Day In the Life (Newborn Edition)
This post was created in partnership with Bob’s Red Mill
I’m very much a planner and thrive on routine but having a newborn has taught me that my days will pretty much never go as planned. No matter how hard I try, every day is different depending on how well he sleeps, how cranky he is or what we have going on outside of the house. I just try my best to squeeze in as much as I can whenever I can.
Now that I’m coming to the end of content that I had prepared for my (semi) maternity leave, I’m starting to wonder how the heck I’m going to have time to photograph recipes with this little guy around. I guess I’m banking on the idea that their naps get more reliable after the third month. Did I just make this up or is it really a thing? I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough.
In the meantime I thought it would be fun to share a day in the life post, including what I eat because this is a food blog, after all. I’ve been snacking a ton while breastfeeding because it makes me so hungry. You’ll see that I spend an average of two hours pumping every day and that’s because I started exclusively pumping when Grant was one month old. Trust me, it wasn’t a decision that came lightly for us. The day I documented below actually went pretty smooth. Depending on how well he naps there are times that I have to get up in the middle of pumping to soothe him and I’ve spilled milk all over the place trying to pick him up with flanges attached to my chest. Or I’ve had to stop altogether when the only place he is content is sleeping on me. It can be hard on the both of us but I’m trying my best to make it work.
Anyway, for anyone who might be interested, here’s a little snapshot of a typical day looks like for us!
445am I hear Grant let out a few intermittent cries. I peek at the monitor and see that he’s not fully awake yet so I lay my head back down and try to sleep a bit longer.
530am I hear him cry again so I get up and go give him his pacifier. He sleeps really light during the early morning hours and wakes up between sleep cycles but with a little help I can usually get him back to sleep. Sometimes all it takes is giving him his pacifier, other times we have to pick him up and hold him until he falls back to sleep. The pacifier worked this time so I head back to bed to rest a little longer.
615am My breasts feel like rocks so I decide to get up and pump while I wait for him to wake up. After 30 minutes I tip-toe into the kitchen to put away the milk and shove a green monster muffin in my face.
655am He starts to stir again so I leave the pump parts and bottles to be washed later on. I go in and unswaddle him, letting him stretch while I open the blinds and cheerfully tell him good morning. Then I pick him up so we can go say good morning to daddy, the puppies and the rest of the house.
715am Now that we’ve said hello to everyone and he has a clean diaper, it’s time to eat. I feed him a bottle of milk, burp him, then read him a book so that he’s upright while he digests. One of my friends got us this book and it’s so cute. He loves it!
800am I put him in the baby wrap while I try to scarf down breakfast. Lately I’ve been loving Bob Red Mill’s Organic Classic Oatmeal Cups because all you have to do is add hot water, wait a few minutes and it’s ready to eat. I top it with sliced banana, peanut butter and hemp seeds which makes for a surprisingly filling meal.
I used to take the oatmeal cups with me whenever I would travel and was unsure if there would be healthy plant-based options because they’re so convenient. Looking back I wish I would have thought to bring some to the hospital with me when Grant was born. Hospital food is not exactly my cup of tea.
830am We spend a little time on his play mat until I see him start to yawn and rub his eyes. I swaddle him, turn on his sound machine and put him down for a nap in his crib.
900am I head back to the kitchen to tackle the pump parts and bottles from last night and this morning. Unfortunately this is just a fraction of what I have to wash every day.
930am Once I’m done cleaning up the kitchen I sit down for another pumping session. I try my best to make good use of my time when I’m pumping and today I’m forcing myself to focus on writing a post rather than mindlessly watch Instagram Stories.
1015am Time to feed again! We sit on the couch so I can watch whatever shows I have recorded like The Bachelor or American Idol. Clearly I have sophisticated taste in television.
1045am After burping him I set him in his bouncer and talk to him for a bit while he digests. He gives me lots of smiles before he has a blowout in his diaper. I must have put his diaper on wrong because it goes everywhere and I have to change his outfit and wash the seat cover. He’s lucky he’s so cute!
1115am After that’s all settled, we head to his room to spend time on his play mat again. He loves staring up at the contrast cards and we get lots of smiles and coos during play time.
When I turn him over for tummy time he’s not so happy but we still try to get a few minutes here and there every day. Just until he gets fussy. I don’t know why but he is not a fan of tummy time!
1145am He’s starting to get cranky so I change his diaper and rock him in the glider until he looks sleepy. I swaddle him and put him down in his crib for his second nap of the day.
1205pm I take this time to do laundry while watching the monitor. He’s been staring around his room for a good 20 minutes since I put him down and now he’s starting to cry. I go in to rub his chest and let him know I’m here. His eyes start to close again so I leave the room and he finally falls asleep. Hallelujah. While he’s napping I grab an apple and peanut butter as a snack and simultaneously get harassed by Lucy and Charlie.
1230pm It’s time to pump again. Fun! I attempt to write but Brandon comes home for lunch and we end up talking. He helps prep lunch for us while I finish pumping.
100pm I eat a quick lunch of a frozen burrito with avocado and sauerkraut, paired with sparkling water and magnesium. I take magnesium to help with digestion and sleep but I also like the way it tastes with flavored sparkling water. Yum.
110pm Grant is officially awake so I shove the rest of my food in my face then go in to get him. I feed him again, burp him and put him in the bouncer seat while he digests. I don’t actually bounce him during this time, it’s just a spot for him to sit since most of the time he’s not a fan of being held unless you’re up and moving around. True story.
230pm We do a little more cranky tummy time then head out for a walk. It’s been raining nonstop in Georgia this winter so we have to take advantage to get outside whenever we can. I try to time it so that he’ll nap during this time and it doesn’t always work but today it did. Score!
415pm I grab a quick snack of whole grain graham crackers with a few squares of dark chocolate then sit down to feed him again.
445pm After he’s done eating I put him in his chair again while I start to prep the greens we got from our local CSA. I’m making my One-Pot Golden Lentil Curry with swiss chard for dinner. So good!
515pm Brandon is home so I have him take over and entertain Grant while I finish making dinner and pump for the fourth time today. I take the time to catch up on email while I pump.
545pm We try to put him down for a catnap before we eat dinner but he isn’t having it. I put him back in the baby carrier and pick up the house a bit before washing more bottles and pump parts then I grab a handful of trail mix for a snack. He eventually falls asleep in the carrier.
630pm I take him out of the carrier and he hangs out in his bouncer seat while we eat. In between bites, Brandon talks and sings to him in order to keep him calm. It’s so cute to see him smile at his daddy while he sings to him!
715pm I put on our bath time playlist and dance with Grant in the kitchen while Brandon cleans up and prepares his bath. We have bath time every night but only use soap about twice a week so that we don’t dry out his skin. He loves it. Probably because he knows milk is coming. ;)
730pm Once he’s nice and dry I put on a fresh diaper and give him a quick little massage with lotion that smells like an orange creamsicle before handing him over to daddy for his nighttime feeding. When he’s done feeding, Brandon reads him Goodnight Moon then puts him to bed.
Meanwhile I put away the clean dishes and make myself a bowl of almond milk yogurt with granola and more dark chocolate. Are we sensing a theme with chocolate yet?
800pm I take some time to answer comments and work on a blog post before brushing my teeth and getting in the shower.
900pm After I’m in my PJs, I pump one last time before going to bed around 9:30pm. Brandon stays up and does a “dream feed” at 1030pm so I can get between 6-7 hours of sleep, depending on when the little man decides to wake up.
We’ve had a few days where he doesn’t wake up until 6:00 or even 7:00am but as you saw today, it’s not super reliable yet. Either way I’m so proud of how well he’s doing. We love our baby so much!
This post was created in partnership with a brand that I have loved for years, Bob’s Red Mill. As always, all opinions and text are entirely my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help make it possible for me to bring you quality content. For more delicious recipes and a coupon for $1.00 off any product, please visit Bob’sRedMill.com.
Awesome to read about your day! You’re doing a great job. I commend you for pumping! That’s not fun. He seems like he’s doing a great job going to sleep and sleeping on his own—it took my little guy a long time before he did! And they will sleep more consistently for naps. I didn’t believe, but it happens!
Thanks Haley! We’re very lucky that he’s a great sleeper and he LOVES his crib. We started having him sleep in there at 3 weeks because he did so much better in there than the bassinet. Plus his room is right next to ours so we can hear everything. Naps are the only struggle right now but that’s reassuring to hear they do get better! :)
Kudos to you for pumping – that is not fun or easy. I just wanted to comment to say Grant is so cute! I also wanted to let you know that our guy hated tummy time too and the ONLY thing that got us to longer stretches was this Fisher Price Kick and Play Piano: https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Deluxe-Kick-Play-Piano/dp/B073H4WKFT/ref=asc_df_B073H4WKFT/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309778854382&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5748046268526305344&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007531&hvtargid=pla-424164702411&psc=1. Once I got that and set him up to watch it on his tummy he loved tummy time. Apparently he just needed lights and music! Not sure if it will help your little guy too. You’re doing such a great job, mama!
That’s so helpful! Thank you for sharing that with me. I’ll definitely check it out and see if that helps! :)
I hope it does! Now that he’s a big 9 month old he actually still loves it! He sits up and plays with it now.
This was a total cuteness overload ~ Grant is gorgeous and so interesting to see how well organized you truly are! Despite how chaotic life can be with an infant, you have made it seem easy peasy lemon squeeze! I love your blog Sarah!
If I weren’t organized I would lose my mind! I’m glad I’m making it seem easy though. It’s a huge adjustment but I’m trying my best to keep up. I appreciate the encouraging words! :)
Loved hearing about your day as a new mommy! What a darling little boy! Keep the updates coming!
I grew up in Portland, OR at a time when Bob’s Red Mill came into existence. We didn’t live far from the plant and my dad used to stop in to chat with Bob being a businessman himself. My parents thought he had a good thing going and a great product. And Bob’s Red Mill is only getting better!
How awesome that you got to grow up in Portland! I love it there. And yes, Bob’s is such a wonderful company. I’m truly so grateful to have been able to work with them for several years now.
Too cute!! Loved reading this! I think I smiled the whole time & laughed a little too! My first baby is 19 now! Babies are the best! Your baby is just adorable! So many wonderful days in store for y’all! I look forward to hearing more! Plus I just love your recipes!
I feel like he’s going to be 19 tomorrow, lol! They grow so fast!
Exclusive pumping is not easy but it is doable. Do you store your pump parts in the fridge between pumping so you don’t have to wash them each time? It can really help cut down on the washing. I had to sets of parts so I use one set a in the evening, middle of the night (if necessary) and again the the morning. I just stored the pieces in a large ziplock bag in the fridge overnight; after the morning pumping I left the first set to soak at home. My husband stayed home with our kiddo, so you would wash the overnight set and any bottles after the morning feeding. I took a second set of pump parts with me to work; I pumped 2-3 times at work and just kept the parts refrigerated between pumping sessions. The second set of parts, and the daytime bottle , were then all washed in the evening, usually by the husband while I pumped before bed. We kept a large bowl of water on the counter, dirty bottles and pump parts when ready to be washed soaked in the water until it was time to wash, so milk would not dry/crust on them. With this method we only had wash parts and bottles twice a day which was easier for us to manage.
A friend of mine told me about storing the pump parts in the fridge and technically the CDC doesn’t recommend it but I’ve been doing it to save time. I would be wary if Grant were premature or had a weakened immune system but I’ve been doing it for a month now without any problems. I hadn’t heard of the basin for washing the parts and bottles though. Such a great idea! I will definitely start doing that. Thank you so much for the suggestion! :)
He looks like Brandon so much to me. What do you think? Such busy days with newborns. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to be pumping exclusively. You are one dedicated mama!! I’m starving now and think I need to go have a bowl of yogurt and granola after seeing your picture. Haha. Oh yah, and Camryns naps didn’t get any more reliable until after introducing solids around 6 months but each baby is different!
It’s so hard to tell who he looks like! I feel like I see myself as a baby in his eyes but I also see Brandon in other features like his hairline, haha. We shall see!
I LOVED reading this! Looks like you guys have got a great little routine going — even if it doesn’t really feel like it in the moment (I know the feeling well lol). Naps will absolutely get more consistent over time. I feel like when Oliver got to the three nap mark, things were starting to feel more routine. Also, I second what a previous person said about the Fisher Price Kick and Play Piano Mat. Someone gave it to us as a gift, and though it’s definitely the ugliest (and most annoying) play mat out there, but it truly is a tummy time LIFE SAVER ;) And the piano detaches, so Oliver still carries it around and plays with it today! You’re doing amazing mama!!!
It is so ugly, lol! But I’m glad to hear it’s worth it!
So fun to read about your busy and blessed day. Well, maybe not the “blowout”. He he he. Grant is absolutely adorable and you and Brandon are giving him such a wonderful start in life. By the way, my husband makes his oatmeal the way you do with Bob’s Red Mill cups. He just puts steel cut oats in a bowl, fruit of choice, covers with boiling water ,sets a plate on top and covers with towels until the water absorbs. Loved hearing about your happy happy life!
Oh Sarah, what a change in routine for you and Brandon. I know it must be challenging, but so worth it for little Grant – he is so handsome :D
Grant is so cute :). Thanks for sharing the pictures.
I have so many things to say.. For one, exclusively pumping is EXHAUSTING so kudos to you for doing it! I pumped for the first 4 1/2 months and there were times that I legit thought I was starting to lose my mind. I just gave Camryn her last bottle of frozen breast milk a week or 2 ago.. so I made it to over 6 months with at least some breastmilk nourishing her. While it didn’t go as planned, I feel like I did the best I could.
Secondly, I’m with you on watching crappy TV while pumping and feeding… My hubby makes fun of me but I feel like it’s the only kind of TV to watch when you’re half paying attention and tired!
Thirdly, I’d like to say that sleeping gets super consistent as the months go on… but for me that hasn’t been the case. Just as I feel like we are getting into a routine, a sleep regression happens or a tooth starts coming in. It’s insanity, but I try to just roll with it!
You’re doing a great job mama! :)
This is pretty far from the date you posted this, but Your baby is beautiful So cuddly. I applaud you for pumping and feeding Grant breast milk, but I am curious why you didn’t nurse him? Maybe I missed something earlier. Making one of your recipes tonight – another winner, I’m sure!
I did nurse him for the first 3 weeks but I had severely cracked nipples (specifically on one side) that wasn’t healing no matter what I tried. The lactation consultant advised me to stop nursing and pump to allow them to heal. I ended up getting so much milk from pumping that I was able to freeze extra for later so I ultimately decided to stick with it. Looking back I think there were several factors that contributed to my issues with nursing (like positioning) but we made it through without having to ever give him formula.