There's something in the water in Philadelphia

As they so often do, Tara and Teresa are making big life changes simultaneously. It started three years ago when they got engaged a few weeks apart. A year later, they were married a few months apart, Tara in May, Tree in August. Shortly after that, both bought houses less than a season apart and now they're pregnant, and due only four weeks (nearly to the day) apart.

It's actually quite convenient for me, at least for the purposes of managing air travel and trips to various gift registries. After spending the weekend with them in the place that we all used to be young and carefree and crazy, I realized a couple of other things about the differences between the place they are, and the place I am. And I don't mean Chicago.

Every time they do something, it is the FIRST time I am exposed to it. They were the first people to get married, first of my close friends to buy a home, and while not the first of my good friends to have babies, they are the first who had it all planned out. And to be quite honest it's absolutely SHOCKING to me that someone would willingly sit down and map out what they are presently going through. I won't expound on the details, suffice it to say they are no longer in control of their bodies. And all they can say is how scared, uncomfortable and fat they are. (I've inserted the pictures above as proof of the contrary. They are both still skinny as fuck, and what's worse is that after having recently lost about 16lbs, I STILL find myself in the unpleasant position of wearing bigger sizes than Mrs. 7 months and 8 months pregnant above. WTF?)

There are things you and I can't even imagine about being pregnant that I can see in their eyes when I talk to them. Tara was continuously jabbing herself in the tummy with her pointer finger for the better portion of dinner one night when I gave her a funny look. She sighed rearranged herself in her chair and said, "the baby's elbowing me in the ribs, I'm trying to move her." I couldn't help but think, that's fucking weird.

I can't IMAGINE having another human inside of me. I am like a twelve year old who still finds the entire prospect completely sci-fi and disgusting. The results in both cases will be adorable and I really can't wait to meet them, once they're on the outside. It was super neat to see my pregnant friends, and sad too, I couldn't help but be reminded, both fondly and sadly of Stephanie and Alayna. Who I miss terribly. It was an unspoken influence on the weekend, my hoping for the best for my friends, anticipating the excitement to come, but also weary and cautious of the complicated responsibility they are about to take on. I know they will both be fantastic parents, just as Stephanie was.

From here in my (rented) apartment in Chicago, I'm happy that my biggest concern is whether or not to fork over an extra $100/week to hire a cleaning lady or not. (If Bryan wins, I am doomed to a life of Scrubbing Bubbles.)I am fully aware of the responsibility involved in child rearing, birthing, etc. And it's something I think I'll leave to the pros.