But where did all my friends go?!

This crazy thing happens when you have a baby. You're friends start to disappear.

Before getting pregnant I had countless people I could call or text last minute and they would be right over to hang out. Now I have only a handful of good friends. It's not like I had a big falling out with any of them, it's just when you are about to bring a new life into the world, you suddenly have next to nothing in common with your old friends.

At first it was really hard to get used to the sense of loneliness I felt once my friends had dwindled to being able to count them on just a few fingers, but then I realized something: though I may not have as many friends as I used to, the quality of the friends I do have is absolutely amazing. The friends I do have are willing to drop almost anything they're doing if Nick, Peyton or I need something.

The first couple weeks after I had Peyton people were constantly in and out of our house. Everybody wanted to meet her. I was so grateful that I was surrounded by so much love. People would stop in just because they wanted to see how Peyton and I were doing. But this crazy thing happened once she turned about 2 months old: nobody came by. My phone went silent. The awe of the new baby had worn off. It's like when a kid gets a new puppy. The first couple days and weeks they are so excited because it's new, and it's cute. But then the reality starts to set in. I have to take care of this thing? You want me to clean it's poop? You can't make it be quiet?!

Okay, maybe that's a little too far. I never expected anyone to clean her poop. But I had "friends" who would call me and ask to hang out. Which was awesome because I needed adult contact. But they would act shocked when they realized that would mean my baby would have to come with me. It was like they expected me to just pawn my child off on someone else. Like she was a little toy I could just smile and take selfies with, then pass off to her grandparents and go about my business like before I had her. Let's face it, nobody really wants to be those people in the restaurant or movie theater with the screaming child.

But you want to know something amazing? My true friends didn't care. They understood that there might be times when I had to leave because baby was just too fussy. They understood that if we went to the movies with the baby, that there was a very good chance I would have to take her out into the lobby with me half way through the movie because she got restless. They understood that there is no way I could give them 100% of my attention when we were out to dinner because I had to focus on making sure my daughter didn't throw half her dinner on the floor or pick up the steak knife.

So to these friends, I say thank you. Thank you for playing a part in my daughter's life. Thank you for being an example to her of how true friendship should be. Thank you for being willing to trade in going out to see the latest Captain America movie to having a Frozen sing along night where we have to listen the song "Let It Go" on repeat because that's all that Peyton wants to listen to. Thank you for being patient when she want to "play" games with us, and actually ends up dumping our game board/cards on the floor. Thank you for loving her like she is a part of your family.