I consider myself lucky. Not only do I have great family and great friends, but I’m blessed with people who really have interest in us and our lives. Before Piper was conceived, I had close friends and family rooting me on, knowing I couldn’t want anything more than a baby.

A week before I took my pregnancy test, a box came in the mail. It was from my friend Tricia, and it came full of books I had lent her during her pregnancy, a stuffed giraffe, and various other entertaining items. When I sent Tricia a text with a photo of the positive pregnancy test, she was thrilled. Her wonderful husband was thrilled! Funny thing is, I met Tricia (and her husband and daughter) for the first time in person in July, yet she gifted me with these things before she ever saw me. She’s like that, the most giving and loving person, all behind the most sarcastic facade ever. Yeah, THAT is why we’re friends! Throughout my pregnancy, Tricia rooted me on, as well as PASSING on hand-me-downs and gifts from her family to our soon to be family, which was incredibly touching. When I finally met her, it was like family. Now that the baby is here, she’s the first person I turn to for baby advice and tips. Tricia and hubby are truly good people.

I mentioned calling my OTHER internet friend Bluebell when the second pink line appeared. I also mentioned it was the first time I had ever spoken to her! Now, with this internet friend, I have “known” her since October of 2005. I have never met her, but conspire to run away to see her pretty much daily. Now that Piper has arrived, that seriously tosses a wrench in my plans to just take off. Anyway, Bluebell is my best friend. I’m not ashamed to admit that my best friend is someone I’ve never met. In fact, I sometimes wonder what it’ll be like when we meet, like we’ll just end up texting each other at lunch or something. She has been so supportive of my TTC process and subsequently my pregnancy and motherhood. She’s a giver, while I’m most definitely a taker. I’m not good enough to be her friend, but somehow she takes pity on me and ignores it. I think that’s because I am very bad at scrabble, and she always beats me. I honestly can’t say more about her other than that- she’s too good for me. It’s like I married up. For fans of How I Met Your Mother- she’s the settler!

My family. So many times a cycle would pass and I’d hear from them, those who are followers of my blog. When I saw those two lines, I emailed them- thrilled but terrified. I got advice and referrals, and virtual hugs (since they have young families of their own and time is a precious commodity), and tips about sales and whatnot. I got hand-me-downs and gifts, and love galore. Now that Piper is born, she was the last of SIX- count ‘em, SIX children born to my Dad’s side in 2009. She is the only girl, but with a coach for a Daddy, I’m sure she’ll be tumbling and biting with the best of those boys.

Other friends, both real life and virtual. One friend, Emily, had stalked my fertility friend chart, and saw the positive test before I even mentioned it to anyone. It was pretty hilarious when I got that email from her about it. Now she is pregnant with her own little boy, and I can’t wait to watch her grow with him (from afar, of course, since she’s one of those Bee friends that are so precious, but so hard to meet). Another friend, Melissa, was pregnant alongside me, due a few months before. She’s been my commiseration buddy, and helped me teeter from the line of insanity.

The Bees, how can I describe them.  Being a bee is like being in a family, you don’t always like each other, and there is a lot of crap talking behind backs, but you’re part of a group that will always be there. We’ll always be Bees, and we’ll always have that to keep us connected. I’ve met a whopping two bees in my life, and I hope to meet more.

There are so many more people I want to thank, but Piper is rousing from her nap and the baby will want her food.

In short: I love you guys.