18 months. Olivia came into my life 18 months ago. Most days feel like time has flown by like Marty McFly in the Delorian. And while I give thanks daily that she’s in my life, I also struggle. See, there’s a lot of things I want to do, in addition to the long list of hobbies I already have. Hobbies already on my list: running, blogging, spending time with my girlfriends, having dates with the Hubbs, playing piano, reading (although I can’t say as to the last time i got to snuggle up to a good book), spending time with Baby O, and traveling/discovering. Hobbies I would like to take up: biking (Hubbs got me a super fancy bike for Cmas that I have only got to bust out once so far), playing fiddle, painting, crafting, furniture redo-ing, baking and cooking, half-marathoning. Do you see the problem here, folks?? I have too many things on my list. The days when my heartstrings pull at me to spend the day exploring or when a sunny, summer day calls for cold beers on the pontoon, I feel like I’m playing tugs-of-war with my own self. How do I do “fun things” with O in tow? How does one spend time being a Mommy to an 18 month old yet still do enjoyable things (not that spending time with O isn’t enjoyable)? Eh, you know what I mean. I’m still learning. I still have a hard time getting out of the house on time. O will spill milk all down her outfit and has to be changed-again. Or she thieves the toothpaste from the drawer while Mommy is talking on the phone to Daddy and smears it all over herself and her carseat just before we are supposed to leave. Or Mommy’s forever-lasting tardiness remains steadfast. Either way, I still get stressed and frustrated and oh-so-tired. So I have to find a balance. A balance between my career as a nurse, my life blessing as a mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, my thrills in adventure, my dream of being a “travel writer”. I know I have to better manage what time I’m given. That’s the first step. The rest is still for me to learn and sort out within. Let me know what helpful hints you’ve learned about balancing life. Pan