SHOP MY VALENTINE’S DAY LOOK:
I wouldn’t say that Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday per se, but I do love any excuse to celebrate the ones that I love most. This Valentine’s Day, I’m not only doting upon my husband with a little gift + dinner date but I also plan to make the day extra-special for Annie too.
Now that she is 2, Annie has a distinct personality and is aware of everything going on in the world around her. We had such fun this Christmas watching Annie partake in our family traditions while knowing that she understood the day was extra-special too. I feel like whatever effort I put in to go out of my way to make this Valentine’s Day special for Annie this year will be (hopefully) appreciated and for the first time definitely recognized. Last year, she could have cared less that her cookie was in the shape of a heart … it was just a simple sweet treat to her. This year she will be able to say “thank you for the red heart cookie” (maybe not so eloquently) while really understanding that it’s something special …. and y’all I’m just so excited!
I’m rounding up 5 Valentine’s Day activities for toddlers ways I’m planning on doing to make this Valentine’s Day special for Annie, scroll down to read on!
Surprise Her First Thing in the Morning
Growing up, Santa would leave a little treat on our bedside table for us to find as soon as we woke up. While Santa isn’t coming on Valentine’s Day, I love the idea of starting the day off with a little something to make the morning extra-special. I’m planning to grab several pink & red heart-shaped iced donuts the day before Valentine’s Day so when Annie wakes up on February 14th instead of her usual breakfast she’ll be surprised with something special.
On Annie’s birthday, she walked into the living room bright and early to be greeted by a dozen pink balloons. To go the extra mile, I may even grab a few heart-shaped balloons to tie on the back of her high chair for the day. It’s so worth the trouble of stuffing balloons into the back of my car to see that smile on her face when she first sees them!
so much fun getting together with Margret, Rebekah, Annie, and their kiddos
Valentine’s Day Playdate with Friends
We are so fortunate to have made such a great friend group here in Houston of both mamas and toddlers. I love that these women are always up for getting together to do something special for our kiddos. We’re planning a Valentine’s Day playdate in the park once our tots are out of school. It will be just a simple little get-together but we know letting our children have the time to run around with their friends and play for a while will be such a treat. 
Valentine’s Day Sweet Treats
What would Valentine’s Day be without candy, cookies, cakes or pastries!? Whether it’s a heart-shaped sprinkled donut or chocolate candy attached to a paper Valentine, I’m dashing all the rules on February 14th and welcoming the 2-year-old sugar rush with Annie.
A few years ago I whipped up this recipe for chocolate covered Valentine’s Day pretzels and filled treat bags with them for family & friends. They were such a delicious snack to munch on & SO easy to make. I’ll definitely have to make them again this year too. Grab the recipe here.
Anine’s darling dress is by Smockingbird Clothing
Play Dress Up
Most of the time I send Annie to school in comfy leggings or jeans, a soft tee, and a sweater. While her closet is filled with dresses, I don’t usually opt for them on the everyday. On holidays I love to dash the “rules” and send Annie to school in a something festive to mark the occasion. Her teachers always comment on how cute she looks and I like that she actually gets to wear the pretty pieces in her closet more than just a handful of times too.
SHOP MY VALENTINE’S DAY LOOK:
Give Her My Undivided Attention on Valentine’s Day
It’s easy to come home from picking Annie up at school to errands, household tasks that might not have been completed yet or to be so exhausted from trying to do everything when my hands were free to just want to completely VEG for a minute. I’m making more of an effort to put everything aside when Annie comes home and on the weekends so that she can truly have my undivided attention.
I love that holidays are a gentle reminder to celebrate the ones you love and show them you care. Valentine’s Day, especially! I would love to make this effort every day (and I’m always trying to) but on Feb. 14th I definitely plan to. We may just extend that tea party a little bit longer than we usually would or take out a book, puzzle or coloring set we haven’t seen in a while too. That’s what holidays are for, right?
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Do you typically celebrate your children along with your spouse on Valentine’s Day too? If so, I would love to hear some of your favorite traditions. And as always, thanks for stopping by the blog and following along Lone Star Looking Glass!
PS: Loving these Valentine’s Day activities for toddlers? Click here now to find out more special ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day!
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photos by Le Zu Photography
Layla so generously shot my girlfriends and our kiddos in her studio last month. The space was all decked out for Valentine’s Day and I’m just in love with these special photos that we will treasure forever & ever!
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also shout out to festivities_tx for the balloons, mamameidit for the heart garland and Violette’s Delights for the sweet treats!
