On June 30th at 9:34 AM, my best friend of 12 years had her first child. Her name is Charley Rae and she is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. I was at work during the birth when her mom sent me a photo of her. I remember lighting up inside because I could not believe that this little angel was finally here. I got tears in my eyes and felt chills. I could not wait to greet my sweet friend and her beautiful child that day. Sometimes, the most unplanned and surprising things that happen in someone’s life bring the best memories and blessings.

As one of her closest friends, I get to experience these great things:

I get to watch this little girl grow into a woman for the rest of her life.

I cannot tell you how excited I am. I know we all want her to stay little and sweet forever, but I am so excited to watch her walk around, talk, go to school for the first time, make friends, meet a boy, drive a car. She is going to be such a beautiful young lady one day! Eventually, I will have a daughter of my own to add to this mix and they will be best friends forever. Being an aunt is so much fun!

I get to buy her presents and play with her at all her birthday parties.

Let’s be honest, little kid birthday parties are the most fun, right? I can’t wait to give her so many gifts and play with her in her swimming pool and bouncy houses. I can’t wait to watch her eat her birthday cake for the first time and get it all over her face. She's kind of like my child, except when she hits that sugar rush, I get to give her back.

She’s a Phi Mu Legacy.

Probably the best characteristic this little girl has. I was one of Erin’s friends who encouraged her to join Phi Mu and now we get to encourage Charley Rae to join the best sorority on Earth. Being a member of Phi Mu has changed our lives completely and I only hope she is able to experience the same things we did. Plus, how cute is she going to look in all her pink? She also has 40 other un-biological aunts to spoil her as much as I will. What a life.

I get to watch my friend and her boyfriend become a family.

Now, I only have a few friends who have started a family early and had to grow up fast. Is it going to be tough? Sure it is. But they have two huge families, an endless amount of friends and each other to lean on when it gets hard. Was Charley unexpected? Yeah, she was, as I imagine a lot of children from young moms were. But more than unexpected, she is a blessing. God knew exactly what he was doing for Erin and Mitchell granting them this fragile human at 20 years old. Already, in these long but short nine months and one week, I have seen my two friends really become actual adults. I can’t wait to watch them mature as individuals and together as one. I’m sure it is an amazing feeling being the parents, but it is just as amazing from my perspective. I love this little family and I am honored to be so close to them.

Here’s to you, Charley Rae. Welcome to the world. Everyone loves you so much, already.