Shameless Plug: I Need Your Help

Harlan has been nominated as the Big City Moms Cutest Kid of the Year.  The top 3 winners will get a photo shoot with Suzanne Cohen Photography and gift baskets filled with treats.  The first place winner will also receive a class at Kidville and  bedroom set from Delta Children's Products.

Will you please go to Big City Mom's Facebook Page and "like" their page.  Once you have done that please find the photo album titled "Cutest Kid of the Year 2010".  Please leave a comment on that album that says "Vote Harlan #23." 

Votes on their wall will no count any longer, it must be done on that photo album.  It will only take a few minutes and we would really appreciate your vote.  The voting ends on Sunday.

Thank you for your support!

Wordless Wednesday: Angry Girl

This was taken on New Years Eve.  I don't remember what made her upset in this picture.  I just know that I got the perfect shot! She's still cute, even when she's mad.

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New Year, New Me

Before having Harlan I was in the best shape I had ever been in my life.  I worked out everyday, ate the right things and stayed pretty healthy overall.  When I found out I was pregnant {a HUGE surprise} I didn't know how I was going to keep up with my fitness regime.

Through the seven months of morning sickness and a full-time job, I somehow managed to make it to the gym everyday after work.  I worked out for almost two hours everyday up to the week before I had her.  People at the gym would look at me as if I was crazy for being there, but I felt great and refused to let a pregnancy be an excuse for me to overeat and gain unnecessary weight.  I told everyone at the gym that I would be back as soon as I had the baby and my doctor gave me the okay.

I did have all intentions of going back.  I loved to work out.  It was an escape for me.  A time where I could focus on me and only me.  I did go back a couple times after having Harlan, but the unexpected move from MacKay and me being a "single" mom got in the way of my workout.

I was very lucky that my pregnancy weight came off very quickly.  I was back in my regular jeans the week after having her.  I credit it to breastfeeding and the fact I worked my butt off during the pregnancy.  Although I lost the baby weight quickly, I used the excuse of "not having time" to workout as a way into eating the unhealthy food again and being lazy.

I kept telling myself that once I moved I would get back into getting healthier.  That didn't happen.  The starting point of my new lifestyle kept extending.  The date was put off more and more.

So, I've decided to go with the rest of the millions that make their New Years resolution to adapt a healthier lifestyle.  I started to go back to the gym yesterday and it felt so good to be back.  I immediately jumped back into my routine {it was a lot harder than I remembered} and it felt better than ever.  I woke up this morning sore and barely able to walk, but I still made it to the gym again.

Eating has been a bit tougher.  My body is craving sweets and carbs and all of the unhealthy stuff I've been feeding it for the past 16 months.  I think eating better is going to be harder than working out.  I really don't like healthy food, but I'm determined to find healthy recipes that taste great and that I enjoy eating.

I hope that later in the year I can come back to this post and realize that I have accomplished my goals.

Anyone else jumping on the bandwagon with me?

Where Has My Baby Gone?

I got an email this morning from Baby Center {as I do every month} asking me this question.  My little girl is 16 months today.  She is walking, talking, running, and very aware of the world around her. Very different from how she was 16 months ago. It amazes me how quickly time has passed since she was born.

It seems like just yesterday we were taking her home from the hospital and I could hold her in my arms all day and night.  Now, I am lucky to get to hold her for five minutes before she wiggles her way from me.  

Harlan and I sat watching videos of her this morning from when she was younger.  We watched as she jumped around in her bouncer and babbled words that were unrecognizable.  It made me miss those moments that I had with her and learn to cherish the ones that I have with her now and in the future.

She is growing before my eyes and it's not until I stop and take a moment to look back, that I can really see how much she has grown.  Being with her every moment of everyday doesn't really let me see how much she grows from month to month.  

Although her growth may not be apparent to me everyday, what is apparent is the amazing person she is becoming.  

She may not be a baby anymore, but she will always be my little girl.

Maclaren Junior Quest Activity Center: Final Thoughts

While packing for our trip to Charlotte for Christmas I knew we weren't going to bring many toys.  Santa and our family were giving her so many toys for Christmas, I knew there was no point in loading the car with all of our toys from home.  The one exception to my rule was the Maclaren Junior Quest Activity Center.  It's become a toy Harlan doesn't want to leave home without.

We have had it for about a month now and Harlan continues to play with it everyday.  Her favorite, by far, is the stroller.  She has put every one of her dolls in it for a stroll and has even attempted to put the dogs in. If the dogs won't cooperate with her, she will then insist on chasing them around the house with it.  An activity that is always full of laughs.  

She even enjoyed being pushed around the house in it.  This scared me at first because I didn't think that it would hold her, but it seemed to hold up strong and support her well.

One of my favorite things about the product is that it really promotes imagination.  Harlan has loved to get her dolls and put them in the rocker or the cot and talk to them.  I don't understand what she is saying half the time, but I do know that she is being creative and recognizes how to play pretend.  It is such an amazing thing to watch.

Thank you Maclaren for giving us this opportunity.  It has been wonderful to watch Harlan grow with your Junior Quest Activity Center. We have really enjoyed this experience.

 Make sure to "Like" Maclaren on Facebook and follow them on twitter.  

Disclaimer: A Mommy in the City was not compensated in any way for this post.  I received the product for review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Happy New Year

Happy 2011

Wishing you a New Year full of Joy and Happiness. 

2010: Our Year for Change

Last year I spent New Years Eve with MacKay only to have to say goodbye to him a few days later. We came into this year as a "long distance family" and end it together and closer than ever.

This year brought many challenges that I never thought I could have overcome.  I was a working mom taking care of a newborn virtually by myself.  If you would have told me that I would have to do that 5 years ago I would have never thought it was possible, but what I learned this year is that you will make whatever sacrifices necessary to take care of your family.

Our big move to New York City was the best thing for my relationship with Harlan and with MacKay.  I thought that Harlan and I were close from living by ourselves for nine months, but now being able to stay at home with her has strengthened our relationship more than I could have ever imagined.  I have learned her many quirks and the ways that she can smile at me to get whatever she wants.

She has grown so much over the past year and has gone from my baby to my little girl boasting with personality.  She is talkative and loves to climb and jump on everything {we call her our little monkey.} She learned to walk this year, talk this year, and also learned the big obstacle of sleeping through the night {one of my favorite milestones ;)}

Her relationship with MacKay has flourished before my eyes.  She went from only wanting me to comfort her to wanting to see her daddy first thing in the morning.  She has become such a daddy's girl and has him wrapped around her little finger.  I cannot wait to watch their relationship grow even stronger next year.

It took a while for MacKay and I to get back into the groove of living together again when we moved to the city, especially in an apartment that was the third of the size of our house in Tampa.  But living in such small quarters has allowed our relationship to explore many roads that we would have never ventured living in Tampa.  I love him more than I could have ever imagined and am so proud of the husband and father he has become.

I am a stronger woman and mom today because of the many challenges I faced over the year.  From flying with a baby on a plane by myself to having to navigate the subway and streets of New York City on my own.  I look back this year with a sense of pride and accomplishment.  I am proud of my family and who we have become in the past year.

Even through all of the changes that 2010 brought us we come out of it with a better sense of what family really is.

I look forward to 2011 and all of the surprises and challenges it has in store for us.

Happy New Year.