Turning 23

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

That's the question these days that most are constantly asked in life. I remember being asked this countless times throughout Jr. High, High School, and more recently in applying for jobs after college.

I turned 23 on Saturday and cannot say I would have said yes if someone would have asked me 10 years ago if I would have my first child at 23. I would have said yes if the age would have been 25, but not 23 (Big difference 2 years makes, huh? haha). I have dealt with people being shocked finding out that I was married at 20 and now at 23 have been married for over 2 years. I have a feeling that the same will happen when I meet new people and tell them I am 23, have been married for over 2 years, and am having my first child.

Why is the world obsessed with age and stereotypes about what people should be doing at a particular age?

I have often dreaded when people notice that I am married and then more often that not ask, "how old are you?" or "you don't look old enough to be married". I have even thought about lying and not telling people my true age because I feel it is not their place to judge me and my life choices. One of my more significant memories of this is when I had a conversation with my manager at work and somehow ended up telling her that I was 20 when I got married. To this she responded, "I was 20 too, with my first marriage, and that's why it didn't last long".

Here are my thoughts on my age: I do not feel I have ever truly acted my age in retrospect to the stereotype. I skipped my Sr. High prom because I felt I was already "over" high school. My family and I even had a "death to high school" themed graduation party for me instead of the typical celebration party for graduation. I believe we joked about that for weeks and then decided against it because most others attending would not have gotten our humor. Instead of taking fun trips or time off on the summers during college, I was doing summer school and still working which led me to graduating a semester early from college.

I do feel that my family has greatly influenced my decisions to marry and have a family early. As most know, my sister, Julie is my best friend and has the most adorable baby (see below). I do not believe that sibling rivalry has led me to keep up with her in life, but more admiring the lives that my siblings have and wanting to be a part of it with them. I do not want to experience these joys of life 10 years later than them. And let's face it, "Tyler's not getting any younger!"

(This is the best picture from my birthday. Anytime we go out to eat with Gabe he finds the edge of the table to bite down on - must make his teeth feel better! Come on' Gabey, cut one already!!)

In ten years...

I will be 33 and a mother of at least a 10 year (God willing) probably toting him/her off to a sports practice of some sort (not basketball b/c wrong season, maybe baseball?). I may also have a 7 year old and 5 year old? Who knows how many kids we'll have or their ages - guess we'll see how much trouble Baby Tracy is ;) Our family will love still having Brody around (sorry Aaron, but he should be much better trained by then!) Not sure where we will live, not sure where we will be working, and honestly don't really care to plan ahead 10 years ;)

In other news:

At 16 5/7 weeks, Baby Tracy is hopefully doing well. I have had numerous people ask me, "how's baby doing?". Honestly people, sorry, I have no idea! I know how I'm doing and I'm still not feeling any "side effects" of pregnancy. I am not as tired anymore. Still squeezing into my regular clothes (not for much longer) and am noticing a definite baby bump starting to protrude. My mom took Julie and I shopping for some maternity clothes (for me, not Julie!) which was fun but a definite realization that I will actually be wearing those soon! I will be going for another visit to Dr. Card on Tuesday, April 14th. At that appt. I will be 18 weeks and am not sure when she will decide to do the ultrasound so we can see what gender I am bringing into this world!

Here is my baby bump shot at 16 weeks (mainly so Grandma Fay can see there is indeed a little baby starting to grow)...