{real}

I didn't quite imagine that the whole 'real' world experience would feel like this. What does it feel like you ask? Well, kind of surreal in a way. I've been waiting for this moment for what seems like forever and here it is. I'm a working gal, getting paid, doing my thing, and the days just continue to go on. I think because it has always been for SO long, that there was always another class to take or always another paper to write that I would never make it to the finish line and now that I have I'm kind of in disbelief. It's like, what do I do now? Really start living?!

I remember just wondering what it would be like to be able to go to work during the day and then come home and leave work at work and have just family time at home. No looming deadlines for school. No tests to study for. No papers to write. No labs to finish. It is here, finally here, and I think I'm in love. Being able to come home without that extra pressure on my shoulders is just liberating. I am finally fully able to just do family time. And then I sit and wonder, what should we do with all of this free time. No more does mommy have to say, 'Just give me five minutes while I finish writing this paragraph or finish studying for this test.'

Jay and I may have started our family out a a very young age and there were even times where I wondered if we would ever fully make it. Yes, behind the facade of my wonderfully smiling face the majority of the time, there were times where I often wondered if we would ever make it to the finish line and be able to start the next phase of the race.

And folks, we have.

We both have great jobs that pay well. We both love our jobs. We are happy, in love, have a wonderful son, are getting married, and live close to our amazing families. Sometimes I feel like our lives are just beginning. And in a way they are, just a new phase in our lives.

I know some couples think that their lives together are just beginning when they get married. A new life together. The start of something great. For Jay and I, I don't see our wedding like that. Because we have been together for almost ten years now, the wedding is more of just a celebration for us than anything. Yes, it officially binds us together, but really, if ten years of putting up with me hasn't driven him away, then I don't know what will, haha!

We've checked off quite a few big items on the list already in the course of the last year and I can't wait to check off a few more. We've moved, Jay got a great job, I graduated and subsequently got a great job as well, and everyone is still happy and healthy! Next up... wedding, and then BABY! That is the other thing that I'm kind of still in disbelief about. As previously mentioned, I've been waiting for so long to graduate that I feel like we kind of put our life in hold for a while, waiting to get married and waiting to have more kids. And now that most of the 'pre-requisites' in our books have been covered, we can continue on in our journey and finally do what we've been waiting for so long to do. I still don't know if I've completely wrapped my head around the fact that soon there will be a time where we can try for another baby and people won't judge us for it because we are considered the norm. Not that I'm all gung ho for wanting to be considered the norm, it's just that I feel we are finally at a place in our lives where not only is it possible for us, but we won't get the pity glances or hushed voices in our direction.

The only other big thing on the list to the 'perfect' life is buying a house. And puh-lease, I live in a rented house right now and it's pretty damn close to owning. It's a house, lol! And yes, I know, there is no such thing as perfect, note the quotation marks. I don't even want the perfect life. We will own a house at some point, know that, just not this year, or maybe not even next year. I'm not so much in a hurry for that one. The house we live in now, although no perfect, suits us just fine. Good location, good size, good landlords, good neighbors, good street, you know, it fits us. Even has a third bedroom (which occupies our office right now), but that could easily be turned into a nursery! We'd make it work, we would!

Hehe, I'm not ready for another baby, not at all! Haha!

CIAO! LOVE ME!