3 months old

Ahh! She’s three months old.  I can’t believe.  Time flies when you have a baby, but a SECOND baby?!  Time goes even faster (you must fall into a black hole after the birth of a third or fourth!).

 

As Claire turns three months, we mark the end of the so-called “Fourth Trimester.” And she’s hitting so many milestones that indicate to me she’s no longer a newborn – she’s laughing (it’s this funny coughing noise with lots of big smiles), sleeping in her own room, trying so hard to sit up, eating her hand like it’s her last meal, and tracking people with her eyes.  Guess who is her favorite person?  Yup.  Big Brother Henry.

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Progress Report – look at how she’s grown!

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And, just to compare, let’s check out Henry’s 3 month photo and Claire’s…

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You can definitely tell they are related, huh? As someone who doesn’t have a sibling, I especially love that my kiddos look alike.  It’s so cute.  They have the same blue eyes and the same cheeks.  The biggest difference is their face shape – Henry was long and lean, even as a baby, and Claire’s is this perfect little circle. 

 

Mind After Baby

 

Truthfully, I get super stressed out with trying to juggle it all. I think that’s probably natural.  On really busy days, I feel like I’m just FLYING from one task to the next and barely have time to breathe.  I get this heavy feeling in my chest – it feels like I will never get everything done and keep everyone happy.  The bottom line is that, no matter whether you work or stay at home or do a combination, raising children in a lot of hard work.  There are lunches to pack, bottoms to wipe, mouths to feed, tantrums to be soothed… Over and over and over again.  And then there’s work, taking care of the house, being a wife and friend, and taking time for myself.

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But parenting is so fun and lovely.  You know that book I read – All Fun and No Joy? I think about the chapters on the joyful aspect of parenting so much.  The dance parties in the living room at 7 PM, the wonder when Henry makes a joke (an actual  joke!) or Claire cracks a grin, the adventures building snowman, the sound of a baby cooing from a crib… So much joy.  My heart sings when I look at my kids.  It’s so worth it.  It’s SO much work, but I can’t imagine my life without these children.  

 

So it’s great, but it’s challenging, and I guess that’s what life is all about, huh?  I’ve been de-stressing with lots of this:

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And this:

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I’m also getting better at delegating tasks.  I think this is going to be huge for me.  There are tasks I can’t delegate and ones that I can – why not delegate what I can?  I hired a cleaning service to come once a month (HUGE!) and I have decided to pay someone to complete a big blog task that’s been on my To Do List for months and months (okay – years), which is to organize all my recipes into one easy-to-search widget. 

 

Body After Baby

 

I have a post sitting in my Drafts folder about loving my post-partum body, and I really need to finish it and share my thoughts.  I love my body.  It’s the only one I will ever have! 

 

I’ve been thinking a lot about how so many of us end up unhappy with our bodies simply because they change.  We get pregnant, we gain weight, our breasts sag, we age, we get wrinkles, etc.  Our society wants us to stay the same forever and ever.  Even when I get back to my pre-pregnancy weight, shit is going to look different (and function differently) – know what I mean?  Hah.  I’ve realized that it’s not realistic to fight the changes – I think I’d just end up unhappy.  Hi, I’m not 22 anymore.

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I’m embracing where I am at, and looking forward to where I am going, no matter what that looks like.  I’m trying to get stronger and lose the baby weight – I only have ten pounds to go! – because I would sure love to be able to wear my closet full of clothes and kick ass during my summer triathlons.  But on a day-to-day basis, I work out because it makes me feel SO MUCH BETTER when I am stressed or sleep deprived.  I try to focus on that, and it really motivates me to get to the gym.

 

So that’s where I’m at.  It’s a good place to be, mentally and physically.  <3 <3

{ 71 comments }

 

  • Katie February 27, 2015, 9:35 am

    Love it! Thank you for the update, as someone who doesn’t have kids yet, its nice to see what your recovery and living process is. And good move on hiring someone to do the recipe work, sure you could do it….but why spend the time if you have so little?

  • Nikki February 27, 2015, 9:36 am

    First, your babies are beautiful. Second, I’m looking forward to the post about post-partum body feelings. Sometimes I honestly think the part that scares me the most about having kids is how it changes your body. I’ve always had body image issues and in my late-20s, I’m just starting to overcome a lot of those and I hate to think about being back at square one. Would love to hear how/if that affects you after baby.

    • Caitlin February 27, 2015, 10:54 am

      I don’t think you will be back at square one. EVERYTHING changes so completely when you have a kid. You aren’t the same person. Your partner isn’t either. Your life as you know it is different. I think that, even if you struggle with negative body thoughts after pregnancy, they will not be the same as the ones before. They will also be different. I think it’s powerful to think, as a PP women, what your body did – grew a baby, delivered a baby, nourished a baby! That’s pretty damn cool. It makes you feel a little more forgiving to your body (I think it does for me, at least). Maybe you can be proactive by scheduling therapy appointments for your PP time in advance and going in even if you feel pretty good (you can take your newborn in). I think its also important to know that the first 6 weeks are pretty much hell on earth in terms of sleep and hormones and adjustment, so if you can get through that, you will feel a LOT better mentally after.

  • Brandy February 27, 2015, 9:41 am

    I had to take a minute to say thank you and great job for this post. I don’t have children yet, but I’m 35. And whether you have had children or not, most women know that our bodies change. Like you said, “we aren’t 22 anymore.” I see so much body shaming everywhere I turn. Whether it is religiously counting ever calorie and being afraid of every bite to becoming obsessed with working out. You, however, are doing a great job and setting a positive, healthy-lifestyle example. I love these posts and look forward to reading more on post-partum.

    • Elizabeth March 5, 2015, 9:21 pm

      Yes, this. This is what I was thinking when I read Nikki’s comment just above. Having three kids has absolutely affected my body, but I think of those changes as relatively temporary (and I’m not one for whom the post partum weight just “falls off.” However, time and being 11 years older than the me in my head (she’s perpetually 23 for some reason) is the real reason I look how I do. I can be my best 34, but I also have to realize that it’s not the same as my 23 year old self!

  • Ashley February 27, 2015, 9:55 am

    I love these posts. My kids are 2 years apart and I really relate to them. It’s so hard, especially in the beginning — you always feel like someone is getting short changed. But seeing them interact and love each other…so worth it all!

  • kristin | W [H] A T C H February 27, 2015, 9:57 am

    oh my goodness, claire is so so sweet. also, i love dr teals. have you tried the lavender one? it’s my favorite.

  • MeaganS February 27, 2015, 10:07 am

    I have two boys- 3 and 1.5 years and my husband and I are still struggling with parenting. I think my biggest challenge is finding an identity aside from being a mom. Thankfully, it’s gotten a little easier.

    • Caitlin February 27, 2015, 10:51 am

      That is why I love exercise, I think. It gives me something fun to do besides work and parenting.

  • Kim L. February 27, 2015, 10:15 am

    I love your perspective on your changing body – it’s inspiring and motivational. I strive to be happy with my body- but it can be challenging because society does expect us to stay the same forever and makes us feel like we have to look like we did before kids & gravity took over. When I hear you talk about your body positively, it helps me to be positive about mine too! Thank you : )

    • Caitlin February 27, 2015, 10:51 am

      Yay!

  • Bethany February 27, 2015, 10:15 am

    oh man. I SO needed to read this today — about the wonder of raising our kids, accepting body changes… All of it. Just, thank you!

  • Erin February 27, 2015, 10:47 am

    You have such a great attitude. I have a daughter almost exactly Henry’s age and a 9 month old. It is so so so exhausting, but so worth it. And we also have nightly dance parties at 7pm 🙂
    What I am struggling with is trying to love my post baby body. I work full time and am still nursing. I do manage to workout a few times a week, and it does make me feel better. But I am just plain sick of looking 5 months pregnant. I really really want to say I love my poochy belly, I know it gave me my beautiful girls. How do I get there?!

    • Caitlin February 27, 2015, 10:51 am

      I don’t know if you have to **LOVE** it but maybe you can work on accepting it and being grateful for the role the poochy belly has played in your life? I try that mindset a lot when I feel blah about anything.

    • Nicole February 28, 2015, 10:06 am

      I had a pooch even before I had kids and one thing that really reframed the way I saw it was a comment a pilates instructor said to me. She said that having a soft belly was “feminine” and that really meant a lot to me. Obviously, plenty of women have abs of steel but it helped me see myself differently, feminine as opposed to fat. Know what I mean? xx

  • Linda February 27, 2015, 10:54 am

    I love your attitude. It is one I was never quite able to fully embrace, even after 3 kids, and so I admire people who can! Yes, you are right – We should love our bodies, because it’s the only one we get!

  • Reenie February 27, 2015, 10:55 am

    Cute babies!! Love the pics of Henry hugging Claire.

    You look great Caitlin.

  • Erin @ Her Heartland Soul February 27, 2015, 10:55 am

    Woah 3 month old baby twins! I hope I have kids that look alike too!

    Also you look fabulous!

  • Helen Thomas February 27, 2015, 11:29 am

    She’s such a doll!! Love these updates.

    Have you already found someone to do the blog work? Do you have a widget in mind?

    • Caitlin February 27, 2015, 12:19 pm

      I did 🙂 Thanks for your interest though!

  • jen February 27, 2015, 11:39 am

    Oh my gosh, Claire really is just a doll. Such a cutie! And I love every single picture you’ve posted of Henry and Claire together.

    Totally with you on the body after baby stuff–society makes us thing we’re supposed to look exactly the same forever, which is not only ridiculous, it’s unreasonable and unmanageable.

    Unrelated question–do you count Claire as having aged a month when four weeks have passed? My friend and I always have this argument over how old are babies are–I count my daughter’s month “birthdays” as being on the same day every month (the 7th, which she was born on), and my friend counts her baby as a month older ever fourth Sunday (so every four weeks). Which is right?? I know it does not matter at all, I just know you love a good debate (shower curtain closed, baby!) .

    • Caitlin February 27, 2015, 12:19 pm

      Yeah I do what you do – so she’s 3 months on March 2 (I’m a little early) but 12.5 weeks right now. I can’t imagine how your friend keeps track!!!

  • Rachel Starr February 27, 2015, 11:42 am

    Man, you make some cute kiddos! I 1000% agree with loving and accepting the changes in our bodies! I feel like, the older I get, the easier it is to just let go of the self-imposed body hate. I don’t have the time or energy for it. Besides, I made 2 beautiful, healthy, awesome kids! If that means I can longer weight Xlbs then so be it. Hi, I’m Rachel, and I’m not 22 anymore 😉

  • Katie February 27, 2015, 12:11 pm

    I had my daughter at the same time you had Henry. Seeing how easily you are adjusting to motherhood of two is so encouraging 2 months from delivery! Thank you for being so transparent with both journeys–I found so much support that someone else was going through the same thing with #1 and so encouraging how great you seem to be doing and happy you are with #2!!! Long time reader, first time commenter!!!

    • Caitlin February 27, 2015, 12:18 pm

      Thanks for reading 🙂 Congrats on your baby!

  • Amanda February 27, 2015, 1:15 pm

    Great post. And great attitude! After reading your posts I always feel a little more positive. 🙂

  • Natalie February 27, 2015, 1:26 pm

    Life must be hectic with a newborn and toddler! I have a 22 month old and can’t even imagine what life would be like with 2 right now. But you are kicking booty 🙂

  • Ashley M. [at] (never)homemaker February 27, 2015, 1:45 pm

    I like these posts and can’t wait to do my own again 😉 Anyway, I completely agree with the body part. It’s just . . . different. And honestly, I never returned to my pre-Ada weight. It’s unrealistic for me, yet I’m faster and stronger than I was before I had her, so that’s weird. I am already starting to feel somewhat frantic, I guess, and I’m trying to calm myself because I gained 10 pounds through our TTC process by having to run less, eat different foods, and — well — getting slightly depressed about medical issues. I think the childbearing years are really hard for a number of reasons, so it’s nice to keep and positive outlook.

  • Christina February 27, 2015, 1:51 pm

    I think that your attitude towards your body is so refreshing. I’m finding that I love my body more as I age (it grew my baby and fed her!), and I also care much less about what other people and society think about my body. I’m glad I’m not 22 anymore, and I think it helps to have a partner who tells me that he thinks I get more attractive as I age 🙂

    I don’t know what your childcare situation looks like, but perhaps you could hire a girl from your neighborhood as a mother’s helper a few hours/week? I can usually pay my neighbor girl $10/hour and either go do errands or work in another room while she watches my toddler. Work/life balance is hard! You are an awesome mama!

  • Aishah February 27, 2015, 2:20 pm

    You already know how much I love your blog (always have)! I can’t believe there was a time when Henry and Claire weren’t there. I didn’t think your blog could get any better but their sweet faces sure do make a difference. And you are beautiful 🙂 xoxo

  • Mabel @ Ma Bella Vita February 27, 2015, 2:20 pm

    That baby is so adorable and he seems to love his little sibling. That picture of the big one hugging the little one is too adorable!!

  • Bets February 27, 2015, 2:46 pm

    I love that you give such a real yet positive opinion about everything. I think you look great and hope I can be just as positive about myself after I have my little girl.

  • Katie sB February 27, 2015, 3:29 pm

    Great post. You are so inspiring!

  • katie@lifesnextbigstep February 27, 2015, 4:13 pm

    I needed this today. I’m one month postpartum and trying so hard to not give myself a hard time about my body or weight, but MAN it is hard. I’m not one to lose weight when breastfeeding so I have quite a bit more time with these extra pounds and squishiness, but it is all worth it. Having 2 kiddos to juggle is insanely busy, but every time I start to lose my cool with the toddler, I remind myself of the hugging thing you talked about several months ago (thank you for that!) and that lots of things are just a phase, and whatever we are dealing with at the moment will soon be a distant memory.

  • Whitney February 27, 2015, 4:30 pm

    I love these posts. Thank you for sharing! Looking forward to your post-partum body post.

  • Claire February 27, 2015, 10:01 pm

    You truly have such a healthy and genuine outlook on being a mom and raising a family. Kudos.

  • Kathy February 27, 2015, 10:24 pm

    I just wanted to say first, Claire is adorable and that little penguin on her butt is everything. Also, I think you have such a great attitude about your body and fitness and getting back to it as you can while embracing where you’re at right now. Bravo!

  • Sarah February 28, 2015, 1:52 am

    Awesome post, Caitlin! You are such a breath of positivity, and a great role model for all us mamas out there. ❤️❤️

  • Nicole February 28, 2015, 9:42 am

    I love this post, Caitlin! It’s frustrating that women are expected to look like teenagers even after becoming mothers. Yes, we should take care of our bodies but even if we look or weigh the same as pre-pregnancy, we are so different than before. And those changes ought to be celebrated. I feel like that fourth trimester is like the boot camp part of parenting. The first kid, you’re on a really steep learning curve but adding in a second takes some work too. Congrats to you on making it out of boot camp, lol! Keep up the great work!

  • Steph February 28, 2015, 11:21 am

    Our second whose almost 9 months was super high needs as a baby until only recently. I still tried to get everything done and I nearly melted down from anxiety from all the pressure. Please do your best to let the small stuff go and take time for yourself. I’m now feeling 10 times better and enjoying life. So it will get easier. I promise.

  • Annie February 28, 2015, 7:07 pm

    Great post, gal!
    I am a 49 (SUPER close to being 50) year old woman who was a collegiate runner and pretty darn good marathoner/road racer. I have two amazing sons, 23 and 21. I still battle with looking like I did when I was in my 20s. Now I think I’ve realized that the body I have created these awesome men. That is quite an accomplishment. Love your attitude, especially for someone so young. Have a great day, Caitlin!

  • Tricia February 28, 2015, 9:01 pm

    I just brought my second son home this week. My first is only 15 months. I’m pretty sure I read this post at 3am yesterday lol. Anyway, yes. I just totally feel you on everything you wrote.

  • Paula March 1, 2015, 10:02 pm

    Just wanted to say that Claire may the cutest baby ever!

  • Emily March 1, 2015, 10:19 pm

    First of all, both Henry and Claire are SO ADORABLE! 🙂 I love their hair. It reminds me of my own.

    And second, I love the perspective you have on how your body changes after pregnancy. You have that ‘indomitable mama’ spirit. <3 it.

  • Jill March 2, 2015, 10:15 am

    The body is a vehicle for life. It needs to be taken care of so we can navigate through the terrain of living. Once upon a time my body was a showroom car – sleek and shiny, while it no longer is a Charger it runs great and gets me where I need to go. Once I stopped holding onto the 22 year old ideal and accepted my 48 year old body for its ability to hike, run, swim, practice yoga, walk the dogs, clean the house, hug my family, go to work, and love my husband I became a lot happier and a lot healthier. You have a wonderful attitude and congratulations on coming to the realization at a young age!

  • ashley March 2, 2015, 11:39 am

    Claire is such a cutie! Congrats! I love her little face!

  • Becca March 2, 2015, 2:30 pm

    Claire is beautiful! Looks like you’ve all gracefully made the transition to a family of four – congratulations!

    Claire and Henry look a ton alike, and they’re both so darn cute. I liked your comparison comment!

    No pressure on this at all, but just an idea for a future post, if it was something you’d be interested in writing… I’d love to hear your perspective on an only child becoming a parent of two (or more). It may be interesting to think about the range of emotions involved.

    I’m an only child, and a few weeks away from the due date of my second baby. I’ve had such a happy life as an only child that I can’t quite understand the joy that a sibling will bring to my firstborn. It is an interesting (and maybe a little complicated!) perspective.

    Sending good wishes your way – love the blog, you’re doing great!
    Best,
    Becca

    • Caitlin March 2, 2015, 2:37 pm

      Congrats on your baby! 🙂 I hope everything goes well with labor. This would be an interesting topic for sure – I think I need more experience with two kiddos to write it though. I do love watching C and H interact. It’s so wonderful.

  • Sarah March 3, 2015, 10:30 am

    I’m having my second son in 6 weeks or so and you have me wanting to research some cleaning companies now 🙂 I do think I will be better about asking for help this time and delegating, it’s just going to be imperative with 2 little ones. Glad you all are doing well!

  • Hayley March 6, 2015, 10:18 am

    Thank you so very much for these posts. Your babies are so incredibly lucky to have a grounded momma, and you truly are an inspiration. Can you please explain, or better yet post on where you find the time to schedule in exercise? I have a 16 month old and work full-time and I can barely keep it all together. I still have 10 pounds left, but can’t find dedicated time to exercise. I do walk for an hour on my lunch breaks at work, and am busy cleaning and cooking on my days home, but it’s not enough. How do you manage with TWO babies? I am up at 5:30am for work and home at 6pm. Then it’s a rush to get him in bed, make dinner, any chores and collapse on the couch. We often don’t eat dinner until 9pm, and we spend most of our weekend cooking. :/’

    • Caitlin March 6, 2015, 2:06 pm

      Well, I don’t work full time. I think I would struggle working FT. It’s so hard to balance FT work, motherhood, and exercise. Let me put out a call to see if others can weigh in…

      • Katie March 6, 2015, 2:12 pm

        Hayley – being a working mom is hard and it sounds like you’re doing great! I work full time and have an almost 3 year old and a 6 month old. I also walk over lunch when I can and on days I can’t I get up at 4:30 a.m. to get some exercise in. I have found that hour doesn’t make too much difference when I’m used to getting up at 5:30, and it helps only doing it a few days a week vs. every day. Of course there are weeks like this one where both kids get sick so I don’t exercise at all, but that is okay. Just do the best you can do 🙂

      • candy March 6, 2015, 2:15 pm

        I have an 8 year old & a 12m old. Scheduling exercise sucks. Takes determination and planning. I still fail too. I try and either get up an he in the gym by 5am, or train at lunch in the work gym. Having just moved countries, continents and hemispheres, theres a lot of work required.

      • Juju March 6, 2015, 2:18 pm

        Single mom who works full time and has a long commute in/out of Boston here….I do stroller bootcamp on Saturdays and then during the week I do 2-3 other workouts — mostly Jillian Michaels DVDs or at-home workouts. Once in a while I get to a barre class or yoga class — when my toddler is with her Dad. I also walk 2 miles each day in my commute, take the stairs up and down 7 flights at work daily and am currently doing a fitness challenge through baby bootcamp. I am in the best shape of my life now — I weigh less than I did pre-preg even though then I ran marathons and spent my life training. I have had to realize that less is more — just because it’s not a 20 mile run does not mean it’s not an effective workout. In the future I would love to work out in the morning but we get up around 5 am to get ready for the day so my workouts are at night. I highly recommend a weekend baby bootcamp class — the camrarderie of the group and the workouts have changed my life!

      • Katie March 6, 2015, 2:20 pm

        Thanks for posting this Hayley and thanks to Caitlin for re-posting! I am due in 3.5 weeks with my first and while I hope to get a decent routine going during my 5 months off with babe, I am so nervous about going back to work and how that will effect my ability to workout. it is SO important to me for my emotional health more than anything so cant wait to read others advice!

      • Beth March 6, 2015, 2:30 pm

        In the EXACT same situation, 16 month old and I walk in the door at 545 from work. We do crock pot or other 30 minute dinners as a family, then alternate nights at the gym. I go at 8pm on Tuesdays and Thursday, he is M/w. When its your night at home you clean up dinner and prep for the day. It helps that we are both committed right now and you have to go on your designated night. Saturday mornings we go as a family and use the Y childcare for an hour. Some sundays I sneak in a workout, but 3 times a week is better then so many months of nothing. And Im 10 lbs away from my goal as well, it will be off by summer!

      • Jill March 12, 2015, 9:54 am

        I work full time at a University and run on campus during my lunch break 4 times per week. There is a locker room in my building, which makes it easy for me to shower afterward. I run 3 miles in a little less than 30 minutes, so I have just enough time to change, run, and shower in an hour. Sometimes I go swimming at the pool on campus, but that takes a little over an hour since I have to get there. Also, the days I know I will workout at lunch, I don’t wash my hair in the morning which saves a lot of time and I can get to work a bit earlier. Just because of my unique situation (the locker room in my building, and a nice running trail right outside my work), I feel it is easier for me to exercise than a stay at home mom who, for example, can’t afford a membership to a nice gym with childcare. I think it would be a lot harder for them to be able to exercise! That’s why I take the weekends off, I’m WAY busier at home! 🙂

    • Kim Estess March 6, 2015, 2:20 pm

      I saw Caitlin’s post on Facebook and thought I’d offer my two cents. I only have one baby at this point (almost 9 months old) but I’ve found the only way I am going to make time for daily workouts is if I do them first thing in the morning. Is there anything you can cut out of your morning routine to give yourself a little more time? I wake up at 5:00 a.m. to work out, but I know you said you are already up at 5:30 for work. Even if you just got up at 4:45 and got in a 30-45 minute workout, that would be better than nothing, right? I find myself naturally waking around 4:45 some days (scary), so I don’t think that is an unreasonable timeframe once you get into a routine. I agree with you about nights being too crazy and I’m exhausted at the end of it all. If I don’t do it first thing, I know it won’t happen. Hope that helps a little!

    • Olivia March 6, 2015, 2:20 pm

      It’s HARD. I joined a gym near my office and try to get strength training in there on my lunch hour. Sometimes I run on my lunch break too, but that gets gross when it’s really warm out. Quick runs through the neighborhood at night are sometimes the best I can do — but I certainly don’t get in the mileage that I did pre-kids. If my husband was home in the mornings (he leaves very early) and/or I wasn’t nursing, I could potentially run in the AM too. Several of my co-workers rise at 4:30 am to get their runs in, but I can’t leave my kiddo’s home alone! SO, I got a bike trainer and a punching bag. Those are two exercises I can do in the morning in my own home while the babes are sleeping. You can also try workout videos.

      Essentially, you will need to sacrifice something (usually sleep or relaxation time). It comes down to priorities — and there is nothing wrong with deciding that your kids are your priority right now. I did that for a year and just dealt with the extra 10lbs. 🙂

    • amy March 6, 2015, 2:22 pm

      I just had a baby 4 months ago and this is my first week back from work from maternity leave and granted, while I might not have a lot of experience, I struggled this week with workouts especially because my baby decided to have two sleepless nights because of teething. My husband purchased the 21 day fix dvds for me because he knew I needed something that was short but effective. So they are 30 minute workouts and made myself do it three days. I know it’s only 3 days but it was something and it made me feel good. Also I make an attempt to do one 60 minute class at a nearby studio every sunday morning.

      I am up at 5 am every morning but luckily home by 4:30 every night. This morning I made myself get up at 4:30 to workout just to get the 30 minutes in. I live in Massachusetts and am very much looking forward to the snow melting so me and the baby can go for long walks after picking him up from daycare at night and weekends.

    • Christina March 6, 2015, 2:27 pm

      Hi Hayley,
      First of all, you are doing an awesome job. My schedule is similar to yours (I have a 19 month old). I work at a University and am lucky enough that my work has a rec center near my building on campus. I go there and run on the treadmill during my lunch break 4 days/week. I try not to equate exercise with losing weight, but with gaining health. During the summer we also take family walks after work if it is possible. For me, it’s more about forcing myself to make time for exercise, even though it feels like I never have time. Let me tell you, it is so nice to have an hour to myself where I’m not working or watching my child or doing housework. Maybe you can find some time on the weekends while your baby is napping? Make sure that you aren’t being too hard on yourself. What you are doing is not easy!

    • stephanie March 6, 2015, 2:32 pm

      Hayley, first of all, I bow to you for getting ANYTHING accomplished at home! That’s incredible. I don’t work full time either, but I have some ideas. Do you think you can hire someone to come clean your house/do laundry 1x a week? Would that lighten the load a bit? If you have a significant other at home, can you make a deal where you can get an hour to work out when you get home? Maybe on the weekends, could you get a sitter for a couple of hours so you can get a workout in? Or, maybe right after you get your kiddo in bed? I feel like so much of our lives as moms is about choices and making time for what’s really important to us. Just some thoughts…

    • Lindsey March 6, 2015, 3:18 pm

      Hayley, not going to lie it is not always easy working FT and having a kid or two. My daughter is 16 months as well 🙂 I typically work out at 5am 2-3 days a week, then do lunch hour runs or attend a yoga class at lunch 1-2 days a week. I am fortunate to have trails and a studio close by so this is not an option for everyone! It sounds like you can use your lunch hours so definitely use that to your advantage! On weekends I will workout during nap time. Some evenings (this is rare) I will get in maybe a 20 minute yoga or ad workout but by 8pm I am usually done just like you! Be easy on yourself and do what you can. I find scheduling my workouts at the start of the week helps a ton too!

    • Leatitia March 12, 2015, 1:47 pm

      Single mom with full custody here, working full time. I walk 30 minutes every day on my lunch break. Instead of driving 10 minutes home, I stay at work, save on gaz, eat my healthy lunch, and have that 30 minute to walk.
      I also workout every other day at home in the morning. My workout clothes are ready next to my alarm clock, I just put those on and go to my basement. If my son wakes up, he usually plays games on my phone – special phone time for him. I can’t go to the gym because there’s no gym with childcare in my city.
      Every Tuesday night, my mom and sister come to my house and we do a circuit training together and every Thursday night, a friend and I go to a Zumba class together. I’m lucky enough that her husband can watch my son while we’re there. I think the key is to do most of your exercising at home to maximize your time. You could maybe set up a at home workout with neighbors or friends? Best of luck mama.

  • Tara | Treble in the Kitchen March 6, 2015, 2:20 pm

    Love this! I don’t have kids yet but I love reading honest, real perspectives like this 🙂

  • Nadia March 6, 2015, 2:35 pm

    I am a stay-at-home mom and the only time that I can schedule a workout is early mornings between 5:15 or 5:30 am. My little man wakes up early; anytime between 6:15 and 6:30. I’ve tried working out when my husband gets home around 615 pm, but then we end up eating around 830 and that’s too late. Also, if I do it first thing in the morning I don’t have to think about it the rest of the day. I clean when my son naps. I do the laundry throughout the day. I go to bed early. Its so hard to find a balance…

    • brynn March 6, 2015, 7:19 pm

      Nadia, I’m a mom to a five month old and can relate! I worked out at 5:30am this morning. A few thoughts. One, ask for help. My husband watches my son while I workout for 45 minutes. Two, do what you can. Some days I get in a workout, others a walk or sometimes a quick 20 minutes during a nap. Three, know that this to shall pass. Babies change so fast. Try your best and soak in the moments because soon we will have all the time to workout and wish we didn’t. Wishing you the best!!

  • Jenna March 6, 2015, 6:53 pm

    Thank you Caitlin for you Body & Mind series.
    I’ve never been pregnant, but I’ve spent the last eight months going through some life altering health challenges. The diagnosis, management and side effects have all influenced my body and my mind. And although I don’t have the darling children to show for it, I’ve been able to appreciate and relate to so many aspects of your journey.
    Thank you for reminding us to embrace where we are at, for sharing your voice and your experience.

  • Heidi March 9, 2015, 6:19 pm

    I love the sentiment “embracing where I’m at and looking forward to where I’m going.” That resonates with me. I’m not currently trying to lose the baby weight (my kids are 4 and 7), but I’m a runner, triathlete, and Rollergirl who shattered her ankle playing roller derby just after the new year. I had surgery and have been pretty much confined to the couch for the past several weeks. I have definitely lost fitness and gotten a lot softer. I was starting to beat myself up over this, but after reading your post, I think I’ll “embrace where I’m at” (which is starting PT and relearning how to walk) and “look forward to where I am going.” (Which is hopefully swimming and cycling before too much longer and running by the end of the summer. Baby steps. In the meantime I’m going to love my body and try to be more gentle with myself. Thanks!

    • Caitlin March 9, 2015, 7:07 pm

      Aw feel better!

  • Morgan March 11, 2015, 8:46 pm

    It’s so refreshing to hear a woman talk positively about our ever changing bodies…thank you!!

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