Tag Archives: Mommy’s Baby Steps

On the Fourth Day of Christmas My Toddler Gave to Me…Christmas Fun with My Little One

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Quinn Having Fun with Her Cousins at the Christmas Party

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas with selecting the tree, decorating and having fun with decorations. Interestingly, my little girl looked at the festiveness of it all and asked, “Are we  having a party, Mommy?” When I said, “We sure are!” my little two and a half year old began running through the list of potential attendees asking me if they were coming. She was so excited about our holiday party, which was this past Saturday, and she refused to take her nap for fear of missing the party altogether. Then, she managed to stay up to nearly midnight snacking on treats, playing games, chatting with any and everybody and having fun with her cousins. Though she is still young, it pleases me that she is already grasping the importance of family togetherness, especially around the holidays. Seeing her interact with her cousins reminded me of the fun I use to have with my cousins as we all gathered at my grandmother’s home. I hope this is a tradition not just Quinn but all of them come to look forward to because I certainly do.

All the best,

Tanya

On the Third Day of Christmas My Toddler Gave to Me…Christmas Fun with My Little One

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2015-12-04 18.28.39

Quinn Wearing the Decorative Boots She Claimed as Her Own

Garland, twinkling lights, sparkly reindeer, glittery candles, snow globes and Santa: this year, my little girl not only loved selecting and decorating the Christmas tree but everything that turns our home into a magical, winter wonderland. Though we’ve been experiencing unseasonably warm weather, one of Quinn’s favorite activities has been parading around in turquoise glittery boots that are actually meant for decoration. For the first week after decorating, she would remove them at least once a day from the dining room table and put her two and a half year old feet in them with a big smile on her face. “Look at my new boots, Mommy!” I’d tell her repeatedly, “These are for decoration, honey.” But in the back of my mind I thought they looked so cute on her and wished they were actual boots she could wear for the holiday. In that moment, she reminded me of when I was little girl and used to happily prance around with silver tinsel garland wrapped around my neck as though I was a movie star with my mom telling me it was for the tree, not me. My little one is adding a lot of fun and sparkle, and I am truly enjoying it.

All the best,

Tanya

On the First Day of Christmas My Toddler Gave to Me…Christmas Fun with My Little One

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2015-11-27 11.40.16Christmas has always been one of my favorite holidays, but a few years ago the feeling of sugar plums dancing in my head began to fade. Then my daughter was born, causing me to think about my own childhood memories.  Just the other day she said, “I wish it was Christmas everyday, Mommy! I love Christmas!” A big smile came over my face as the child within me was brought back to life through her words. One of my favorite activities is selecting the Christmas tree, and this was the first year Quinn was able to pick out the one she wanted. The day after Thanksgiving, we went to select our tree.

As soon as we started looking, my little two and a half year old automatically went to the one she knew would be ours.  “I want this tree, Mommy! Can we get this tree, Daddy?” Though this is a simple activity, it is one I appreciate just as much as Quinn. It is more than just selecting a tree; it is about family togetherness and working together as team to pick what we believe is the “best” tree for our home. Also, it gives Quinn an opportunity to feel empowered by picking the tree for the family as she gets our approval. I’m looking forward to this being an annual tradition for our family.

All the best,

Tanya

My Little Girl: The Gymnast (Part 4)

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Quinn Executing the Perfect Landing

For the third or fourth time, my little girl admonishes me for hovering over her, “No, Mommy! Don’t hold me! I can do it by myself!” Though she only mastered walking about a year and eight months ago, this two and a half year old walks across the balance beam, which is a little over two feet off the floor, with poise and no fear. I’ve been taking Quinn to The Little Gym since she was nine months old, and though she has been shy at times when it comes to interacting with other children and adults, she rarely shies away from doing any of the skills of the day. Every Wednesday, she is eager to go so that she can run, jump, do some log rolls and forward rolls, walk across the balance beam, do some flips on the bars or swing on the rings. She often tells me that she loves to exercise and wants to practice at home, which can make me a little anxious at times as she decides to execute her “landing” from the sofa, her bed or off the stairs.

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Quinn is Ready to Swing in the Rings

It pleases me that Quinn is an active child and wants to go to the gym. It has now been well over a year and a half since we first started going, and she’s truly blossomed and blows me away each time we go. Even with the skills she hasn’t mastered, I am impressed that she does not give up and keeps on trying. Once she has it, she always looks to me with her hand outstretched to give me a high five saying, “I did it, Mommy! Did you see me?” My little girl does so much to put a smile on my face and wonderment in my mind of what she will become. Whether it be an artist, doctor, zoologist or gymnast, I will definitely be her biggest cheerleader!

All the best,

Tanya

My Little Girl: The Zoologist (Part 3)

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2015-06-06 09.07.11One of my daughter’s favorite outings is going to the zoo. She loves seeing the monkeys, lions, tigers, tortoises, zebras…well just about every animal at the zoo. One of our regular stops since Quinn was just a year old is to the petting area with the goats and sheep. While some children and even adults become uneasy with the goats and sheep invading their space, she welcomes them. One time, about four or five of them surrounded her, and instead of being nervous, my little girl said, “Look at all these goats, Mommy! I have to be gentle.” My little girl is at that inquisitive age of two and a half and wants to know everything about the animals, especially the big cat falls exhibits with the lions, tigers, pumas, leopards and jaguars. At first, she referred to all of them as tigers, but now, my little zoologist looks at the big cat intently and will inform me, “That one is not a tiger mommy; it’s a puma!” I love watching her fascination with animals as she becomes entranced by their movements. Though she most certainly is my little artist and doctor, I  can imagine my little girl being a zoologist too!

All the best,

Tanya

My Little Girl: The Doctor (Part 2)

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2015-10-24 17.48.59

Doctor  Quinn is in!

Some people believe children shouldn’t watch television and that it’s bad for them. While I do agree that too much TV, especially for young children, is not productive, I do love some of the shows that have inspired my little girl to explore different interests and to even confront some of her fears head on. One of these shows is Doc McStuffins. Quinn wanted to be her for Halloween and will often ask if she can wear her Doc McStuffins outfit and give me a check-up. I’m impressed that she is familiar with a stethoscope and otoscope and knows how to use them both properly.

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Doctor  Quinn is in!

“Mommy, I need to check your heart!” she exclaims  with the ear pieces in her ears and holding up the chest piece to my chest. “Let’s check your ears, Mommy!” Quinn eagerly says with the otoscope in her hand. As a result of her newfound interest in doctors, Quinn is not as nervous or fearful about going to the doctor. She actually says, “The doctor has to give me a check-up and has a stethoscope just like me!” Of course, my little one will develop many interests over the years, and her father and I will be their to support her, but if she decides to become Dr. Quinn, with an avocation as an artist, there will be no complaints from me!

 

All the best,

Tanya

My Little Girl: The Artist (Part 1)

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2015-11-09 12.02.03

Quinn Painting Her Masterpiece “Orange Leaves”

A few weeks ago, my mother asked me what are my hopes for my little girl. After giving it some thought, I said, “I hope Quinn will be successful at whatever she does and have a happy life.” But then, I began pondering over the many areas in which she displays interests, imagining what she will become. While I do not want to be a pushy, overbearing mom possibly living my dreams and aspirations through Quinn, I want to ensure that I am providing her with the proper resources to determine what she enjoys and in what areas she is gifted.

Most children love painting, and though my daughter is still developing her pincer skills and dexterity, I observe how serious and intentional she is while painting. She knows what colors she wants to use where and even asked to use red and yellow for our autumn tree project because she said, “Red and yellow make orange!” Like a true artist, she demanded that I not take her picture while she’s painting and told me, “Mommy, it’s my masterpiece; no pictures please!” OF course, I had to sneak one.

It may be messy at times, but I am happy that Quinn enjoys expressing herself through painting and hope she will continue to display this interest into adulthood.

All the best,

 

Tanya

She’s Gets it from her Mommy!

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2015-11-26 17.37.39

Quinn and Me on Thanksgiving 2015

Shortly after my little girl was born two and a half years ago, the unsolicited comments and votes began pouring in. “She looks just like her daddy!” “Well, she’s kind of a mix of the both of you, but I see her dad more than you.” “Sorry, Tanya. Quinn is her daddy’s twin!” Though I must agree with the consensus, now that my daughter is getting older and expressing herself more, I am beginning to notice some of my personality traits along with my facial expressions in Quinn. On Thanksgiving, my sister confirmed that I am not the only one who has noticed this. She took a picture of Quinn and me, and as I looked at it, I noticed that we both had the same facial expressions. Though it is a funny grimace that I often had as a child (It took me years to learn how to smile properly in photos.), it melted my heart to see a little bit of me in her. I am so thankful for our mother and daughter bond and hope that I continue to see some more of my positive attributes within Quinn.

All the best,

Tanya

Autumn Fun with My Little One at Sleep Hollow Pumpkin Patch (Part 1)

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Autumn Fun and Sleep Hollow in Active Acres

Autumn Fun and Sleep Hollow in Active Acres

A few weeks ago, I posted an entry about how I was already beginning to miss some of the fun summer activities with my two year old daughter yet eagerly anticipating what autumn would bring. So far, October has been a month full of fun for us both. While Quinn has been exposed to some new experiences along with some traditions initiated last year, I’ve been able to keep my inner-child alive and get pleasure from seeing the delightful smile on my daughter’s face. Last weekend, we went to a pumpkin patch, Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Patch in Newtown, PA. The year prior, we went to Shadybrook Farm, which is just a few miles away. After attending both locations, I do prefer Shadybrook Farm for toddlers because it has a few more age appropriate activities and did have a more tamed pumpkin patch without the overwhelming amount of wild weeds with prickly vines and plants. Unfortunately, at Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Patch, Quinn was unable to walk around freely in the pumpkin patch to pick out her own pumpkin for fear of her getting poked by some of the plants with dangerous spikes. I was glad I had on jeans as I got poked by a few.

As I shook my head wishing that we stuck with the same pumpkin patch from last year, thinking that this was going to have a negative impact on her experience, Quinn did not seem to mind being carried by her dad and pointing out pumpkins she liked. Actually, she enjoyed the hayride to the pumpkin patch, seeing the farm animals and scarecrows, running around and directing us through the corn maze, playing with the water pump, jumping in the moon bounce and riding on the pony. Also, the people there were very friendly and ensured that we had a nice time and enjoyed the activities. She repeatedly kept saying, “I’m having fun Mommy!” She taught me that everything does not have to always “fall” into place to have a great time. Here’s to autumn fun with my little one!

All the best,

Tanya

Here’s to Another Happy Mommyversary!

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Mommy and Daughter

Quinn and Me: Ready for Mother’s Day Brunch at the Please Touch Museum (2015)

As cliché as the saying goes, “There truly is something special about being a mom.” Though my little girl just turned two last week, this is my third year celebrating being a mother, and I feel so blessed to have her in my life. She constantly inspires me and is the reason I started this blog. As I continue on my journey taking baby steps into motherhood, I am bewildered at times because I know I have so far to go and so much to learn. Regardless of the emotions ranging from anxiety, happiness, frustration and joy, the views thus far have been breathtaking and often leave me in awe.

Being a mother has allowed me to have an even greater appreciation for my own mother, grandmothers, family and friends who are mothers, co-workers who are mothers, and even people who are mother-like figures to those without mothers, etc. People often remark that it is one of the toughest jobs that you will ever love and would not trade it for anything in the world. I wholeheartedly agree and hope that my little girl enjoys being my daughter as much as I enjoy being her mother.  Here’s to all of the mothers celebrating another mommyversary!

All the best,

Tanya