Each week I write about the highlights of our week in Austria. This week’s worst highlight was watching the crazy happen at the Capitol in DC and Eric having surgery on his right hand. The best? My best friend had her baby boy, so I decided to do something a little different with this post. An open letter to her 🙂

Shelby,

I’m writing this open letter today because we made a choice twenty-something years ago to become best friends. To be a part of every moment and we’ve been through so many moments together. Highs and lows, embarrassing and awkward, the great and the downright awful.

I remember times we wished we could just skip to being old ladies. Other times we wished time would just stand still so we could enjoy the precious moments just a little bit longer. I remember laughing so hard tears rolled down our faces, laughing so loud we got in trouble, and crying so hard it somehow turned into a laugh…which still got us in trouble. I remember surrounding you with the rest of the bridesmaids on your wedding day while each of us took turns saying what we wished for you and Tyler. Hannah said “you will be an incredible mother,” then all of us instantly started crying, then laughing, then getting mad at each other for doing this right before you were about to walk down the aisle.

The last 10 years since we graduated high school I’ve moved further and further away. First an hour away for college. Then five hours away to Chicago, and then again; but this time all the way across the world. Around the time we found out we were moving to Austria, I also found out you were pregnant.

Flash forward to this week, you and Tyler became parents and your brand new little boy is surrounded with love. Not only from you and Tyler, but from the rest of us who are over the moon about his very existence. His grandparents are some of the coolest people in the world. And all of his Aunts? Biological or not. My goodness. He’s in for a world of kisses and belly laughs.

While moving across the world is the most exciting experience for me and Eric, I knew it meant missing out on some of life’s biggest moments back home. But being in this time zone isn’t so bad. If you ever feel you’re alone, trying to feed him and rock him to sleep at 2A.M., know that I’m awake on the other side of the world and I’m here if you need me!

In all seriousness, whether you realize it or not, you will be an incredible mother. How do I know? Because you’re the friend I’ve needed in the lowest of the lows and the highest of the highs. You’re smart. You’re generous. You’re thoughtful. You’re you. And Fletcher is lucky to have you as his mommy.

Congratulations on your precious baby boy. I can’t wait to meet him someday soon.

xoxo
The Pack Mama