Auntie Stacy!

Dear Baby,



This post has been a long time in the making - rattling around in my brain - and finally it seemed the perfect time to write about someone that I know will be very important in your life baby boy.. it's your auntie Stacy. 

(keepin it real in her flapper costume - 2008)

 

She is currently in South Korea (making me very nervous I might add) for her job (as a real, legit boss lady at Abercrombie and Fitch).  When I think about her traveling around South Korea (with her 70 pound bag, I might add) I think...when did she get so big?  So mature?  So independent?  But, the truth is - she has always been pretty independent and the opposite of me in a lot of ways.  In high school, I usually had a boyfriend, was in the marching band, and though hard to admit at the time...was kind of nerdy.  Stacy on the other hand, always had lots of guy friends, was a cheerleader, and was, what I would consider "popular".  She always seemed to be perfectly comfortable hanging out with her friends (most of which she still talks to today) went to lots of dances, and never had a problem fitting in.  

(I think this picture is high school for Stacy - but to be honest, I just found it in a folder labeled "Stacy's pictures" on my computer!)

 

Fast forward to college - again, I sort of followed a boy that was special to me at the time - while Stacy wound up at the University of Cincinnati.  She quickly joined a sorority and made lots of friends.  She knew right away she would major in fashion design and spent the next five years, sewing, learning concept designs, and computer programs and even co-oping every other quarter to get more hands on experience. She even went all the way to New York and worked in the Empire State Building!  When my mom and I visited her - she was already practically a native - making her way around the subway, telling us about all the hot spots, and even teaching us how to negiotiate for coach purses and illegal DVD's :)

 

Post college - we wound up as roommates in Columbus!  Our apartment was in Chestnut Hill - and it was probably one of the most hysterical times of my life.  We adopted a cat...the Notorious DOT, threw popcorn out the window when it burned (so the smell would not infiltrate our clothing), made lots of trips to the gym to meet our workout group (and then the group promptly went to Bellacino's for cheesy garlic bread), stayed up way too late watching season after season of One Tree Hill, got snowed in and discovered the poor man's snack (pretzels topped with peanut butter, and one m&m), and grew closer then I ever thought possible. Even though she tripped me as I had to cut through her bathroom to get to her closet where I was keeping my purses (I generously gave her the larger bathroom and closet) - I have to say that she always made me laugh, knew just the right thing to say, and I literally cried when we were no longer roommates. 

 

(DOT - cute then, cute now)

 

(the Halloween party we almost didn't recover from)

 

(Hitting up the Abercrombie holiday party back when it was still cool :)

 

(Kat and Mike's wedding)

 

(Stacy makes an excellent travel partner - we have been roomies

 on cruise ships all the way to tents in Africa!)

 

After out stint at Chestnut Hill, we moved into the house that Stacy purchased in Westerville.  We lived together for about another six months until I bought the house your dad and I live in now.  Even though we only moved to Powell - it did put a good 25 minutes between us.  I was so worried that we would drift apart and I would never see her - but alas that has not happened.  We still see each other about once a week.  She is my go to gal for fashion advice (though I'm still not sure about the embroidered jeans she took to Korea), we see lots of movies together (we're not afraid of midnight showings - hello Hunger Games premiere), and quite honestly - she understands me in a way that not a lot of other people do (and isn't afraid to keep it real - even if that means being real honest). 

(who doesn't love this face?!)

 

The best part about all this is - when your dad and I got married - not a lot changed between Stacy and I.  Sure, we didn't live together anymore - but your dad loves Stacy too!  I mean, who else would fish out a dead, chopped up mouse from her air conditioner (so the vultures didn't get it...obviously) install her new front door window, encourage hanging out together on new year's eve (just the three of us) and is always up for Jason's Deli.  We would both literally do anything for her and truly want the best things for her!

 

(she cleans up good!)

 

(cheesin for the camera in Sanibel!)

 

(literally have no idea what I do without these two!!)

 

As I mentioned before, she was the first person (other than Rob) that I told when I found out we were pregant.  She was ecstatic then and continues to be now!  She helped throw us an amazing shower for your arrival, continues to buy things for you baby "just because" and would drop anything if we needed her to.  I often lament about the fact that none of your grandparents live what I would consider "super" close to us - but the upside of that is that Auntie Stacy does!  And, while growing up she claimed not to like children that much, I certainly think that her attitude has shifted quite a bit.  Either way, I know she loves you very much already and cannot wait to meet you.  Please come back from Korea safe Auntie Stacy!!! 

(had to include this picture because I thought it would make you laugh...

thanks to Rob for not telling me that my hair was literally taking over your face)!