THE most amazing women

I met these 5 women (along with 6 others) 4 years ago. We were all part of a public message board online. This message board was comprised with about 100 women all across the country, all having May '06 babies. We would commiserate about our aches and pains, share yummy recipes, share sorrows if a baby was lost, complain about our husbands or inlaws! (Oh the things our hormones would do to us!)

Once our babies were born and we were up at all odd hours of the night, we found ourselves chatting on msn late into the night and wee hours of the morning. Often we were chatting (aka typing) one handed as we would be nursing at the same time. Good times I tell ya!

As we grew closer and confided more things within our small circle of moms, we decided we needed a forum that was private and not accessible to the general online public. 12 of us are currently on this board. We share everything here. These women know more about me than anyone else I have ever met. I think the anonymity of talking to someone online makes you more free to say things and inquire things from one another. If I have any question or any story that could possibly be embarrassing, I share it with these wonderful women! They are accepting of all my flaws, faults and strange thinking! They have shared my sorrows, joys, vents, accomplishments, fears, trials, and anything in between! I owe the world to them!

Last weekend, 6 of us were fortunate enough to meet in person. Many of my family and friends were very apprehensive of me traveling to meet 5 women I have only talked to online. Yet, my view is that I have talked to these women nearly daily for the last 4 years. I have talked to some on the phone, but mostly just online. I was so excited! Beyond excited, really! I only wished that all 12 of us could have been together. But it was just too expensive for everyone to make it. We are however, planning a 2010 trip to the east coast this time where hopefully all 12 of us WILL make it.

We are from California, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, Iowa, Texas, Maryland, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Missouri. Crazy, isn't it?! Women from all over the country, with ONE simple bond of having a May 2006 baby. We have different spiritual beliefs, political beliefs, are in different stages of life, married or not, have different number of children, are different ages, and yet we are literally BEST of friends. I am so incredibly thankful to have all of these women in my life. I can't imagine it without them!We had a blast in Portland! We visited the Pittock Mansion, Portland Saturday Market, Benihana's, and Twilight filming sites. We got pedicures and tattoos! Yes, new tats! We stayed in a condo right on the waterfront and just completely enjoyed our girls/moms weekend to meet and get away from the daily grind. I can't wait to go again with these amazing women!