Nothing in life (I assume) will bring me greater joy in life than becoming a mom. Whether it’s creating an alien-looking creature out of TWO CELLS (seriously, what a weird concept) with the person you love most, or adopting a precious, loved child that needs a family, having somebody call you “Mommy” or “Daddy” can’t be beat. It’s crazy. And beautiful. Again, I’m assuming. The closest I am to a mother is to my two hilarious fur-babies. But, becoming an aunt is a close second, I suppose. All the perks and almost none of the work! (I say almost, because maybe I’ll change a diaper and feed a bottle. What can I say? I really like the babe’s parents.)

So, since my best friend in the whole universe (S K Dubs-Kneibel) decided to go and get herself knocked up, I compiled a list of emotions I have been having and the chronicles of how we discovered she was with child and other cool aunt-things. It was a cold, January day. I had just left her the day before after a fantastic drunken weekend (and by drunk, baby K, I clearly mean everyone except your mother had a single glass of wine. All of your aunts and uncles are responsible humans, and definitely would never pee under a stairwell or play hide-and-seek or take a video of a hairy butt. Definitely not.) where we had joked she was pregnant just one month after her fantastic wedding and honeymoon. “No way!” she said, “it wasn’t the hole-y baby on my Fertility Tracker those days!” She went to Target and got 4 bottles of wine (got to restock after that completely sober weekend) and a 2-pack of pregnancy tests. Since she wasn’t working at this time, we were texting all day. We chat about our excellent weekend, Heather’s bachelorette party coming up this summer, her nanny job she is starting soon. You know. The important stuff. Finally, after a little persuasion, she decides it’s time.

“Here we go!” she says.

Here are some screenshots for emphasis.

In case you can’t make it out, there is definitely a plus-sign on that pee stick.

Definitely pregnant!

So many tears! So much swearing! So much initial denial! But also SO much joy, happiness, and love. A baby. A BABY.

For the rest of the day our conversations consisted of many a “Holy Shit” and a bunch of “OMGTHERESAFETUSINYOU!” and definitely a “Lydia is a good name for a girl”. But mostly, we shared our excitement together in a way that only best friends can. Baby apps were downloaded (7 for her, 0 for me), celebratory glasses of wine were poured (7 for me, 0 for her), 4-week-old fetus pictures were googled, and we discovered she was due on September 29. MY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. If that’s not a sign from God that this was meant to happen, nothing is. We also planned how she would tell Brad, her darling husband. Because he is an athletic trainer at Notre Dame, Sam decided on a Notre Dame onesie in the oven (get the joke? in the oven? like a bun? whatever dude).

But that’s her story, not mine.

It’s crazy. Literally in the span of two minutes, life is completely changed forever. My best friend, who had just weeks before joined the Mrs. club, was becoming a mom- just like that. It’s one of those moments no one can prepare you for. You feel things you’ve never felt before, you cry tears that you don’t know from what part of your soul they’re coming from. Is it happy? The happiest! Is it confusing? Heck yea. Is it scary? Especially when you remember all the wine you drank just two days prior (again, Baby K, still only talking about me here. DEFINITELY not your mama). I am SO excited for my best friend to become a mommy. If you’ve ever spent more than 60 seconds with her, you know that she is meant to be one. And someday, I can’t wait to join the Mommy club myself. In the meantime, I will love the shit out of this lil pookie.

Love you already, my sweet nibling!