The Bandit

It has been too long since I have hunted down a woman who is otherwise not me. I love to hear others perspective on things. I was truly lucky to have snagged this beautiful lady due to the fact that she just happened to be in town. We quickly got together and she patiently dealt with my babies who had to tag along on this shoot, I told you we got together on super short notice. Needless to say she was charming and lovely and things went better than expected.

So this is my darling friend Jessica. She is actually my husbands friend and was at one time referred to as a "Sleepover Bandit" along with her cousin Ellen. They spent a lot of time with my husband and his brother long before I met him. I was so jealous of these girls at first. But found that they were really all just great friends. I have followed her ever since blogging showed up and have found out why they all got along so well. To me she seems to be one adventurous woman. Never sitting still for a moment. I have loved getting to know her better and to realize just how cool she really is. So here you go people another wonderful woman's outlook on getting older...

On August 4th of last year I turned 30, and I think it's safe to say I was freaking out right before I hit this milestone. I still feel 17 sometimes so it's hard to believe I'm 30! When I was younger I thought of people in their 30's as "old" but now that I am there, my mind has definitely changed. Now I look at people in their 30's as having it all together, the 20's are spent building what you can enjoy throughout the remainder of life and now I get to start reaping the benefits.

I've been doing some serious thinking lately, thinking about what I've accomplished in my 20's and what I want to do in my 30's. I feel like a new chapter in my life is beginning.

I've been married for 9 years to my best friend. Seriously. Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky. Tony knows everything about me and still loves me slash loves me even more because of it. So anyways, for those 9 years, my husband has been going to school the entire time. First it was an associates of applied science degree, then a bachelors degree, and then onto a graduate physician assistant program. Well, after a long, LONG time of him studying his brains out and me basically being a single mom while he was at school, he finally graduated.... the day after I turned 30 (probably the greatest gift he could've given me).

I have two beautiful little girls, Indie Marie is 5 and Eden Grace is 2 1/2. Indie was born with a rare genetic disorder called Partial Trisomy 13. Considering the diagnosis, Indie is flourishing. She has issues with her vision and hearing and is developmentally delayed but despite all that she makes incredible strides everyday. Eden is as sassy as they come, and smart as a whip. I love them both more than tongue can tell, of course, but it has been a rough couple of years. There were a few months there where I spent my days holding them in a rocking chair reading books to them, singing songs to them, and basically trying not to go crazy. To say I had my hands full would be a MAJOR understatement.

So, what I'm trying to get at is that I can't wait for my 30's. I'm looking forward to my husband being done with school. For him to go to work and not have to do homework when he comes home, that will be something I have never known in our relationship. I'm looking forward to finally making some money, we have been "starving college students" for too long. I'm looking forward to my kids getting a little older and more self sufficient. Indie is making such great progress and she is getting much easier to manage every day.

This might sound weird but I feel like I'm finally becoming the person I'm supposed to be. I'm learning how to manage everything in life so that I have time for everyone, including myself. I have made an effort to find time to go to the gym, and feel like I'm in the best shape of my life. I've made time for book club, craft nights, and girls nights which has helped foster several meaningful and lasting friendships that I really cherish. I've made even more time for my husband and children because they're the most important people in my life. I'm looking forward to spending my 30's with the people I love most!

So there you have it. I feel like my 30's are going to be pretty rockin'.

I hope you all enjoyed meeting Jessica. I know I had a ball taking her picture. My favs are of her laughing. They where so natural. If anyone is interested in doing this and sharing how they feel about either turning 30 or already being 30, PLEASE contact me.

Brooke!!!!

Ladie's I want you to meet Brooke. She is thirty in Septemeber. I met her a few years ago when I got the awesome chance to meet her darling family for a photo shoot. I also asked her to do this because when I first posted about being thirty she responded back with a big YUCK! I am so glad that she was willing to help me out with this. One thing I love about Brooke it that she is brimming with confidence (as you can see.) Taking her picture was easy. Even better she brought her two beautiful kids along with her. Enough on what I love about Brooke, I will let you all read her wonderful words....

Turning 30. Wow. First of all, is this really happening?

Second of all, yes. It is. Let’s face it.

I tend to have mini panic attacks when I consider being thirty. Rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, tears shooting from my eyes and hitting strangers in the face…that kind of thing. Is this something I should be HAPPY about? Is it something I should embrace? Well, I’m trying. I’m really trying. Thirty just seems so mature to me, so established…so old! I feel immature and totally not established at all! I guess I’ve just looked at it in the past like thirty year olds have it so together, and I thought I’d be further along by now than I am. I just recently started a new career, I still don’t have all the kids that I would like to have (and thirty was my deadline!), and sometimes I totally still act like I’m 15. Let’s be honest, I’ve been known to have a bit of Bieber Fever in the past. I mean, does this not make me a bit of a pedophile? Is that not something to be a bit depressed about? And this permanent scowl mark in between in my eyebrows that no longer goes away when I’m not even scowling is not helping matters AT ALL!

When I stop to think about it and really put it in perspective, there’s so much that I’d still like to do, but there are so many things that I’ve done already that are dreams come true for me, that I really can’t complain. I’ve been married for 11 years to my high school sweetheart and have experienced love like I always imagined I would. I’ve had two beautiful kids who make me so happy (and frustrated) on a daily basis that I just can’t imagine my life without them. We are all healthy, we are all happy, and we are all living and making beautiful memories together.

At the end of the day, when you consider the alternative, thirty isn’t so bad. I feel like I’m entering a chapter in my life where I will be taken more seriously, will be able to use some of the life lessons I’ve learned so far to better myself in the future, and am finally realizing how fast time really does go by and that I need to slow down and enjoy it a little bit more.

Thirty. I think I can do thirty. Forty though… now that’s a whole other story.

Evelyn

This is my good friend Evelyn. She is someone that I have a great deal of respect for. She has the cutest kids ever. They are also super polite, and always have a hug for you. Her life is a stressful and busy one, but yet she still seems to have time to talk, and listen. Thank You so much for your support in this, I hope you all find what she has to say as interesting as I do.



Let me start by saying that I wasn't thrilled about turning 30 in the months leading up to it. Neither was my daughter. She suggested that perhaps I get so many migraines because I'm almost 30, and at 30 years of age I'll "almost be a grandma.". Nice. Thankfully she doesn't understand exactly what would have to happen for me to become a grandma, and she ain't about to know anytime soon. So anyway, the actual day of my 30th birthday wasn't that big of a deal. Just another day, you know? I kept telling people I was 29 cause I forgot, just like happens every year. In the (almost) year since then, I've noticed things about myself...things that have changed, and for the better! Here's a sampling:

• I don't care what others think HALF as much as I used to. I used to worry that my house wasn't clean enough for others, that my hair wasn't cute enough for others, that my chemical-free yard had too many weeds for my neighbors' taste (which is true, by the way, my neighbor told me himself!) Now, I worry about my house being clean enough for ME and my kids. I still worry, but the focus is much closer to where it needs to be.

• I'm more self-accepting. Am I a sexy 30 year old? Probably not. Do I like myself anyway? Absolutely! I think I'm to an age that looks don't matter as much to me as health, and I see my body more as a beautiful, wonderful gift from God that I need to take care of because I'm grateful for it, NOT because I wanna be sexy or hot or whatever.

• I have a better idea of where I am in my life. After having my 2nd child, I was devastated to know that I wouldn't be able to have more children. I'm not going to lie, it SUCKED. It still sucks, whenever I see a cute little bundle of joy being held by a new mom. But you know something? I don't have to wonder when I'll have another child. I don't have to wonder what stage of my life I'm in. I am officially done with the having babies stage, and I know that for a surety. Believe it or not, there's a kind of a peace in knowing. In knowing, I am better able to focus on the stage that I KNOW I'm in, which is raising two beautiful, amazing children.

Those are a few changes I've seen in myself since (slowly but surely) becoming more mature. And when my 31st birthday comes this month, I'll be able to look at it as another opportunity to ponder my life, to see what I've accomplished, and to make goals for a wonderful year to come. Birthdays are a wonderful time of renewal to me, and I am ever-so excited to do it again! Evelyn