Days at home alone with a baby can be soooo long. On the bright side, he’s a very captive audience and interested in all your innermost thoughts. Tell your baby about what you are doing to him when you change his diaper, lift him up, feed him. Narrate life’s little adventures when you clip your toenails, pee, or fold the laundry. I knew we were a family when I caught myself saying, “And this is mommy’s underwear” and he wasn’t in the room.

Alec discovered that this little trick also works for doing the dishes, but if you want to keep putting off doing dishes, I completely support that!

If having a constant companion share your inner dialog isn’t motivation enough, pediatric research shows that frequently talking to your baby can make him smarter. To up the ante, point at what you’re talking about.

“And now we’re going to pick up Mommy’s very hot coffee.”

I have a huge plastic bin of fabric, but have not been interested at sitting at my sewing machine lately. I love all those beautiful colors and patterns that are folded and crumpled in my storage tub, and thought that this project, which I saw featured on MAKE, was an excellent use of them that doesn’t require threading a bobbin.

What you need:

• Fabric scraps
• ModPodge
• Blank canvas
• Stiff brush

If you’ve got a box of baby clothes with which you’re having a hard time parting, perhaps this is a way to memorialize some of your favorite itty bitty infant items, but do note that knit fabrics, which most soft apparel is made from, will roll up and fray at the edges, so take good inventory before you start slicing things into pieces.

Blank canvas can be ordered on Amazon. Here’s a 4-pack.

Get the project details on crazy mom quilts >

Before having a baby, I had a very clear idea of what kind of mom I would be. Having read Babywise at the advice of a childless friend, I knew I would put my newborn on a schedule and fill my maternity leave with useful pursuits like crossing items off my to-do list and initiating sewing projects with the baby by my side in a bouncy seat.

The book’s instructions didn’t work out for me; among other things, it’s based on the premise that a baby eats every four hours (rather than the two hour cycle I seemed to be on). What the what?

Well, at least the bouncy seat came in handy.

Though I never used it for making playclothes from curtains (do I look like Mary Poppins, er, Maria?), having my sidekick in a baby lounge chair (like the BABYBJÖRN Babysitter pictured) has made me a better mama.

1. I smell better. My babies have loved hanging out in the steamy bathroom while I sneak in a shower. Because my washing machine is also in the bathroom, Sawyer’s presence usually encouraged me to do a load of wash. Feeling clean was something I used to take for granted, but not since becoming a mother.

2. I cook food. It turns out that my family needs to eat several times a day. Once I was able to remove Sawyer from my body (baby carriers are a necessity, yes?!), we graduated to putting the Babysitter on the kitchen floor so he could closely watch the hot action from a safe distance. Preparing meals sometimes feels like half of all parenting.

3. I preserve my relationships. Yes, with a baby nearby, my phone calls may sound sillier. I occasionally lapse into that singsong baby voice when I’m chatting with my girlfriends, but at least those calls get made. Having friends makes me a happier person.

4. I write and publish. With a little baby at the foot of my desk, I have written a gajillion emails, thousands of blog posts and two books (okay, the second book was written with baby in utero and not on the floor). Thank you to the seats that make these achievements possible.

5. I play with my children. By parking Sawyer nearby, I can play board games with the big boys while he watches us. We also like to entertain our tiny audience with family dance parties and impromptu puppet shows. As we perform, Sawyer gets plenty of chances to demonstrate his budding clapping skills.

And I’m sure we can all agree that the best mom smells good, feeds her kids, has lasting friendships, is proud of her accomplishments while always remembering to have fun with her children.

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This post was sponsored by BABYBJÖRN with whom we have worked to bring you a whole series of good stuff this summer, including giving away many of their products. Stay tuned!

Find out more about the BABYBJÖRN bouncers on their website.

If you’ve visited RookieMoms.com before, you might know that we’re all about getting out of the house and having more fun with your baby in tow. We started this site as our own brainstorm of fun things to do and we just couldn’t stop. One could even argue that I had another baby just to keep on testing myself.

Here’s a quick report on how well I’ve been taking my own advice with respect to the rookie mom challenges for Baby 3 Quarter 2 (nerd!):

14. Start your own breakfast club. I am so proud to say that I started hosting a baby-mama breakfast at my house every other Thursday morning and it is delightful. I’ve inadvertently enlisted another mom to bring coffee while I provide (or just accept) baked treats. It is super fun and very real. (Go ahead and check off number 3).

15. Leave your neighborhood. Yes, we even went to Chicago. But around town, I gotta be honest, we do not go on very many stroller walks. I could be better at this. Grade = B+.

16. Walk into nature. Yes! Sawyer has been in the baby carrier and off-road stroller for a few legitimate hikes. There were sticks, bugs, and dirt.

17. Become a cruise director.  I will give myself partial credit on this one. Since I am a working mom and not on maternity leave, I have less occasions to plan a full week of baby-centric fun. Sigh.

18. Check out the library. Uh oh, no storytime for Sawyer yet and I bet he’d love it!

19. Invite someone dangerous over for tea. Check. See number 14. Some of my tea party guests are downright dangerous and most had never been inside my home before.

20. Visit a farmers’ market Yes. Baby boy has been to farmers’ markets and food truck street fairs a few times. I expect we’ll do more during the summer.

21. Talk about something besides sleep. Check. There’s also preschool, kindergarten, potty training, blogging. Oh, wait. Was I supposed to talk about something other than children? Let me think. Ok, I got it. We just bought a bigger house and it is a fixer nightmare, so my real life friends get to hear all about asbestos, lead, termites, and going over-budget.

22. Play in another kind of nursery. Briefly. We bought some grassy shrubs, there wasn’t much butterfly ogling. We’ll have to do that again.

23. Build muscles at bootcamp. Big YES! I attended a wonderful session at a local place called Woohoo Fit. Loved it. Sawyer bonded with the caregiver and I got all sweaty.

24. Be a tourist in your own town. I may be a little late on this one, but we took all the boys to visit the iconic clock tower (the Campanile) on the UC Berkeley Campus the other week.

25. Host an ugly baby (clothes) contest. I haven’t done it. As much as I truly love this challenge, I chickened out. Maybe if I just called it silly I could do it.

26. Count your steps. I did this a bunch of times pregnant until I lost my fitbit. Boo.

Thanks all for keeping me honest. See also eating my own dogfood months 1 to 3.

How are you doing on your own challenges?

After returning from a jaunt to Tahoe with his toddler, Ainslie, our friend Doug gave me tips on fun stuff to do in the snow. (That’s right old friends, I’m embarrassed to admit it but snow is something we visit out here — not endure. And we “jaunt”).

For the baby set:
Walk around with Bjorn and congratulate yourself for being active.

Sharon reports:

We would have normally planned to go snow shoeing or skiing and planned a romantic dinner out. But we spent our time walking around the village, shopping a little, having a nice dinner, going for a long walk, and taking lots of pictures of Ainslie.

Our friends, Doug and Sharon, are total bad-asses. So, when they recommend to take it easy with your rookie baby, you should listen.

Last year, Whitney and I did their 22 mile charity bike ride and were proud to complete it. Sharon did the whole thing 6 months pregnant while Doug had a 30-pound toddler in the bike trailer.

Today’s challenge is to strap on your fanny pack and be a tourist in your own town with your little sidekick. Ok, I’m kidding about the fanny pack. But how about you two go somewhere only the visitors ever enjoy?

I call this first one “PhD in Paris” of Annie and her baby boy in 2005:

Thanks to PhD in Parenting for this treasure

If you’ve never taken the time to see your hometown’s greatest hits, choose a destination and make a day of it. Can you plunk your baby at the foot of a famous statue or seek out the most famous landmark for a cute commemorative photo?

Baby J enjoys the view of the Golden Gate Bridge

This is your 24th challenge. Did you complete this challenge? Share your story and pictures.

• Comment below and spill the details.
• Share a picture with us on Facebook.

Related activity: Document your baby’s birthplace

Your weekly challenge is to enjoy the rainbow of colors at an outdoor plant nursery. Let her touch/listen to the wind chimes on display, tour the orchid hot-house, and watch the koi in the water garden pond (the bright-colored fish swarm up to greet kids because they expect food). A baby carrier is perfect to navigate the tight corners.

In Berkeley, I like the East Bay Nursery for its rows and rows of colorful flowers and funny butterflies. Just watch out for the bees.

This is your 22nd challenge. Did you complete this challenge? Share your story.

• Comment below and spill the details.
• Share a picture with us on Facebook.

Is your baby too old to be worn around in a baby carrier while you describe the difference between perennials and annuals? Toddlers and preschoolers are ready to “help” plant their own favorite veggies in the backyard. Not your style? Choose a different challenge.

Becky from Oakland, CA sent us this cute suggestion for a keepsake craft. She recently created cardboard crayon drawings of her two daughters on a rainy day.

I cut open the box then laid down each girl (one at a time) then I traced them and then we colored them in wearing the outfits they were wearing that day. We liked them so much, we put them in our attic to save forever and ever.

Maisy, age 2, is checking out her doppelganger

Baby Maren, 5 months old, looks a little like a pirate

Becky is a stay at home mom to 2 girls; Maisy will be 3 in June and Maren is 8 mos old and was born in the front seat of their 2000 VW Jetta. Whoa.

She chronicles the family adventures on her blog, Sea of Clouds and recently shared her favorite family-friendly destinations on our local site 510families.com.

We know there are those people whose infants start sleeping eleven or twelve hours a night around four months old. These so-called “babies” take three daily naps at 8, 12 and 4.30. And then there are the rest of us.

At one point my moms group’s weekly discussion was so dominated by sleep that we were starting to get sick of each other, even though we needed each other so very badly, because no one else would be willing to listen to us talk with such hysteria about our child’s sleep habits.

Because it was a sensitive issue, I emailed the group ahead of time suggesting that at our next gathering, we would censor the subject unless it was a serious mental health situation that someone needed to address. I proposed a list of alternative topics that would help rejuvenate us and make us laugh during our meeting. We did this twice and it was tons of fun.

Our format was to go around in a circle and each answer the proposed alternative-to-how-is-your-baby-sleeping question. This is your 21st rookie mom challenge. Here are some conversation starters for you:

• What brought you to live here?
• Where did you go to college and what did you study?
• What were you going to name the baby if it was the opposite gender?
• Tell us about the relationship you had before you were with your partner.

These may sound basic, but when you’ve spent all of your bonding time discussing strollers and nipples, you may have left out some basic facts. Try it and let us know how it goes.

Not ready to make it through a day without talking about sleep? Pick another challenge.

Navigating the stroller through the market area is a challenge and there are so many things to look at for your baby, it’s worth the effort. Does this not sound like enough action for you? Believe me, it is. You will see other babies, musicians, and tasty food. Look around and choose a vegetable your baby hasn’t tried yet. Bring it home and steam and puree or mash with a fork.

Adeline and her mommy hit the market

Find a local farmers’ market and go! Baby Adeline (pictured) was enchanted by the musician. Baby Lucy hit her first Farmers’ Market at 3 days old. This tiny baby (see the foot!) (courtesy of cafemama) doesn’t look much older.

This is your twentieth challenge. Did you complete this challenge? Share your story.

• Comment below and spill the details. Last time I went to the Farmers’ Market, I was so hot, all I did was buy an ice cream and leave. Does that count?
• Share a picture with us on Facebook. Cute baby in stroller? Smashed sweet potato on face? One in a bjorn and one climbing on your shoulder? All good.

I was driving down the street yesterday when a friend, Andrea, pulled out in front of me in her station wagon. I was only driving behind her for only a couple of blocks, but we rolled down our car windows to wave at each other and grin like goofballs at the simple coincidence of seeing each other on the road.

Andrea Scher, co-creator of Mondo Beyondo (Google it!)

Andrea is one of the most thoughtful and inspiring women I’ve met, and though we’ve only hung out ten times or so over the past few years, some of the things she has said are the things that have stuck with me or changed my perspective in fantastic ways. Andrea was a rookie mom to baby Ben when she wrote this at her blog SuperheroJournal.com.

After my post about friendship, my friend Kalah shared something that I loved. She said,
“When you’re feeling most isolated, remember that you can always bring the party to YOU. Friends without children might not have an idea of your daily goings-on and may put off calling because they don’t want to be intrusive. Inviting them into your fold reassures them that you still appreciate their friendships and they feel like they’re saving you some time and energy when they make the effort to meet you where you are. It’s ok to let go of perfectionism when it comes to the state of your home when it comes to visitors–most people understand that you’re living the real, visceral life.”

In the spirit of bringing the party to me and my favorite SARKism “Invite Someone Dangerous to Tea,” I decided to invite the owner of Speesees, Rachel Pearson for tea. (We had only “met” via email after I ordered some goodies) She is pure color, creativity, fun and talent. I was SO inspired by our conversations about business and dreams and love. She made my day and reminded me that one of my greatest pleasures is connecting with other creative women/kindred spirits/people I admire.

It’s funny, since that event took place, I’ve had Andrea over several times, and by pure coincidence, met Rachel, who she dared herself to meet.

Can you invite someone dangerous to tea this week? This is your 19th rookie mom challenge. Take a chance on a person you don’t know well.  “Tea” is the perfect invitation for a mid-day meet up and can be at your breakfast table with tea and fruit or at a cafe where you don’t have to clean up anything.

Tell us, who do you have in mind? A mom you’ve met a few times at yoga? Your old boss who you miss? A friend of your mom’s who always tells funny stories?

Your challenge this week is to seek out the tot story time your library and go there. Space out while someone else entertains your baby with a new voice and stories. Double check the time before you go. And, hey, be on time. If you’re 5 minutes late, you’ll miss half of it.

This is your eighteenth challenge. Did you complete this challenge? Share your story.

• Comment below and spill the details. Library story time is not for everyone so be honest.
• Share a picture with us on Facebook. Nick, pictured above, was one of our earliest rookie baby readers.