Updated: Tue Sep. 01 2009 14:49:50

Urban Baby Toddler, special to ctvbc.ca

As CTV's local weathercaster, Tamara Taggart is a familiar face to most Vancouverites--delivering the forecast on-location or from the studio every weekday.

As if that's not enough, on top of her full-time job, she has also found time to have hosted of HGTV's "Love It or Lose It" series, to appear in feature films and TV series, to be a business owner as well as a mommy blogger. Oh, and did we mention she is also mother of two toddlers with her musician-husband Dave Genn (with band 54-40)?

How does she do it all?

Urban Baby Toddler Magazine recently asked Vancouver's favourite girl nextdoor about how she balances her busy life with family.

ubt: How would you describe yourself as a parent?

TT: I'm a very calm parent, which is surprising because I'm not always a very calm person! There are a lot of hugs and kisses in our house and we're constantly telling Beckett and Zoe that we love them.

ubt: What have you learned about yourself now that you're a mom?

TT: How much love I really have in my heart...I love my kids. They hold my heart and give me so much joy and happiness, more than I knew was possible.

ubt: Your son Beckett has Down syndrome. Describe what it was like for you and your husband when doctors began implying there may be something wrong? What was going through your mind? How did you cope? How do you move forward?

TT: Wow, that's a big question. Beckett was diagnosed with Down syndrome when he was five days old; it was determined through a blood test in the hospital. It was a surprise and because we didn't know anything about Down syndrome, we were very scared. After a few tears, we gathered our family and friends, shared our news and started our journey. The first thing we did was read everything we could (books, not the Internet) about Down syndrome and we talked to as many other parents as we could. [My husband] Dave and I are now experts on Down syndrome and we have built a really good team of experts and advocates for our son. Beckett is such a sweet, loving, funny boy--and that's not because he has Down syndrome; it's because that's who he is. We can't imagine our lives without him in it--every day he surprises us. So many of our friends stop by the house to visit Beckett. They don't want to see us, just Beckett--he's a very popular guy! I could go on and on here about how perfect he is...

ubt: With two babies under the age of two, you are definitely busy. What is your biggest challenge with your two children right now?

TT: Sleep and organization are definitely my challenges! Beckett and Zoe are great sleepers--they get 11 hours each a night. I don't! My memory isn't what it used to be...I seem to forget everything, therefore being extremely organized is a must. Finding the time to be organized is tough. I'm chasing my tail a lot!

ubt: Because you are a public figure in Vancouver, do you feel self-conscious when you're in public with your babies? Like you have to be a "perfect" mom when you're out with them?

TT: Not really. People talk to me and our kids all the time when we're out and it's nice. I learn a lot from other women who are on the same path as me. We're all in the same boat so it's great to bounce ideas off of each other. I never feel like I have to be perfect--as far as I can tell, there's no such thing.

ubt: What is Beckett's and Zoe's favourite things in the world right now?

TT: Well Zoe loves whatever Beckett has and Beckett loves whatever Zoe has! They both like cups--they like to stack them and toss them. Reading is also a favourite and of course, everything comes to a screeching halt when In the Night Garden comes on!

ubt: What is a perfect family day for you?

TT: We love to go swimming. Beckett and Zoe are both becoming great little swimmers! Walking in our neighbourhood is so much fun--a walk and a snack is a good time in our family.

ubt: How would you want your children to complete this sentence when they're older: "The most best thing about my mom is..."

TT: ...that she loves us so much, encourages us to follow our dreams and puts our happiness first.

ubt: You seem to have bounced right back into pre-pregnancy shape. How'd you do it?

TT: Oh you are very sweet but I'm not back to my pre-pregnancy shape. It is so hard to find the time to exercise and eat--not eat properly, just to eat at all--when you are so tired! I try to get to Pilates three times a week. I'm lucky if I get there once. We go for walks, but the reality is that I need to run not walk. Being on TV every day is motivation to lose weight but sometimes, well most of the time, I choose sleep over exercise.

ubt: What is one thing you do, as a parent, that you are a little embarrassed to admit?

TT: I have recorded Barney on our PVR and I put it on when Beckett won't eat. When that purple dinosaur is around, he'll eat anything!

ubt: How do you and your husband stay connected, keep your marriage strong? Many couples with very young children experience turbulent times when their kids are young, due to stress, lack of sleep...

TT: We're both super-busy people with very different schedules...we spend our mornings together and we're both home every night to put our kids to bed (Dave then goes back to the studio). We try to schedule "dates" and little getaways. Right now, we stay strong together by drinking a lot of coffee together!

ubt: When both the kids are asleep for the night or when you have some time to yourself, what's the first thing you want to do?

Visit Urban Baby & Toddler Magazine for more on Tamara Taggart: Celebrity Mom