Today is my good friend Jessica’s birthday. It’s hard to describe how lucky we’ve been to share this experience – this experience of being parents – with such an amazing person. Jessica is strong and patient and hilarious and a great writer and a wonderful mom and friend. I didn’t expect when I walked into our prenatal class nearly 2 years ago now that I would walk out with such strong and amazing friends.

Jessica and I often joke about how we were separated at birth. We look alike, we think alike (you know, except that she’s Team Jacob and I’m Team Edward) and we adhere to similar parenting philosophies. Our kids have similar names – Aiden and Zayden – and we like the same products.

During the year of Jessica’s maternity leave, we saw each other several times a week. She kept me sane when I was sleep deprived and helped calm the “what is wrong with my baby?!” questions that every parent has when wondering about things like personality and whatnot. Jessica is more than missed now that she is back at work. I love her like a sister and wish her a very wonderful birthday.