This post is sponsored by The Quaker Oats Company, but as always, the opinions are my own.
It has been 2.5 months since my last Day in The Life post and recently many of you have asked for an update on what my life looks like during maternity leave. Schedules and life change so quickly with a child, but here is a glimpse into what my day looks like now that Katie is 3 months old.
6:45 AM – My alarm goes off and I quickly head downstairs to prepare Katie’s morning bottle. I use a little tray to bring her bottle back upstairs as well as our morning cup of coffee.
7:00 AM – 7:45 AM Bo and I wake Katie up together each morning. After waking her and changing her diaper, I breastfeed her before handing her to Bo. As I’ve mentioned before, due to his work schedule, the only guaranteed feed that Bo is home for is the morning or “breakfast” feed so this is the one that he does. While he gives her a bottle, I typically either hang out with them or do some things around the house such as fold laundry. Right now her bottles consist of an average 4-5 ounces of formula for a total of 6 ounces per feed. After Katie is done eating we enjoy playtime in bed which includes cuddles, resting in her favorite spot or even some tummy time.
7:45 When Bo hops in the shower I head downstairs with Katie for more coffee, breakfast and catching up on social media and the news. I bring the activity mat into the kitchen so Katie can play while I eat breakfast. As a new mom, I rarely have more than five minutes to eat. Therefore, Quaker Overnight Oats have been a welcome breakfast option during these busy days. A convenient, nutritious and hearty option that can be prepared ahead so it is ready and waiting in the fridge for the morning. Over the past month I’ve had the opportunity to try all the flavors (Blueberry Banana & Vanilla Bliss, Toasted Coconut & Almond Crunch, Orchard Peach Pecan Perfection and Raisin Walnut & Honey Heaven) and my favorite is still Toasted Coconut & Almond Crunch. I make it with 1% milk and a spoonful of Greek yogurt. Stirring in Greek yogurt gives you a creamy texture. I enjoy the Quaker Overnight Oats with a banana for a quick and easy breakfast.
8:30 – 10 AM While Katie naps I typically try to do a few things around the house. Today this means washing bottles, unloading the dishwasher, folding laundry, cleaning the bathroom, and making the bed.
10 AM –I wake Katie for her mid-morning feed. Since we have somewhere to be at 11, we head out the door as soon as Katie is finished eating, burping and has a clean diaper.
11:00 – 12pm I head to our local Crossfit box for a workout. While I complete the tough workout Katie plays nearby. Unlike our first visit, this time she entertains herself quietly for half the class, intently watching the large fan and then falls asleep. With just a few minutes left in class she wakes up with a wet diaper but otherwise is a champ. The deadlifts and burpees were especially challenging!
12pm – 1pm Since Katie falls asleep in the stroller on our way home, I keep her in the stroller once we get home. I grab the monitor and dash into the shower to wash off the sweat before quickly eating leftovers for lunch and prepare her next bottle.
1-2:30pm I can’t contain my laughter during this feed session as Katie keeps trying to smile while sipping on the bottle. Now that she’s almost three months old she loves to squirm and try to hold the bottle while feeding. I try to keep Katie upright for 15-20 minutes after each feed as this helps with spit-up and gas. While she bounces in her chair I read three books to her. We spend the next twenty minutes on her activity mat doing back and tummy time. She practices rolling for most of the time, finally giving up in frustration and exhaustion.
2:30 – 4pm During her afternoon nap I focus on blog work and writing thank you notes. While we were traveling I fell behind on thank you notes and now have a long list that I’m trying to get through each day. After writing a few thank you notes I move my focus to the blog. Just as I start to type my blog post I hear Katie on our monitor. After a few cries I head upstairs to change her diaper and try to calm her back to sleep. She isn’t interested in taking the last 15 minutes of her nap so I move her downstairs to the swing.
4pm – 5:30pm This afternoon feed tends to be when Katie is her fussiest so after she finishes her bottle we go on a walk around the neighborhood. It starts to drizzle so we quickly head home. Before going down for her last nap Katie and I play on her activity mat. This time she spends most of the time giggling as she looks at herself in the mirror and squirming around to music. 
5:30-6:30 The shortest nap of the day is also the most unpredictable. Some days Katie sleeps like a champ during this nap and other days she boycotts the nap. Katie must have been tired as I’m able to spend 45 minutes prepping tonight’s dinner before I hear her stirring in her crib.
6:30 – 7:30 Our hour-long evening routine is all about getting Katie relaxed for a good night’s sleep. Katie loves her evening bath these days, often kicking her feet and then smiling when she’s wrapped in her cozy, hooded towel. Next we change into footed pajamas before heading to the glider for her last bottle of the day. After she is done eating we typically read for 10-15 minutes before I put her in her sleep sack and kiss her goodnight.
7:45 Once Katie is asleep I head downstairs to put the finishing touches on dinner and prep for the next day while enjoying a glass of wine. Once we are done with dinner I like to be “done” for the day so Bo and I can relax together. Therefore, while the chicken is in the oven I take 10 minutes to wash bottles and their parts, grind and program the coffee and prepare my Quaker Overnight Oats for tomorrow morning. In order to prepare the Quaker Overnight Oats, I simply open the individual cup container, pour 1% milk to the fill line, stir and cover with the lid, put in the refrigerator and let the flavors and ingredients cold steep overnight.
8-8:30 We eat dinner together while catching up on each other’s days.
8:30 After dinner Bo suggests that I go upstairs to take a shower and read in bed while he cleans the kitchen. There are few words that sound sweeter after a long day and I so appreciate his willingness to help even though he had a long day at work. I take a luxurious 20-minute shower before heading to bed.
9-10pm My bedtime routine these days includes a candle, sipping tea or sipping wine, and reading a book in bed.
While no day looks the same at this point, I have found that building in some social time during the day really helps me while I’m staying at home with Katie. Whether that is a long walk with a friend or a workout, these dates help me feel less isolated. The other thing that has also helped is talking to Katie throughout the day. Even though she’s only 12 weeks old, I talk to her like an adult and provide a running commentary during the day explaining what we are doing and why we are doing it, even during the simple act of changing the diaper.
As always, if you guys have any questions, please continue to send them my way. I am in no means an expert but happy to do my best to answer your questions or lend support!
Thank you to The Quaker Oats Company for sponsoring this post.
