23 Years Old

Today I turned 23 years old. I must have grown up a little bit this year, because it was literally the first time I can remember not having a count down going for my birthday. I actually nearly forgot it was coming up as soon as it did. It's probably a good thing too, because it was not my most memorable one. Eric has a huge exam this Friday, and so we committed to celebrating it next week, which I thought I was okay with, but I guess I wasn't. I don't really know what I was expecting today to be like, but apparently I was expecting something different. Eric actually forgot completely this morning, until he was driving me in to work and talked about my birthday present - then he realised what day it was and felt really bad. For the first time ever I cried about my birthday going unnoticed - I blame pregnancy for that. I did receive some very kind and loving phone calls and text messages from some of my very favourite people though, and that's nice no matter what day of the year it is.
Despite how today went though, I really am excited about the year ahead. Today I am half the age of my mom - the age she was when she had me. When I was a little girl and planned my life out, I planned to have my first baby when I was 23, just like my mom. I planned everything around that age - when I should be married, when I should meet my husband, when we should be buying a house etc. Although not everything has gone according to plan, this one is and I think that's really cool. My life has not gone in any way how I thought it would to this point, but I have loved so much of it and have learned from the things I didn't think I loved.
I am so grateful for my parents and the person they taught me to be. Finally, in year 24 of my life on earth, I think I am starting to do things the way they would have hoped I would. I am grateful for endless sacrifices of time, talents, resources (meaning money, or so many creative alternatives they devised) and most importantly themselves to help me grow and learn and develop.
I am grateful for 23 year old me. I really like her and the things she believes in, hold dear and works toward each day. Here is to a fantastic year ahead - unlike any other I have lived so far.