The Godmother

Fourth-grade was one of my favorite years of elementary school. Not because I had the coolest teachers or because I made straight-A's but because that's the year I made a best friend.

I remember it like it was yesterday, our classes were combined and we were making totem polls with animals on them to describe what kind of person we were. I noticed the girl working on her project next to me had a rabbit on hers... 'What a strange animal to choose,' I thought. I asked her why she put a rabbit on hers and she told me because she was as swift as a rabbit.

"I bet I'm faster than you," I challenged, and she accepted--Today, at recess, we'd race.

We went to the long, open end of the playground with lots of running room. We had an audience nearby watching, cheering us on, and keeping us fair. I didn't have a doubt in my mind that I'd win.

"On your mark. Get set. GO!"

We both took off running but didn't get far before we heard a strange noise. A fart? I can't remember, but we both laughed the whole way down the field. Can't remember who won but it didn't matter. That moment is what started our unbreakable friendship.

The rest is history.

When 5th grade rolled around her mom switched her into my class. We had our ups and downs as any friends do, but Shannon has been my most loyal friend my entire life. She stuck up for me when people made fun of me--Called me anorexic. Told them I ate like a pig and just don't gain a think--"You should be jealous" she's tell them.

In junior high we both were cut during Dance Team tryouts, and we were sad together. She stood by my side as I was rejected by several boys. And we folded and passed notes like no other.

In high school, my moving to a new neighborhood and new school didn't keep us from being best friends. We went to each other's homecoming dances, and we kept each other in check when we veered from the straight and narrow. We went to different churches, but shared the same devotion to our Lord and Savior.

Then the big move came... My family moved across the country to Arizona, where I completed my last semester of high school. We didn't see each other for 5 years, though we called, and wrote often... And every time we talked it was like we hadn't skipped a beat.

We finally saw each other again in college. She flew out to Utah to visit me at BYU. I had just started dating my husband and it was already serious... He was moving in a few weeks so I was torn with spending quality time with her as well as him. Looking back I should have enjoyed that time with her because I have the rest of my life to spend with him!--Unfortunately I didn't know nor understand that at the time.

We didn't see each other again for three years after that. Then I moved to Atlanta for a summer job and internship, and while we were both busy, we made sure to spend as much time together as possible... This time I was married but away from my husband and SHE had the serious boyfriend. It's funny how easy it is to see how it feels once you're on the other side of the fence--For both of us.

I flew out to Atlanta again a year after my stint living there for her wedding and we haven't gotten together since. Of course we talk all the time... Possibly more than ever now, as we're both married, and going through similar questions and challenges.

We told each other we'd wait to have children the same time so we could also go through that experience together.--You know, remember this post? As I started thinking more and more about becoming a mom and my urge grew stronger as the years of my marriage went by, I began to think she'd have to catch up on my second kid... So you can imagine my surprise when last month she told me she was pregnant. Now she's trying to get ME to catch up to her! Oh how the tables have turned. At first I took it hard, but now I am more happy for her than ever. I'm already trying to figure out when I'll be able to plan my trip down there, plan a baby shower and spoil the mom-to-be and baby!

Yesterday when we were talking on the phone I just couldn't wrap the idea around it--Her being a MOM. I can totally picture it, it's just so hard to believe that we're here already. Her--A mom to me, and me, contemplating being a mom-to-be. It seems like just yesterday we were chanting "Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married WITH TRISTAN!"... Our 5th grade crush. I feel like her becoming a mom is kind of like me becoming a mom--Or being forced to grow up just a little bit more as my best friend--My sister embarks on this journey. Yesterday, when I was talking about being an "auntie" she corrected me and said "Godmother!"

After Googling the term to make sure I knew exactly what my duties entailed, it seems as though nowadays it's more of an honorary term. I'll be like the extra-mommy there to spoil forever! I'm so excited and so honored! She'll of course be the Godmother of my children as well, and I just can't wait until we both have our little kids and can live near each other and have our kids grow up together! Hopefully I won't be too far behind...

Are you a Godparent? What are your duties? Do your children have Godparents?

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I'm coming up on my 6-month Blogaversary (I know, so what, but I like reasons to celebrate, ok?) so I figured I'll do a little Q and A. Feel free to ask me any question your heart desires (favorite food, color, whatever!) and I'll answer them on Friday May 29th for my Half-Blogaversary! You can ask in the comments or email them to babymaking machine (at) gmail.com.

The Reason I Can't...

I can think of a bunch of reasons why I should have a kid right now, and about a dozen reasons why I shouldn't. But the #1 reason why I can't have a kid right now... I told my best friend I'd wait for her.

Shannon and I have been best friends since the fourth grade... And I mean BEST friends. She met my husband before any of my family did (and lucky for him she approved).

We don't talk on the phone as much as we like but when we do we can easily pick up where we left off. I was her matron of honor, and she will be my children's Godmother. We've lasted though moves across the country, and rare vacations to visit each other. Basically there's LOTS of history... And we told each other we'd have kids together.... Well, not together but you know what I mean. We're hoping we'll at least be living in the same state when we have kids, and that we can go through the whole pregnancy process together.
When I agreed to the pact I had no objections. I was already married and she was dating her now husband at the time. I knew it would be about five years before my husband and I would even be THINKING about having kids, and she'd be bit by the baby bug shortly after getting married and VIOLA, we'd be ready at the same time!

Well, as my five year mark is quickly approaching, and my baby fever is reaching a boil, neither of us are thinking of really making the plunge. I think if she jumped I'd jump, but she's not going to jump with me yet. We're SO much alike... Even when it comes to this topic. Both of us crave stability, reassurance, knowledge of the fact that we'll be able to EAT, and both of us love our career choices.

Shannon will be a great, world class veterinarian one day. I'm sure I'll be interviewing her about some innovative procedure she invented on my nationally televised talk show... But until then, we are both trying to get by as students/amateurs and find the right time to jump into the game of double dutch aka parenting.

...But I think my time line is shrinking at a faster rate than hers.
If you couldn't tell, I've been thinking about it a lot lately. I told her about my blog but it scared her... I can't have kids yet. DUH!! Why am I even thinking about it? We're suppose to do this together... Not exactly, but you know what I mean.

Did you have a similar pact with a friend or family member? Did you stick with it?
I guess I cold be having #2 when she's having #1 but that's just not the same... Is it?