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Our yard was dead and barren all winter, and then – all the sudden – it’s exploding with weeds.  Wish we had planted some tulip bulbs or something pretty.  But no – just weeds.

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So I’ve been trying to clean up our front garden for a few days. The process is taking forever because I do it during Claire’s naptimes and only get like, 20 minutes at a time.  I barely have enough time to get dirty before I have to come in!  Huge mess.  Hopefully, it will be worth it though – I’d love to see some colorful flowers in there.

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So in addition to a little weeding, yesterday was full of fun.

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I got my workout of the way in the morning.  Brandi and I met for a swim and a bike ride.

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I’m committing to making most of my non-boot camp workouts a double (such as a swim/bike or a bike/run) because I really, really need to get ready for triathlon season.  My first is in May!  Eck.  It’ll be here before I know it…

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We did this 1500 yard workout, but I nixed one of the speed sets and the cool down because my arms were soooooo tired from boot camp.  As I said to Brandi, I kind of feel like I’m in an awkward place physically.  It’s like a plateau that I need to push through – I’m constantly tired/sore workouts but feel like I need to push through to get stronger and fitter so I’m NOT constantly tired/sore.  Does that make sense?

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We biked for 10 minutes after.  Later in the afternoon, I went back to the pool – but this time it was with Henry!

 

Ah, you know what’s changing my life?  Well, just my mornings, I guess. Getting really consistent about putting all my smoothie ingredients in the blender the night before.  It makes breakfast go even faster. 

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We bought a reconditioned (and thus cheaper but it still comes with a mega warranty) Vitamix a few years ago, and I have to say, I love my Vitamix so much.  It is the ultimate blender.  I use it multiple times a day – and for a variety of different types of foods – and can’t imagine cooking without it.

 

A Claire Update

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I wanted to give you guys a Claire update because I’m seeing some pretty cool stuff happen with my baby girl.  In the last few days, she’s started to LAUGH.  I mean – really, really LAUGH.  It’s so cute!  She thinks it’s super funny when you say “Moo” like a cow.  And man – she loves to crack up at Henry’s antics.  She looks at him with such adoration in her eyes… She also loves the Husband.  She sees him and just BEAMS.  It’s super sweet.

 

She’s so chunky, too.  Love her heft!  Her thigh rolls are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen; she’s soft and squishy.  I just want to squeeze her all the time. 

 

Her little baby personality is coming out more and more.  If I had one word to describe Claire, it would be “agreeable.” She’s always willing to go with the flow.  She smiles at everyone she interacts with and is just generally a jolly girl.  The only time she is not happy is when someone else tries to put her down at nighttime – she gets super upset until I come in and rock her.  This makes bedtime difficult, but I secretly like how much she wants me…

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She’s getting more and more active, too.  Her head control is great, and I find myself carrying her on my hip more and more (as opposed to like a football).  She’s gone into the jumper at childcare a few times and loved it.  I loaned my friend Henry’s jumper (my mom friends and I swap baby gear constantly) but I’m going to get it back this week so she can rock the jumper out at home, too.

 

Here’s Henry in the Rainforest Jumperoo when he was a little older than Claire is now. Can’t wait to see her in it!

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She’s also figured out the purpose of toys, and she’s loving Henry’s old favorites like Freddie the Firefly, Sophie, and the Winkel Rattle (which I call “the atom bomb” because it looks like an atom to me).

 

Now, I owe you a Henry update.  He’s doing so well; I’ll try to write a bit about his awesome toddler life soon (I love the stage he’s at!).

 

Have a good one!

{ 30 comments }

 

  • Danielle @ Little Mama Big Life March 25, 2015, 7:25 am

    Your kiddos are so cute! Mine are the same ages and I agree, I love watching how our youngest son looks at his big brother! He follows everything he does like he is just the coolest thing he’s seen!

  • Erica { EricaDHouse.com } March 25, 2015, 8:02 am

    You are making me want to try gardening (for the 10th time!) I’ve had some success with herbs in the past but the Florida bugs and heat make it difficult to grow a lot of fun stuff.

  • Amber @ Busy, Bold, Blessed March 25, 2015, 9:10 am

    I’m assuming you keep the blender in the fridge overnight… do you add the frozen ingredients in the morning? Do you typically put frozen fruit in your smoothies or just ice?

    • Caitlin March 25, 2015, 9:14 am

      Nope, everything goes in it the night before including the frozen fruit. I don’t use ice!

  • Katie March 25, 2015, 10:17 am

    Have you checked your resting heart rate lately? It might be that you’re in need of some recovery time. I know its hard to be a momma and get decent rest, but I just attended an athlete meeting where they talked about working harder not smarter, and how wrong that is.

    • Caitlin March 25, 2015, 10:34 am

      Do you just mean just more rest days?

  • Reenie March 25, 2015, 10:38 am

    She is sooo cute ~ so is Henry. Please video her laughing ~ there is nothing better than a baby’s laugh.

    xo

  • AshinMT March 25, 2015, 10:52 am

    I loved this update. I am a longtime reader no commenter but I was hoping you might have some insight for me. My little fella is reallly close to claire in age (he was born New years eve) and we have had him in our room, in the “pod” like bassinet attached to our pak N play. Well, he is a big kid (huge) and is outgrown the pod but with how our house is set up.. moving him directly to his crib is not happening for now, so we want to transition him just into the pak n play mattress until we start inching him out of our room for real. I am TERRIFIED that this is going to cause all the sleep regression as we are just getting to big chunks (8-3:30 or 4) and then up again at six. My major concern is that he wont really nap for any long periods of time on his back flat (we try to put him in his real crib during the day)- maybe he’ll snooze for a half hour or so, but no “real napping” or an hour or longer occurs unless its on dad rocking in the recliner, or in his swing. Any tips on transitioning him this way? I just do not think he is going to go down the same into the straight flat mattress like he does in his pod.. sorry wordy comment but I know you seem to have things pretty well researched (and first hand experienced) as far as little one sleep?

    • Caitlin March 25, 2015, 10:54 am

      So the pod is curvy and inclined and the pack and play mattress is flat, right? That’s the issue?

      Maybe try putting a towel under the head of the pak and play mattress so the mattress gently slopes. I did that with Claire for a long time after birth because it seemed like she hated to be flat on her back. Then I did it again when she was getting congested a lot.

      • AshinMT March 25, 2015, 3:19 pm

        Yes- thank you for that idea! The pod is is like a half egg… so he’s all cozy in there- and I dont wonder if a little of the needing an incline isnt related to him having a full belly from eating before bed- causing some reflux or something. But you’re right… i just need to rig something up a bit 🙂 Thanks a ton, and while I am here will say that i love reading about your little family!

        • Lori March 26, 2015, 2:36 pm

          Totally not trying to put my nose in where it doesn’t belong, but just a word of warning that the bassinet on the pac n play isn’t meant for nighttime sleep, only naps where you can keep a close eye on baby. The sides can cause suffocation if baby rolls onto it’s side. I have a 7 month old and 2 yr old, and I know how hard the whole sleep thing is. Just remember that if you use a towel or something for incline, put it UNDER the mattress. Anything actually in the sleeping area with baby can cause suffocation and entanglement. When transitioning to a flat surface for sleep, we’ve just had to be consistent and deal with the frequent wake ups and short naps. they do eventually stretch out. I know how hard the transition period can be though. Good luck to you!

  • kristin | W [H] A T C H March 25, 2015, 11:39 am

    i’ve wanted a vitamix forever, but just haven’t pulled the trigger on it. i saw them on haute look yesterday and was so tempted…

  • Alli March 25, 2015, 11:52 am

    I love that you can swim in the winter. I wish I had a place close to me where I could do that!

    I smiled when I saw your workout inside a plastic bag. When I was in high school, we would place our workout sheet on top of a kickboard and dunk the whole thing underwater. It would stick to the board and the ink never ran. Then we’d prop it up in the gutter of the pool so we could easily see it. Just a tip in case you ever find yourself without the bag!

    Thanks for your blog-I love reading it!

  • Maddie@Dixie Runs March 25, 2015, 12:12 pm

    Claire is so adorable!! I love baby laughs… nothing better 🙂

  • Nicole March 25, 2015, 12:17 pm

    I’m jealous you’re getting out in the yard at all! We close on our first home Friday, so I can hardly wait till I have my own yard to tend to (remind me that later!). Plus, it snowed the night before last up here in Ohio, so I haven’t exactly felt like sticking my hands in the dirt anyway, haha.

    Claire is adorable! I love her baby squish, too. My little one (born in September) has the best thighs, lol. My husband doesn’t seem to get why I gush over her little baby legs and baby butt, haha.

    xx

  • Kat @ Where the Sidewalk Ends March 25, 2015, 12:42 pm

    ZOMG Claire is so squishy. It’s delightful. She radiates happiness and contentment. Yay!

    Just wondering, have you thought about doing a veggie garden/patch? I know how much kids love to eat the food they grow, so it might be really fun to do with Henry. A lot of veggies can also be really beautiful as they grow!

  • Kaila @healthyhelperblog! March 25, 2015, 12:54 pm

    That first picture (well, ALL OF THEM!) of Clare is SO CUTE!! She’s really starting to leave that newborn phase and take on her own appearance!! I can see you and your husband in her already.

  • Hannah March 25, 2015, 1:49 pm

    CLaird is getting so big! (But of course you know that already ha!) Love her expressions 🙂

    I feel like I’m in the same spot physically – but this week I forgot I had a large amount of bloodwork done and did intense workouts the few days after so I know that wasn’t smart! Oops. Good luck on training!

  • Carolina John March 25, 2015, 2:34 pm

    You’ll have the best luck planting bulbs in the fall. The bulbs that are in Lowe’s now are summer bloomers, nice spring bulbs need to have that winter cold temps to bloom properly now in spring. You could always get some that are blooming now in the store and stick them in the ground, and they will come back next year too.

    Claire is getting so big! so adorable.

  • Britt@MyOwnBalance March 25, 2015, 6:43 pm

    Claire is so adorable! My son, Cooper, is a little bit older than Claire and he just started laughing too! It’s the best! Unfortunately he is not very chunky at all because mama needs to feed him more (I try to but I just don’t have a ton of milk!). It’s so funny that you say Claire is agreeable. My husband and I joke that we are teaching Cooper to be agreeable and if he says the word, we’ll buy him a car–obviously a total joke but fun still!

  • Katie March 25, 2015, 7:28 pm

    Hi Caitlin! Soon to be first-time mom here (insert terrified/excited emoji here). I’m curious about your swims and bootcamps — what do you do with the kids when you do those activities? I’m trying to figure out how I can keep exercise in my life with a baby! I live in San Francisco and approximately zero gyms offer childcare so far as I can tell. Thanks so much in advance!

    • Caitlin March 25, 2015, 7:35 pm

      There has to be a gym with childcare! What about a ymca or similar???

      Henry us usually in school or they are both in childcare.

      • Heather March 26, 2015, 12:39 am

        SF mom here. Several YMCA’s offer childcare (Presidio/Richmond/Stonestown). Also check out the JCC on California, Equinox on Union, and I think some 24 Hr
        Fitness’s do too.

  • kathy March 25, 2015, 9:34 pm

    That one photo of Claire looks like she could be a teenager just hanging at the beach with her besties…so flipping cute!

  • Julie March 26, 2015, 11:50 am

    Claire is PRECIOUS!! She’s one of those babies that is so cute that when you see a pic of her, you just wanna hold her & squeeze her! Ugh! She’s makin’ my ovaries ache! 😛

  • Erin @ Her Heartland Soul March 26, 2015, 1:10 pm

    Claire is so cute! I want a baby girl someday!

  • Tracey March 26, 2015, 2:55 pm

    Oh my goodness! Claire looks JUST like you in the picture of her in her diaper. Love her sweet little face. 🙂

  • Dennis March 27, 2015, 8:55 am

    When it comes to strength training – you really need to become familiar with your “minimum effective dose” of reps and motions. Just like a vitamin – taking more of it doesn’t double your benefit. If you are too sore to train, it means you are probably pushing too hard for where you are.

    http://www.marksdailyapple.com/how-to-leverage-the-minimum-effective-dose-in-your-primal-life/#axzz3VaeAvar0

    Recovery time is when the magic happens – where you actually rebuild muscle through solid nutrition and sleep. The latter is always hard with kids, so it may mean either you don’t progress as quickly or you make sacrifices elsewhere to get the best you can. I dropped a lot of TV watching in favor of going to bed earlier because I decided my health and fitness goals were more important.

  • Robyn April 2, 2015, 11:57 pm

    Awwww… What a cutie! I imagine spring blossoms will soon get those eyes so big… Hahahaha.

  • Stephanie May 7, 2015, 8:55 am

    I really like your picture’s title! Claire and Henry are angels! I really like your blog, everything is not only informative , but also really positive!

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