30 rock(s)

I am 30 today. My brother in law (who is 23) told me yesterday, with a slight bit of pity in his voice, don't worry 30 is the new 20. Jokes on him. I don't want to be 20 again. The last ten years have been a roller coaster and I am thankful to be in this exact place today. I share my life with an amazing husband, baby is on the way and our families are healthy and happy. Here is a quick timeline of events to jog my memory (30 more years from now when my brain is really tired):
2000 - 20 years old and going into my sophomore year at NC State. My sister had her first baby on that first day of the semester. I skipped all my classes that day to be at the hospital. He was the greatest gift that year.
2001 - Spent my 21st birthday in my dorm room in Burgaw. Sara came over from UNC and we went to the grocery store and bought a red velvet cake and a six pack of Smirnoff Ice. I didn't get carded. The cake was good and we watched Reality Bites. That weekend, Michelle treated me to a cruise to the Bahamas where we ingested a few too many coco locos and had a great dinner at the Atlantis resort to celebrate 21 & 27. In the spring, I got to spend a week in Paris with my mom.
2002 - 22 was a great year of my life. I was a junior in college and an RA at Alexander dorm. I made a ton of new friends at school, had made the Dean's list six semesters straight and then things started to get really good.  I spent that fall semester on an exchange program at the University of Hawaii Manoa. I came home a changed person. That spring, I went to visit Sara in Ireland while she was on exchange. So many great memories!
2003 - Ah, 23. I graduated from college. Spent the summer in France. Fell in love. Fell out of love. Twice. Got my first job out of college.
2004 - I met my husband technically when I was 23, but specifically in March 2004. I got laid off from said first job, got a new job the following week. Spent my 24th birthday at Disney. Another great year!
2005 - The biggest event of 2005 was my trip to Italy with my Mom. We spent time in Florence, Rome and Tuscany. I loved that trip and I love my mom.
2006 - I spent 26 totally in love with Jake. That year seemed consumed with just me and him. We went on dates, spent all our time together and moved in together.
2007 - Another big year of greats. Jake and I moved to Spring Hope. We got engaged on St. Patty's Day. I got a new job (my current). We got married at Disney in September. Hands down, the best year of my life... so far.
2008 - Jake got a new job (City of Wilson). We bought our house in January. I think that was enough major life events for one year. We got tired, we got cranky. We worked on the house, we went to work, we went through the motions.
2009 - 29 hit me hard. Yikes, so close to thirty. Our house renovations were coming along, Jake and I were happy. Life is good.
2010 - Here we are today. Jake passed his PE (thank God!). We are having a baby and I am turning 30 today. We are on our way to celebrate these two big life events with a trip to Hilton Head. I don't know how we landed on that destination, but it just seemed to fit. I am so thankful for all the blessings in my life, all the good times and bad, and am looking forward to many, many more!