Friends that feel more like family....

I am incredibly blessed with THE VERY BEST friends in the whole wide world!  I cherish the friendships that I have formed over the years, beginning in pre-school (yes- pre-school!) through high school & college and of course the friendships that I am continuing to make here in Virginia.  As Carrie said in Sex & The City "maybe our girlfriends are our soul mates and guys are just people to have fun with".  Well, I certainly have found soul mates in my very best girlfriends, the ones who you can count on for anything and are there for you no matter what...the ones that feel like the sister you never had. Charlotte has been lucky enough to meet three of these "sisters" of mine all before her 1 month birthday!  Here is a glimpse of our visit with a few of Charlotte's favorite "aunties"....

Lolo (aka kiki's prettier twin) booked her flight down to C'ville when I was about 5 months pregnant :) Her visit was super fun albeit not quite as crazy of a weekend that we are typically used to when we get together.  Charlotte fell in love with Auntie Lolo and I think its safe to say Auntie Lolo fell for Miss Charlotte too....just a tiny bit ;)  Lolo and I met freshman year at Hope College.  She is such an amazingly caring, generous and selfless friend.  She knows me better than I know myself and I simply don't know what I would do without her in my life.  Since moving to Virginia our friendship has not skipped a beat.  Though the distance has not strained our friendship, we get by knowing that one day we will be reunited in Chicago!

Besties reunited in C'ville!

 Lovin' on Miss Charlotte

 Strolling downtown C'ville

 First bottle from Auntie Lolo

 Mommy & Charlotte at MAS Tapas

 Cuddle time with Auntie Lolo at dinner

 Walking through UVA's campus

Megan is my bestie  from high school.  She and I met in gym class freshman year, though I can't say that was the first time I had heard of Megan.  She was a petite but AMAZING athlete, and everyone knew it!  Judging Megs on her stature would not have been a wise thing to do, who would have guessed that a 5 and half foot 90lb girl could kick your butt on the basketball court and soccer field- I wouldn't have believed it myself...until I saw it for my own eyes.  Needless to say we hit it off right away and since then have formed a sisterly bond as well.  As fate would have it, early last fall we both found out we were pregnant and due just ONE week apart! Its no coincidence that Megs had a beautiful baby boy- Grayson and we had a girl, they are obviously going to get married and live happily ever after, DUH! Megan is a devoted and loving friend who has always been there for me.  I can talk to her about anything and now that we have babies just five days apart its been incredibly convenient to call/ text each other questions at all hours of the day & night regarding all things baby.   I don't think I would be able to jump into this role of "mommy" without Megs just a phone call away!

 Mommies & Babies

 Charlotte trying to spoon Grayson

Last but not least on our visit with Charlotte's Aunties is Stephanie, probably my very first friend. We met in PRE-SCHOOL and what is so incredible about our friendship is that we have remained close through all these years despite the fact that we have not attended school together since we were 4 years old.  Stephanie has literally been there through it all with me.  She not only was there to share in the many experiences of my childhood but she has the most amazing memory of anyone that I know so she can literally help you re-live it (and we often do when we get together...reminiscing on the "good old days")!  Stephanie is intelligent, charismatic and driven (not to mention the best multitasking mom out there)! Her kiddos Anna & Charlie are pretty darn luck to have a mommy like her!

Stephanie, Anna & Charlie :)

Group shot!

Just the girls, Charlotte was a bit shy :)