InstagramHappy birthday, Kaya Klitschko!
Hayden Panettiere and fiancé Wladimir Klitschko welcomed their daughter one year ago today, so it has been quite the whirlwind year for both parents. From Wladimir's championship boxing matches to Hayden's first trip without her daughter, these two have definitely acclimated well to parent life, so let's look back at Hayden's first year as a mom.
Only two weeks after giving birth, the 26-year-old opened up for the first time to People about her new life and couldn't help but gush about motherhood. "She's really so sweet," the new mom said of her newborn at the time. "I'm sure that's the way it's meant to be, because when they are putting you through the ringer you're like, ‘You are so lucky you're cute!'"
Although Hayden had a healthy and safe delivery, her body had a tough time adjusting after birth. "I'm limping around. I'm still trying to figure out what [pregnancy] has done to my body, how it's changed it. What's temporary and what's permanent," she joked to the mag.
"I feel like an 80-year-old woman trying to go down the stairs, you know, please tell me this is temporary. But I know some things will never be the same again."
Alongside her revealing interview Hayden included photos of her adorable baby girl, who looks exactly like her mom and dad. "She's an amazing combination of both of us," said Panettiere, who is 18 inches shorter than the 6-foot-6 heavyweight champion. "I look at her and say, 'Oh, she has my ears!' And he goes, 'Oh, she better be tall because she's got my hands and feet.'"
The Nashville star waited until her little girl was three months old before she traveled on first trip without Kaya. She posted a photo on Instagram to commemorate the event, but made sure to include two nervous emojis to reflect how she was really feeling about her leaving Kaya behind. "Momma's first solo trip," she captioned the selfie.
Opening up to Good Morning America in April, Hayden reaffirmed her happiness with her fiancé and Kaya. "As long as your kids are healthy and happy and all good, I mean, it's fabulous," she gushed. "It's fabulous!"
She also admitted that it changed her perspective. "You just reprioritize...you hear that they're healthy and you don't care about yourself anymore," the actress explained. "I mean, it's the most out of body experience where you go, 'I will completely lay myself on the line for my child,' without even a hesitation."
Being a mom is a job that she loves so much that she wants to do it at least three more times. "I always said four [kids], but I'm not going to speak too soon. One at a time. I mean, I would love it if Wlad figured out a way to get pregnant and he could have the baby," she said on Live! With Kelly and Michael in September. "We would be going right now, no problem."
In that same interview Hayden revealed something surprising: She suffered from postpartum depression following Kaya's birth. "I can very much relate. It's something a lot of women experience. When [you are told] about postpartum depression you think it's 'I feel negative feelings towards my child; I want to injure or hurt my child.' I've never, ever had those feelings," she revealed to Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan.
"Some women do. But you don't realize how broad of a spectrum you can really experience that on. It's something that needs to be talked about. Women need to know that they're not alone, and that it does heal."
Shortly afterwards, Hayden checked herself into a rehab facility to seek more treatment for her depression. "Hayden Panettiere is voluntarily seeking professional help at a treatment center as she is currently battling postpartum depression," her rep told E! News in October. "She asks that the media respect her privacy during this time."
The Remember the Titans actress reemerged in the public eye for the first time in November when she was spotted cheering on her 39-year-old fiancé at as he fought Tyson Fury at the IBF IBO WBA WBO Heavyweight World Championship contest. Hayden looked incredibly happy and healthy at Wladimir's match, which took place in Germany.
It looks like she's slowly making her way back into the spotlight, as Hayden also returned to the red carpet Monday for the first time since seeking treatment. Naturally, she looked amazing posing by her gargantuan fiancé's side. (Seriously, check out the height of her shoes and notice how small she still is next to him!).
Watch to hear her Nashville co-stars give Hayden their support.