Back in the early 2000s, everyone knew who Kristin Cavallari was! She first became a household name in 2004 thanks to her role in Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, which documented the lives of her and her rich teenage friends. The following year, Kristin moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. She eventually signed on to star in the Laguna Beach spin-off, The Hills, in 2009, and made her first appearance during the fifth season. The show ended a year later in 2010.

Since kissing The Hills goodbye, Kristin’s life hasn’t slowed down. The reality star made headlines for her whirlwind romance with NFL star Jay Cutler. The two began dating in late 2010 and were engaged the following April in 2011. Though they briefly separated the following month, the couple resumed their engagement in the fall. They were eventually married in June 2013. They share three children: Camden (born in 2012), Jaxon (born in 2014), and Saylor (born in 2015).

Kristin gave fans insight into her personal life when she signed on for her own reality show, Very Cavallari, which premiered in 2018. Although the star hasn’t signed on for a The Hills reboot premiering this year (yet!), fans are still hopeful she might make an appearance. Keep reading to learn about this famous mama and her brood.

20 She Admits Parenting Can Be Hard

With three kids, her own business, and a couple of reality shows to film, we imagine that Kristin’s life is nothing short of hectic. The celebrity has admitted that being a parent can be challenging, especially when you’re new at it. But it’s also incredibly rewarding.

"You just have to go into it knowing you won't be getting much sleep and there will be hard times, but try to get help from family and friends," she told Parenting about being a new mom. "Don't plan on doing anything else those first few weeks. But it's all worth it. When you get that first smile from your baby, your heart will melt and you'll say that you would do it all again."

19 She Recommends Hiring Some Help

They say it takes a village to raise a child. And so with three, we imagine that Kristin needs a lot of helping hands in order to keep her family on the straight and narrow.

"Get all the help that you can. Luckily, we had a lot of family around and so my mom came and stayed with me the first week, which helped a lot," Kristin told The Bump about relying on friends and family for help.

She continued, "Even just having someone else washing the dishes and taking out the trash for you makes a huge difference. Also, know it’s going to be difficult. Don’t beat yourself up about it, and just know it’s going to get easier.” If only we could all afford to hire help!

18 She Couldn't Do It Without Her Hubby

Not only is Kristin adamant about moms needing help around the house, but she has also said on multiple occasions that she couldn’t do all she does without the support of her husband, Jay Cutler. Not only is he an involved parent, but the reality star has added that he’s more of the disciplinarian in the house than she is.

“Jay is the stricter of the two for sure,” Kristin told Page Six of their parenting styles. “Jay doesn’t even really yell. If we’re going to go down that route, I’m probably the one that yells more. I’m Italian — I get a little feisty!” She added, “They just know not to mess with Daddy because Daddy’s going to drop the hammer, and for some reason, they feel like they can get away with a lot more with me. Isn’t that great?”

17 Her Husband Is Mr. Mom

For years, Kristin had to handle the kids on her own while her husband was traveling with his football team. But now that he’s retired, the celebrity said the couple has switched roles. And in many ways, Jay is now playing the traditional role of mom in their household.

“We’ve definitely switched roles which has been really interesting, but it’s great,” Kristin told People last November. “I couldn’t do any of this without him. He’s home with the kids, picking the boys up from school and really allowing me to be able to have the time and freedom to do all this. He’s been really supportive.”

This is the definition of great teamwork!

16 She Knows Their Relationship Was Rushed

When she and her husband first got together, Kristin faced backlash from fans who felt the relationship was moving too quickly. However, the celebrity maintains that she and Jay did what was right for them… even if it took them breaking up to finally make it down the altar!

"Jay and I got engaged really quickly after eight months and we had a lot of things that we needed to work on. I broke up with him because some things needed to change and the only way that he was going to see how serious I was, was if I broke up with him," Kristin said in 2013, Good Housekeeping reports. "I knew it wasn't the end. We got back together literally three weeks later."

15 Breastfeeding Wasn't Always Easy For Her

If one thing is for sure, it’s that Kristin and her husband make some pretty cute babies! The Hills alum has been adamant about how she loves babies in the house and enjoyed developing a close bond with her little ones through breastfeeding. However, that doesn’t always mean that breastfeeding came naturally.

“I know how difficult nursing can be so I got very lucky with Camden because he latched on right away,” the star once told Parenting. “I took a breastfeeding class that was incredibly helpful, though. I also talked to friends and family and asked a ton of questions. I'd say the more info you know, the better.”

14 She Says Her Hubby Is "Hands On"

Kristin has only had sweet things to say about her husband as a father to the media. She boasts that he’s an extremely involved father, which she says is important in order to make their hectic lifestyle work.

"We definitely agree on most things, which is great and helps a lot. He is an amazing dad and he has been since day one. He helps me with everything," Kristin once told The Bump about her hubby. "He’s not the kind of guy that doesn’t want to change a diaper or do any of that. He’s very hands-on and it’s adorable to watch your husband with your little boy. They’re so cute together."

Every mama deserves a partner that’s this involved!

13 Motherhood Changed Her For The Better

Kristin seems to be thriving as a mother-of-three, and she couldn’t agree more. The celebrity has said multiple times that her children have changed her for the better. And despite encountering the occasional naysayer on social media, the star says she couldn’t be happier with the way she’s parented her kiddos.

"Becoming a mom is where I blossomed. I finally feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be in my life and I'm very comfortable being a mom," Kristin told People in 2016. "I'm proud of the way that we've raised our kids. I've done a few controversial things apparently but I'm so confident in my decisions. My kids are happy and healthy, and that's all I care about."

12 She Keeps Her Kids From The Spotlight

Considering her family has a reality TV show, many fans expect Kristin to be completely open about her children and personal life. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth!

A quick look at Kristin’s social media pages reveals the lengths Kristin goes to in order to protect her children’s privacy. Both she and her husband have a strict ‘no faces’ policy when it comes to posting photos of their children online, which is why their kids' backs are always turned to the camera during family photos.

"I don't really show my kids on social media. Right now, they're five, four, and two. When they're old enough to make that decision, that's one thing but right now I just want to keep them kids," the mom-of-three said last year, Good Housekeeping reports.

11 Long-Distance Parenting Can Be A Challenge

Although he’s now retired from the NFL, there was a time when Kristin was acting more like a solo parent since her husband had to travel so often for work. Although she’s admitted that long-distance was difficult as new parents, she also says it had its perks.

"It’s actually not bad. He’s only gone for one night a week so I can put a face mask on and do all my girly stuff when he’s gone, and it actually works out really well," she explained to The Bump a few years back. "We’re excited. Football season’s a lot of fun around here but at the same time, it’s also kind of [frightening]. Jay’s gotten hurt the last couple years so it’s definitely hard in some ways but overall it’s a lot of fun."

10 She Loves Being Pregnant

There are tons of celebrities who’ve had less-than-magical experiences when pregnant (we’re thinking of you, Kim!).

But luckily for Kristin, the reality star says all three of her pregnancies have been smooth and successful. So much so, the actress admits she’s actually come to love pregnancy. Maybe that means there will be more Cavallari-Cutler babies in the future?

"I loved being pregnant, I really did. I loved it until the last month and a half when I was just so big and so uncomfortable," Kristin once told The Bump. "I was kind of surprised that I didn’t have any cravings, which I expected to." If only it were that easy for all mamas!

9 Motherhood Made Her More Health-Conscious

While she was never known for being super health-conscious during her time on The Hills, things have sure changed for Kristin- and she blames motherhood! The celebrity says that becoming a mom made her more aware of the ingredients in her food and subsequently what she and her family are putting into their bodies.

"[I] become a psycho about reading every ... ingredient label and researching the ingredients I don't recognize," the celebrity once explained, Parents reports. "I truly believe that everything I need to flourish nutritionally is found in nature and that some stuff just shouldn't be messed with, especially the food I'm putting in my body."

8 Her Special Secret Is Multitasking

This photo of Kristen getting her hair done while simultaneously doing her daughter’s hair is proof that this celebrity is a queen at multitasking. When asked how she balances all of her work commitments with raising three young children, the star has said that her only secret is learning how to balance everything. In this case, practice makes perfect.

"I’ve learned how to manage my time working on all three while still being a hands-on mom, picking the kids up at school, packing their lunches, I do swim classes with the boys," Kristin has shared, Good Housekeeping reports. "I want to be that mom. I don’t want a nanny picking my kids up. I want to be there."

7 She Still Allows Junk Food... Sometimes

Despite being an outspoken health advocate, Kristen says she still allows her kids to have sweet treats once in a while. While responding to backlash over her children’s eating, the mom-of-three said she’s not as strict about food as she may appear.

“How I eat, I cook at home, and that’s what they eat. But we go out to breakfast every weekend,” Kristin once explained, People reports. “They get donuts every weekend. It’s not like they’re on some stupid [eating plan]. They’re kids." She continued, “Getting backlash about anything I’m doing when it comes to parenting, I really don’t give [a care] because I’m so confident at what I’m doing as a mom that I don’t care.”

6 Her Hubby Picks The Kids Up From School

Kristen gave fans a refreshing insight into her personal life when she revealed how she and her husband split parenting responsibilities.

“I have a lot on my plate, yeah, I do. I honestly could not do it without my husband, Jay,” Kristin told Page Six last year. “He luckily is unemployed at the moment. He played football for many, many years and he’s finally done. Not 100 percent, but we’re hopeful that he’s done."

She continued, "And he takes the kids to school, and he picks them up from school, which really frees up my day. He’s at home with the kids himself right now and I never have to worry about it. So as corny and cheesy as it is, I honestly couldn’t do it without him.”

5 She Uses Goat's Milk Instead Of Formula

One controversial thing Kristin has recommended to her followers is using goat’s milk rather than formula when mom stops breastfeeding. She’s a huge advocate of goat’s milk for its supposed health properties.

"Once I stopped breastfeeding each kid and we ran out of stock of my frozen breastmilk, we put them on a homemade goat milk formula (both grew out of their dairy sensitivity by then)," Kristin once said, Parents reports.

She continued, "I'm not a fan of soy (it's usually genetically modified; more about that later), and both Cam and Jax have sensitivities to cow's milk—and unfortunately, soy and cow's milk are the only two options for store-bought formula available right now. Goat's milk is the closest thing out there to human ... milk.”

4 The Family Is On A Tight Filming Schedule

Given that their family has a reality TV show, filming has become a regular occurrence in the Cavallari-Cutler household. Still, the celebrity says she prefers to limit the amount of time the camera crew is in her home while the kids are present in order to keep them away from the spotlight. Sounds tricky!

“We try to limit the time we shoot at home, and the boys are at school and Saylor takes a three-hour nap every day, but when they are home they love watching the monitors,” she said of filming for their reality show, People reports. “The Hills was a breeze ’cause we filmed three days a week, and it was three scenes and very regimented,” she continued. “This isn’t bad either."

3 This Is The Happiest She's Ever Been

Whether you watch her reality show or follow her on social media, it’s clear that Kristin is loving her role as a mother. The celebrity has said she’s never felt so happy, which is proof that motherhood definitely suits her.

"But I think I changed the most when I became a mom," Kristin has said, E! News reports.

“It really softened me as a person and I have so much more love in my life. I'm the happiest I've ever been. I think going into reality TV and having a family to really kind of ground me is probably the best. I do have an executive producer credit, so having that security blanket, as well, is not bad."

2 She Wouldn't Do Anything Differently

Despite taking an untraditional route to motherhood, Kristin says she has no regrets!

"No, I wouldn’t have done it differently. That was the path that we’d gone down and I don’t regret anything. That was just what worked for us. We were engaged. We got engaged really quickly — after only eight months," she told The Bump.

Kristin continued, "We definitely weren’t ready to get married then and so we put everything on hold and we ended up having the baby before, and I think that when we did get married, we were absolutely ready. Everything happens for a reason and it all works out how it’s supposed to."

1 Motherhood Makes Her Feel Like A "Zombie"

Despite making parenthood look like a total breeze, Kristin has opened up about her struggles with PPD, making it clear that her journey to motherhood hasn’t been as smooth as fans might assume.

“I set myself up for postpartum to be incredibly difficult and thought I would be walking around like a zombie,” she told Parenting about being a new mom. “I actually had this adrenaline the first few weeks, which made me not need much sleep.”

The reality star continued, “Every time I tried to nap during the day I wasn't able to. I was surprisingly calm regarding the baby. I was expecting to be a little more neurotic and worrisome. There were difficult times, but overall I was calm and happy. It all felt very natural to me.”

Sources: Parenting, The Bump, Parents, People, Page Six, Good Housekeeping, E! News