Thirty-three

Tasmania trip in April

And while I've been gone, Blogger has a new format. Oh well, what with all the changes in my life, I'm sure I will thrive with this one too. I looked around my house before sitting down to type and realised there are a number of things that need doing. That's been one of the Most Important Learnings for me as a stay-at-home-writer-mum-housewife: There are always things that will need doing. And that will be procrastinated.

Cupcakes baked yesterday

Just have a look: 1. Washed laundry to be dried. 2. Toys to be picked up and put back in place -- only to be pulled back down in five minutes. 3. Floor to be swept and mopped. 4. Dinner to be planned and shopped for. 5. Nappies to be bought urgently because I've only one left. 6. Front courtyard to be swept because it's autumn and dead leaves pile up faster than you can say "dead leaves". 7. Pavlova to be baked for tomorrow's dinner at a friend's place. 8. Card to send out to a friend who had a second baby boy yesterday. 9. Statutory declaration to fill and submit to the Council because someone STOLE our recycling bin. What kind of loser steals a bin?! 10. Manicure and pedicure because my cuticles look like they can make an appearance on Dr Who. 11. This is all on the ground floor -- I'm sure there are more to-dos waiting for me when I go upstairs.

But I need to write because what do you know? I am three days over 33 and I haven't written in a while.

The Second Important Learning is that in the decade since I was 23, I have really, really changed. I had a list of piercings I wanted, more tattoos (I have one), I wanted to buy a motorbike, I enjoyed intimidating people, I thought I was one cool cat who could not-would not be controlled. Now I run scared of a 21-month-old and pray she won't wake up at two am and insist on having a chat. I even cried on my birthday night because I really wanted at least six hours of only-me time even if all I did in those hours was sleep.

Mia loves discussing the solar system in the wee hours of the night. Her favourite discussion being, "Ook moon Maaama", or "Sun gone?" and sometimes, "Uppa, uppa, uppa". The first one is looking (ook because she can't say 'l') at the moon because she's fascinated by it and the last one is her version of Twinkle-twinkle-little-star. Sigh.

The Third Important Learning is that while I am really happy being at home to look after my daughter -- and subsequently Baby 2.0 later this year -- I still have things I want to do. Except that before I tackle my in-the-wings dreams of world domination, I need to tackle the First Realisation. There are always things to do.

But I shall get it all done, s l o w l y. Look, at least I finally wrote something. :)

PS: Missy goes to childcare every Wednesday. I'm going to do my best to write weekly -- to start with. Please don't judge my grotty home.