My Baby Love

Can't wait to meet Baby Lachlan!

I am sitting at the airport on my way to go meet one of my best friends’ newest family addition. That’s right, another one of my friends has a baby. You know how there are certain times in your life when your FB feed blows up with people all doing the same thing? Decorating pumpkins…taking the bar exam…spring break….wedding season…well, one thing throughout the year is constant. Everyone is having babies.

NOTE: When I say “friends” in this post, that includes my sister, Kim.

I have to admit that I am a little terrified of babies. They are extremely fragile, usually a little clammy from the swaddling, and at any point they can explode from either end. They are almost as unpredictable as birds…almost.  

#shehastwo #imokjustbeinganaunt

But low and behold my friends are moms (and dads – but let’s just focus on the moms, shall we?) and they have little babies that are their whole world. Now, I like visiting with other peoples’ babies. They are really cute from a distance, and it brings me a lot of joy to see my friends so in love with this extension of themselves. It really does break your heart just a little. Not to mention that babies LOVE me. I was once told that I was like a laxative for babies (is that a complement?) and they are one of the only audiences that think I’m hysterical. Ok, I think that someday having a baby will seem like something I would like to try. Well, I guess you don’t “try” to be a mom…I am pretty sure you can’t return a baby online if it doesn’t work out, but don’t quote me on that….

The whole Gildea Gang!!
Beautiful even after childbirth - jeal.

I was driving the other day through rush-hour traffic in Chicago after work. I was cutting some people off, dancing to country music, and deep in thought over which drink I should have when I get home – Beer? Wine? Cocktail? So many choices!! But mid-alcoholic debate, I had a weird thought enter my head – what if there was a BABY in the car with me right now? And even more crazy – what if that BABY was MINE?? Then that was too much pressure and suddenly deciding on my beverage for the night didn’t seem so hard. I just wanted them all.

I mean, look at these nuggets!!
She looks like a pro!

Now, the reason I freaked out is because being a mom sounds hard. I think of all of the selfless things my mom did for me and my sisters growing up, how she struggled to pay the bills, but could always pull it together for a spring break vacation or an activity that we wanted to. She ran around to get 3 kids where they needed to be, and rarely let us see how worn down she really was. She tells us every chance she can that she is proud of us, even when I know we weren’t always the best daughters. She made friends with our friends and balanced taking an interest in our lives while letting us be as independent as possible. She was Superwoman in every sense of the word (actually – not as a Halloween costume, she was usually a Witch or one a Toy for Tots Center – don’t ask). My mom is amazing, and I definitely don’t tell her that enough.

But see, that is why I can’t believe I have friends that are MOMS. They do that every day! God Bless the Mom’s out there….and God Bless the USA.



Love you girls - but you have tough competition with the best Mom in the world :)

One more note: If you are a mom friend of mine and were not included in this post, please do not be mad. I just didn't realize anyone except my 5 friends actually read this thing. You, too, are amazing :)