Nikki Garcia and her son Matteo, 3, in newly shared selfies.Photo:Nikki Garcia/Instagram
Nikki Garcia/Instagram
Nikki Garciais having some fall fun with her son!
The 39-year-old WWE alum, who previously used the last name Bella alongside her twin sisterBrie— shared a post on Instagram Saturday, in which she could be seen enjoying an autumn day outdoors with 3-year-old Matteo, whom she shares with husbandArtem Chigvintsev.
Garcia began the post with two smiley selfies of the mother-son duo that featured Matteo’s big blue eyes on full display, while her own were hidden behind large sunglasses.
TheTotal Bellasalum finished off the carousel with a photo of Matteo clad in a seasonal fit — an orange Henley, a flannel and a pumpkin sticker — concentrating on a waffle in front of him.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Last December, theTwin Loveco-host told PEOPLE thatMatteo’s “toddler stage” has been excitingbecause of his inquisitive, adventurous nature.
At the time, she said her little guy is “so curious about the real world.”
“He wants to play beyond his toys,” Garcia added. “He wants to know, ‘Why do mom and dad open up these drawers in the kitchen? How do they cook their food?’ "
She continued, “I’ve had to bring so many real-life things into play. When we’re home, I have him out gardening because he’s just obsessed with it.”
Nikki Garcia’s son Matteo in a newly shared photo.Nikki Garcia/Instagram
Though theBarmageddonhost’s life as an entertainer is a busy one, Matteo and his well-being are Garcia’s No. 1 priority, she told PEOPLE.
So when it came to creating his schedule, she and Chigvintsev, 41, “brought in a sleep trainer when he was six months,” to create a good foundation for the now 3-year-old — “and she changed my life,” Garcia said.
“She even taught me things as a mom, and I just knew that I would never change it. When I book flights, flights are around nap time and bedtime,” she explained, adding that when the family sticks to his schedule, “We all are just happier.”
The key to success? Keeping him “active” between nap time and bedtime, Garcia said.
Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Garcia, who share son Matteo, 3.Rodin Eckenroth/Getty
“Whether he’s doing arts and crafts or he’s outside playing because his energy’s so high, I need to tire him out,” she said. “Even if it’s, ‘Mom needs to do errands,’ and he has to come with me. I force him to walk when we have to walk on the streets or in shops. And it’s really helped Artem and me with our busy life as entertainers.
“Matteo’s never gotten off track,” Garcia added.
source: people.com
