Where did I leave off?  Oh yes – Henry was jumping around, and I was publishing the Day in the Life Part I post.

 

10:20 AM – I change another diaper, and then I pump my third bottle of the day. Henry is starting to look very sleepy, so I take him upstairs to his nursery and read him a book.  He passes out in my arms for nap #2 and I place him oh-so-gently in his big boy bed.

 

10:38 AM – I start a frantic chore spree.  When Henry goes down, I get as much stuff done as possible.  I prep a Crock Pot’s worth of veggies for tonight’s dinner, do some laundry, answer emails, and tidy up the house.  I also send a bunch of forms over to our potential new clinic landlord.

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11:01 AM – I hear Henry through the monitor.  He is not crying but fussing.  I am trying to help him learn how to self-soothe and take longer naps but it’s an uphill battle.  To facilitate this, I do not rush to him immediately when he awakes up unless he is hysterical.  I take a pause and finish whatever I am doing.  Sometimes, he can put himself  back to sleep.  But three minutes later, I watch on the monitor as he rolls over, gets stuck on his stomach, and begins to wail, so I go get him. 

 

11:10 AM – We play together in his jumper.  Henry is so energetic and active… He is obsessed with this darn jumper. 

11:20 AM – The dogs look antsy so I leash everyone up, and we go for a short walk.

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11:40 AM – We are just heading back to the house when Henry starts to have a meltdown.  Nap #2 was far too short, and he really needs to go back to bed.   Generally, I try not to keep him up for more than two hours at a time and get him to nap for at least 45 minutes.  Yes, this means that it is very hard to do anything outside of the house, but honestly, it is worth it because a rested baby is a happy baby.  And a happy baby means a happy mommy.  Anyway, we come home from our walk and head back into the nursery.  I try to soothe him into sleeping in his crib, but now he is overtired (the arch nemesis of naptime), so we go downstairs and he sits in the swing (which is like overtired kryptonite).

 

It takes a few minutes but he eventually passes out at 12:06 PM.  I stay in the room with him a little bit longer to make sure he is really asleep.  I go get the monitor from upstairs and plug it in front of the swing. 

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12:15 PM – I eat chocolate and write the first half of this post!  As I’m writing, I remember how, before I had Henry, I would read moms’ Day in the Life posts and think, “Holy hell, their entire day is focused on the most mundane things, and it all revolves around their kids.”  It is true.  A lot of the tasks are very repetitive (diaper-eat-play-sleep-and-repeat).   But, honestly, it is usually not as boring as it looks to an outsider.  It’s a lot more interesting when it’s your kid, and Henry’s needs are so constant that I never feel like I don’t have something I could be doing (even if the something isn’t very thought-provoking!).  But this is one of the reasons that I’m glad I exercise regularly and write for fun – these activities are ‘me time.’  Although I don’t necessarily get to spend a lot of time engaging in my hobbies on a daily basis, being involved in something besides Henry helps feel me sane and happy. 

 

12:30 PM – Henner’s eyes are open.  I resume my spot in front of the swing.  This is the opposite of ‘self-soothe’ – to stare at his momma while he swings – but I’ve realized that I have to choose my battles with Henry’s naps.  Either I do everything in my power to make him nap when he is overtired, or he has a huge meltdown and the day is miserable for him.  I read blogs on my iPhone to pass the time (giving him direct eye contact is no good).  I also proofread a direct mailer for the clinic.  We recently hired someone to do our marketing, and I’m overseeing his work for the time being.  For the one millionth time, I wonder how moms functioned before the invention of smart phones.

 

12:50 PM – Henry’s eyes are open but I’m pretty sure he’s actually asleep (it’s weird, I know).  I slink away.

 

12:55 PM – I make and eat lunch, which is a pretty random mish-mash.

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Behind-the-scenes peek at my photography studio.  Classy, I know.

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While I am eating, DadHTP stops by and we talk politics for a while.  He hangs out for a bit to see if Henry will wake up so they can play, but no dice.

 

1:30 PM – I write the last bit of this post, proofread, and hit publish again!

{ 35 comments }

 

  • Tracey October 3, 2012, 2:00 pm

    I love “day in the life of…” posts! My day is pretty similar, as I have a baby about a month younger than Henry.

    Question regarding the diaper blowouts. What type of diaper do you use, and what size is Henry wearing?

    • Caitlin October 3, 2012, 2:05 pm

      size 2 pampers swaddles

      • Tracey October 3, 2012, 2:23 pm

        That’s what I use too. We had blowouts when he was a few days/weeks old but not too many anymore. I’ve heard different brands fit babies differently– if he has skinny (or chunky) legs, or a big (or small) belly, they might fit him differently so another brand might yield fewer blowouts. But who knows… I like pampers swaddlers the best (over huggies and honest brand).

        • Christy October 3, 2012, 2:57 pm

          Maybe he’s ready for the next size up if he keeps exploding?

          • Morgan October 3, 2012, 3:57 pm

            baby poop is basically liquid and shoots out fast and furious. No diaper is going to contain that 100% of the time.

  • Katie @ Peace Love & Oats October 3, 2012, 2:05 pm

    I don’t know how some women go back to work right after having a baby! They must have some serious nanny help!

  • Verna October 3, 2012, 2:10 pm

    Love this!! I agree 100% about taking the time to make sure your baby gets enough sleep. My son would have been a giant mess without 3 solid naps a day when he was small. It’s just easier and more pleasant for everyone if they get enough sleep.

  • Whitney October 3, 2012, 2:17 pm

    this post makes me tired. thanks for the birth control! haha 🙂

  • Ellen @ Wannabe Health Nut October 3, 2012, 2:20 pm

    I like knowing how people spend their time, just like I enjoy seeing what they eat every day. (Even if it’s the same darn bowl of oatmeal!) You get a heck of a lot done in 20 minutes—I’m impressed!

  • Amanda K. October 3, 2012, 2:33 pm

    You’re so right about being tied to the house because of baby sleep schedules. Pre-baby I used to think that people who rushed home for naptime or bedtime were soooo lame and I’d NEVER revolve my schedule around my baby.
    But now I ABSOLUTELY do! Now I know that I benefit from my son’s naps as much as he does — he’s happier, I’m happier!

    • Claire October 3, 2012, 4:08 pm

      I dunno, I never bother trying to stick to a strict nap schedule – we just went where we wanted to, and my girl would sleep in the car or more often in the wrap/carrier (we live in a city and walk almost everywhere!) if we were out at the time. She never seemed to get “overtired” or particularly fussy (with the rare exception of the occasional all-day hike or outdoor festival where we’d be out of the house all day long) when she was little. And now she’s a decent napper with a reliable schedule (naps at 10 and 2, 1-2 hours long each), which she’ll do at home in the crib or in the carrier or car while we’re out. She just grew into it on her own, we never had to try and ‘train’ her to fall asleep. I know that different parents have different goals, and that all babies are different – but for the non-moms reading along, not every parent is tied to the house to keep their baby on a strict napping schedule! 🙂 Lots of us just go with the flow and life seems pretty similar to how it was pre-baby (although there are a lot more breaks for nursing and diapers and cuddling! lol).

      • Sarah October 4, 2012, 4:20 pm

        Claire, I would tend to agree. We go where we need to go and my baby seems to get his naps in the stroller or carrier. They may be a little longer when we are at home but he’s pretty flexible, so far.

  • natalie @ will jog for food October 3, 2012, 2:38 pm

    Wow! You must be exhausted. Is the “mommy energy” thing true? I sure hope so, haha. If I didn’t have extra energy, I’m not sure if I could make it.

  • Leanne @ Healthful Pursuit October 3, 2012, 2:54 pm

    I remember my sister loving her jumper SO much. She was so sad when my parents got rid of it when she outgrew the thing. Loved this post!

  • Christy October 3, 2012, 2:58 pm

    My son is 2 and we are working on baby number 2. Thanks for the reminders on what the first year was like! I “conveniently” forgot. haha.

  • Sheryl October 3, 2012, 2:59 pm

    Phew! I’m exhausted just reading about it! I have an 11 month old and this is taking me back! Now my daughter only takes two naps a day, but they are more like 1-2 hours long rather than 20-30 minutes at a time. I have to say, you are WAY more productive than I was able to be when my daughter was that age. I’m seriously IMPRESSED!
    (Also, I agree… smart phones are the best invention ever… I don’t know how I would have survived the hours and hours of nursing without it!)

  • Carina October 3, 2012, 3:12 pm

    You should do one of these posts annually. Would be fun to see how things change.

  • Morgan October 3, 2012, 3:58 pm

    I’m a mom, too and totally get multitasking and running around like crazy, but how on earth did you prep veggies, write emails, clean up the house and do clinic stuff in 20 minutes?!?

    • Caitlin October 3, 2012, 4:12 pm

      I move like the speed of sound!!!

  • Lauren @ The Homeostatic Mindset October 3, 2012, 4:06 pm

    Phew! Crazy, busy, Momma life for sure! I feel like you are loving it though (as hard as it is!), so that’s good 🙂

  • Natalie @ Free Range Human October 3, 2012, 4:08 pm

    I have a feeling I would have loved to be in on your political conversation 🙂

  • Katie October 3, 2012, 4:41 pm

    I love these kinds of posts!!! I just did one myself, but my baby is only 3 weeks old so it’s basically all about me figuring things out and making mistakes, LOL. It is fun to see what life will be like for us in the future by reading about your day!

    Here’s my “Day in the Life of a New Mom” post if you want to read 🙂
    http://runinspired.wordpress.com/2012/09/29/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-new-mom/

  • Pam October 3, 2012, 5:55 pm

    OK, how did I miss this? Crock pot vegetables? How do you make this? Sounds so good!

  • Laura October 3, 2012, 6:39 pm

    I just have to say..the sleeping with the eyes open (or partially open) is what my little guy does too! At first it totally threw me off but now we are used it it and they have started to close more as he has gotten older. Glad to know he isn’t the only one!

  • Amanda, RD- The Nutritionist Reviews October 3, 2012, 6:45 pm

    I love the picture of Maggie laying on you! Love hearing your “day in the life”.

  • Kelly @foodiefresh October 3, 2012, 6:49 pm

    I think I’m still in the “Holy Hell” stage. I’m amazed that you moms have so much patience and focus for your child every single day and I hope I’m up for it eventually.

    • Sarah October 4, 2012, 4:29 pm

      I definitely thought the same thing before I had a child, but then I realized how much I enjoy my baby’s company. It sounds really odd, I guess, since as newborns they don’t give back in obvious ways. But you’ll do a heck of a lot for a cute smile or a sign of recognition and it’s really interesting to see them as they develop. Plus there’s something (for me at least) that’s kind of meditative about puttering around the house. I relish the breaks that I get, like when the nanny is here, but I find myself counting down until it’s just the two of us again.

  • Jen October 3, 2012, 7:02 pm

    I’m another fan of “day in the life” type posts, no matter whose day in the life it is! Also interested to hear more about crockpot veggies…we can always use more of those (both veggies & crockpot recipes) in my house! And also have to say that I love that your dad just randomly pops by to chill with you…seems like you guys have a great relationship <3

  • Michelle October 3, 2012, 7:07 pm

    I kept a “day in the life” journal for one week at 2 different times in my life. When I was working with 2 kiddos and when I was temporarily at home with 2 kiddos. It’s amazing how many things we can get done in a day! And it was a real eye opener for my husband when I asked for help with things! When he is overwhelmed, his response is ‘not the mommy’, because he thinks I have acheived super hero status that he can’t quite match. 🙂

  • Aja October 3, 2012, 7:47 pm

    I want your lunch.
    You sound like you’re getting A LOT more stuff done than I am and I don’t have a kid.

  • Julie October 3, 2012, 7:54 pm

    Do you have a sound machine for Henry? We got one for our son to help him hear a soothing sound and drown out the rest of the noise around the house. It has worked wonders for us, he’s 3 and we still use it at night and nap time.

    I also recall when my son would wake from a nap after 20 or 30 minutes and I’d do everything in my power to help get him back to sleep, and then he’d sleep for over another hour or so. At Henry’s age I would nurse him to sleep, so if he woke I’d go lay with him in my bed and nurse him back to sleep. It made a world of difference.

    I know you aren’t nursing, but perhaps if you rocked him again and lulled him back to sleep that might help.

    These posts are making me wonder WTF we are thinking attempting to get pregnant for a second baby!

    • Caitlin October 3, 2012, 7:56 pm

      Hahahah I kind of feel that way about our talks re: baby #2 too. LOL 🙂

      And yes we use a white noise app on the iphone! it is awesome 🙂

  • Lauren October 3, 2012, 8:35 pm

    I think your “Day In the Life” posts are my favorite.

  • Angie October 3, 2012, 8:48 pm

    My 15 month old slept many, many hours in his swing for the first year of his life. At first we put him in there because he had tummy troubles and the slightly upright position made him feel better, and then he was just addicted to the swing. Good news is that at around 13 months we transitioned from co-sleeping at night and the swing for naps to the crib all the time and it went pretty well. Now he has 1-2 long naps in the crib per day and sleeps about 11 hours at night with 1, sometimes 2, night wakings to nurse. I thought he would never sleep without the swing!!

  • Katy @ HaveYouHurd October 5, 2012, 8:02 am

    Caitlin omg Henry is seriously SO FREAKING CUTE. That video of him jumping around is absolutely adorable and it makes me really want one of those jumpy things for me!!!

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