Stages in Life

For the past three years or so, all of my undergrad friends have been having a marriage explosion. The majority of people I knew in undergrad are now married. Every other week, it seems, another Facebook album of a beautiful wedding is posted. I am thrilled for them all (except the one girl who married the jerk none of us likes, but really, there had to be one of those in every hundred, right?).

I remember when my four other best girl friends in college and I would be hanging out on the weekends, wondering if we would EVER. FIND. a BOYFRIEND. And now one of those friends just celebrated her first anniversary, and another just moved in with her boyfriend.

I feel like I have just gotten used to this new state of affairs. And THEN, my friends have started springing THIS on me:

(My college roomate's wee one)


And THIS:

(My labmate's first child)


And part of me wants to say, how old does this mean I am getting now? TWO of my friends have wives pregnant with the SECOND child. Gack!

But how can I stay upset when I keep looking at these sweet cheeks:

(Childhood friend's bouncing baby girl)


So go forth, friends! Procreate! I gladly let you all take the next step in life. Because I get to hold and cuddle the precious little bundles, and then I get to GIVE THEM BACK. :)