1. Time flies. Seriously. I feel like I barely blinked and A's first birthday is already looming just around the corner. 
2. You don't know shit. Everything you thought you knew about having kids? Yeah, for the most part scratch all that. 
3. You cannot comprehend the level of zombie you will rapidly attain in the first few weeks, until you are there. And when you're there, you probably won't have enough wits about you either to comprehend the severity of the situation. 
4. You won't be able to describe the immensity of the love you feel for your child. It is unreal. As much as I thought I would love my kid (and believe me, through almost two years of trying to conceive I thought about that a *lot*), it doesn't even come close to how I feel now. 
5. The statement "your life won't ever be the same" is the understatement of the century. In all the good ways and also in some not-so pleasant ways. 
6. In many ways, being a parent is a lot easier than it looks from the outside. In other ways, it is the scariest thing you'll ever have to do. 
7. It still hasn't quite hit me that I am now a mom. Yes, I have a baby and I do all the things you'd expect a mom to do, but identifiying as a mom? For some reason that part still eludes me. I wonder when it'll hit me?
8. It's a cliche, but I suddenly appreciate everything my mom did and still does for me. 
9. I secretly enjoy it when A wakes up in the middle of the night and I get to squeeze in some more cuddle time. Well, for the most part I enjoy it. 
10. I judge other parents all the time. Yep, I shouldn't, but I do. Hey, they probably judge me too! Bastards. 

So, there I was, excited beyond belief to receive a visit from the maternal unit, after 8 months of absence.

And it was ever so good, brilliant in fact, for the first few hours. After which she started to drive me insane! Don't get me wrong, I love my mom dearly, but damnit the woman needs to learn how to switch off.

She kept on cleaning things for the entire 3 days she stayed at our flat (she is still in town, but staying with my aunt now). And, for the first little while, the cleaning is appreciated, but then it starts getting too much. I mean I woke up yesterday, to find her washing the windows! Now that to me is ridiculous at any time of the day, let alone before 7 in the morning. But how do you tell your mother to stop, well, being a mother?

But it wasn't just about the cleaning. She also decided to play interior decorator.

Q - "Don't you think this chair will look better over here?"

If I thought so, I would've put it there in the first place, right?

Aaahhh, Christmas-time. That time when you get to take a well-deserved break from work, when you're able to do all the things that you never get around to doing (read: all the "fun" stuff) and also that glorious time when you get to spend some quality time with your family....

... which inevitably leads to at least one humongous fight!

Yes, that's what I've just experienced. A major blow-up. Over something really quite silly (it always is). Almost feels like the clock's been turned back a couple of years and you're a sulky teenager again. Except this time around there is definite light at the end of the tunnel in the form of time constraints putting a limit on the happy holidays with your folks.

Breathe in, breathe out.

Yes, the mother-daughter relationship is a very complex one. On the one hand she wants the best for you, on the other hand she wants that "best" to fit in with her ideas for your lifestory. After all, this is the woman who was in charge of you from the very beginning, and that mothering instinct is so ingrained, that it must be hard to come to the realisation that, for the most part, you're not really needed anymore.

But of course she is. Needed, that is. Just in a (VERY) different way. The day-to-day activities are best left in the capable hands of her daughter. But there will come those times when her advice is much needed, as, let's face it, she has a lot more experience and is very willing to share her wisdom. But, and this is a very big BUT, this advice should only be dished out when requested.

Otherwise, just smile and nod...

Well!!! Long time, no post...

Been busy working and studying for my test yesterday - 2 x 3 hour papers - always a winner...

I'm hesitant to say it went well, lest my words come back to bite me in the ass. But it was allright. Do-able I suppose. Anyway, I know I won't do very well, but I'm just hoping to pass. That's all that really matters at this point!

And now it's over!!!! Whooo--hooooooooo! It's a wonderful feeling not having that itching guilt at the back of your mind when you're doing everything but studying...

The next one is end of November, so plenty of time for rest, and believe me, I'll be putting that to good use.

Wedding planning is going well, as The Fiance mentioned in his blog... Couldn't believe it when my mom phoned me from Harrods the other day about napkins. I mean really! Was even more suprised when she asked for my email adress (my mom is afraid to even turn ON the computer, never mind use it). So it was quite nice getting an email from her all the way from London. If I can be soppy, it really warmed my heart that she would step out of her comfort zone like that to send a message to me.

But let me be off - my stomach is growling and food has yet to be made!