My big boy is lookin’ so smashing!

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The strangest thing about little babies is how FAST they grow – and you don’t even realize that it’s happening until you look at pictures.  Just check out this comparison. 

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month 4

My other updates are right here.

 

Alright – I will be the first to admit.  As you can tell by the pictures, things were rather rough for me the first month or so post-partum!  I feel – and look – so much healthier, awake, and alive.  Gone is the gray and sallow skin and dark circles under my eyes.   It is amazing how rough pregnancy, delivery, and the initial few months of parenting can be on a woman.  But – I’m happy to say – we are definitely on the ‘other side’ now.  Although there are still challenges, things are overwhelmingly awesome with Henry.

 

Mind After Baby

 

Over the last six weeks or so, I’ve really begun to feel like I’ve figured out how to be a mom. Babies do change very fast, and it can be difficult to keep up with Henry’s evolving personality and needs, but overall, more often than not, I feel like I’ve ‘got it.’  One of the great momma myths is that mothers ‘just know’ how to be a mom – trust me, that is NOT true.  I’ve arrived that this place by 1) talking to lots of other mothers for advice; 2) reading books for advice; and 3) taking all that information and going with my gut.  After all, I know Henry like no one else knows him (well, except the Husband), and I try to be confident in my ability to make the best choices for him.

 

Henry’s needs are different than they were at Month 1.  In general, I would say he is much less ‘intense.’  Newborns really are soooo intense.  And I mean that in the most loving way possible.  They are so totally dependent.  Henry grows more and more independent by the day.  He can amuse himself with a toy or in his jumper while I do the dishes.  He can hang out on his play mat and practice crawling.  He can take naps in his big boy crib and goes down relatively easily.  I foresee some BIG challenges in the immediate future – I think when he begins to crawl, it will be super intense again in a whole new way.  But right now, I feel like we are in such a sweet spot!  He is just so fun.

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I am so grateful that I get to stay home with Henry and spend so much time with him.  I realize it’s not something that everyone gets to do, and I try to savor every second of it… even the poop explosions and occasional hissy fits.  We play a lot, we sing a lot, and we go for lots of walks outside.  Life with a four-month old is a simple life, but it’s a really nice life.

 

On an un-baby note, I have been dealing with really bad anxiety at night.  Well, I guess I shouldn’t say it’s un-baby because I focus my anxiety on Henry.  I’m terrified of him smothering himself at night by sleeping on his face (his new favorite thing).  I know the source of the anxiety – I’m dealing with some personal stuff that is non-baby related – so I don’t feel that it’s specifically due to post-partum hormones, but I’m sure it’s not helping!  Any tips for soothing nighttime anxiety?  So far, my only remedy is to check on Henry obsessively.  Not very healthy.

 

Body After Baby

 

Let it be known – Month 4 was the month that I fit back into my absolute favorite pair of jeans ever.   And yes, this DEFINITELY requires a photo montage of jean happiness.

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I was checkin’ myself out in the mirror last week and thought, “Hmm, maybe I will fit back into my goal jeans now. Naw, probably not.  If I try and they don’t fit, I’ll be so disappointed…. But what if they do fit?”  So I pulled them on, and low and behold, THEY FIT.  Cue closet angels bursting into happy song.  I gained a grand total of 35 pounds during pregnancy, and I am officially down 31.5! This month, so much of the extra baby weight just seemed to melt away – it’s because I’ve really stepped up my running, clocking in a few 15 or 17 mile weeks.  Also, I just think I needed to give it time – like I said before, I felt and looked so rough right after delivery; my body was still trying to recoup, and the last thing it was worried about was shedding the unnecessary weight. 

 

Does my body look the same? Um, no.  I still have my linea nigra (the dark line that runs down the center of your pregnant belly).  It’s slowly fading, though.  And my abs still feel – and look – super weak.  But being able to fit back into all my old clothes is amazing, both practically speaking and emotionally, too. 

 

Here’s my Henry update for the month…

 

  • Favorite things:  His jumper, anything he can put in his mouth, talking to his grandmomma on Facetime
  • Hair and eye color:  Still holding onto a bit of the red, but I think it may go blonde, and his eyes are definitely BLUE!
  • New skills:  Holding onto toys, reaching for things, rolling over, hanging out in crawl position but going nowhere fast.
  • Nighttime activities:  Goes to bed at 7 PM, wakes up at 10 for a bottle, sleeps until 1 – 4 AM for another bottle, and wakes up around 5:30 – 7 for the rest of the day.
  • People he hangs out with the most:  His momma, his daddy, his Uncle Nicky, and his grandpoppa.
  • Personality prediction:  Henry will be a very active, talkative kid who NEEDS to play sports or he goes insane with energy.
  • New interests:  Watching momma eat things, watching the dogs play, iPhones, listening to his momma brainwash him talk about politics (she’s alone all day and listens to a lot of NPR).

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His cute little bowtie is courtesy of Uptown Boys – I’ll be doing a giveaway soon!

{ 113 comments }

 

  • Amanda October 12, 2012, 2:54 pm

    He is the cutest kid! Look at that smile 😀 What a happy baby!

  • Katie @ Talk Less, Say More October 12, 2012, 2:54 pm

    First of all, congrats on fitting back into your pre-baby jeans. You look fantastic and I can imagine just how good you feel. Second, H is so handsome and it’s really hard to believe just how different he already looks from the little guy at week 1!

  • Katie @ Peace Love & Oats October 12, 2012, 2:54 pm

    Congrats on the jeans! And his eyes are so blue! Adorable!

  • natalie @ will jog for food October 12, 2012, 2:58 pm

    Look at those eyes!

    It must be such a great moment to fit into your goal jeans, woohoo! 🙂

  • Michelle@Peachy Palate October 12, 2012, 3:00 pm

    Mummy and baby looking fantastic! Glad to hear that it’s natural weight loss and attributed to exercise. Hear of so many mums not eating properly in order to lose weight quickly and in the long run it’s not good for the baby or them especially if they’re breast feeding! You’re an inspiration!

  • Caitlin October 12, 2012, 3:01 pm

    This post made me smile ear to ear! It’s been amazing to read your blog throughout your entire journey. It’s wonderful to hear your & Henry’s updates, challenges and genuine happiness throughout motherhood so far. And CONGRATS on fitting into your pre-jeans, you rock!

  • Alison October 12, 2012, 3:02 pm

    So handsome!!

  • Nelly October 12, 2012, 3:07 pm

    Those jeans are awesome! What brand because I need myself new post pregnancy jeans ASAP!!! Congrats on fitting into them!! WOOHOO

    • Caroline October 12, 2012, 4:35 pm

      I second this! (Not the post pregnancy part, I just really love your jeans). What brand are they?!

      • Caitlin October 12, 2012, 4:45 pm

        Express 🙂

  • Kristen L October 12, 2012, 3:07 pm

    Henry looks so adorable and happy! I always love reading these updates, and look forward to them every month. It’s great to hear that you are in a happy stage and have been able to work through your fears of mothering, and figuring out Henry’s needs. Congrats on fitting in the jeans!!!

  • Amanda October 12, 2012, 3:09 pm

    That last picture is super cute!! Congrats on fitting into the jeans – you’ve done it the right way!

  • Amanda Hollenbaugh October 12, 2012, 3:14 pm

    I’m glad I didn’t comment before finishing the post. I WAS going to say that it looks like you’ve lost weight, but you went into that topic near the end. Figures 😛 You’re looking marvelous! Not that you didn’t before. You looked gorgeous with those hips of yours in the first month photo, and you look just as gorgeous now. I’m glad you’re adjusting well and recognize your difficulties 🙂

  • Ami October 12, 2012, 3:15 pm

    His face changes drastically in every single monthly update. So crazy! By the way, I LOVE that string of spit in the picture of you kissing Henry. He is so freaking cute.

    • Caitlin October 12, 2012, 3:18 pm

      haha he is so spitty.

  • Mel October 12, 2012, 3:15 pm

    So cute!

  • Ashley October 12, 2012, 3:15 pm

    You look fantastic Caitlin! Wow, big difference between each photo in both you and Henry!

    Quick question – did your stomach muscles separate when you were pregnant? I am a couple days shy of 40 weeks, and I think mine have separated. I’m just curious how to get them to fuse together again when I am no longer pregnant!

    • Caitlin October 12, 2012, 3:17 pm

      i think everyone’s does to a point. mine seem to be pretty close together but, to be honest, i always had weak abs.

    • Gia October 12, 2012, 4:31 pm

      I was talking to my doula about stomach muscles separating and she really recommended belly binding after baby. It doesn’t have to be complicated or fancy – she said she could help me do it with a few old sheets I don’t mind tearing up! And that a lot of cultures practice this. She thought she’d be totally against it, but it helped her after childbirth and has helped a lot of the moms that she has been a doula for as well.

      Caitlin – you look fantastic!! And you and Henry look so happy together! 🙂

      • Ashley October 12, 2012, 11:09 pm

        Thanks so much for this! I have a belly band type thing as well as ‘smoothing’ tanks, I figure that would help a bit 🙂

  • Annette@FitnessPerks October 12, 2012, 3:17 pm

    YAY congrats! That is very exciting 🙂

    And Henry is adorable!

  • Jennifer October 12, 2012, 3:18 pm

    You both look so happy!! Nothing is better than a smiling happy baby (and mama). He has gorgeous eyes, too. I hope he’s a redhead, I love me some redheads!! 🙂

    You look great, btw. Have a great weekend, Caitlin!

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) October 12, 2012, 3:20 pm

    Your JEANS! That is awesome! I’m so glad things are starting to get better and that you’re feeling more human. Looks like things are going really well!

  • Kim October 12, 2012, 3:26 pm

    LOVE the bow-tie!!

  • L October 12, 2012, 3:37 pm

    Henry is so cute!!! and you look Great!!!!!

  • yasmara October 12, 2012, 3:38 pm

    Our pediatrician said that if they can roll themselves not to worry about their sleeping positions, so I found that very reassuring when my boys were that age!

  • Kendra @ My Full-Thyme Life October 12, 2012, 3:44 pm

    I love these updates! You look fab and I seriously LOVE your sweater! Where did you get it and can I get one to fit my pregnant belly??? (I think I know the answer to the later part of that question)

    I had nighttime anxiety when we moved our son into his crib. In fact I cried myself to sleep the first night we made the move because I was a nervous wreck! I will say this, no matter what personal “stuff” you are dealing with be sure to give yourself a break. I don’t think focusing on Henry is necessarily unhealthy as long as it isn’t causing you or him harm. If checking on him throughout the night makes you feel better then go for it. When trying to overcome mental health hurdles it is so important to be kind with yourself as you work through them. I applaud the fact that you said, “I know the source of anxiety.” Being able to pinpoint what is troubling you and causing the behavior that you want to change is such a huge part of getting better. Now if only changing the behavior was as easy!!

    Hang in there! You are doing a great job and I hope the anxiety starts easing up for you very soon.

  • Michelle October 12, 2012, 3:51 pm

    Love the bowtie and baby jeans just kill me!

    Congratulations on the physical milestones you’ve reached since his birth! Training, racing, finding the balance for mama, and fitting into your fave jeans.

  • Beks October 12, 2012, 3:56 pm

    Such a cute smile!

  • Claire October 12, 2012, 3:59 pm

    You are looking fantastic! The difference between your 1 week photo and now are just remarkable – not which in the size difference (which is also obvious) but your coloring. You look so healthy and happy! And way to go with your jeans!
    I’m sorry to hear about the nighttime anxiety. I was certainly nervous about leaving my little girl alone in her co-sleeper at night when she was a newborn, but it faded within the first few weeks. There is something called postpartum anxiety that is different from postpartum depression, and either can strike anytime within the first year after birth (symptoms are here: http://www.postpartumprogress.com/the-symptoms-of-postpartum-depression-anxiety-in-plain-mama-english-1). I’m not saying that you have that, since you said it’s situational, but I know that a lot of women aren’t familiar with postpartum anxiety – I wasn’t until my aunt was diagnosed with it after her first child. I know that one of her main symptoms was worrying that her baby would suffocate at night, and she would stay up most of the night, watching her daughter sleep. 🙁 Luckily she got treatment and it helped a lot. I hope you find a solution that helps.

    • Caitlin October 12, 2012, 4:46 pm

      Thanks. I will def look into this!

  • Morgan October 12, 2012, 4:07 pm

    You look great! And Henry is so friggin’ cute! You guys are very blessed 🙂

  • Laura October 12, 2012, 4:07 pm

    Yay! Congrats on the jeans!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Courtney @ Journey of a Dreamer October 12, 2012, 4:20 pm

    I die of cuteness. That last picture is priceless! You look great!! Awesome work, it’s not easy to adjust to this new life but you are rockin it girl!

  • Tanya @ Vegan Faith October 12, 2012, 4:25 pm

    What a cutie! He is getting so big! And you look great, very happy and healthy!

  • Jen October 12, 2012, 4:30 pm

    Oh mygosh-you look great!!! I know we dont know each other IRL but i honestly look forward to your posts after work. I love how real and strong minded you are. I have no desire for children but i love reading about handsome lil henry (he is getting seriously cuter by the month) and your motherhood posts. Thanks for all you do!

  • Holly P. @ A Year in Wichita October 12, 2012, 4:33 pm

    Henry is so not a new born anymore! He looks so grown up! What a doll baby! And you look great, too Caitlyn! Congrats to you for being so dedicated to a healthy lifestyle- it’s totally paying off! 🙂

  • Ashlee October 12, 2012, 4:47 pm

    HE IS SO CUTE!
    And congrats on wearing youe favorite jeans..what an awesome feeling!

  • Liza October 12, 2012, 4:59 pm

    That last photo of you and Henry is so incredibly perfect! So so adorable. Looking good momma!

  • alex October 12, 2012, 5:01 pm

    Try Rescue Remedy for the anxiety. Its at Whole Foods and other HFS. They have liquid, pellets, spray for sleeping, and gum. Works wonders

  • mollie October 12, 2012, 5:05 pm

    omg, henry EXPLODED from 2 months to 3 months! what a handsome little dude!

  • Theresa October 12, 2012, 5:06 pm

    Hey Caitlin, Love your blog! My new-mom friend said her anxiety went way down after she hooked up a breathing sensor. I think she has the Angelcare Baby Movement and Sound Monitor, but there are a few out there. It has sensors that go under the crib mat and beep at you on your monitor when your baby has stopped breathing or moving for a period of time. She said there have been a few false beeps but that it has been a huge help to bring peace of mind and let her sleep through the night knowing her baby is ok.

  • Lauren October 12, 2012, 5:11 pm

    You and Henry both look so happy and healthy!

  • Katie P. October 12, 2012, 5:24 pm

    Great post! I had a baby just a few days before you had Henry and couldn’t agree more about having to “learn how” to be a Mom. I also felt like the last few pounds kind of melted off this past month and can fit into my favorite jeans. Yay for four months!

  • linda October 12, 2012, 5:25 pm

    Love, love, love the bow tie!

  • ann October 12, 2012, 5:31 pm

    I would reccomend the “Angelcare” monitor system, it has a pad that goes under the mattress of the crib and senses baby movement, including breathing, so you follow a few steps to test the sensitivity is correct, then the parent unit has a few settings, I use the one that has a swinging pendulum, that shows movement level. You can have volume to hear or you can turn it down. If no movement is detected a short alarm sounds at the crib monitor and the parent unit, if no movement with in 5 seconds, then a long loud alarm goes off. I have used it through both of my kids, it completely eased my anxiety abouth breathing and tummy sleeping (face planting). We only had ours go off once (we think false alarm because she had wedged herself into the opposite end of the crib, basically in the bars) otherwise it only alarmed when I forgot to turn it off and took baby out of crib… yep its loud. It was a life sver for me

    • Caitlin October 12, 2012, 7:52 pm

      I asked all my friends if they had one I could borrow but no dice. I would love one.

      • Katya October 12, 2012, 11:23 pm

        I also recommend the Angelcare monitor….very reassuring….perhaps keep an eye out for one on sale? I found ours for 1/2 off at target, score!
        Henry is adorable and you are looking fantastic, yeah fitting into your fave jeans!

      • ann October 13, 2012, 6:06 pm

        I bought our first one at toys r us on sale. But the second we found at a consignment shop, you still might be able to find one at a place like that, wish I had an extra to lend you, but we still use our daughters, she is two, it alarms when she gets out of bed in the middle of the night. Life saver for me and both of the kids, good luck its scary being a Parent, but an amazing blessing.

  • Samantha @ Mama Notes October 12, 2012, 6:00 pm

    I had HORRIBLE anxiety as well with my first child. I was SO nervous of him when he slept alone. SOOOOO the only way I could fix that was to have him sleep with me 🙂 THen I didn’t worry anymore.

  • Allie October 12, 2012, 6:17 pm

    Oh my gosh! He is so cute!!! Look at those bright blue eyes!
    Thanks for having such a positive attitude about your post pregnancy weight and weight loss! You are really an inspiration!

  • Elizabeth M. October 12, 2012, 6:32 pm

    Such the gentleman with the bowtie!! It is crazy to see how different he looks after four months!!

    I’m a huge worrier and have a lot of anxieties from time to time. Something that’s helped me especially with nighttime anxiety is Rescue Remedy and going through a little routine to check that the doors are locked the leftovers are in the fridge and the puppy’s crate is closed (all things that I fixate on when I can’t sleep). Here’s the quirky part: I do something to make it memorable, like say to myself outloud “no pups sneaking around tonight!” I know it sounds crazy but by saying something out of the ordinary outloud to myself if I am about to fall asleep and go “OMG I forgot to close her crate” I can go “Nope, remember you said that dumb thing”. It’s weird but its helped me a lot.

  • Sandee October 12, 2012, 6:33 pm

    Here’s my anxiety advice for you: I am a mother of 4(ages 22,20,15,9) . When I had my first baby he slept on his tummy. Never even thought about it because back then it was just done like that. SIDS was still just a big mystery. Even my second slept on her tummy. I think they were just starting to recommend having them sleep on their side. (Totally difficult to try and have a baby sleep on their side) this was before they made all the fancy pillows and props to help keep them off their tummy. By kids 3 & 4 they were recommending to have them sleep on their back. So we did. But keep in mind that for years and years babies slept on their tummies and were just fine. I know it’s scary but sometimes you need to step back and just accept the risk. You can’t control his sleep position now and it’s just a baby step of his independence from you as well. Does that make sense? SIDS is still very rare and just rest in the moment of him happy, healthy, sleeping (even if its not in the “right” position) . Good luck to you.

    • Sandee October 12, 2012, 6:33 pm

      You look amazing by the way;)

    • Caitlin October 12, 2012, 7:49 pm

      Thank you <3

  • Laura @ She Eats Well October 12, 2012, 6:45 pm

    Henry is just so freaking cute. Love his wide eyes!

  • Alex @ Raw Recovery October 12, 2012, 6:47 pm

    You and Henry both look so good!! I love the bowtie 🙂

  • jen October 12, 2012, 6:57 pm

    you look amazing, and henry is so freaking cute!!!!

  • Stephany October 12, 2012, 7:05 pm

    OMG, Henry’s little smile in that last photo made me BURST out laughing. He is SO cute. Cuter than cute. The cutest. AH. I would just want to kiss his chunky cheeks all day. 🙂

    AND YOU LOOK AMAZING! Congrats on fitting into your fave jeans again!! Woohoo!

  • Katie October 12, 2012, 7:27 pm

    You look amazing! :D,….I love your monthly updates!

  • kelli October 12, 2012, 7:56 pm

    You look great and he’s so adorable!! Do you guys think you will have another or are you content with one?

  • Kristy October 12, 2012, 8:57 pm

    I love that he’s smiling and sitting all proper with his bow tie. What a cutie…looks like a little doll! Congratulations of fitting into the jeans. That’s a great feeling. And I’m loving the photo montage!

  • meredith October 12, 2012, 9:09 pm

    He is SOOOOOOO cute!!! His smile is amazing!!

  • Alison October 12, 2012, 9:40 pm

    The linea nigra is just dead skin, you can exfoliate it off! (with a lufa or even a washcloth and some elbow grease 😉 )

  • Christa October 12, 2012, 9:50 pm

    You look beautiful and Henry is so darn cute. Love his smirky smile in the last picture!

  • Runnin4fun October 12, 2012, 10:11 pm

    I’ve told you this before,but after these pics i’M gonna say it again-you have one of the cutest babies I have ever seen. He is adorable!

  • Nicole October 12, 2012, 10:16 pm

    He is SUCH an adorable little boy! You’re looking fabulous, and I can’t believe how grown up he looks in that last photo of you two – so smiley! Congrats on your little blessing 🙂 I am so excited for the days ahead as a mommy 🙂 following your journey is so much fun, thanks for blogging about it all!

  • Lara October 12, 2012, 10:30 pm

    I’m glad to hear things get less intense! We are just at two months old and things are still..crazy!

  • Gia October 12, 2012, 10:34 pm

    Since you said the anxiety isn’t necessarily baby-related (maybe something to do with the big announcement you’ll be posting about soon??), it might help to keep a little notebook next to your bed. I know when I have a lot on my mind, I’ll often wake up at night and then stress out about all the things going though my head. Having a place to write those things down so I can deal with them in the morning really helps me let them go and get back to sleep. Meditation also really helps me. Just some thoughts!

  • Emily @ Perfection Isn't Happy October 12, 2012, 10:40 pm

    He’s so cute!!

  • Jun October 12, 2012, 11:05 pm

    You look great!

    And I think Henry will grow up looking JUST like his Daddy. Charming!

  • Carrie October 12, 2012, 11:20 pm

    He is sooo cute, Caitlin!! It’s amazing how different they look after just a few months. I look back at my Zoe and can’t even remember her looking so small. I think 4-6 months was when things really started to get good! Better sleep, more to do, and smiles!!! I never thought I would love babies so much. They are such a joy!!

    Congrats on the pre preg jeans! I remember that and how good it felt.
    It is amazing how big we are when we get pregnant and it really is possible to get back to where we were. Yet, when I want to lose even 2-3 lbs, I can’t make that happen!?

  • Leslie October 12, 2012, 11:47 pm

    You and Henry both look great in your jeans. He is such a beautiful little boy.

  • Marissa C October 12, 2012, 11:48 pm

    So there is such a thing as Postpartum Anxiety–Jill of Baby Rabies did a post on it. Might want to check it out if you think it could describe you.

    He is a cutie! The nice thing about crawlers is once they can move, they entertain themselves more! I mean, you do have to watch them like hawks, but in general, he’ll be reluctant to be far away from you anyway for awhile!

    Seriously, it’s better! Says the mother whose baby spit out a piece of GLASS a few days ago. (everyone was fine)

  • CJ @ Fill the Well October 13, 2012, 12:36 am

    Cannot get enough of the bowtie. You both look radiant!

  • Judy October 13, 2012, 12:42 am

    Hi Caitlin, love your blog–very motivational! Henry is so adorable. Enjoy every moment with him…they grow up SO quickly (I’m sure you’ve heard that about a million times, but it’s so true)! Have you heard the quote about parenting–“the days are long, but the years are short.” It’s so true!

    About anxiety, maybe you have some adrenal issues? I bet most moms do struggle with adrenal issues, between all the stress, 24×7 responsibility, sleep deprivation, out of whack circadian rhythms, etc.etc.

    The book Adrenal Fatigue by Dr. James Wilson is an excellent resource and provides SO much helpful, encouraging info about dealing with and recovering from adrenal fatigue.

    Rescue Remedy spray is great for stress/anxiety, and Five Flower is comparable but even more effective (can get it for a great price at iherb.com). Also, Natural Calm is a wonderful magnesium supplement, and magnesium is so calming and soothes stress/anxiety. It’s very popular and available at any health food store or online. B vitamins are also wonderful for stress (Nature’s Way B100 complex is a good one)–they give you good energy plus help with the nervous system and sleep. Vitamin C is also much needed for stress/anxiety…even just ascorbic acid powder like NOW Foods brand in some water.

    Eating enough quality protein and healthy fats helps, too, plus avoiding sugar (grains turn into sugar, too) and caffeine and staying hydrated. Basically, a low-glycemic diet, and eating often enough to keep blood sugar stable (blood sugar ties in really closely to adrenals and stress/anxiety).

    And something as simple as deep breathing works wonders! Smelling lavender oil is wonderfully relaxing–you can put a couple drops on your pillow every night just as you go to bed, and/or sniff a little from the bottle.

    Are you familiar with EFT, also known as tapping? It’s based on acupuncture/meridians and is really effective. Here are a couple videos you can try:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxk7cVPEOXw&feature=endscreen&NR=1

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6kq9N9Yp6E
    (Brad Yates has tons of great YouTube EFT videos)

    Donna Eden’s 5-minute routine would also be helpful:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gffKhttrRw4
    (Donna’s books like Energy Medicine and Energy Medicine for Women are great too…I’m pretty sure she says that stress/anxiety tie in with Triple Warmer)

    Earthing/grounding is yet another wonderful tool for not just anxiety but for many things:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OclGGH0EKhc&feature=related

    Hope you’re feeling better and really relaxed soon!

  • Lisa October 13, 2012, 3:34 am

    Hi Caitlin! Congrats on the jeans – you look great and Henry is so adorable! 🙂
    I suffer from anxiety, and have some general tips that work for me (usually). I found that when I cut down on sugary foods, and cut down on caffeine intake by having fruit teas instead of heaps of coffee/ tea, that this helped a fair bit.
    Other than that, I try to have a chamomile tea before bed most nights of the week (I’ve found peppermint tea is quite good too), and that seems to help me relax – maybe it’s just a placebo though 🙂 If I’m feeling particularly under the weather, I use ‘eye pillows’ that are lavender scented, lie down and do some deep breathing etc…

    Hope these can help, but as with most things it really all depends on the person’s situation in the end 🙂

  • Jen October 13, 2012, 7:21 am

    Thank you for just being you. I’ve read a lot of blogs over the years and faded in and out…and yours is the most authentic one that I come back to now and again when I have the moment and the heart.

    You look fantastic – as does little cutie Henry!

    • Caitlin October 13, 2012, 9:15 am

      Thanks 🙂

  • Simply Life October 13, 2012, 7:55 am

    he is too cute and just all smiles! I love seeing the comparison to the previous months and how much he has grown! And you look FABULOUS!

  • Karen @ Runner Girl Eats October 13, 2012, 9:15 am

    You both look great! Congrats on the jeans 🙂

  • Katie H. October 13, 2012, 11:12 am

    Caitlin, you look great! And not just because it’s obvious you’ve lost so much of the baby weight now–you look healthy and happy. Thank you, again, for your honesty in your posts. I am planning to have a baby in the next year or two, and have learned so much from following your journey.

  • Eliza October 13, 2012, 11:33 am

    I think you’ve mentioned anxiety issues before. They could definitely be exacerbated by both sleep deprivation and hormonal changes postpartum. As long as the symptoms feel manageable, try utilizing skills like meditation, relaxation techniques (a warm bath, a lavender scented massage oil, a quiet and slow walk, – I realize all these things are challenging with a newborn, but its important to be intentional in your relaxation- so setting aside a time when you will practice), journaling, etc.
    If the symptoms feel unmanageable, or they are impacting your functioning (for example, you aren’t sleeping well for several nights in a row because of anxiety, you find yourself changing your lifestyle to avoid triggers, etc.) please consider speaking with your doctor about your experiences (or contacting a therapist if that is more comfortable for you). Anxiety and depression are hard to tease apart, and postpartum hormonal changes can cause an increase in both. If you experienced anxiety or depression prior to having Henry, you are at a higher risk for a postpartum increase. Don’t suffer along with difficult symptoms- there are lots of non-medication and medication options available to you that could help you.

  • Kristen October 13, 2012, 11:46 am

    Oh geeeeeez. I can’t handle the cuteness! You look absolutely fantastic, and Henry is devastatingly handsome.

  • Maribeth October 13, 2012, 1:33 pm

    Looking good!

    I have pretty bad nighttime anxiety. Not sure if this is practical with a baby, but I often find my mind stops racing if I can focus something on something light hearted- I like to listen to funny memoirs on audible.com on my phone as I fall asleep. I put the sleep timer on for 15-30 minutes and it seems to quiet my mind down.

  • Erika October 13, 2012, 2:06 pm

    Henry has definitely evolved into being one gorgeous little boy. And that smile! Oh it just melts my heart. Thanks again for being so open and honest about your whole experience with pregnancy and motherhood. I’m currently 4 1/2 months pregnant with our first baby and it’s definitely nice to read another woman’s point of view about the whole thing. I’m excited, I’m terrified, I’m anxious, I’m giddy, I know it’s going to be tough sometimes but I also know this is going to be the most awesomely amazing experience of my life and I’m so elated to become a mom. You just prove that while it may not be all sunshine and roses all the time, you would never trade it for anything else in the world. Thank you Caitlin!
    P.S. You look positively beautiful!

  • Amanda K. October 13, 2012, 3:03 pm

    So sorry to hear about the anxiety. I also had a lot of anxiety when my son was born — and it probably peaked when he was about Henry’s age. I’m not normally a worried/anxious person, so I had no idea how to handle it. I talked to my husband about it a LOT — and definitely went to check on my son all the time.
    It made me think about all of the anxious situations there are to come — when he’s driving, playing sports, going to school, dating, etc. I actually thought, “man I better get a handle on this before the SERIOUSLY stressful stuff comes.”
    I’d lay in bed at night and sometimes fixate on some really terrible/dark possibilities. The thing that helped me was to tell my husband (to stop the cycle of thought) and then pray — pray that the thoughts would go away, and pray that my son would be protected.

    Post-partum anxiety is SO hard because I think it comes from 1) sleep deprivation 2) hormone swings 3) genuine love and concern for your little one!

    Hope you start feeling better soon.

  • victoria October 13, 2012, 7:42 pm

    Yay!!!! for you – goal jeans! You look amazing! Amd I think that coral color is very pretty on you too!

    Face down sleeper – I have two who did that and when they are young it is worrisome – but I have been told that as long as they can lift their own heads and even 1/2 way roll over it seems to be fine. I will say however, that I have noticed that my two face down sleepers are terrrrrrrriiiblllleee as in never will sleep in thier car seats on road trips. My back sleeper who is now 8 still falls asleep in the first hour of many trips.

    Anixety – seems to be a common part of being a mom. Even if you didn’t have it before, all worries feel magnified and so man new worries crop up along the way or they shift to replace ones that you finally work through – at least in my case and most of my friends. Mine is worse at night too. I wonder if it is from the typical change in cortisol levels? For me, I find breathing exercises to be great. Somehow more oxygen makes it all better. Big breath in and loud sort of hissing breath out (in private of course). And yoga – have you tried that? I know you love to run and swim and bike which are all more intense cardio forms, but maybe try a yoga video or class or even if you don’t love it try one of the on demand cable free mini yoga videos.

    Hope that helps and that it passes quickly for you!

  • Verlin October 13, 2012, 8:45 pm

    My kids are older. When the first one was a baby, the recommendation was that they sleep on their tubbies. For the second one five years later, the recommendation was that they sleep on their backs. Sheesh – really?! Did babies change in those five years? My theory is that if they are strong enough to roll over and get themselves in an awkward position, they are strong enough babies to get out of the position too. Hope this helps a bit! BTW, you and Henry both look healthy, happy and fabulous.

  • Alex October 13, 2012, 8:56 pm

    Oh my goodness it’s amazing to see your little baby grow in all the photos. He’s so adorable. You look absolutely amazing and I can’t help but wonder what brand your jeans are. I love them. And I always have trouble finding jeans that don’t have too much going on in the pockets but also flatter. I’d love to know what they are. Keep on running! It feels better and better as time goes on.

  • Sandy October 13, 2012, 10:22 pm

    You look great! My guy is 3.5 months and I still can’t fit into any jeans! I’m back to running, turbo kickboxing, PiYo, and always ate right, but this weight is going nowhere! I even did turbo kickboxing up until the day before my due date! People at the gym told me that I was the fittest pregnant woman they’d ever seen, so I never imagined I’d have so much trouble getting this weight off 🙁

    Oh, and I am also high anxiety at night now. My little guy started flipping to his stomach to sleep at 3 months and he moves all around the crib, his head usually ends up on the complete opposite side. And he sometimes smushes it up against the slats (we don’t use bumpers). I move him over every time he does this. I also think my anxiety got worse once we got a monitor. Before, we would just put him in the crib and just go to check on him when he cried. Now, I obsess over the monitor, whether I can see him breathing and if his head is face down. Every time it looks like his head is face down, I go in and turn it. I was up from 2-4 last night basically just watching the monitor (and I had to get up at 445 for work, not good). He just started sleeping through the night (830-530), but now I can’t sleep because I’m constantly worried. Let us know if you find a better way to deal with the anxiety! I love your blog!

  • Sarah October 13, 2012, 10:41 pm

    Just a quick note, but I wanted to tell you what a great attitude you have about motherhood, your body, and healthy living in general. It is not easy to have such a positive outlook as a woman — I’m admittedly still struggling with this. I’m eight weeks away from welcoming Baby #2, and really appreciate your honesty and optimism about everything we go through as women and moms! Thank you!

  • Dominique October 14, 2012, 2:29 am

    So you talked about your jeans fitting, but I was wondering about your shirts. I realize that it’s a weird thing to ask about, but I’m also a new mom and most of my pants fit again, but hardly any of my shirts. My breasts have changed so much in size and shape that most of my shirts look ridiculous. Are you experiencing anything similar?

    I’m impressed with your drive and dedication to running and other exercise. I’ve hardly done anything since my baby was born 3 1/2 months ago.

    • Caitlin October 14, 2012, 9:52 am

      I have mostly stretchy shirts or baggy shirts so they mostly fit. the tighter ones do not (damn breastfeeding boobies).

  • ash October 14, 2012, 6:40 am

    You look awesome! Henry i s adorable!

  • Corey October 14, 2012, 9:36 am

    Hey Caitlin,
    I went through some anxiety about six months ago, and it is just one of the absolute worst feelings in the world. Mine was sort of situational but I think I’m prone to anxiety and depression, and stressful stituations unfortunately sometimes trigger them. I started taking medication and honestly it has been the most helpful thing. I know it doesn’t work for everyone, but it helped me to function, feel more like “me”, and not feel like such an emotional wreck all the time! I know you’ve mentioned therapy before too, I’m a counselor, have had therapy myself, and I think it can be a great tool too. Hang in there girl. You are so inspiring to so many, and you look beautiful! And Henry is BEYOND precious!!! Don’t know if you’re religious or not, so I hope I don’t offend you by saying this, but I’m praying for you:)

    Corey

    • Caitlin October 14, 2012, 9:51 am

      Thank you, I always appreciate prayers 🙂

  • healthy ashley October 14, 2012, 9:40 am

    So happy for you! I love Henry’s smile… and you look HOT!!

  • Amber K October 14, 2012, 1:34 pm

    Wow he changes so much from month to month! I wish I had taken even more pictures of my nieces and nephews than I did because it’s crazy going back and seeing how much they’ve changed.

  • Chantal October 14, 2012, 8:39 pm

    That last pic is awesome. You both look great and happy!

  • Helen October 15, 2012, 6:35 am

    He really is the cutest little button, ever! And his mum ain’t too bad either 😉

  • Becca October 15, 2012, 9:11 am

    Gorgeous family!

  • Sara October 15, 2012, 11:21 am

    Henry is so beautiful!!

  • Lara October 15, 2012, 2:57 pm

    Congrats on the jeans fitting Caitlin – what a great mood lifter! you are my mood lifter (maybe henry too lol) seriously Henry is so freaking adorable – you need to enter him into one those baby gap contests! and I think you are doing a fabulous job as a mommy – I have no kids myself but when i do i will def. be rereading your posts
    much love always

  • Katie D October 16, 2012, 11:05 am

    Cute, cute, CUTE!!!

  • Cortney October 16, 2012, 5:46 pm

    Could Henry be any more precious?! Happy 4 months to you both 🙂
    Congratulations on fitting into the skinny jeans! I’ve dropped 18 pounds myself in the last couple of months and have enjoyed “shopping” in my closet again for all those clothes I “used” to fit in. Yay closet angels!
    As far as the anxiety, I’ve suffered from moderate to severe panic attacks since 2008. The attacks and the general anxiety eased up a bit when I was able to mentally work myself through what was happening in my body due to overactive adrenals. (It’s amazing what the brain/nervous system can trigger! ) Once I realized I wasn’t going to have a heart attack and die, it got easier to “control it” over the years, although I still suffer from the occasional bouts of nighttime insomnia due to the attacks, and they tend to happen when I’ve gotten myself really worked up about something or I have too much on my mind. Anyway, my best advice is to make time to calm your brain whenever you can – daily if possible. Write everything down instead of keeping it bottled up in there. Also, meditate for an hour a day, etc. And the best “remedy” I have in my arsenel is Tension Tamer tea by Celestial Seasonings for right before bedtime. I swear they put tranquilizers in it – it helps calm that much.
    Good luck!!!

  • Carrie October 17, 2012, 10:23 am

    Congrats!! You look fantastic, and Henry looks like a happy, healthy baby! I tried to leave a question on your post yesterday, but it didn’t seem to stick, I”m calling it good fortune, b/c it’s definitely more pertinent to this post. I just found out I’m pregnant, and am paralyzed with fear over finding an OB/midwife. Would you consider writing a post with your thoughts/opinions/experience with finding who was right for you? Thanks for sharing all you do! I love your well-reasoned information and style.

    • Caitlin October 17, 2012, 10:32 am

      Oh don’t be scared! My biggest piece of advice is don’t feel like you are locked in with anyone. I switched when I was 15 weeks because I knew my old doc wouldnt be as supportive of natural birth as I needed. Also, the hospital you choose to deliver at has just as much impact on your birth experience. I chose my second Dr. purely because they delivered at a hospital which was known to be natural birth friendly. If you look online you can find sample questions to ask doctors and midwives to help you determine who would help you the best. Good luck!

      • Carrie October 17, 2012, 1:01 pm

        Thanks so much! I hadn’t even considered that I could just change my doctor! Any advice on how to find out which hospitals are “natural birth friendly?”

  • Laura October 18, 2012, 12:48 pm

    You and Henry both look AWESOME! And look at that sweet baby smile 🙂

  • Joyce DZ October 25, 2012, 10:44 am

    Hi Katie, I am also a new mom and my little son, Elijah, is about a month younger than your son. I found your blog while searching for something or someone who is on the same boat as I am with regards to baby weight. Thank you for this post and your ‘Mind and Body After Baby’ series. It helps tremendously and is at the same time inspiring. I am looking forward to more and maybe share stories with you as our little ones grew up. Take care!

    • Caitlin October 25, 2012, 10:55 am

      Thank you! And people do call me Katie 🙂

  • Joyce DZ October 25, 2012, 10:44 am

    I meant Caitlin… I thought I read Katie somewhere. :p

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