Whoa. I feel like my life is going a million miles an hour.
Actually, right now, I’m literally traveling 550 miles per hour (or so) and 30,000 feet in the air. Yup – I’m back on the road again for an Operation Beautiful speaking event. I do about 15 or 20 events a year – this is my third year – and I’ve got lots of fun events booked for the upcoming months, including tonight’s event at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington; an event in December at Northeastern University in Massachusetts; and an event in February at Anderson University in South Carolina. I’m glad I’m ‘easing’ into this year slowly because it’s very, very hard for me to be away from Henry, even just for 24 hours. I’m hoping it will get easier the more I do it and the older he becomes.
So – yes. I’m flying from Charlotte to Spokane, all the way across the county. And tomorrow, I’m flying back. More than 16 hours of travel time in a 36-hour period.
And although I am really going to miss the baby, I have to remind myself that 1) I love spreading the Operation Beautiful message and 2) being away from the family means that I get to make hotel angels (kind of like snow angels but in a hotel bed) ALL BY MYSELF and hopefully get lots and lots of restorative sleep. Being away isn’t the worst thing!
Speaking of sleep, this morning, I felt slightly terrible because I, for the first time in a long time, actually woke up Henry instead of the other way around. Poor baby was so blinky and wah-wah-what-are-you-doing when I gently patted him awake to go to the airport. He’s been such an angel lately – we spent almost all day Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday moving the Husband’s clinic from the old space to the new location. I thought the process would be so grueling for Henry, but he was a champ. I brought his pack and play crib so he had a place to sleep, as well as a blanket so he had a place to practice crawling (SO CLOSE) and his jumper so he could burn off energy. And he was surprisingly okay with the change of pace! But now his momma is disappearing for 36 hours, so I hope he doesn’t freak out.
Here’s a sneak peek of Kristien’s new office/treatment room. Looking snazzy, huh?
So. Yeah. That’s my life lately. Between motherhood, fitness, moving the clinic, speaking events, and keeping all my proverbial balls in the air, it’s been rather go-go-go. I’m looking forward to some down time. I don’t know when the down time will occur, but hopefully it will happen soon!
In the meantime… hotel angels are callin’ my name.
Twitter
Operation Beautiful
Pinterest
Facebook
{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
Safe travels and enjoy your little bit of time away. Remember you’re leaving him with the fully capable Daddy! And keep spreading Operation Beautiful – it’s such a powerful and inspiring message.
The office looks great! Love the carpet! Is the design leaves or am I just seeing things??
yup! it’s a red and golden carpet. i actually like it too
I love the rug! The perfect touch.
The office looks really nice. Have a good trip and enjoy some sleep!
Wowzers…you are a busy woman!
I’d love to read a post someday about how you keep yourself organized. Do you use a planner, or an online calendar? And how do you organize blog posts?
i want to do this the next time i discuss that time management book that i’m reading (168 hours). i use google calendar and my iphone to keep track of to-dos. I pre-write some blog posts on Mondays and Fridays but write a lot of it on the fly.
The office is looking great!
I can’t believe that Henry is almost crawling…babies grow up so fast!
Excited about your December event- Northeastern in my alma mater and I live so close. Here’s hoping I can grab a night away from my bebe to come listen!
that would be awesome!
I hope you have a good trip! I really want to go check out Washington and Oregon, they look so beautiful. Enjoy your hotel sleep
Enjoy the mini-vacation! It’s definitely needed every once in awhile. I love the new office. It looks great!
I hope you have a safe trip! I’ve always wanted to go to Washington!
Very excited to learn that you are presenting Operation Beautiful in Boston. I definitely want to attend! Is is only open to students or can the public join too? I am 22 so I bet I can pass as a college student still haha
I live in Spokane!
Pretty sweet place if you ask me. Hopefully you get a chance to at least see a little bit of the city. Let me know if you need a tour guide or a food recommendation 
Hooray for hotel angels! Enjoy!
Are you pumping on the road? If so, are you pumping and dumping or will you be traveling back with breastmilk? I will have a business trip soon after returning to work from maternity leave and I’m wondering how traveling through the airport/airplane with milk works. Thanks!
Well… some thoughts. I just pumped in the airplane bathroom (GROSS) and plugging the pump into the outlet only created like 1/2 power. So definitely pack batteries. I’m pumping and dumping today because I don’t want to deal with refrigerating the milk and carrying it back. I will prob save whatever I pump after noon tomorrow though because it will still be good even if its not in the fridge.
Wow, the airplane bathroom! The things we do as moms… And with the afternoon stash, do you carry it on the plane with you and just tell airport security that you’ve got it?
Yeah you can carry as much breastmilk or formula as you want, even if the baby isn’t with you.
You should just pump inyour seat with a cover. So much easier and less disguisting than pumping in the airplane bathroom. Of the 2 dozen plus trips I’ve taken without my daughter over the past 16 months, I’ve never flashed anyone or had anyone comment.
Have a safe trip. You will be back with your family before you know it.
You are very busy! Hopefully you find some time to relax while making angels in your hotel bed.
I’m from Spokane! Welcome!
But I had to laugh at your map. Even though your star is big enough to cover half of the state of Washington, you still missed Spokane by about 200 miles
Enjoy making bed angels! Soak up the me time!
Have a safe trip, Caitlin!
Be safe up there! that’s a lot of time in the air for such a short stay on the west coast.
It sounds like you have a nice schedule planned for traveling! I had a few friends from high school go to Whitworth, but that’s all I know about it. Have fun!
I cannot believe you are coming to speak to us at Whitworth!! Get ready for the snow
Can’t wait to see you speak in Boston! Safe travels =)
Man, I’m so close to Spokane! Darn classes keeping me from driving there.
Have a safe trip. You’ll be back home soon. Time flies.
Enjoy your break and some un-interrupted sleep!
I hate to say it…it doesn’t get easier
Hope you had a wonderful sleep!
Do you still manage to get in a little skype time with your partner and baby?
I love Washington! You must get paid a lot if you’re willing to travel all the way across the US for just 1.5 days. That’s a huge flight/trip for such a short time! Have fun and hope it doesn’t rain too much in WA
Hey, I would love to come tonight but I cant find the info on Whitworth’s page or yours. That was my school two years ago, is it a private event? Thanks!!
the event is at 7 p.m. in Weyerhauser Hall in the teaching theatre. Hope you can make it!!
Spokane, eh? Not much to do there! Enjoy the snow!
Hi! Do you mind sharing your details of when you’ll be at Northeastern in December? I’d love to come to the event, if I’m able! Not sure if it’s open to the public, but I work at a neighboring college and we have a lot of access to Northeastern happenings, so hopefully I can sneak in
Hi! I live in Boston and perked up when I read you are going to be at Northeastern U next month. Is that an event open to the public? If so, how do I get tickets? Thanks!
Hey! I will update you when the time and location is final!