Before my son was born, I always felt so “busy,” but looking back, I have no idea what I was busy doing. Back then, I had time to spend an entire week researching new face wash. Needless to say, things have changed quite a bit, and we take it day by day around here now. Days when Cal and I have to be on set are usually the most challenging, because they involve a great deal of juggling, both emotionally and physically. Here’s a little peek at the bring-your-baby-to-work situation, which is still working for us.
7:00 a.m.: Wake Up! For real this time. I’ve already woken up at 2 and 5 a.m. to feed Cal, whose sleeping skills are currently in progress. But we’ve got an 8:30 a.m. call time to make, so it’s time to get out of bed. When I turned on the light this morning, Cal moved his snuggly over his eyes. I feel ya, bud.
7:30 a.m.: After a shower and a change (for both of us), I head downstairs to make the coffee. Cal is thankfully getting very independent with his play, which gives me time to make an Aeropress and a protein smoothie before he’s ready for his own breakfast.
8:30 a.m.: Cal and I arrive on set and head to the makeup trailer together for some quality time before the crew arrives at 10 a.m. to start shooting.
9:30 a.m.: Rachel, my nanny, arrives on set for the hand off, and I update her on Cal’s night and morning before I’m called to set for rehearsal.
10:30 a.m.: Back to the trailer to put on my costume and snag some last-minute cuddles with Cal before the first chunk of work begins.
11:15 a.m.: I get a 10-minute break on set while they’re setting up another shot, so it’s cold brew time! Our entire crew is addicted to the Stumptown Cold Brew on tap that the craft service truck provides. I take mine with a generous pour of coconut milk. This engine runs on caffeine and baby giggles at the moment.
11:45 a.m.: Time for a 20-minute break while the crew “turns around” (jargon for changing the lights and set when the camera looks the opposite direction to what we’ve been filming), so I head back to the trailer. Cal is napping, so I pump.
12:15 a.m.: I have a wardrobe change for the next scene, so I get to go back to the trailer to pop in on Cal…who is still snoozing.
1:45 p.m.: After rehearsing another scene, I have 25 minutes while they set the lights, so it’s back to the trailer. Cal is awake! I get to feed him and play for a few minutes and then it’s back to set. 
2:30 p.m.: Time to pump!
4:00 p.m.: Lunch break is called on set. I go back to feed Cal and we take a walk around base camp. Cal pulls on some plants. He’s in the grabby stage right now, so anything in his sight gets snatched up almost immediately.
4:45 p.m.: Lunch time is over, back to set.
6:00 p.m.: Wrap! Cal and I head home to wash bottles and unpack the inevitable box of diapers that have been delivered and are waiting on our door step.
6:45 p.m.: Bath time for Cal! He, like most babies I know, LOVES his bath. I recently started using this Stokke bath with a reclining insert, which makes it easy for him to kick like a mad man. That reminds me — I need to enroll him in swim lessons!
7:00 p.m.: Back downstairs to make a batch of lactation cookies and shovel some dinner into my face while Cal plays in his wooden baby gym. Oh, and WINE.
8:45 p.m.: Cal gives me his tired cues (this usually happens between 8 and 9 every night) and we head upstairs to feed. He drifts off to sleep, and I head down to clean the dishes from the cookie making, eat two of them, and then catch up with an hour of TV on the DVR (my current favorites are “Quantico” and “Ladies of London”) before cuddling up to Cal and high five-ing the universe for having made it through another day together.
More from Claire Coffee:
Q&A: “Grimm” Star Claire Coffee Fills Us In
New Mom Life: 10 Things I Rely on to Get Through the Day
Photos: Claire Coffee
