Blessings, Bliss, and Bailey: Birthdays, Friendships, and a Conscience

Christian recently celebrated his 33rd birthday – yes, I think that is old. I remember being younger and my brother turning 20 – I thought THAT was old! My, how my views have changed. With each birthday comes a little reflection. It seems crazy to be with someone year after year and celebrate yet another birthday – just think, one day we will be celebrating 80! – if we don’t kill each other ;)
In all seriousness, as I sit with Christian and we talk about our goals for the year and even further, I often think about the crazy road that got me here. One story that particularly comes to mind was in high school – Latin class with Ms. Eagle. I was seriously one of the few underclassmen in there and was fortunate to have some awesome girls take me under their wing (Brooke and Erin – even though Erin made me sizzle like bacon in front of 100’s of people at the football game for Key Club induction). Anyhow, I remember hearing them talking about a guy named Christian. I had never met him, or even seen him, but I so vividly remember thinking that he was probably hot :)
Time passed and a little further down the road I was at a party and was totally bugging on this one guy. I didn’t know who he was or anything about him, but I LOVED him. Then, I started hearing people calling him “Christian”. As the professional stalker of all things HOT – I did a little investigating and found out that this was the infamous “Christian” I had heard so much about in Latin class. I looked to my friend, and in true "Katie" fashion said, “I am totally gonna marry him.” We ended up talking and I played hard to get... for a minute. Anyhow, Christian and I have been together since that first introduction at that party – but I felt like I had known him for years. His stories and reputation had far preceeded him and I loved a bad boy! On a side note, later on, he revealed to me that he had actually been stalking me around campus and told his good friend Joel that he was gonna marry me! Too funny! Well, like any boy – he had to be transformed into a marriable being – I became his tamer... PETA might even consider my training methods a little cruel. Whatever it was, it worked – we have been together for 13 beautiful years.

It is really undeniable that he is truly my best friend, I mean, you can’t be together all that time and not know everything there is to know about a person!
I read a quote once, “Friendship is when people know all about you, and like you anyway.” This is so true. But I would be lying if I said that he fulfills all my needs of friendship. That I must find in my girls. I have never understood girls who had no girlfriends. I honestly believe that it is a serious condition whose results lead to depression and insecurity. I cannot SURVIVE without my girlfriends. I have heard girls say, “I get along better with guys…” Wha???? That is like a dog saying he gets along better with cats!
I will say that my best friendships did not develop until late college and even after that. There is of course that awkward period where girls are so malicious that they suck any life out of you and always seek to destroy ANY happiness you have... But now, I NEED my friends. There is a lot to be had in a close relationship with other girls. And women who do not have these relationships are really missing out on one of the greatest gifts. Each of my friends offer something different but yet all complete me – a recipe similar to a good cocktail.
One of my friends and I only see each other a half a dozen times a year! But we talk for 2-3 hours DAILY and yes, we have solved ALL the problems of the world. Anyone running for office, attending medical school, raising kids, trying to get healthy, working, or just living should definitely consult our panel of 2 – we have it ALL worked out :)
Other friends of mine offer me spiritual guidance. We have deep connections to faith and God. Then are my "smart" friends who make me feel me feel shallow in their presence - they are the artists, actresses, and scientists... yes, I am friends with scientists.
Others are my girly girls. We obsess with fashion, celebrity gossip, new restaurants, TV shows, makeup, hair, shoes, handbags, you name it! Our ties are strong and our trust is unbreakable. The things that popular culture can do! The list goes on – so many relationships, so many offerings. I guess I feel full with love from two facets – my relationship with one man who loves me and my relationships with multiple girls who keep me sane and on top of all news and trends!

I hope that one day Bailey will add yet more variety to my relationship groups. I hope to find that fine line between trust and honesty and being a parent. I want to know who Bailey has a crush on, who she decides to kiss first, and sadly, I hope she confides in me about arguments with friends and breakups with boys. I have so much to offer her – and luckily, if I don’t have the answer, I can consult one of my many girlfriends :)

With reflection on the year past and the years to come, Christian and I debate on various topics on how to raise Bailey. It is a CONSTANT battle deciding what is important and what is not. When to react, when to not. How to react – how not to! Ahhhhh! One thing we both agree on is that instilling a conscience in Bailey is most important. Without that, she can do nothing. She must not react to situations, but thoughtfully consider them with a clear understanding of what is the right choice. I know she will make some wrong decisions, but I just hope that she sees why they are wrong and then comes home to tell me ;)

We are off to a great start this year ~ Here’s to 2012!

Cheers!

Some of Bailey’s highlights from 2011 (the ones I actually wrote down):

First reactive smile – 2 months

Laughs Out Loud - 2 months

Rolls Over - 3 months

First Tooth - 4 Months

Sat up by herself – 5 months

First Time Away From Us (We had to escape to Barcelona) - 6 months

Crawled – 6 months

Pulls Up - 8 months

Said Dada – 8 months

Walked – 11 months

Waves and says Bye – 11 months