This time next week I’ll be back at work, and our sweet time of being together all day, every day will have ended for now. It went by way too fast.
These have been the 15 best weeks of my entire life, and I don’t want them to end; If I could freeze time, or put it on a loop so that I could continue experiencing the joy and wonder of getting to know you these last few months, I would. We spent mostly simple days together, learning how to be a mama and baby, but they were absolutely perfect. I will treasure every minute of this precious quarter of a year forever.
Figuring out how to meet your needs has been the most challenging job I’ve ever had, but the one that has given me my greatest sense of purpose. I had the privilege to change hundreds of your diapers, nurse you whenever you felt hungry, and comfort you when you [and sometimes I] cried because we were both getting used to everything being so new/disorienting. I spent countless hours just watching you in awe, and sometimes disbelief, that I really get to be YOUR mama. I haven’t been perfect, but I have tried my very best to take care of and love you well.
It has been amazing to watch you literally grow and change every day. I loved “chatting” with your 8 pound little self after reading stories on the big bed in your room. I was so thankful to you for the gift of rest when you slept through the night at only six weeks old! I felt as if my heart would explode when you unexpectedly giggled for the first time on our walk to Starbucks downtown – I’m waiting to hear that again. Even when I knew I had things to get done, I chose to nap with you in my arms in the middle of the day – I would let them go numb because I didn’t want to move and wake you. I was so proud of you when you discovered your hands and the things they could begin to do – you’re so smart!
When your cute little side smiles turned into big, whole body grins I absolutely melted.
I felt so excited when one day I rolled you over and you pushed up from your tummy and happily looked around at your toys after screaming for 12 weeks every time we tried…I can’t wait for you to figure out how to translate your crazy hip thrusts into a roll or something – please save that for a day I’m home, okay? Every day it’s something new and exciting with you, and my heart swells with pride.
In a week I go back to work, though thankfully part time so that I have more time to be with you. It’s going to be tough on both of us at first, but I also know that you’ll love having special time with Grammy, your Daddy is working at home and can play with you during the day, and that you’ll meet new friends at your daycare. I hope you’re inspired by and proud of me someday for being strong, independent and successful; when you grow up I want you to take advantage of opportunities and pursue your dreams, education, goals and passions just like I have. But the most important thing you should know is that I love you to the moon and back; Thankfully, I do like my job, but I LOVE being your mama more than anything in this world.
Since your birth I have spent almost every hour of every day by your side, and never once did I wish to be anywhere else. Know that when I’m not with you, each second I’ll wish I were.
Every day of maternity leave my full time job has been to make you feel like you are the most loved baby in the world. I PROMISE you that job will not end because I go back to work – that’s for life!
I love you with all of my heart, and I can’t wait to continue getting to know you every day and being your mom. It is such an honor.
Love Always,
Mama
P.S. I’m so thankful to your daddy for making it possible for me to take this time off to be with you, and learn how to be your mom. He supported me every day in many ways [filling my water bottles, giving me a yummy glass of adult grape juice, playing with you in the middle of the day so I could take a shower, etc.]. He loves you so much, and I know he would do anything for you. When you smile, his faces lights up with happiness. I’m so glad he is your daddy and my husband. We both love you so much.
Mamas, I would love to know how your transitions from maternity leave back to work went. What helped with the adjustment? Leave me a comment – I would really appreciate your advice : )
I’ll say up front that I’m pretty much OCD when it comes to organization [e.g. I make crazy timelines and spreadsheets for things that don’t require them]. Organization is a large part of what makes me good at my job, and most of what drives me crazy about myself because my wheels never stop turning. So, naturally, I’ve outlined a routine for work days in order to feel more confident about returning in a week [waaaaaa!] and making sure Taylor is set up for success when I’m away from her.
Figuring out how to pump & breastfeed while working is going to be a challenge, but it’s something that I really want to continue to do for my daughter. I’m incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to go back to work on a part time basis for this first year as a transition, have a hubby who works from home, and also to have the help of my Mom {Grammy} who will watch Taylor two days of the week. Anyway, I hope my OCD-ness can help my fellow working mamas navigate your returns to work, whether you are pumping/breastfeeding or using formula to feed your babe.
I utilized the sample “Baby Sleep and Feeding Schedules” from Baby Center. There are schedules for 1-12-month-olds with stay-at-home or working moms who either exclusively breastfeed, exclusively pump or formula feed. If you’re looking for something like I made below, this is a great resource!
My pumping bag, believe it or not.
Here is the approximate schedule we’ll keep for workdays:
Workday Routine: Breast-feeding + Pumping Mama of a 3.5 Month Old
4:00 a.m.: Nurse, put the baby back down to sleep, leave the monitor with hubby, pump, then get ready for the gym.
4:30 a.m.:Mama gets in her workout at the gym or out in the garage. Or, work on blog stuff.
6:00 a.m.: Mama starts a load of laundry, showers and gets ready for work.
6:30 a.m.: Baby girl wakes up and watches her mobile until Mama is finished getting dressed and readying bottles for daycare or Grammy.
7:00 a.m.:Nurse.
7:20 a.m.: Out the door to drop baby off at daycare by 7:30 and/or head to work if Grammy is coming.
8:30 to 9:45 a.m.:Baby [hopefully] naps.
9:45 a.m.: Baby eats 4-5 ounces breast milk. Mama pumps at work around this time.
Comotomo – a great bottle for breastfed babes
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Baby [hopefully] naps.
12:30 Â p.m.: Baby nurses or eats 4-5 ounces breast milk. Mama pumps at work during lunch or goes to daycare/home to nurse.
2:00 to 3:00 p.m:Baby [hopefully] naps.
3:00 p.m.:Baby eats 4-5 ounces breast milk. Mama pumps at work, if possible.
If I could go back and do it again, I’d snag this tote for my pumping bag/purse. Click on image to shop!
5:30 p.m.: Mama picks up baby at daycare or returns home if Daddy got her earlier.
5:45 p.m.:Home, nurse.
6:00 p.m.: Put pumped milk in fridge, freeze any extra milk. Baby takes a catnap or has playtime with Daddy.
6:45 p.m.:Start bedtime routine – bath, change into overnight diaper & pj’s, read a book, swaddle, sing Good Night song.
7:00 p.m.:Nurse. Baby falls asleep nursing or needs bouncing on the yoga ball [unless we decide on some type of sleep training, at which point we would put her down drowsy but awake to fall asleep on her own, I think!]
7:30 p.m.: Baby [hopefully] asleep by this time.
7:30 to 9:30 p.m.:Mama prepares pump bag/daycare bag/bottles and lunch for the next day, lays out workout & work clothes, and folds dry laundry [thanks Hubby!]. Reheat prepped food [Sunday/Tuesday], order in or crockpot for dinner. QT with Hubby.
10:00 p.m.:Bedtime
4:00 a.m.:Wake, nurse, baby goes right back to bed. Start all over again : )
Before Taylor’s 2 month check up, I posted the photo below and the question, “Little miss is getting her shots today…what advice do you have for getting through this with as little pain/tears as possible?”.
Poor little cutie had no idea….
I was absolutely overwhelmed by the quantity and quality of responses I received from my fellow mamas, and wanted to share all of their input on this forum so that other new mamas can benefit. Whether or not you choose to vaccinate is a very personal decision. If you do decide to vaccinate, hopefully the advice below will help you know what to expect and give you ideas for how to navigate the experience, as it did for me.
Wear her in a baby carrier… I did that and it worked great.
Lots of snuggles afterward, and nurse her right after too! The pain and crying is inevitable, but you can soothe her pretty quickly. [My daughter] cried hard for 1-2 minutes, but then it was all over.
Boob or bottle right after.
Our pediatrician always has me hold her when she gets her shots. But the crying only lasts for about 2 minutes. As soon as it’s done and the nurse is gone then she’s over it. But I would definitely recommend having the bottle ready or nurse her if she doesn’t stop crying.
It’ll be over quick! Lots of cuddles and nursing should help.
Massage the shot site. It’s harder for mom than it is for baby.
Shots weren’t as bad as I thought they’d be. I have one twin that handles them like a champ & one that cries pretty hard at first but lots of cuddles & kisses later & he’s ok. I do notice a mild fever afterwards for a day or so. I cried too, so the snuggles afterwards is good for both of you. Luckily the shot site doesn’t hurt for too long afterwards. Also, take the band aids off during bath time so the adhesive isn’t so sticky.
You will definitely hurt more than she will!!
I always held her. And I also gave Tylenol before the appointment so it was in her system when the shots were given. They recommended I do that. It’s hard! I think it hurts mommy more than baby!
Both my kiddos reacted to shots with a slight fever and sleepiness when they were babies. They napped extra long and it freaked me out!! But – it’s totally normal. I think pre-shot Tylenol is a great idea! I never did that. I called the advice nurse with [my son] since I was freaked and she calmed me down. It’s not necessarily common but it can happen! The sleepiness and irritability though is pretty common though. I remember a friend’s baby took a 5 hour nap afterward!
Yes Tylenol before or right when you get home (doctor’s office should have a dosage chart based on her weight). She’ll only cry for a minute. [My daughter] was just sore and crabby the next day (no Tylenol). At her next appointment, I gave Tylenol when I got home, she was completely normal (no soreness or crabbiness!). Keep in mind that a few minutes of crying (or even a day of crabbiness) is WAAAAY better than her getting any of the diseases she’s being vaccinated for!!
Best of luck to you momma, I think it’s just as hard or harder on us. Just FYI. She may sleep a lot after, at least my little one does. None of us know until we do, it’s great to see you have a wonderful support group. Most of all, trust your instincts and know you are an amazing momma.
Epsom salt baths afterwards to pull out the toxins that are in shots. And I’ve read that aspirin or Tylenol can actually increase the bad reaction to vaccines, so I’d google that before doing it. Also, I highly highly recommend a delayed schedule. We were only given 1/4 of the vaccines they give babies now.And hey, keep in mind, you’re her mama. If you feel uneasy about something and the doctor’s are pressuring you, go with your gut. Mamas have intuition and know their babes. I’ve been kicked out of my fair share of doctor’s offices, but I do what I feel is best for my babies, and you should too.
There were a few shots I waited on giving. We gave them eventually but not in batches like some recommend. The flu and Chicken pox we waited on since they aren’t viruses that are deadly if the happen to get them. I just made sure they got the chicken pox vaccine before they started school. But yes, discuss delayed vaccinations. 4 at a time always seemed a little extreme.
I always have my kids some Tylenol before to help with the pain after. Then right after shots I’d nurse to help them get their mind off it. See if the nurse can have all shots prepped and ready and do them quickly after each other so there is very little wait time in between.
Tequila for you!
You are going to cry too! Nap when she does today.
Lots of cuddling and feeding her right after helps!
Daddy was contracted for shot day. Couldn’t do it myself, I would snap at the nurse.
I cried when both of my kids got their 2 month shots, I agree with several previous post: hold her, Tylenol for her and just have an eye on her temp and never hesitate to call the doctor if you feel something is not right.
You can hold her while she’s getting the shot which will comfort her. Did that until [my son was 2. In addition we spread out his shots so he didn’t get four, but only two in one session. Dr Sears has great sample schedules on that.
Tylenol every 4 – 6 hours.
Nurse her as soon as you can, if you’re breastfeeding. Otherwise, it will be over fast.
A little Tylenol before the appointment and nurse as soon as the shots are done. My pediatrician just let me sit in the exam room until I was done nursing so I’m sure they make accommodation and allot time for that, so don’t feel stressed about taking up time in the room. She’ll be fine! It’s tough to watch them scream, but she’ll be okay.
If she won’t nurse after, wrap her up! That worked like a charm for us.
Breastfeeding after helped so much! He was calm in a few minutes and then he was good the rest of the day. He never did get a fever either.
It’ll only hurt for a little bit – she’ll be fine. But definitely big hugs and lots of kisses right after.
Make sure to check with your doctor before giving any meds (over the counter or prescription) rather than searching the interwebs or taking advice from friends. Ditto for concerns about vaccine schedules, possible reactions etc. Your baby’s doctor went to school for a LONG TIME, attends continuing education to remain current on medical best practices, and cares deeply about his/her patients. If you don’t trust your doctor to make the best recommendations for your baby (including addressing concerns!), consider finding a new doctor. Just some thoughts from a medical professional.
Sooooo, honestly, the shots were actually harder on her than I even anticipated [i.e. not breathing for several seconds, maroon face + head from crying so hard, unable to nurse, etc.] but I was able to stay strong and comfort her. Luckily my mom was able to accompany us, which also gave me extra strength. The nurse gave her three separate shots, which I thought was almost cruel – next time I think I’ll ask that at least two be given at once if possible. I chose to start nursing her before the shots were even given, but that didn’t seem to help distract her from the pain/surprise. Even though my super sensitive little babe had a tough time, these words brought me a lot of comfort going in; I felt prepared for what was to come and how to handle it. Had I been as nervous as I was prior to reaching out and receiving the advice of these women, I’m sure she would have felt that and she would have been even more upset. And, everyone was right – she took an epic 5 hour nap in her DockATot. I felt like she was a little “off” when she woke up from the nap, and was definitely fussy, so I gave her some Infant Tylenol. But, after sleeping through the night, she woke up with a smile on her face and without fever. It truly takes a village, and I’m so thankful for mine and the advisement they gave in this situation.
5 hour post-vacc nap!
I hope you’ll continue to be a part of my “village” here where we can share with and encourage one another as we journey through motherhood.
How did your babe’s vaccinations go? How did you get them and yourself through it?
Truth time guys…Although I’m working around it, I’ve honestly been SUPER pretty frustrated that my postpartum recovery hasn’t been what I planned for it to be. This whole Pubic Symphysis Disfunction business completely derailed my schedule and method for getting back into shape and being able to do things I love in and out of the gym – things I worked hard throughout pregnancy to be able to jump back into quickly and easily postpartum. I felt assured that my plan would work and I would “bounce” right back. My labor and delivery were also NOTHING like what I planned, but that’s a whole other post…
It has always been challenging for me to be out of control of an element of my life, and to LET GO/ not over analyze when things don’t work out as I expected/hoped they would. I’ve realized for some time that this is not a productive use of heart + brain space, but I have the strong sense that NOW is the time to learn how to really let go of the desire for control and be at peace, humbly grateful, no matter the circumstance. Because -WOW – I have so much to be grateful for, and there is ALWAYS a way to adapt and still achieve my goals.
I’m so thankful to my sweet daughter – from her very birth, she is already helping me grow and evolve closer to the example I hope to be for her in this life.
I know I’m not alone in the ongoing quest to refine and become the best version of myself. Today, let’s let go of what we can’t control and do what we CAN to take the best care of ourselves and our little ones.
Below are three different workouts for you, targeting the same muscle group and taking about 50 minutes:
A] what I did at the gym
B] what I would have done at the gym if I was cleared to : )
C] an at home option.
If you try any or all of these workouts out, let me know how they go! Go Mama!
Taking good care of yourself and feeling confident in your skin are so important for busy mamas. One quick and easy way to add self-care/pampering into your day is a consistent morning and evening skin care regimen.
I’ve always struggled with some type of acne, until I started using these products by esthetician, Emme Diane, two years ago. Emme’s Skin Care Bible she sends with her product, and her regular tips on Instagram (@emmediane) have helped me understand how to take care of my specific skin type. Not only does she know what she is talking about when it comes to corrective skin care, anti-aging, pigmentation issues, sensitive skin, etc., in my opinion, her prices are very reasonable for the quality of product.
I owed my pregnancy glow to hormones and this skincare line. Right now I’m loving the Lighten Up product line for the pregnancy melasma on my face, as well as the linea nigra on my stomach, both of which are now almost completely faded; I put a little of this Lighten Up Serum on as part of my evening regimen, after cleansing and toning, and it does the trick:
I never thought I would get to the point where the only foundation I need to feel “covered” is tinted moisturizer – Thank you Emme! If you don’t have a skin care line that works for you, and especially if you have troubled skin like I do, I can’t say enough about these products: http://www.emmediane.com/
What are some other ways you include self-care/pampering into your busy days?
Disclaimer: This is not a paid for review. The products listed are for my own personal use and I have not been compensated for my review or opinions.
Not sure how to achieve your postpartum fitness and body goals?
What will not work is yo-yo-ing between being 100% dedicated to whichever diet plan for X amount of weeks or months, then going back to relatively crappy eating because you feel deprived. What will not work is telling yourself you’ll work out 5 days per week, feeling discouraged because you only worked out twice, and then doing nothing for weeks/months following. What will not work is beating yourself up for not getting where you want to be fast enough, breaking an unsustainable diet or missing a workout. What will not work is feeling guilty or self-indulgent for wanting to take care of yourself and feel good about your body as a mama, thereby not pursuing your health & fitness goals. What will not work is putting unreasonable pressure on yourself to look a certain way or reach an arbitrary weight.
Amen?!
My secret to “bouncing back” after pregnancy?
CONSISTENCY – working out regularly [including weights], and eating healthily [80% of the time] before, during and after pregnancy.
What has always worked for me, and what I think can work for you too, is devising a reasonable, sustainableworkout and nutrition game plan that I feel good about, and beingCONSISTENT with that plan.
That will look different for every mama; our metabolisms, backgrounds, goals and levels of fitness are all so different, so I can’t say how long it will take for you to achieve your personal postpartum body/fitness goals. However, I can guarantee you’ll make progress you will feel good about if you find ways to get and stay consistentwith workouts and nutrition for the long haul.
For me, in regards to nutrition, I know I’m not able to consistently stick with any particular type of diet [I’ve tried Atkins, super low calorie, Paleo, Zone, etc. over the last 15 years or so] without A) beating myself up for “cheating” and then giving up for the rest of that day or week, or B) getting way too OCD and un-balanced about it. I’m also just not going to cut out wine or my regular cheeseburger or pizza indulgences at this point in my life. For these reasons I choose to eat healthy about 80% of the time, ALL the time. Even on vacation. Even while pregnant. There’s that consistency piece again : )
Nap-time lifting sesh in the backyard.
My formula for exercise has been the same for years: set a minimum amount of workouts I can reasonably get in for the week, then make it happen. If I do more than that, great! If not, I know I’ve taken care of myself and my body at a level I feel good about. I do that week in, and week out, no matter what’s going on in my life: injury, grad school, vacation, pregnancy, etc. I find I’m never so busy that I can’t find time for 3 workouts of some kind weekly – and I believe that will continue to be true even when I go back to work in a few weeks.
I plan to continue sharing how I am finding ways to adapt to my new mama reality and stay consistent with working out and keeping my nutrition on point – especially as I head back to work. If you are on your postpartum fitness journey as well, I hope my sharing will inspire you to find ways to incorporate fitness in a way that feels healthy, balanced AND helps you achieve your personal goals.
After I started this blog post, I went to a Physical Therapist to learn more about this Pubic Symphysis Dysfunction I have going on resulting from delivery. I wanted to understand more about it, and make sure I wasn’t doing anything to impede healing or cause further damage. Although not surprised, I was pretty bummed at what I learned. In a nutshell, if I want my body to heal correctly and resolve as quickly as possible, apparently the only cardio I can do until a minimum of 6 months postpartum is swimming with a pull buoy between my knees or walking with a “short stride”…Suuuuuuuper fun…. Additionally, no split leg movements [lunging, step ups, etc.], side or front planks, squats below parallel, and on and on. Basically, most of what I would like or recommend others to do for exercise is off limits until at least November. However, can I still find ways to train consistently and get back into shape as planned? Absolutely. I can and I will! That said, until I’m in the clear, the workouts I’ll share with you on the blog/social media will be a combination of what I am actually doing, and what I would be doing if I could.
HERE is my log for the first week I started doing more than slow walks, kegels, heel taps, planks and pelvic tilts [6 weeks postpartum]. As you can see, the largest part of my fitness routine was walking. Walking continues to be my only cardio for now – uphill walking when I get into the gym – and it’s really helped me to shed off the preggo pounds. Seriously, don’t underestimate the power of walking! Let me know if you’re interested in seeing the rest of my log – I’m happy to share.
Below is a workout I did at the park with Taylor this week. Obviously, I’ve since learned that I can’t continue with these movements, but YOU can! Try this one out and let me know how it goes – I thought it was pretty fun : )
Steps & Squats:
1. Walk or drive to a local park with your little one + stroller.
2. Locate several locations you could ‘step up’ on [spread throughout the park] as you walk around for a 5-10 min warm up.
Here are some places I found to ‘step up’ at the park down the street.
3. Park your stroller and complete the following 3 exercises [A-C = one set], briskly walk for 3-5 minutes, do another set, and so on until you’ve walked 1 mile or 30 minutes have elapsed [whichever takes longer!]. I use the Map My Run app to track how far I’ve walked:
A]15 walking lunges w/stroller, each leg
B] 25 air squats
C] 15 step ups, each leg
Now go get after it, mama! Come up with a reasonable plan and stay consistent with it. If you’re just starting out on your fitness journey: make 2 workouts and 1 walk your weekly goal. When you feel like you can and want to, throw in another workout, or an extra mile to your walk. Go slow, listen to your body, and stay balanced- getting back into shape after having a baby is a marathon, not a sprint. You can do this!
P.S. If you’re interested in more workout ideas, follow me on Instagram, @taylormademama. I plan to post workouts there more frequently.
Not much is cuter than a baby girl with a sweet hair accessory – especially when they don’t have very much hair. [or maybe that’s just my bias for my bald babe!]. I absolutely love the beautiful headbands that Heather, owner of The C Shoppe, creates.
The nylon headbands are super soft and have just the right amount of material to stay put, yet not leave an indentation on my baby’s head. I ordered a custom neutral colored “Anemone” [featured on the title image of this post] and received it within 3 days of emailing Heather to make the request. Heather was so kind and open to creating an adorable, custom piece for Taylor. And, I mean, how cute is this packaging?
Heather will become a mama through adoption, and all of the proceeds from the shop go toward bringing her child/children home. So if you have a little girl or need a gift for one, head over to The C Shoppe to support a fellow mama, and add a truly adorable hair accessory to their collection.
Taylor wore a teal Anemone to her friend’s 1st B-day party, and it was the perfect, festive addition to her “look”:
What are your favorite Etsy [or other] shops for stylish kid’s clothing and accessories? Leave a comment and let me know – Thanks for the tips, and for reading!
The first 3-5 weeks with Taylor were an oxytocin-laced, exhausting haze. Normally one who loves routines and schedules, I had none. I was nursing and changing diapers around the clock, often didn’t even know what day or time it was, was recovering physically/emotionally in big ways, and certainly didn’t have time to even think about a routine or what that might include.
Solo coffee run w/ 2 week old = I’m a bad @$$.
The first few weeks with a newborn are pretty much survival mode – you just do whatever you have to do to make sure your baby is getting enough to eat and sleep, and that you are getting some amount of food/sleep in yourself. If that means spending way too much money on takeout every night, co-sleeping when you intended to use a bassinet, not leaving the house ever, feeding every 45 min because that’s what baby needs, etc., well, so be it! – whatever works for you and your sweet baby, right? Not to mention, many newborns [mine included] pretty much sleep ALL day long, so trying to complete some sort of activity or outing during their uber limited wake time seems ridiculous. Thinking back, it was pretty amusing how accomplishing the simplest things made me feel SUPER proud of myself in those first few weeks – like the first time I left the house with Taylor without my hubby for a coffee run and neither of us was in tears the entire 45 minutes.
It took about a month for me to emerge from the haze and get into a groove with Taylor [and AJ], but I love what we have going on now. We have been loosely following an Eat, Play/Activity, Sleep routine that shows up in a lot of popular baby-management books such as Baby Whisperer and BabyWise. I say loosely because, as much as I want to help Taylor develop a predictable routine and give our days some structure, I am actually on HER schedule and sometimes she has needs that don’t line up perfectly with my plan [duh]. For example, when she goes through a growth spurt, or has a short feed upon waking up, I know I may need to break the routine and feed her again before she goes to sleep so that she doesn’t get hungry and wake up from the nap prematurely. Overall though, non-militantly following an Eat, Play Sleep routine has worked well for us and I imagine it will be even more useful as she gets a bit older.
Obviously, the strategy that works for us certainly won’t work with every baby + mama for any number of reasons, but I do think establishing a routine when you feel ready is really helpful. The whole point of this post is to share an outline of one of our days to give you some ideas for the of the sort of routine you could establish early on in your maternity leave, with one baby [you supermoms with more than one simply amaze me – how do you do it?!].
{Credit: Precious Little Sleep}
Before getting to that, I have to say that I made a lot of mistakesdidn’t know a lot of things that were impacting our ability to get into a routine in those first few weeks – particularly related to sleep. I’ve since spent a lot of nursing sessions reading up on helpful baby sleep stuff and pinning articles to my Baby Sleep Pinterest Board. The HANDS-DOWN BEST baby sleep resource I have found is the Precious Little Sleep Blog, Podcast and Facebook group. I would seriously like to bear hug the author. Her 0-3 Months Newborn Baby Sleep Survival Guide has been invaluable for me; when I read through one of the posts in the series which included the chart, “Baby Sleep: How Much, When, How Long,” I realized just how short a newborn’s wake time actually is. I was actually keeping her awake too long, which was leading to a lot of unnecessary fussiness – the poor thing just wanted to sleep. Live and learn! I have used that chart, in addition to getting to know Taylor’s cues, to structure and adjust her Eat, Play, Sleep schedule according to her wake times.
Now, on to a typical day-in-the-life of Taylor [11 weeks] + Ashley, Maternity Leave style!
7:30AM – EAT, PLAY
When I notice Taylor is awake on the monitor I usually turn on her beloved projection mobile, which I can do from my iPhone [soooo 2016.]. This buys me about 15 minutes to wake up myself somewhat, and it absolutely delights her to watch those little woodland creatures floating around up there. One of my favorite parts of the day is saying good morning to her.
T lovin’ her “Woodland Animal” friends.
Next, I change her out of her overnight diaper [I just use a diaper one size larger than she wears in the day] then feed her, unless her last feeding was more than two hours prior to waking [at this point she typically eats once during the night between 3:30 and 5:00 AM]. I watch the Today Show/news during her feeding and think about the day ahead. Once she is done with her breakfast, she sits in a bouncy chair [or her Daddy spends time with her if he is available!] while I grab coffee and something quick to eat -narrating my actions to her all the while. Following our breakfasts we lay on the bed in her room and read a book or two and “chat” – which is adorable.
Baby Bjorn Bouncer on loan from my BFF.
9:00AM [or as soon as she shows her “I’m sleepy” cues] – SLEEP
At 11 weeks old, Taylor is usually awake an hour and a half – give or take 30 minutes so, we get ready and go for a walk through the park to downtown where I [more often than I should] grab a decaf Americano at Starbucks and she takes a snooze. One of her daily naps is in her stroller for the duration of a 2-4 mile walk, usually in the morning. Yes, I have read this is not as restorative as a stationary nap in a bassinet or crib, but Taylor is getting in her sleep and I’m getting in my cardio – win, win!
If she is still sleeping when we get back to the house I start some laundry, tidy up the house and/or myself, scroll through social media or work on blog stuff.
Must be nice to be so stinkin’ cute!
11:00AM – EAT, PLAY
After Taylor wakes up from what is usually a fairly long nap, she eats her second breakfast. While she eats I think, pray, brainstorm, watch TV, read Pinterest articles, etc. I change her diaper after she eats and put her in an outfit for the day which is inevitably more stylish than my own. And, yes I usually keep her in her Wondersuit most of the morning because they are so darn comfy and cute.
Next, Taylor has playtime under her play mat this includes a few minutes of “tummy time” which is as much as she will tolerate at this point. But, we’re working on it!
She loves this play mat!
12:15PM – SLEEP
Taylor starts acting sleepy [yawning and looking off into the distance] so I take her to her room, turn on her white noise machine, swaddle her in her Halo sleepsack swaddle and bounce her on the yoga ball until she nods off, then transfer her into her DockATot in the crib. I think I will eventually [4+ months] use some type of sleep training to help her learn to self-soothe, but for now I’m doing whatever works to help her get all the sleep she needs.
3:00PM – EAT, PLAY
Yes, she does take one really long nap most days – hence, how I’ve had time to develop this blog; the girl likes her sleep! When she wakes up, she eats again and then I change her diaper. We’ll usually spend some time on the floor working on motor skills – I like to go through the daily suggestions on the Baby Sparks app. At this time I’ll usually take her out for a Target, Whole Foods or other errand run.
4:00PM – SLEEP
Taylor almost always falls asleep in her carseat during our errand-ing. If we haven’t run an errand I’ll do our quick nap routine of sound machine/swaddle/bounce/put down in crib or swing and she’ll take her nap at home. This is when I’ll usually sneak in a quick workout in the house or outside in our garage gym [watching the monitor, of course!].
5:00PM – EAT, PLAY
Time to eat and have her diaper changed again! She tends to cluster feed/tank up between 5:00 and 7:00, and sometimes even grabs a cat-nap, so I just follow her cues and feed/put her down for sleep on demand between now and her bedtime. AJ is typically done with work by now, so Taylor gets to spend special time with daddy [lucky baby!]. If I didn’t workout earlier, and it’s a day I’ve planned to, I’ll get that in while they have their time together. Oh, and if it’s a bath day (read about our bath time routine/essentials in this post), this would also be the time we give her one. I tried giving her a bath as part of her nighttime routine a couple times, but she gets so pumped up in there it didn’t seem like a very good “wind down” activity for her.
7:00PM – SLEEP
You can read about Taylor’s bedtime routine in this post. Establishing a night time routine early on is so important to a good night’s sleep for you and your little one.
I know that our current routines and rhythms will change once my maternity leave ends at the end of July, so I’m soaking up our sweet days together – the ones when we do a whole lot, and especially the ones where we do a whole lot of nothing but be together.
UPDATE [January 2019]:
After going back to work for a year (which ended up being A LOT harder on my heart than I anticipated), we decided as a family that I would stay at home with Taylor. This was a BIG decision for me (read about that HERE), but I’m glad I made a leap of faith. We moved cities and changed up our whole lifestyle, but the time I now have with Taylor is worth all that change. If you want to follow along with my journey from career mom to stay/work at home mom start with THIS POST. Our Toddler + Mama Daily Routine is also in THIS POST.
But there’s more…..
I am now blessed to be able to work and make a full-time income from home!! That’s not everyone’s desire, but it truly was mine and I’ve found a way to make it happen for our family, and a way to help others make it happen for theirs!!! If you’d like more information on what I do now or if you are looking for an opportunity to either make some additional income for your family or even replace your income like I have I would love to work with you!! Check THIS POST out for more information, mama!
I didn’t want these slow days of she and I to ever end!!
What kind of routines and schedules do you use with your littles? I’m curious to hear about your experiences with Babywise, Baby Whisperer, or other methodologies. What has and hasn’t worked for you?
Other Taylor-made Mama posts you may be interested in:
It’s important for us ladies to find ways to get in “me time” – incorporating whatever elements keep us happy and balanced. For me, one of those elements has always been exercise. Over the years I’ve been a swimmer, a runner, a Crossfitter and a gym regular/wannabe bodybuilder – no matter the forum, I thrive from the mental and physical strengthening a hard workout brings. However, I’ve found that my expectations of myself and what my workouts would look like postpartum needed a little re-adjusting. I’m sure even more adjustment will be necessary once I head back to work!
Shameless gym selfie – 2 months postpartum.
I truly thought I would be [superwoman/mom] able to jump quickly back into everything I loved to do before being pregnant/giving birth when it came to workouts. I dreamt of sprints, high intensity interval workouts in many iterations, heavy squats, etc. while the baby would have “daddy time” with AJ…I worked out 4 times a week throughout my entire pregnancy, even when I really didn’t feel like it, with the assumption that I could pick up where I left off after delivery.
I’ve since discovered that plan o’ mine is just not going to pan out due to unexpected, lingering pain resulting from a delivery complication – pelvic disruption. Frustrating? You bet. But rather than feeling discouraged and giving up altogether, I’m doing what I personally can to continue to stay consistent with working out [as well as making regular trips to my chiropractor!]. I can still rebuild strength & fitness around this issue.
The way I see it is that this pain [and my new, softer belly] is a reminder that I was Taylor’s home for 9+ months, and that she is now safely here with me – blessings worth ANY amount of discomfort.
How and when we get back into a shape we feel good about after pregnancy is a challenging, individual journey with no time limit. We mamas have to remember to be gracious with ourselves in this and all things – after all, our priority is loving our babes and keeping them healthy and happy every day. I’ll continue to share with you as I figure out ways to make fitness fit [oh, that’s catchy!] into my new, baby-centered reality, especially as I head back to work.
In addition to getting in workouts in our garage gym [thanks, Hubby!], and the occasional jaunt over to 24 Hour Fitness, I’ve been coming up with a lot of quick, bodyweight workouts that you can complete in about 15-20 minutes in your home.
I came up with the workout shown below the other day and it took about 13 minutes with 45-second planks each round. Next time I may even tack on a few extra rounds!
Try it out, let me know your time and how it goes in the comments:
P.S. If you’re interested in more of my postpartum workouts, subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss future posts on that topic : )
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I had the luxury of inheriting a killer registry list from my BFF which has been passed down and refined, pregnancy by pregnancy, by her and her teaching colleagues. It took out so much of the research and guesswork I would have had to do otherwise! However, since Taylor’s birth, there are some non-traditional items that I’ve discovered by recommendation or figuring out by trial and error that I would definitely recommend adding to a registry [I used Amazon for mine] or purchasing ahead of time to have on hand. I hope you find some of these recommendations useful : )
At first it may seem a little pricey, but a DockATot is well worth the investment when your baby is sleeping in it like a champ! I hadn’t heard about the brand before a girlfriend of mine recommended it to help Taylor and I with her sleep. Coupled with her bedtime routine [more on that here] and swaddling, I truly believe the DockATot was integral in getting her to sleep through the night in her own crib at only 6 weeks old! Docks can also be used in lieu of a more cumbersome Pack & Play when traveling – which is nice because your peanut will have something familiar in an unfamiliar sleep environment. DockATots also work great for “tummy time” sessions, and fit inside of most bassinets allowing you to use it to help transition baby from bassinet to crib. There are so many cute patterns like this one, this one and this one: Â
Speaking of bassinets….this one is the best! AJ’s barber recommended the Halo to him and I’m so thankful she did. Even though we transitioned her pretty quickly into her crib, I am still glad we used the Bassinest for the first weeks we had her home. It pulls up right onto the edge of your bed [hello space saver!], and swivels out of the way when you need to get out of bed. When your baby wakes up at night you just push down the front panel to pull them out to feed, and if you hear any funny little noises [in case you didn’t know – newborns make the weirdest noises at night] you can look through the mesh and see what’s going on. I loved having Taylor so close to me while we slept, but also safe in her own little space.
One of my besties recommended this swing for Taylor after hearing my complaints about her crap naps [20-30 minutes at a time], and I’m so glad we ended up getting it. The first time I tried swaddling her and placing her in it for a nap, she slept 1.5+ hours! Infants love being in motion. Â This swing is literally the only place she has ever fallen asleep on her own thus far. She can nap peacefully in it up to 25 lbs, so we’ll continue to make good use of this item for months to come.
I am lazy and terrible at swaddling with blankets, so these sleep sacks have been lifesavers. I bought two of the newborn size and now two of the size smalls, so that if one gets dirty it’s not an emergency laundry situation before nap or bedtime. I also recently purchased one for her daycare bag as well. Update: now that Taylor is out of a swaddle, she still uses a Halo Sleep Sack – this winter weight sack keeps her warm and cozy:
5. Sound Machine
If your baby is anything like my baby – white noise will quickly become your best friend. Taylor is pretty conditioned to fall asleep with the sound of “rain”. Originally not a believer, I started using white noise with her out of No Sleepville desperation via an app on my iPhone, and it eventually worked like a charm. Nowadays, if we’re on a walk and she starts to struggle-fuss because she is sleepy, I whip out my phone, place it next to her and she instantly settles down. Who cares if I sound like a walking thunderstorm?! For nighttime sleep I didn’t have anything with continuous play and I didn’t want to leave my phone running all night in her room, so I purchased a sound machine with that option.
For some reason, babies like to pee as soon as you take their diapers off – at least mine does. You don’t want to have to wash your cute changing pad cover every day [like I did for the first couple weeks before Amazon Priming these bad boys], so having a disposable pad on top saves you that step. Plus, they are great to stash in your diaper bag/car kit/portable changing clutch for diaper changes out and about.
Newborns are not supposed to have wipes with any chemicals on them, and at the hospital they may recommend just wetting dry wipes. I found these Water Wipes that are 99% water, and 1% monk fruit – totally all natural and you won’t have to take the step of wetting dry wipes which seemed totally annoying to have to do. I order them through Amazon.com, but they do also sell them at Target.
The IKEA Skubb collection is super great for organizing all the little clothing and accessories that babies require. I have these in all of her nursery drawers, and they really help to keep everything organized and neat – my OCD thanks IKEA. I bought 4 of the sets of six, and 2 of the ones with lots of little compartments.
The “My Brest Friend” pillow has a solid sturdy surface, wraps around your waist providing a backrest, and is adjustable to your size. The attached pocket is super useful to store things you’ll need every time you feed your babe [I always keep protein bars, spit-up cloths, baby nail clippers, nipple cream and hand lotion for me stocked.]. Seriously, this pillow has been a MUST for us! I also have a Boppy nursing pillow, but personally it didn’t work for me – way too swishy!
You can’t always get to the bathroom to wash your hands immediately, so it’s nice to have one of these easily accessible on your changing table. I also have one next to the chair where I usually nurse Taylor. The Babyganics brand is Pediatrician and Dermatologist tested- safe to use around your baby. I also have the mini version stashed in my diaper bag, stroller organizer, etc.
Essential for holding your water bottle, coffee, keys, phone, baby socks/beanies/etc. for all those walks you’ll be taking on maternity leave and beyond! I linked the Ethan and Emma organizer I have and love.
I have 3-4 of these for Taylor in every size from 0-3 months up through 12-18 months, and they are pretty much all she sleeps in. Honestly, I have kept her in these most days for her morning play time as well. They have both short and long sleeve versions so your babes can sleep in them year round.
I can’t say enough about how much I love these things – super quality/comfy material, adorable patterns, zip from the top and bottom [who wants to bother with a bunch of buttons and snaps at 3AM?!] and fold over flaps for both feet and hands so that they stay warm and don’t scratch their little faces with flailing arms while they sleep. Bonds give free shipping to the US for orders over $100 AU dollars. Fortunately, the conversion rate is such that you only end up spending about 75 US dollars – deal!!
I originally had the PRIMO Eurobath tub that Taylor could grow into, and still plan to use later, but it was just too big and slippery for her infant self [and for me to feel comfortable bathing her as a new mama!]. This tub is made specifically for infants: it has a temperature gauge to ensure the water temperature is not too hot or too cold, there is a slip-proof pad on the bottom, and the water stays fresh and clean throughout the entire bath.
We’ve used out Ergobaby carrier to bring Taylor with us everywhere – wine tasting, hikes, the grocery store, walks downtown, etc. It makes maneuvering around a lot easier than using her stroller, and she typically falls right to sleep in it. Another thing I didn’t realize – make sure to purchase the Infant Insert if you have a newborn [I believe they need the insert until about 15 lbs]. Amazon carries a combination carrier + insert HERE.
15. Inglesina High Chair – this is an absolute must-have for us to go out to eat with Taylor. I wish I had come across this idea sooner!
This is not a glamorous recommendation by any means, but I have to keep it real with you…I had no idea how sore and uncomfortable I would be after giving birth. It got so bad that I ended up calling Kaiser, and the wonderful Advice Nurse recommended I get a sitz bath, and use it a couple times per day for 10 to 15 minutes to promote healing, in addition to walks. I can’t tell you how much doing that helped, and I only wish I had had this from postpartum day ONE! It’s a new mama’s best friend ; )
Last, but DEFINITELY not least…A friend recommended I make about two dozen “Padsicles” before delivering, and I’m infinitely glad I did. Trust me, if you are expecting you’ll want to go ahead and have these ready to rock for your first week postpartum. Your hubby might be a little weirded out by all the pads in the freezer at first, but it’s SO worth it. There are lots of ‘recipes’ online, but I linked the one I used.
What other “off the beaten registry” items have you discovered that I’m still missing out on? I’d love to follow up with a Part 2 using what you’ve found to be essentials!
Other Taylor-made Mama posts you may be interested in:
Truth time guys…Although I’m working around it, I’ve honestly been 
 
7. Water Wipes
12. Baby Wondersuits
14. Ergobaby Four Position 360 Baby Carrier Grey
