Today's my half-birthday

Who knew that Whole Foods was the place to be on a Saturday evening? I stopped there on my way home tonight to pick up some basil (making pesto for a potluck tomorrow) and the place was PACKED - at 8pm on a Saturday night. Wild, man.

But I digress.

It's somewhat strange, being at the age I am (thisclose to 30) and having so many married friends now having kids! Not strange: bad. Just strange: unknown. It's like I'm the uninitiated brownie to their girl scout. I have all the parts, pieces and knowledge of how two people can get married and have kids - but I haven't yet sold enough cookies or earned enough merit badges to have my crossing over ceremony. The gap created by friends getting married just widens that much further when said friends have their kiddos. BUT these kids I absolutely love and adore and plan on spoiling rotten (much to their parents' combined joy and chagrin, I can only imagine..heh heh!).

I had lunch today with a grad school friend whose first child is due in March. It was so fun to catch up with her - she has literally popped out (tummy-wise) since I saw her last November. I got to ask all about her pregnancy hopes, expectations and fears. I learned - also - that her national guard unit (she and her husband are both in the Air National Guard Band - that's how they met!) has been activated and her husband will deploy for a short summer stint a few months after Baby arrives. She will not be deploying with them (unlike the Army, I guess the USAF won't let spouses deploy together), but will stay behind to work her summer commitment at the base back home. That's going to be hard, but we're already praying for a smooth summer! Anyway - she's my first *close* friend actually geographically close enough for me to get to experience some of the pregnancy with her in person. And it's fun. And strange...in a good way. I just - I don't know if I will join the mommy-ranks. At least - not in the immediate future, and honestly, I don't feel the pangs of my biological clock ticking away, either. Perhaps that all magically changes when one turns 30? I don't know. Ask me in six months.

Until then, I shall enjoy my morning coffee, a nice glass of wine and the luxury of being able to sleep through the night.