriously. “A tiny one. I’d feed him fishies.”
Mama walked over and booped her nose. “Baby, otters belong in the water and with other otters.”
“But I’d love him,” she insisted, clutching her stuffed bunny dramatically. “I’d share my blankie.”
Mama laughed quietly. “You really thought this through.”
Little one huffed into bunbun. Her paci squeaked when she grumbled around it. “I just want one sooo bad, mama.”
Mama leaned down to kiss her forehead. “Well, wanting things is okay.”
Five minutes later, while Mama was putting dishes away
“What if the otter slept in my room with me?”
Mama turned slowly, trying not to smile too hard. “baby you don't even sleep in your room, do you?”
“But what if he wore tiny pajamas?”
“Oh, now you’re just trying to emotionally manipulate me.”
Bubba giggled loudly at that, kicking her socked feet against the playmat.
By lunchtime, the subject had somehow become even more urgent.
Mama set down a sandwich cut into small triangles and apple slices in front of her little girl, who was colouring a picture very intensely.
And there was a long potato-shaped creature floating in blue crayon water.
Mama raised an eyebrow. “Interesting.”
“That’s Otterly,” little one explained proudly.
Bubba gasped like Mama had offended him personally. “He’s REAL in my HEART.”
Mama nearly lost composure right there.
Little one shoved another bite of sandwich into her mouth and spoke around it. “Otterly likes bedtime stories.”
“Otters do not wear nappies.”
Mama snorted into her water.
Later that afternoon, after a long walk and far too many negotiations about ice cream, Mama noticed the unmistakable tiny wiggle.
“Do you need a nappy check?”
Mama guided her toward the nursery with a knowing smile. The room smelled faintly of lavender and clean blankets, soft afternoon sunlight spilling across the changing table.
Little one climbed up dramatically, still holding her paci between her lips.
“I’m too little to survive this,” she mumbled.
Mama laughed softly. “Such tragedy, babygirl”
The nappy tabs opened with familiar little crinkles while babygirl squirmed and complained.
Mama cleaned her up carefully, rubbing soothing circles over her tummy when she got wiggly. Little one sucked lazily on her paci, sleepy from lunch and attention.
“There we go, princess,” Mama murmured, fastening a fresh nappy snug around her hips. “Much better.”
Little one peeked down at it. “Can otters wear pink nappies?”
Mama kissed her nose. “We are still not getting an otter.”
“Otterly would like this diaper.”
“I’m sure imaginary Otterly would be thrilled.”
By evening, bubba had become increasingly clingy in the soft, sleepy way she always did after dinner.
She followed Mama from room to room dragging her blanket behind her.
Mama laughed already. “Still going?”
“He could have bath time with me.”
Mama patted the spot next to her and bubba sat down “You know what I think?”
“I think somebody just really likes cute cuddly things.”
Little one buried her face against Mama’s shoulder. “Maybe.”
“And maybe somebody wants a little extra attention today.” A tiny embarrassed nod. Mama’s expression softened immediately.
Mama opened her arms and Little one curled close, paci bobbing sleepily while Mama stroked her hair.
“You know you can just ask for cuddles, right baby?”
“I know mummy” she whispered.
“You never have to earn them.”
Little one melted further into Mama’s chest.
After a few quiet moments, Mama felt tiny fingers tug at her.
“…can we at least visit otters someday?”
Mama smiled and kissed the top of her head.
“That,” she whispered, “we can absolutely do.”
Satisfied at last, little one gave a sleepy hum around her paci and closed her eyes, warm, changed, cuddled, and already dreaming about tiny otters in pajamas. 🎀
