Getting things done at home with a baby

Things that are pretty fun to do with a baby:

• Folding laundry.  Put baby on bed.  Dump clean, dry laundry on top of her (you know, without smothering her).  Enjoy her delighted smiles.  Wave items of clothing above her, letting her grab and giggle, as you fold.  
• Sit-ups.  If baby's neck still isn't too strong, lay her down on your thighs; if she can, sit her up on your mostly-straightened legs, holding on to her hands to keep her upright if needed.  Do sit-ups, smiling at baby on each ascent.  
• Push-ups.  Put baby on blanket on floor.  Do push-ups over her, giving her a kiss on each descent.
• Playing music.  In a carrier, baby can be entertained by you noodling on piano or guitar for a variable amount of time.
• Take a bath.  Especially with a young baby (under 3 months) who wanted to be held all the time, I found that this was the easiest way to get both of us somewhat clean.
• Read email/books/magazines.  Nurse baby, and read away.  Just don't try to write anything.  It's not gonna happen.  (If you're not quite at the one-handed nursing stage--don't worry, one day it will just magically be possible).
• Walks.  The best way to send baby off to dreamland, and get some exercise for you (and the dogs).

A confession of undervaluing, from an overachiever

I have a confession to make.  It's not that I thought being a stay-at-home mom was in any way wrong, or bad.  But until--oh, I don't know, about five-and-a-half months ago, I might have thought that stay-at-home moms were just a teensy wee little bit lazy.

[Oh god.  I said it.  Feeling terrified.  Also terrible].

I now feel incredibly guilty for having believed this, and I want to talk about it a little for the sake of those of you still laboring under this delusion.  Coming from someone who's something of an overachiever, and generally regards herself as being pretty good at time management, let me tell you:  parenting, and running a household, takes a lot of time.

Because unless she is blissfully asleep?  You are with baby all the time.   All The Time. And there isn't much you can accomplish in terms of chores with a baby around. (More on suggestions of what you can do in a later post).  You're sort of on the hook for keeping her entertained.  And as she becomes more mobile, for keeping her safe.