I'm Thirty...

...today is my 30th birthday. I am no longer in my 20s. I now have to check the second age group for 30-39. I can no longer call most of my staff "my age" because our age doesn't share the same front number. I think back over the past 10 years and am shocked at all the changes! I've gone from celebrating by a long night of partying to a quiet nice dinner. A run-down of birthday celebration pasts...

2003-I was 20 years old living in my first apartment on my own still in college and working part-time at an awesome hotel. Seriously, best college job ever! I can't remember what I actually did on my birthday but my awesome roommates (the first 2 months of 20, I was still in the dorms) helped me celebrate. Good God, what was I thinking with the tan and hair???

2004-I finally turned 21!!! Although I think I drank more before I turned 21 than after. My niece was born the month before. I moved to SC and said goodbye to college life and amazing friends. Seriously, college was the best years. Got hired into my first full-time job!

2006-I moved back from SC in November 2005. After a very low-key birthday the year before (SC vs Clemson baseball game), I was ready to party with friends of old. I bought my house this year and started dating my now husband. Also, got a new job at work that I held until 2012 when I got promoted; through this new job I met Matt. In 2005, I got 2 promotions at my old job and was loving my job but my grandpa was really sick and I was missing my niece so I moved back to MO and we lost him in 2006.

2007-Huge blowout celebration with my friends but not quite like the years before. We did a brewery tour at Schafly followed by dinner and then a night at the City Museum. This was my first birthday with Mattie and this is the very first picture of us together. We also got engaged this year!

 

 2009-Friday the 13th! Had a great night out with tons of friends. It was an awesome night except some lady stole my coat. For the life of me, I can't remember what I did in 2008 for my birthday but it was the year we got married so maybe we didn't party too hard.

2011-This was a pretty low key birthday. I think this was the transition over to "I'm too old to go out and drink all night to celebrate." We went to the Blue Owl to celebrate with my family. Mattie and I went on my birthday bike ride because that's all I really wanted to do to celebrate. In 2010, it was the night of the actual Fair Dinner Auction so that's how we celebrated. 2010 was the first time we did IVF and it didn't work but 2011 was the year I got pregnant with AR!

Over the past 10 years, I've gained a niece, husband, in-laws, stepdad, stepmom, daughter, furbabies and multiple friends. I've also lost a grandma, grandpa, stepmom, and multiple friends. I've gained weight and lost it and gained it and lost it and gained it...

I've seen email being introduced to the world and take over the world as the major form of communication. When I was in college, I had a cell phone to use when I traveled back and forth from school to home now I don't leave my house without one; in fact, I now carry 2 (one personal and one work). I watched the Real World as the first reality tv show to every channel having their own reality show.

I've graduated college...twice. I got married, had 2 rounds of IVF and delivered a healthy, beautiful baby girl. I bought a brand new car, a house, a furnace, and transmission. I've visited Mexico, Jamaica and Africa. I've had 2 full-time jobs with 4 promotions (2 at each). I've run 3 half-marathons,a full marathon and countless 5ks and 10ks.

As I sit down and think about how much has changed in my life and in the world while I was in my 20s, it just stuns me. Thinking back to when I was 20 and picturing my life at 30, is it what I expected? Well, yes and no. I had hoped by 30 I would be married and have 2 kids with a job that I enjoy and a house I love. I never dreamed I would have gone through fertility treatments or that life would be as hard as it is but this is my life and I'm happy with it.

Today I turn 30 and instead of being upset about leaving my 20s, I am looking forward to what the next 10 years has in store for me, my daughter, my family and the world. It's a crazy roller coaster this thing we call life and this will be my mantra for my 30s:

 

I'm now officially a part of the Dirty Thirty Club!!!