The end of an era......

A seven year cycle ended today. It has been a crazy, fun, emotional bonding cycle. One I never expected myself to be a part of, but there I was none-the-less. I am excited for today, but sad to see the cycle end. There has been some comfort in this recurring sequence of events. It is probably what has kept me from single- handedly carrying the responsibility of populating the world.

About seven years ago, I was working at KU when low-and-behold I discovered I was pregnant. Excitedly, I shared the news with a colleague of mine. She had become a close friend and she actually knew that I was confirmed pregnant by my OB before Jamy did. Throughout my pregnancy, she was there watching and marveling right along with me at the crazy changes in my body. We would sit distracted in meetings watching Abby move across my belly instead of listening to what was going on.

I gave birth to Abby and she was one of the first ones there at the hospital to welcome her into the world.

Just not long after Abby was born my friend found herself pregnant with her first child. I couldn't wait to hand over my maternity clothes and marvel with her as her precious baby boy grew in her tummy.

She had him early one summer and what do you know, I got all knocked up with Weston. I was bursting with the news but didn't want to tell Jamy over the phone so I called my friend from the stall of the public bathroom at KU where I had anxiously peed on the stick. We swapped maternity clothes again and the cycle started all over. I had Weston, she got pregnant with her second. Back went the maternity clothes again. She gave birth to a beautiful little girl.

Well, we just had to do it again right? I got pregnant with Skylar, we swapped maternity clothes yet again. Skylar was born. Jamy and I decided she was our last. It was sad, but that was okay because I just knew if I ever had baby fever my old friend would come through for me and have another. Sure enough, just about the time I was getting sad that I was never going to have a baby again I got a phone call from my friend and she was expecting.

Today, my friend welcomed another baby boy into the world. I am so excited for her and her husband. Even though we now live an hour apart and don't get to see each other as much, my recent bout of baby fever has dropped off a little.

I think I am so excited for my friend because of this crazy cycle we have found ourselves in. It seems just about the time one of us would catch baby fever the other would get pregnant and we would be good for a couple of years.

We swapped clothes, advice, baby gear, joys and frustrations. We have seen each other at our highest and our lowest. Because we were also both breastfeeding mothers, we have also seen way more of each other than most adult female friends do. We know WAY more about each others' posteriors that friends really should. Whenever I had a pregnancy moment she was there if I needed her and I hope she always knew I was here for her.

I believe this is the last one for her as well so the cycle has ended as all good things must. So to my friend, Dawn, congratulations. It has been fun. We have lots of good memories of our pregnancies. When I think back to the time in my life when I was having babies, you will always be there in my memory. Distance has taken us apart in the last couple of years, but you have still been there for me as only a true friend could be. I have two girls and a boy and you have two boys and a girl. What a perfect set, don't ya think?

So now we move onto the next phase. We get to sit back and enjoy watching each other raise the families we have created. I just know this next phase will be an even bigger adventure than the first. Snuggle that new baby boy for me and I will see you soon, my friend.