On Maintaining an Active Lifestyle

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Oh, little Henry!  You are not so little anymore.  I know we have a few more weeks of official babyhood left, but you have been toddling for a while, so I consider you a toddler already.  Every time I look at you, I think, “What a BOY!”  No longer a baby – you are now a little man.  And I love it.

 

How things change!  Both for Henry and for my hairstyles. Winking smile

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This month, I thought it would be fun to discuss how we maintained an active lifestyle after the arrival of Henry. We all have our hobbies – mine is definitely exercise and triathlons.  I worried a lot before Henry’s birth that I would lose my hobby when he was born.  Not only is my hobby a fun outlet, but it’s also one of the ways that I maintain physical and emotional health.  Before he was born, while on a long run or in the middle of a great swim, I’d think, “I will never be able to do this with a kid!”

 

But you can.  The secret is that you have to really want to – and you have to have the right gear!

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I’ve written before about my love affair with my jogging stroller – here’s my complete review of the Bob Ironman.  Five months later, I feel the same affection towards this awesome stroller.  I used to think that I wouldn’t want to run with Henry – running was, after all, ‘me’ time – but I really do enjoy the experience of running with him, and he is happy to be in the stroller 95% of the time.

 

I usually time my runs so they correspond with one of Henry’s naps.  We often run together in the late afternoon, as H usually needs a cat nap, and it can be difficult to convince him to sleep in his crib late in the day.  But the stroller?  He passes out. 

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I make sure I always have extra sunscreen, a bottle, some crackers, and a diaper.  Just in case. 

 

Together, we’ve run a maximum of 8 miles.  He definitely ‘hit the wall’ at that point.  We usually do 3 – 5 miles or less together, and he seems to enjoy getting outside. 

 

One major advantage of running with the stroller is that the 45+ pounds (stroller + Henry) has made me a MUCH stronger runner.  When I run without him (pretty rare), I feel like I’m flying.  I almost ran a sub 2-hour half marathon in January (I’ve only managed to do that once before, way back in the pre-baby days) because I was so accustomed to pushing a heavy stroller.  My arms are always sore after a run, something that – of course – doesn’t happen under normal running conditions.  The stroller has helped tone my upper body and corset muscles, which is a nice side effect.

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The other essential item of baby ‘gear’ is our gym’s childcare.  The women at childcare are so sweet and love Henry so much.  In general, I do not like being away from Henry, but I feel very comfortable dropping him off at childcare while I workout.  Childcare at the gym has allowed me to continue swimming (my fav!) and going to spin class.

 

As I wrote about earlier this week, I’ve set up my indoor trainer on my back deck so I can ride my bike at home.  The indoor trainer has also been a great tool, as it allows me to exercise while Henry naps.

 

I recently bought two awesome exercise items on consignment.  First, I bought a baby bike seat, just like this one:

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The CoPilot retails for over $100 but I snagged it on consignment for $40.  While we were in the Outer Banks, we rented bikes with the same seat on it, and Henry really enjoyed it, so when I saw it for sale, I had to buy it!  We put it on the Husband’s road and plan to go on family rides on trails on the weekends.  I don’t feel comfortable riding with Henry on my bike because I’ve crashed far too many times.  I wouldn’t feel comfortable with the Husband riding fast, either.  But still – a baby seat like this is a fun way to spend time in the saddle with Henry!

 

I also bought a hiking backpack on consignment.  Again, this backpack retails for over $100 but I bought it for $40.  Three cheers for used stuff!

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We have gone on one ‘practice walk’ around the neighborhood so far.  I want to make sure he’ll sit in the pack for a while before we set off for a long hike in the middle of nowhere.  So far, he seems… okay… with the pack.  Generally speaking, Henry does not like to be ‘contained’ and started to fight the backpack after a while.  He may have just been hungry, though.  I’m going to keep introducing the backpack in small doses and hope he will arms up to it, as I think it would be a great way to go for walks around the neighborhood and – hopefully – off-road adventures in the North Carolina mountains.

 

So – what about the Husband’s hobbies?  He’s a big golfer, which seems anti-baby, but we’ve been taking Henry to the driving range since he was a week old, and he really enjoys the experience. 

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He LOVES watching Kristien hit balls.  We’ve ventured off the driving range and onto the course once, and Kristien didn’t take the round with Henry as seriously as he normally would.  He spent more time playing with H than trying to make the perfect shot.  It ended up being a really fun family activity, and I know that Kristien enjoyed sharing his hobby with Henry.

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As you can see, Henry does a lot of stuff!  He is definitely not a homebaby and really loves being outside and doing active things with Mommy and Daddy.  I’m not sure if that’s just how he is, or if we made him that way through the experiences we exposed him to (he’s been to two triathlons and one 5K!), or a little of both.  He is definitely the type of kid who has energy to burn, and I have to get him outside everyday.  Even if he’s sitting in the stroller, the bike seat, or a pack, the action seems to fulfill a need and wears him out (we spend a lot of time at the playground, too).

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All of this translates to that fact that I have been able to maintain my hobby in a way that I never dreamed.  Exercising with a small child takes a lot of planning, and sometimes I have to exercise when I don’t really feel like it because it’s nap time or childcare is going to close – but that’s kind of how it was before, too, when I worked more often.  Sometimes I have to blow off my workout entirely because Henry just doesn’t want to sit in the stroller.  Sometimes I have to cut my laps short because I know he needs to get home and go to bed.  But we make it work.

 

I actually feel like I’m in better shape than I was immediately before pregnancy. I cross train a lot more and do a greater variety of workouts.  I push that dang stroller for 10 – 15 miles a week!  And, although this doesn’t mean everything, I am lighter than I was before pregnancy by several pounds.  I think about how far I’ve come since childbirth – I gained 35 pounds in total – and I’ve lost that plus some more. I am really proud of myself for maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle despite having a kid.  I know that, in many ways, I have it easier than other moms because I’m a part-time-worker-stay-at-home-mom and that gives me greater flexibility, but seriously – it’s still a challenge on many days regardless.

 

Here’s a confession.  This is probably one of those “not politically correct things that CaitlinHTP is going to try to say in the nicest way possible because most of us actually think it, too.”  Now that I’ve figured out how to maintain my hobby with one kiddo, I REALLY worry about doing it with two kids.  We have started to think about BabyHTP 2.0, and while I am oh-so-excited for the next child, I do fear that I will completely lose myself with his or her birth.  Motherhood is a great joy and honor, but it is a lot of work and responsibility, and it’s hard to carve out 30 minutes each day for myself.  With two children, I wonder if it will be impossible.  I’m afraid to sacrifice the ‘ease’ of having just one kid (hahah! You know what I mean, though).  On one hand, I really do want two children, but on the other hand, I just worry about giving everything up, even if it’s only for a few years.

 

If BabyHTP 2.0 is anything like Henry, I know it will be worth it, though.  He makes me so happy.

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Just a few more weeks until he turns ONE!  How is that possible?  Where does the time go?  I love him so much. 

 

How do you maintain a healthy lifestyle as a mom?  What’s the secret to making it work with two, three, or more kids?

{ 129 comments }

 

  • Lauren @ Breathe & Nourish May 29, 2013, 11:45 am

    Oh my goodness, his cute little personality is emerging! Also, you look great. Love the short mommy hair still! Way to go staying active and letting Henry be a priority.

  • Jess May 29, 2013, 11:51 am

    Love this post and I love your honesty! I have an almost 9-month-old (ah!) and it’s of course a very big challenge to find time to workout. But you make it work! I hope and pray that we’re able to eventually have another child but I’m most certainly scared of how in the world I’ll have any time for myself when we have more than one child!

    • Kattrina May 29, 2013, 2:38 pm

      I have an almost 9-month-old too! I am more worried about affording daycare for baby #2 than figuring out how to stay in shape though. Or finding time for myself. Life is always so challenging!

      • Regina May 29, 2013, 4:03 pm

        Our son is 9 months old too! What a coincidence 🙂 I use the gym childcare, the BOB, the Deuter hiking backpack and the Ergo to maintain fitness. And the crib when I do at home workouts 😉 Like you, I lost the baby weight (though I didn’t gain much to begin with—16lbs thanks to a LOT of morning sickness for the entire first trimester) and then a bit more (about 9lbs). I’m finally at a healthy and happy weight and have found a way to maintain it easily. I cannot wait to have number 2 but like you, that hesitation about my body and getting back into fitness with TWO babies afterward is there. I just think “well, I’ll get double the arm workout by pushing a DOUBLE BOB, I’ll take both kids to the gym daycare and daddy will have to learn to wear the Ergo” 😉

  • Katheryn May 29, 2013, 11:55 am

    I have 3 kiddies (9,6,and 1), and am also a SAHM. Fitness has always been important to me, but it definitely gets trickier with multiple children. The best thing that has worked for me is getting up early. I can usually take advantage of a nap time once a week, but that’s it. There’s just too much going on. If I don’t take my exercise time early in the morning, it won’t happen. I’ve stayed fit for all these years though and have completed 3 marathons, 10 halfs, and a couple 5k.

    • April May 30, 2013, 1:44 pm

      Yep, same here with the ‘getting up early’, uh 5am to work out – it is the ONLY way for me to get a workout in….

  • MissPinkKate May 29, 2013, 11:56 am

    Baby #2, woot woot! There was a point after Henry was born where Husband was set on just one kid, right? What changed his mind?

    • Caitlin May 29, 2013, 11:56 am

      That was just sleep deprivation talking.

      • MissPinkKate May 29, 2013, 12:10 pm

        Heh, figured. Mine told me I HATED my husband and wanted a divorce.

        • Romy May 29, 2013, 1:19 pm

          Thank you for saying this! The couple friends I’ve confided this in have acted like my husband (or me) must be a terrible person. I know it’s not true but lets just say 6 months of sleep deprivation hasn’t brought out the best in either of us.

          • Hope May 29, 2013, 1:57 pm

            Yup. This. My husband and I both said “never again” when we were deep into sleep deprivation. Now we both know that we want another (at some point).

  • Verna May 29, 2013, 11:56 am

    I usually get baby fever right around my child’s first birthday too! 🙂 I had a hard time adjusting to two kids. It was definitely more of a mental thing. I’m just not able to attend to everyone right away all the time, there are times when both will cry, the house isn’t going to be spotless, running to the store takes a LOT of advance planning, that’s just how it is with small children. It took me a good 6 months to come to that realization. BUT, I still made time to exercise. In the early days when I felt like I was hanging on by a thread, I’d go to the gym. When it got nice out, we’d go for walks in the stroller and family walks with the baby in a carrier until she got bigger. If it’s important to you, you MAKE the time for it. I’d go for walks by myself after the kids went to bed. When I got pregnant with #3, I was averaging 15 miles a week, and I was in pretty good shape. Only 6 more weeks left to this pregnancy, and I can’t wait to get back to my long walks. Now the hunt is on for a 3 seater stroller! 🙂

    • Verna May 29, 2013, 11:58 am

      P.S. He looks so much like his daddy! VERY handsome! We need more red headed babies in this world, so you better have at least one more! 😉

      • Caitlin May 29, 2013, 11:58 am

        I wish he was a real redhead but he’s definitely blonde 🙂

        • DadHTP May 30, 2013, 5:43 pm

          I was a blonde baby, you were a blonde baby, who knows…

  • Jessica R @ fromthekitchentotheroad May 29, 2013, 11:58 am

    I really liked this post. Henry is so cute in his bike helmet! I don’t have kids yet but we are planning on trying very soon. It is nice to know it is possible to be an active mommy and family.

  • Amanda May 29, 2013, 12:01 pm

    He’s a little boy! Where did the baby go? Good for you Caitlyn 🙂 I think of you when I don’t think I have enough time to run 😉

  • Kathleen Ojo @ My Ojos May 29, 2013, 12:10 pm

    Okay, first of all, HOW did he get so big?? He looks like a legit big kid now!

    I worried about giving everything up to have my first (who is 10 months old today, yikes!), especially since I work a full time office job and I’m in grad school. Somehow, though, I’m finding balance. The most challenging part is not finding time, as it turns out, but the fact that I have been sick consistently since February thanks to my daughter bringing home daycare germs!

    It seems you’ve done a fantastic job with keeping all your balls in the air since Henry was born, and you’ll figure things out with a second too. Though, I hope it doesn’t lead to you cutting back further on blogging – I miss reading you every day!

    • Caitlin May 29, 2013, 12:13 pm

      I’m trying to step it back up a little bit 🙂 Hopefully to three times a week.

  • Ashley M. [at] (never home)maker May 29, 2013, 12:17 pm

    Gah. You make me miss the younger days when Ada would nap through a run! Now she sleeps 2+ hours so I’m not complaining, but that would be like 13 miles for me. 🙂 And don’t get me started on gym childcare. Separation anxiety is critical right now. No fun! BUT You’re right that making an active lifestyle CAN be accomplished even with kids. I don’t see myself running a marathon anytime soon, but that’s mostly because I don’t want to devote all that time to training versus family time. It’s not that it can’t be done, I just think it would tip the scale to the wrong side. Halfs are totally sustainable, though. I’m getting off topic. You’re doing great! I also love biking with Ada now, but we have a trailer.

    • Megan May 29, 2013, 2:39 pm

      I agree… About mile 10 of my last half marathon I came to the conclusion that I will need to wait to train for a full until my youngest is in kindergarten. (2 more years)

  • Stellina @ My Yogurt Addiction.com May 29, 2013, 12:19 pm

    Henry is the cutest!! Good for you to sticking with staying active. Your mantality and lifestyle will allow you to do it with another child as well, I am sure.

  • Liz May 29, 2013, 12:26 pm

    You give me HOPE that the lifestyle I love will be continued after a baby. I have 2 step children (9 and 10) and I will tell you it gets so much easier the older they get. I see things in the same panicked view when I think of my 2 step children and a newborn (if that time comes.) Thank you for this amazing post and you have such a wonderful baby!

  • Amanda May 29, 2013, 12:26 pm

    You look fabulous and it sounds like you’ve figured out what works for you! Just like anything else, I am sure that anticipating something and wondering how it will all work out (i.e., baby #2) is a bigger deal than actually making it work. I think you’ll continue to amaze yourself at what you can accomplish! PS – love the top, I have the same one 🙂

  • Kendra May 29, 2013, 12:31 pm

    I admire your commitment to a healthy lifestyle! My husband and I are ready to start making some healthier changes in our lives and finding the time to workout is our greatest challenge. We do have two kids (2 years and 5 months), and we are trying to come up with ways where we can get individual workouts in here and there but also workout and be together as a family. It hasn’t been easy so far but we are hoping to figure it out soon. I will be looking for commentators that share how it works for them!

    I love your updates and appreciate your honesty. 🙂 Keep up the great work and congrats on your (almost) first year of motherhood! Isn’t it the best?!?

  • Racheal @ Running with Racheal May 29, 2013, 12:34 pm

    This comment is kind of all over the place – sorry!

    I have a 6 month daughter and I was nodding my head the entire time I was reading this post. We also love our BOB and I am starting to get in some gym time. (Still haven’t used the daycare).

    The whole time I was reading this I was thinking, “Sure, but what about with multiple kids???” and then you answered my question. Ha!

    I completely agree – it might be an even bigger change, but totally worth it. Someone saw me and my daughter the other day and said that the change from 1 kid to 2 kids to bigger than the change from 0 kids to 1 kid. YIKES!

    • Caitlin May 29, 2013, 12:35 pm

      Oh god… do you think that’s true? 1 to 2 is harder than 0 to 1? Other mommas – can you weigh in?

      • Kendra May 29, 2013, 12:52 pm

        Yes. Yes, it is. Going from 0 to 1 was an adjustment for sure, but I’m telling you ladies… 2 kids is. no. joke. Just like 0 to 1, you work through it and it is amazing and wonderful but it is just much more intense. At least in my opinion. Plus, I have a toddler and an infant and I wonder if I would feel differently if my oldest was a bit older before we added to the clan? Regardless of how tough it is, it is also twice as much fun and the sibling love slays me! 🙂

        • Caitlin May 29, 2013, 12:53 pm

          I obsess over spacing. Part of me wants them to be close because I think it will be better in some ways. Another part wants to wait until H is in school.

          • Beth May 29, 2013, 1:12 pm

            I think so much of the timing of kids and how well they get along has to do with the personality of the kids. Some kids LOVE their siblings, some siblings are like oil and water. You can’t control that!

          • Amy May 29, 2013, 1:34 pm

            Oh yes! 1-2 rocked our world. We sometimes laugh about the days when we thought one child was so much work. It totally changes the dynamic and routine that your little family has created since the birth of the first. Our first started kindy when the little one turned 6 months old. I didn’t plan that large of a gap but it has been a blessing for sure!

          • Shayna May 29, 2013, 1:35 pm

            I have two kids, 32 months apart. Going from 1 to 2 is definitely harder than going from 0 to 1. When you have just the one, you and your husband/friend can trade off taking care of the baby but with two, its man on man (or woman on woman) and you get less breaks. Now that my kids are 7 and 4.5, they are best friends, do everything together and play really well together so I’m quite happy with the spacing. I’ve heard from my friends who are further apart from their sibilings that they were not as close growing up. Having said that, there is no perfect spacing, and we can’t always control how things work out. You make the best of it and try to enjoy every minute because it goes by so fast.

          • Rebecca May 29, 2013, 2:20 pm

            My sister and I are three years apart, and we were pretty close until about when I hit puberty and wanted to do my own thing. She needs to be doing something with someone, where I am usually content to be by myself. I agree it depends on the personalities. I know siblings who are 10+ years apart and they get along just fine, versus others who are that far apart in age and have nothing in common. Depends on the family.

          • Heather May 29, 2013, 4:39 pm

            I don’t think spacing matters all that much. I think personalities and the dynamic at home matters a lot more. I have friends with age gaps varying from under 18 months to over 10 years between sibling, some are close…some aren’t. My brother and sister are 5 years apart and super close. I am between the two of them and close with both.
            As far as spacing to make the transition easiest, on one hand I was glad our oldest was starting pre-k shortly after our 2nd was born and I think her independence made the transition easier in some respects. However, by the time we had our 2nd we had become used to getting plenty of sleep and all that goes along with having a more independent child so having a newborn was quite a change. 🙂

          • Keely May 29, 2013, 11:10 pm

            Don’t worry yourself too much. I don’t think perfect spacing exists. Do what feels right for your family. We have 3 kids–the first 2 are 21 months apart and the last are almost 3 years apart. We’re so happy with this but have friends who are happy they waited longer and others who had them back-to-back.

            For me, 0-1 was a much bigger adjustment than 1-2. Yes, you’ll be exhausted from having a newborn with an older kid, but you’ll have experience on your side. And you’ll still get your exercise in because it’s a priority for you. You’ll just get stronger from pushing a double jogger and drop two kids at the gym daycare instead of one. 🙂

          • Hattie May 29, 2013, 11:24 pm

            Like everyone says, spacing is not what matters as far as relationship goes – it’s the dynamics. It annoys me when people say that those closer in age will have a better relationship, because there are almost 5 years between my brother and me, and we are very, very close! My parents found the age difference to be a blessing too, in terms of ease (they could trust me to watch him for a minute whilst they turned around to do something etc), and of course I was at school, which left just mum and baby at home. I can really understand why people might want 2 close together, but given my own families really good experience with this age gap, I’ll aim for the same if/when I have kids!

        • Kendra May 29, 2013, 12:57 pm

          P.S. – I should add that you definitely feel more confident the second time around and the times where you would second guess yourself or approach a situation blindly is much, much less. Of course, every child is different and I still have moments where I feel like a first-time mom and feel unsure, but I think that’s just motherhood in general, right?

          • Laura May 29, 2013, 3:52 pm

            In my experience I am much closer to my siblings because we are closer in age. I notice that with my friends and their siblings (who are 4+ years apart) puberty really separates the sibling bond for awhile.
            I don’t have kids so I am not going to pretend like I know how challenging raising them can be but I definitely appreciate a smaller age gap between siblings. I know so many people who are one or two years apart who are like twins with their siblings (not saying that can’t happen with a larger gap though).
            Just my opinion!

        • Katie June 3, 2013, 3:40 pm

          I think the learning curve is steeper with the first, but the workload is crazy when you add the second. I said to someone the other day that for us it was like taking a jar (our life) and filling it with stones (kid # 1), which changes the space but leaves a little room in between. Then pour in sand (kid #2) and you’re full! That said, we were stretched pretty thin already. Our plates are FULL… but it’s still awesome. Worth it. Amazing. And good. 🙂

      • Wendy May 29, 2013, 5:47 pm

        I guess I have a few years of perspective (mine are 6 and 8), which allows some time to, uh, forget, the craziness that is 2 kids in diapers, but I didn’t think going from 1 to 2 was harder than 0 to 1, just different. Definitely a shift, but you have so much more mama-confidence, as a previous poster pointed out. I think having the first child helps you become more adaptable, as well. Mine are close in age (less than 2 years) and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

      • Jenny May 29, 2013, 10:33 pm

        So maybe I am in the minority, but I thought going from 0-1 was MUCH HARDER than going from 1-2 children. It probably depends on the baby. #1 was super high maintenance and was A LOT of work. #2 was a much easier baby-nursed well, slept well, happy, etc. I think the first few months are difficult no matter what # you are on or what type of baby you have.

      • Amber May 31, 2013, 1:23 am

        I thought going from 1 to 2 was my hardest transition (though I think I got my craziest during the early sleep deprived days with #1), but many things personally also transitioned with #2. Going to 3, and then to 4 were by far easier. My confidence with a baby went up with each baby, and that stage of life just seems “natural” now. It’s harder to meet everyone’s needs completely, but I keep telling myself that the advantages of having siblings outweighs that :).
        I didn’t have trouble finding the time to exercise (relatively) until my fourth because there are so many schedules to contend with now.
        Also, I agree with some of the others about spacing. I don’t think there’s any ideal time. My first two are 19 months apart, and my others close to 3 years. I love things about each, and personality plays a big role.

        • Amber May 31, 2013, 1:33 am

          Also, with each kid, I felt I was at capacity until I had another sweet baby, and somehow found the ability to care for one more….only by the grace of God and having a super great husband too.

      • Jennifer May 31, 2013, 2:17 pm

        I think 0-1 was harder than 1-2. 1-2 is/was an adjustment, but 0-1 was oh my gosh what do I do with this baby?!?! So at least you know how to take care of a baby the second time. That’s not to say that I don’t look back now and think why did I ever think having one kid is hard. But I think its more of an organization time management issue. I don’t work out near as much as I would like with two, my oldest hates the stroller and we can’t afford a gym membership. I really liked 30 day shred for something short, and I’m too lazy to get up early to work out, or I would have no problem. But we are going to go from 2-3, with 3 under 3 at the end of the year, so I’m sure I will look back and ever wonder why I thought two was hard! Lol

    • Claire May 30, 2013, 2:52 am

      No way, 0 – 1 is definitely the biggest lifestyle change. I found 1 – 2 then 2 – 3 to be much less of a shock to the system. And putting aside the nutso newborn stage, fitting in an active lifestyle is no more difficult than with 1, plus you’ve already figured out how to do it. I agree with other commenters that the best strategy is to get up early to exercise, then it doesn’t matter what happens for the rest of the day, your exercise is done.

      • Kelli May 30, 2013, 11:23 am

        We had 2 close in age (16 months) and now they are 8 and 6 1/2 and they are best buds I won’t lie it was tough at first but love having them so close!!

        • April May 30, 2013, 1:50 pm

          How can going from 0-1 be EASIER than 1-2, NO WAY for me! Obviously everyone is different, which is why this is a long ‘reply’ post. Going from 0-1 rocked my world, but i can see once #2 comes along i will at least know what to expect in a lot of areas. Plus, all my friends how have multiple children say 0-1 is by far the most difficult! So start on #2 Caitlin:) You will rock it and figure it out for sure, look how awesome you are doing now!!!!!

  • Diana @ frontyardfoodie May 29, 2013, 12:34 pm

    I TOTALLY understand where you’re coming from when thinking of a second child. When my first was ten months old I got pregnant with my second and I felt totally worried about the logistics of having two.

    The logistics only took a few weeks to figure out…but my second baby was very high needs (he was born same time as Henry). Just now I’m starting to have more time to myself but even so, it was totally worth it (obviously). You’re allowed to have that fear! It’s a very big change! You’re a rockstar mom with one, and you’ll for sure be a rockstar mom with two.

  • CheekE May 29, 2013, 12:46 pm

    Henry is so cute!
    In my experience the joy of having two kids far outweighs the challenge of exercising with two (vs one). I have 2 and 4 yr old boys and they are fantastic! Now that the youngest is two they also play so well together and require less constant attention. Since I’m a working mom and not a morning person I find I’m able to squeeze in my workouts while my husband makes supper and the kids play, after the kids go to bed (tri club swim), or during nap on weekends for my longer rides/runs. My husband is a great support!!!

    The first year to 18 mos is the hardest (get a double stroller) after that things get a lot easier!

    Congrats on getting back to and surpassing pre-pregnancy shape. It never happened for me after #1 but when #2 was almost 18 mos I made the shift (and competed in my first mim-trail tri) and I’m proud to say I’m as great a shape as ever (maybe better)!

  • Elisabeth May 29, 2013, 12:48 pm

    He is such a little man!

    Congratulations on maintaining your healthy lifestyle – you look fabulous! 🙂

  • Lisa May 29, 2013, 12:50 pm

    Henry is such a cutie! Love that he goes “golfing” with dad.

  • Tanya May 29, 2013, 12:53 pm

    I miss those days. Such fun. My 3 kids are rather close in age: the first two 19 months apart and the 3rd 2 1/2 years after that. Exercising when they were young was definitely a challenge and I didn’t do it nearly as much as I should have, much of that due to exhaustion 🙂 It helped to have a supportive mate with a fairly flexible work schedule.
    I think the benefits are worth it though. My kids grew up seeing an active happy mom. (When I was cranky, they’d tell me to go for a run!) Now they are 15, 18, and 19 and I have one son who is a runner like his mom, another son who is a ballet dancer and a daughter who plays rugby and does martial arts. All very cool.

  • Jenn May 29, 2013, 12:58 pm

    1-2 is HARD. I have a 16 mo old and an 8 week old. No baby blues this time, so happy to have 2, but life is INSANE.

  • Erin May 29, 2013, 1:08 pm

    With 2 you either have to be good at scheduling or good at rolling with the punches. Since I hate a schedule, I have the car packed with everything for an entire day for all of us in a trunk organizer. There is an extra outfit for me and both girls, workout gear, swimsuits, towels, even pajamas just in case. The sunscreen stays in the outside pocket on my large insulated bag that I stuff with veggie, fruit and cheese snacks. Water bottles are frozen in the freezer for grab n go. There’s a kids’ play ball back there too, and an assortment of shoes. Doing this seemed crazy at first, but then we started going wherever whenever and it made my life so much easier – and more active!

  • Tara May 29, 2013, 1:10 pm

    You look fantastic! It is great you’ve been able to do so much with Henry…I agree that getting kids out of the house helps. Our almost 3 year old goes crazy unless he gets some outside time.

    As for two kids…yes, it is a challenge. DH and I just had our second little guy 4 months ago and we quickly realized how easy we had it with one. We both work full-time, so it seems like we never have enough time during the day, but we make due with the time we have. When one of us needs some “me” time the other steps up and (though it’s hard at times) it is sooo worth it! I love having two kids! I love seeing my first born get to be a big brother and watch him step into such a caring, loving role. I love how our little family just feels so complete with our second son. You are so right…you will fall so in love with your next child that even if the me time, exercise time, or other activities suffer a bit, at the end of the day it’s all so totally worth it! 🙂

  • Danielle May 29, 2013, 1:13 pm

    I gained a 6 year old stepdaughter when I married. She lives with us 10 months a year. Going from being single with no kids to one child was a breeze in comparison to the transition from one to two. My daughter is in first and my son is 8 weeks old. I can not speak as so what it would be like with a toddler and newborn, though. However, having a school aged child presents some benefits – she can hold him while I make her breakfast and pop his paci back in for us. She can run to grab things for me when I need them. BUT, she also has a more structured schedule with school. She has homework, plays, soccer practice, etc. My sisters have one toddler each and can’t understand why we do not do anything on week nights. Two kids is a tough one, but I hear 3 is not as difficult. I won’t know that for a couple years though. Right now I am busy enough with a 7 year old, 8 week old, and full time teaching job. I think the key to success is husband and wife both being on duty at all times. We divide and conquer until they are both in bed. Then we spend time together. Exercise post baby has been difficult to come by! In 8 weeks I have been able to exercise once. School is almost out though and the summer will give me much more time!

  • Kelsey May 29, 2013, 1:23 pm

    Pretty soon Henry will be doing kids fun mile runs with you! I think you guys are great parents! Not being a parent, maybe I shouldn’t comment…but babies are only babies a short time! Then you have school, sports and friends to contend with and will get much more YOU time! 🙂 Enjoy!

  • Angie May 29, 2013, 1:25 pm

    I have 4 kids – 12, 10, 7 and almost 2. With the first 3, the bigger ones were in some sort of school before the younger ones came along (biggest in nursery school when #2 came, then biggest in kindergarten, #2 in nursery school when #3 came) so I could initially just do a lot of walking with the babe and then switch to the gym daycare. As time passed I quit the gym in favor of other things and had to find creative ways to fit the workouts in – early-morning runs, VERY early-morning masters swimming, etc. When my precious #4 surprised me, I wasn’t sure how things were going to work. He is a terrible sleeper, so early morning runs and swims haven’t been in the cards consistently. But we’ve made it work somehow – I still push him in the jogger sometimes (30+ pounds of toddler plus the stroller is a great workout), I use my child care time to fit in runs and some biking, and I make sure to get workouts in on the weekend when hubby can deal with the chaos a little. It takes a lot of planning, but a happy healthy mommy makes for a happier family.

  • Ashlee@HisnHers May 29, 2013, 1:29 pm

    You did it with one and you’ll do it with 2! You’re an amazing Momma.

  • bobbie May 29, 2013, 1:33 pm

    It seems like a lot and it is but you make it work. Don’t get me wrong, going from 1 to 2 is a huge difference. I felt that a lot more than going from 2 to 3. I also had my two older girls just 12.5 months apart! oops! I feel that after I went from 1 to 2 I still maintained my fitness but my house suffered a little. Although I am home and work very part time, it’s very hard to fit it all in. My house used to be cleaner and more organized but now I feel that the happiness that exercise/running brings me is worth more to me. Don’t worry the house is not filthy…just not as neat as I like it. 😉

  • Sarah @ Yogi in Action May 29, 2013, 1:39 pm

    I love these updates- even though I don’t have any children and am a few years away from wanting to start my own family.

    I think that you’re doing an amazing job with raising Henry and keeping up with your healthy habits- you exercise WAY more than I do, and I only have a full-time job. I’m sure you’ll find a way to stay healthy, whether you have 1 more or 4 more!

    And I can’t wait to read your journey as you do so 🙂

  • Jill E. May 29, 2013, 1:40 pm

    great post caitlin!

  • Susan May 29, 2013, 1:45 pm

    It can absolutely be done with two kids and it’s really a matter of managing the same issues. I really rely on my gym’s childcare and fortunately my 2 boys love going there. I also got certified to teach so I get free childcare while I am teaching. I don’t think I would be able to maintain my sanity without exercise! And just for frame of reference, I work part-time and my boys are 5 and 2 1/2.

  • Angel May 29, 2013, 1:50 pm

    I have 5 kids 22, 21, 20, 14 and 13. The first ones are 14 months apart – the last 2 are 19 months apart. We have the 3, I went to college, got moved to England and then had 2 more there. anyway – all of my kids are close even with the age gap, but the 3 older are very close and the 2 younger have their own bond. That all being said – it was very hard for me to go back to having babies with the 6 year gap. When you are already in diapers and doing toddler things, adding a baby isn’t as hard. Once you potty train and move on to school and have slept through the night for years – things are so different and adding a baby to the mix is much harder – at least for me. I wouldn’t have changed my circumstances or having my kids for anything – but I do truly believe that having them closer is so much better for them and was easier on me. Good luck with whatever you decide. 🙂 Henry is a doll!

  • Hope May 29, 2013, 1:56 pm

    A few things (sorry it’s long)…

    1. You look incredible! I love seeing how the sleep deprivation wore off and you look more and more refreshed in each set month of pictures.

    2. Can you tell me about Henry’s helmet? Did you have help finding the right size or did you already know what to get? I went to get my son a helmet this weekend but couldn’t figure out if I was getting the right thing and will have my husband go back and get one since he knows a lot more about it than I do.

    3. Two kids terrifies me. I want another but I am absolutely terrified. I was out with my niece and son the other day and oh man. I had to help her potty while keeping my son from touching everything in the bathroom….and then I realized that’s how it would be every day with another kid!

    • Grace May 29, 2013, 2:56 pm

      On the helmet issue, the experts don’t recommend any helmet under the age of one. It’s not safe: http://www.helmets.org/little1s.htm

      • Caitlin May 29, 2013, 3:19 pm

        Good to know! Gotta wait a few more weeks then 🙂

        Regarding which helmet I recommend, I’d have to give mine a few more go’s before I can really say whether we like it.

        • Hope May 29, 2013, 4:22 pm

          Ah, ok, thanks!

  • Tanya @ Vegan Faith May 29, 2013, 1:57 pm

    I can’t believe it has almost been a year!

  • Lauren @ The Highlands Life May 29, 2013, 1:58 pm

    My baby is 8 months old today and I struggle to find that time to carve out for exercise. I trained for over 3 months for a half marathon getting up super early and pulled out a 1:56:57 but need to maintain. It’s just hard to get going after taking a couple weeks of break.

  • Erin May 29, 2013, 1:59 pm

    You look amazing! It’s so easy to let motherhood get in the way of exercise. I ran a half marathon the week before I got pregnant. I’ve run 6 miles since then. I work full time, but I definitely use being busy as an excuse. Congrats on not letting your love of exercise get lost once you became a mom.
    On #2….
    My first is just about to be 11 months old. I have always wanted my children to be close in age. I change my mind daily from “Let’s have another!”, to “we can’t possibly have another now!”. Some of my older friends have told me going from 1-2 isn’t a big deal, but going from 2-3 is pretty rough. Something about being outnumbered!

  • Jill May 29, 2013, 2:03 pm

    Going from 0 to 1 was really hard on me. PPD didn’t help but I thought going from a totally care free existence to now having something that meant everything in the world to me was very very heavy. It took a bit of time for me. I am not as concerned about going from 1-2 because my mindset is just different than pre-baby.

  • kathy May 29, 2013, 2:08 pm

    Go for HTP2.0. Honestly, it is almost easier after baby 2 comes along, because Baby 1 is pre-occupied with a playmate. Once the initial “baby” phase is over, I actually got more done because I wasn’t always entertaining. I did have more time to myself. Once they can play together, you just need to keep an eye on them, but aside from that, they are off doing their own thing. And its twice the fun!!

  • Molly @ JoggingWithJack.com May 29, 2013, 2:14 pm

    I have a 5 month old and had an amazing and active pregnancy with him and have settled into a great fitness routine after his birth. We would love more kids and even think soon-ish (crazy!)would be cool. I do find myself wondering about staying fit during pregnancy when I can’t be as self-focused this round and how it will all work when there are multiple kids. You’re doing an awesome job with H and I’m sure you’ll continue doing a great job (with honest posts) with the next.

  • Heather May 29, 2013, 2:25 pm

    I do not think it is wrong in any way to worry about how 2 children will impact your fitness lifestyle. I believe, as with most things, your expectations/focus (positive or negative) create your reality/experience and if you want it bad enough, you can make it happen.
    Having 2 kids is more work and requires more planning/organization, but it is more fun, more giggles, more love, more awesome! At least according to me.
    I work full time outside of the home and I have two young daughters (11 months and 4 years). I am able to carve out at least 4.5-6 hours a week for working out. I go to classes two evenings (1 hour each time) and the rest is either done super early AM or after kiddo bed time (I prefer the morning though). I do have less “down time” in some ways, but really that just means…less TV time. LOL.
    You (seem to) have a supportive spouse, plus the gym child care, you will be able to do it! It might take you some time to find the right rhythm, but it will happen. Also, in the interest of full disclosure, we do have someone that comes every other week and does the deep house cleaning for us (floors, dusting, bathrooms). We started that when my first was a toddler and it is worth every penny.
    We think having two kids is so awesome, fun, and doable…that we are want to have a third! 🙂

  • Kattrina May 29, 2013, 2:45 pm

    I love my BOB too – it has made running and walking so much easier. It is even big enough to act as a barrier between my crazy dog and other dogs out for walks – so I can take baby and dog together.

    I have not been so great at fitting in workouts, but I’m trying to do better. I work full time and take classes during the year so time is super precious. Plus, with my commute I am “at work” for at least 12 hours a day. I have been able to fit in a few lunch-time runs which works out well.

    I played a lot of golf before I gave birth but I didn’t think they’d let Evan on the golf course. Did they mind when you brought Henry? My husband and I used to play together all the time and now we have to go separately – I would love to bring him on the course and keep him in the cart!

    • Caitlin May 29, 2013, 3:17 pm

      No they didn’t mind at all! I guess it depends on the place.

  • Claire Zulkey May 29, 2013, 3:01 pm

    I don’t know why it’s politically incorrect to be concerned about finding/keeping yourself in the midst of enlarging your family, especially when having two kids, I hear, is exponentially harder than “just” one + one. I wouldn’t understand a woman who wouldn’t think twice about that.

    Meanwhile I too think about Zulkahoyde #2, even as I struggle to figure out where things lay after #1. Biology!! She’s a bitch-goddess.

  • Grace May 29, 2013, 3:08 pm

    I don’t see how worrying about going from 1 to 2 kids is anti-PC…? I think it’s a perfectly normal and reasonable thing to worry about. There’s a lot of literature out there that discusses it, mainly on how it will affect your child (I like New First Three Years of Life by White, they have a lot of great stuff about how to help your child adjust to a new sibling and how to deal with raising siblings).

    Personally, we’ve decided that our daughter will be an only child. We both work full time and we know our own limitations (financially, emotionally, etc.) and we feel great (and complete) with our family of three. It’s already getting easier to do things like travel abroad, go on long hiking trips, go out to nicer restaurants, etc. and it would be really hard to put that on hold again for years if we had another child. Also (and this is obviously a personal influence) my little brother has severe disabilities. My parents have had to care for him for his entire life, and as they age his care is being taken over by my sister and myself. It’s a responsibility that I am happy to undertake, but it’s a burden that I wouldn’t want my daughter to have to live with. So that’s another factor as to why she’ll be an only child. We’re lucky, though, that she has a lot of cousins close to her age (6!) that live in our hometown so she’ll be raised with lots of family around. My sister and sisters-in-law have also said that it’s much, much harder going from 1-2 than 0-1, for what it’s worth.

  • callie May 29, 2013, 3:27 pm

    HaHa-I stopped at one kid for those exact reasons!!I didn’t want to make it harder or more stressful by adding another one.

  • Elizabeth May 29, 2013, 3:46 pm

    I haven’t even read the whole post yet, but I had to comment. GAH! Henry is just the handsome little man! That smile with the two bottom teeth kills me.

  • Shel@PeachyPalate May 29, 2013, 3:47 pm

    Completely random…but your hair is also now amazing! Really suits you the shorter length! You’re a picture of health and an inspiration to all mums and mums to be out there!

  • lauren May 29, 2013, 4:04 pm

    I can’t believe how big Henry’s gotten! Looks like you’re all doing great. My own little one is due in July and you give me hope 🙂
    We’re pretty content with the idea of one, but we’re giving ourselves ~5 years to wait and see how we feel/what happens. We’re planners and control freaks, so I’m sure this baby is going to rock our worlds a little, but I know it’ll be a blast!

  • Emily @ Perfection Isn't Happy May 29, 2013, 4:41 pm

    I don’t think that you will have to give everything up! Maybe for a few months, but you can invest in a double stroller, take them both to the gym daycare, and just make it work. I don’t have kids yet, but my sisters and I are close in age, and when we were little, we stayed entertained by playing with each other, so my mom could still work out. Maybe I’ll feel differently once I have one (I’m actually afraid to have a first one because I’m not ready for my body to change yet — selfish, maybe?), so I don’t know!

  • Amanda K. May 29, 2013, 4:42 pm

    i agree with worries about staying fit with two! i’m currently 39 weeks with my second, we just bought a double bob, and i’m being optimistic, but there’s a realistic side of me that worries about two schedules and an exhausted mama! it has to be doable, right?!?!?

  • Joy May 29, 2013, 4:58 pm

    I don’t have any children so I can’t help with any advice, but I just wanted to say that you’re an inspiration. To be able to accomplish all that you have fitness-wise is so wonderful.

    You look absolutely amazing, and Henry is crazy adorable.

  • Kimberly @ Healthy Strides May 29, 2013, 5:29 pm

    I am yes to most of the ones you said – the BOB, working out when you don’t want to, careful planning. We are getting a bike trailer this weekend, which should add in some fun. I also picked up teaching group exercise so the husbeast can’t complain – I’m getting PAID. Of course, he (the husbeast) is the most important part of the equation. Having a supportive husband is the most essential thing when it comes to maintaining fitness and racing.

    I’m seriously in the no No. 2, partially because of the toll it would take on my body and training. There are other factors – cost of daycare, lack of desire, etc. – but I’m not sure I’m ready to give up my fitness goals – again – just yet.

  • Wendy May 29, 2013, 5:39 pm

    I have two kids 22 months apart in age, and I like to think I have maintained a reasonable fitness level since my second was born. When they were smaller, I did a lot of running on the treadmill and with both kids in a double jogger. I actually didn’t run my first half marathon until after #2 was born. I was in the same part time worker/stay at home mom situation as you, but I also didn’t (still don’t) have a husband at home most of the time to help (loooooong story). I had a fabulous baby sitter who was willing to watch the kids part time, and I did a lot of training while they were there, or while the kids were in preschool or the gym daycare. Now, my kids are 6 and 8, I work full time as a teacher, and at age 35, I am in the best shape of my life! So, no, you will most definitely not have to lose yourself, your fitness, or your hobbies. If it’s important to you, I promise you will find a way to make it work!

  • stephanie May 29, 2013, 5:54 pm

    Henry is so cute! Love the pic where he is directing on the golf course!

    I have two kids, 22 months apart, and for me going from 1 to 2 was way easier than going from none to 1. Everyone is different but just knowing what to expect helped me be less overwhelmed the second time. And you can get a double jogging stroller – problem solved:)

  • Sharon May 29, 2013, 6:15 pm

    My daughter is 4 months. I purchased a (used) treadmill, and fit in 3-4 early morning workouts and some longer walks during the week. You mentioned your son does not like being confined – I have a similar situation with Amelia. Did you have any luck with baby carriers before your son could walk?

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat May 29, 2013, 6:22 pm

    I know I’ve said it before Caitlin, but he looks SO much like you and the husband! I can’t believe how fast he’s growing up. No kiddies for me yet, so I can’t really answer your question but I like to think that some day in the future I’ll be a very active mom and instill those values in my children too. I’ll be doing plenty of jogging stroller research, that’s for sure!

  • Mo May 29, 2013, 6:24 pm

    From my experience 2 is definitely harder than 1 +1. I have a 3 1/2 year old and an 11 month old. I utilize the gym daycare, but schedules (naps) can even make that difficult. Also, I’m not strong enough as a runner for a double BOB, so it has to be coordinated with my husbands schedule for a run. (Doable, but challenging.). It may be easier to get out early mornings after I wean her. Not to be discouraging, but fitness is definitely harder with 2 than one.

  • Kristen L May 29, 2013, 7:51 pm

    You look gorgeous! I love your haircut. It is so fun to see how much Henry has changed. As a woman who plans to have children in the future, I love seeing how you are balancing work, exercise and being a Mom. You are doing great!

  • Amber K May 29, 2013, 8:39 pm

    Henry is adorable as always. He’s growing into such a little man!

  • Miranda @ Miranda Runs May 29, 2013, 8:49 pm

    Oh my gosh HE’S ADORABLE <3 he grew up so much!

  • TP May 29, 2013, 9:27 pm

    Cute kid!
    Obviously two is harder than one, but it’s definitely not impossible. Mine are 22 months apart, currently 2 and 4. I finished a half ironman a few months ago. It takes planning and cooperation with the husband, but I race either running or tris about once a month. I have a single jogger still though–it’s no fun to push 80 lbs of kid up a hill–I know my limits 🙂
    I do think there’s a line though–I don’t plan to go to a full Ironman until the kids are in school, just for my family’s sanity sake. It would be too much for us.
    I sacrifice lots for my kiddos cause I love them more than anything–but I know that it is best for them AND me to have an emotionally and physically healthy mama–so I do what it takes to make that happen.

  • Christine @ BookishlyB May 29, 2013, 9:38 pm

    I know this is your blog and you’re totally entitled to your thoughts, but as someone who is struggling to conceive baby number ONE it’s a little tough to hear you contemplate about how baby number two might cramp your style.

    • Caitlin May 30, 2013, 7:57 am

      That’s not the essence of what I was saying, however, I am very sorry to hear you are having trouble conceiving.

    • MelanieF May 30, 2013, 1:22 pm

      I am very sorry about what you are going trought, but it is something that ALL future to be parents or already parents should think about. I do not have kids, and I do not want any either and this was a really thought out decision for me and my husband. But everyone’s personnal choices has nothing to do with the fact that you are struggling to conceive.

      I do hope everything goes well for you and your husband. Best wishes.

    • Jen May 30, 2013, 4:52 pm

      I dont think she was trying to sound smug or anything at all. Im sorry youre having trouble but caitlins concern is valid and honest and she shouldnt have to worry if shes making anyone feel bad. I dont want any children but i still enjoy her posts and hope the best for you even though i have absolutely zero desire for kids. Maybe skip over baby posts if it upsets you? There are plenty of TTC blogs out there. Good luck.

      • Caitlin May 30, 2013, 10:42 pm

        I understand where she is coming from. It’s okay. But thanks for supporting me, Jen.

        • Jen May 31, 2013, 12:08 pm

          Hope i didnt sound mean 🙁 its hard to balance what you want to say and what might offend someone as you know! I hope everyone gets what they want and as many or as little babies too! 🙂

          • Caitlin May 31, 2013, 12:09 pm

            you didn’t, don’t worry 🙂

  • Jenny May 29, 2013, 10:53 pm

    I have 3 children 5 and under (my youngest is 7 months). A fit life is totally doable with multiple children! I have remained active even with 3 children. You just have to adapt your fitness goals to what baby stage you are in. When I had a newborn 30 min of exercise daily was a huge accomplishment (that was much less than my “norm” but it was enough). Also, I will not be running any long distance races in the near future, but I am enjoying the new things that have currently replaced long distance running. I am now a certified fitness instructor which allows me free gym membership and free childcare…this is a HUGE help to keep me fit and active and sane;-) I still plan to get back to long distance running-in the future. Right now, I am loving what I am doing and it works with the stage of life I am in.

  • Erin May 30, 2013, 9:49 am

    I have two young active boys 21 months apart (2.5 and 10 months) and it’s much more challenging than I thought it’d be. With 1 I had some time to myself each day with 2 I generally don’t until 8:30 at night, when they’re both in bed. The 2 year old still naps about 70% of the time and the baby does 90% of the time but at the same time, maybe 1% of the time. When the baby was younger he would sleep in his carseat but now he won’t. So he goes down at 9:30 am gets up at 11:30, 2 year old goes down at 12:30 gets up at 2:30. Baby goes down at 2:30 gets up at 3:30. I find it very hard to do anything these days. I can go out but it means one of them misses a nap, and most of the time it’s not worth it. Also pushing them both in the stroller is 100+ pounds. We still do it but I’m generally done after 30 minutes. I think a gym and childcare would be a godsend but we can’t afford it and we have no family close. I LOVE my boys and wouldn’t change a thing, but I wouldn’t have kids so close together again. Totally a personal opinion.

    • Erin May 30, 2013, 10:15 am

      I should add I DO want a third but a couple of years down the line. Maybe getting pregnant when the baby is 2 or 3, instead of the moment he turns 1! 😉

  • Allison May 30, 2013, 11:51 am

    I think your concerns on the 2nd kid are realistic. I had the same experience after 1 child as you – can run with the child is the stroller, etc. Having 2 kids makes is more difficult to exercise and keep some of “yourself” and not get consumed with mommyhood. And I do push a doubler jogger, but often more kids is fussy or has to be bribed!

    BUT I am still a runner who lifts weights regularly and my husband is too. I ran a halfmarathon when my 2nd child was 11 months, whereas I was able to to that when my first child was 6 months. That sums up how much more difficult exercise was for me with #2 than #1. The scheduling involved in exercising with 2 kids has been more complicated and it is only since #2 turned 18 months that we have really gotten a exercise schedule everyone can handle.

  • CR in MD May 30, 2013, 12:49 pm

    I am a single mom of a 2 1/2 year old, so “alone time” is at a minimum, but my son and I live with my mom. I am training for a triathlon and get my workouts in before my son wakes up in the morning. I am very lucky and grateful that I am able to do that – wouldn’t be able to leave him alone in the house if we lived on our own, obviously! The 5:30/6am workouts took some getting used to, but once I got in the groove they were awesome.

  • Amber @ Busy, Bold, Blessed May 30, 2013, 1:05 pm

    You look amazing and Henry is huge 🙂 I’m so happy for you! I definitely want 2 kids, but I don’t have any yet so I’m still clueless haha. I just got engaged(!!!!) so the task of planning a wedding is my baby now!

  • MelanieF May 30, 2013, 1:23 pm

    Your little boy is growing so fast!! Super cute! You look really happy!

  • Britt May 30, 2013, 1:31 pm

    I find one baby so “easy” he fit perfectly in with my life I love it but I’m just too scared to add another (not to mention my husband says no ..mostly due to $$ reasons 🙁 ) I hope I don’t regret it one day

  • Catherine @ A Two Storey Home May 30, 2013, 2:07 pm

    1. Henry really looks like a kid now rather than a baby!!
    2. I LOVE the picture of him with Kristien on the golf course. So cute 🙂
    3. I’ve had similar un-PC thoughts about baby #1. I’ve been married for just over a year, and we absolutely want kids down the road, but we’re just in such a good, manageable life/fitness routine. I’m not ready to be unselfish with my time just yet. Is that terrible? I know I’d be overjoyed if a baby came along by accident, buuut I’m kind of praying it doesn’t happen for a couple more years 😀 It does help ease my mind to hear/see how you’ve gotten back in amazing shape and not had to give up your hobbies with a baby. Thanks!

  • Carolina John May 30, 2013, 2:18 pm

    Our girls are only 23 months apart and I am so glad we had them close together. Kelley nursed for the first year, then only had 3 months before getting pregnant again. Better get on it if you want baby 2.0 to be close in age!

  • kristin s. May 30, 2013, 3:47 pm

    You look amazing! Can I ask you a few questions tho. I’m 9 weeks along and was wondering when you started showing and gaining weight? I feel like I’m still really early but I already have a belly. It’s prob that I can only eat breads and stuff cus everything else makes me sick but still I wouldn’t think i should have a belly yet. and its not just gaining straight out I notice my hips widening and weight gain. Did you experience any of this that early? Thanks:)

  • DadHTP May 30, 2013, 5:47 pm

    I was afraid my sporting days were gone when Caitlin was born – it was just different – 2 hours of cycling in the dark in the AM four days a week before work, cutting a deal to have a half day either Saturday or Sunday for a long workout – leave at 5, join up with the bike club at 8, home at noon – it can be done – it just takes time away from – sleeping?

  • Janelle May 30, 2013, 8:21 pm

    You look great and Henry is a doll! You do an amazing job of balancing your time and priorities. I struggle with deciding between my evening work-out and spending time with my 11 month old. Usually, the work-out is ruled out as soon as I see his cute face after work. Thank you for sharing your life with us! You encourage me, so thank you.

  • Rachel May 30, 2013, 9:32 pm

    I think your concerns are valid, but I also think you will be able to handle 3 kids just fine. I have 1.5 year old twins and manage to work out about 5 days per week whether isn’t running on the treadmill during nap time or pushing them in the double bob jogging stroller. If it is a priority to you, you will make it work.
    He’s so cute…I can see why you’d want another one!

  • Samantha May 30, 2013, 10:45 pm

    I’m not a mom, but I remember how my mom was able to stay active. She always incorporated her active time with us. We lived in the country so we were able to ride our bikes along the road and only see a car or two. We also went on many walks as a family. I remember us always doing something active after dinner.

  • Betty May 30, 2013, 11:34 pm

    Please please please do some more research before you use that baby seat on a bicycle. They are REALLY REALLY dangerous. Talk to any serious cyclists or employees at a bike shop and they will likely tell you the same thing. My heart literally dropped when I saw the picture of him in that because they are so scary. If you want to ride with Henry (which is awesome!), using a trailer is a much safer option. It’s great that you are able to work out so much with him – I have 4 kids under 5, and I’m just now getting to a point where I can exercise again – mostly it involves walking with the triple stroller, but I take what I can get!

  • AJ May 31, 2013, 3:54 am

    Oh he is just so cute, really really cute!

  • Melissa May 31, 2013, 5:28 am

    I had three kids in 39 months, and maintaining fitness is easy if you have a gym with childcare that you trust, and a good double stroller! I was running 1:40 halves within 6 months of having my third ~ training with a double Bob and a fat baby is no joke :)! and 2 YO It IS very different going from one to two, however as you have two nap schedules to juggle ~ I’ve always felt like two people with a baby are one thing and two people with two kids are a real family. Its hard to explain, but somehow sh!t gets real in a whole new way when you add another child to the mix. You realize that you are a full on parent, not just a couple with an accessory 🙂 Good luck to you!

  • Marie May 31, 2013, 9:06 am

    I was once told having one child was an accessory, having two children is work. Boy, was a statement ever correct!

  • Tricia May 31, 2013, 12:35 pm

    Oh boy… I remember similar fear right before you got pregnant with H. I bet you’re already preggo with #2 or insanely close. I’m preggo with my own #1 and I know that it’s going to be a huge adjustment with being active. I’m scared for that! I just registered for a jogging stroller though and it’s nice to know that it seems like a total body workout!

    • Caitlin May 31, 2013, 12:43 pm

      definitely not pregnant, and definitely not pregnant anytime soon!

  • Amanda May 31, 2013, 11:38 pm

    I can’t believe it has been nearly a year! 🙂

  • Lauren @ LaMaLu Boutique June 3, 2013, 9:07 pm

    He is SO cute. Have you noticed that running with the stroller is making swimming easier at all?

  • Miranda @ Cracked Up Chicken June 3, 2013, 9:53 pm

    Oh my, Henry is a doll.

  • chelsey June 4, 2013, 9:12 am

    I’m having twins in September, and I am already freaking out about the whole working out with two little girls dilemma. Thankfully we’re planning on getting a double BOB, and my mom babysits my niece right down the street (and will be watching my girls when I go back to work). I foresee a lot of VERY early morning workouts in my future so I can get it out of the way before their days start.

  • Robyn June 6, 2013, 10:29 pm

    Well, very early workout is the only way for me!! I have four kids, ages 9,4,2 years and 5 months old 🙂 lol you just do what you can and figure it out as you go along and try not to stress about it 🙂

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