Joy

I really want to be a Mom.

Of all the dreams, goals, and hopes I've had in my soon-to-be 28 years, only one has remained constant. I've always, always, always wanted to be a Mommy. Life doesn't always give you what you want though and I'm trying really hard right now to be patient and have faith that when the time is right I will be blessed with a child of my own. In the meantime, I consider it my duty to spoil all the children of my family and friends.

Today, my friend Brandon and his wife Nikki welcomed their first child into the world. They named her Zoey. She's a cutie and looks just like her Mom. I've known Brandon since we were three. He was my neighbor and became my friend while playing tag and hide-and-seek in the front yard. Brandon and Nikki have prayed so hard for this baby girl. They went through some trials to get to this point and I'm sure that everytime they look at her they will know that it has all been worth it.

Not too long ago, my friend Tabby and her husband Harold, had their first daughter together. Tabby already has a son that she adores and now she has a little Princess to spoil. I'm so happy for them both. Harold loved Tabby for three years before she finally decided to give her (already) best-friend a chance to be more and she's had a blessed life ever since. I'm sure she couldn't ask for a better Step-father to her son and Daddy to her daughter.

Just in the past couple of years alone everyone I know seems to be popping out babies right and left. Close friends...family...even not-so-close friends have all been having children. Story Jade came in to the world in 2009 and will soon be celebrating her very 1st birthday! Little Hyatt David (whom some call "H.D." and I call "Heavy Duty") just turned 2 last month. Lily (who turned 1 in October) got a baby brother, Mason for her Christmas gift. And my very first best friend, Crystal, had a baby in 2008 that has blessed her life a million times over. So its not hard to see why I have babies on the brain recently. Everyone around me is either getting pregnant or giving birth.

To top it all off, on Sunday, my little cousin Ashlee goes in to the hospital to start the process of inducing her labor. Hopefully, if all goes well (and I'm sure it will), my very first Goddaughter will be brought into the world by Monday evening. I'm so very excited to meet Isabella (whom I've decided to nickname "Bella-Bonita"). I think she will make a grand addition to the (really BIG) Nunn family.

But in all the joy and wonder of all these bright new flowers added to the world, its a little bittersweet for me.

I'm so happy for everyone else, but its strange too. I remember Brandon being a pain in my butt when we were kids...Travis (Lily & Mason's dad) and BJ (Heavy Duty's dad) being brats and trying to kill me with a jump rope (long story there)  when we were younger...Kayla being mean as a snake and throwing rocks at cars and all kinds of naughty things when she was still in Kindergarten...meeting Crystal for the first time when we were 5 and it was the very first day of Kindergarten...meeting Tabby in Middle School and thinking she was snotty because she wouldn't talk to me (even though she thought I was snotty because I wouldn't talk to her - lol)...and I can remember when they first brought Ashlee home from the hospital after she was born (for the record, I remember when they first brought Kayla home too).

Its just surreal for me to think of all those people (and many more that I know) as being Mommies and Daddies. And I can't wait to join their ranks. But until I do, I suppose I will have to be content to spoil all their kids and be a Godmother.

So congratulations to Brandon and Nikki, but also, congratulations to all ya'll out there with wee little ones. Hold them tight. Kiss and hug them lots and lots, and give them each a great big hug from me too. :-)