Before it all went squirrely, we were sisters.

I remember it like it was yesterday. I was only only about 5 years old but I remember it. We lived in this small house, decked out in tacky linoleum and hardwood panels for walls. The kitchen was small and a brown table stood in it. I came walking from out of the living room because I heard my mom and step-dad talking loudly. My mom was hugging my step-dad and saying "thank you, thank you". There, on the table was this balloon with flowers (roses I believe). It was heart shaped or something like that and it said "It's a girl". At the time this balloon was just a piece of floating material to me. What I didn't know was that it represented a lot more than that. This balloon was about to change my life. Why? Because it meant my mom was pregnant with my very first little sister.

I remember when we went to the hospital to see her. She was so little when I held her (with help of course). Victoria Liz-beth Bailey they called her. I liked that name because it sounded girlie at the time. The day had arrived to bring her home to our house on beech street (we had moved before she was born). At first, life was great. My brother Reagan and I had a new playmate. She was cute with curly hair and my mom always dressed us alike. I liked her. She was my baby sister and I didn't mind driving her around in my barbie jeep or sharing baby dolls. I remember my mom entered Victoria into these baby model contests and we would have to tag along and behave while Victoria was dressed in frilly outfits and puffy socks and hats. I remember this one time specifically when we went to the mall ( I think) to get her pictures taken. She wore this white outfit and Alabama shoes. She was pretty good at this picture thing because she always smiled so big.

In this house on beech street was a bedroom. Victoria and I shared that room. While most babies have an adorable crib, Victoria would sleep in nothing but her "Pack & Play". Seriously if they put her in a crib she stood at the edge and cried and cried. As soon as you put her in the pack and play...she was asleep. One day, Victoria learned how to tip her pack and play over. She would tip it over, crawl out, and head on into the living room. I would still be asleep most of the time or just laying there in bed. Every time she did it, I was the one my momma would blame: "Brianna I know you want to help but leave Victoria in her bed and quit waking her up". I NEVER once took that baby out of her bed like that. The dare devil tipped it all on her own. This point in our lives I believe started the war between us. It always consisted of Victoria or myself doing something that upsets the other or got us into trouble.

For a short while we lived in Mississippi with our grandparents. Victoria and I were close again at that point because I was always making sure she was by my side. Reagan was not with us and our younger sister Reed was a tiny baby. So I had become more like a mom and was always helping to give the girls a bath or get them dressed. To be honest, I was only in 2nd grade and I would cry every morning on the school bus ride because I missed them so much. The teachers would even pull me aside and promised me that my baby sisters were fine. I remember one morning when Victoria stood at the door in her fake Fisher-Price princess jewelry and waved bye-bye. I always wished that she could come with me.

After that, life carried on. More babies came and Victoria and I grew further and further apart. I never hated her...we just had nothing in common and being five years older than her, I grew up and became interested in just about everything else. Being little mommy was hard and my parents always expected a lot from me. I think this caused a lot of my relationship issues with Victoria because I was not her sister but her "babysitter".

Now if you know me and my sister Victoria, you know that we have not always gotten along. I am mouthy and motherly. Victoria is curious, quiet, and smart. Once I left for Missouri my sophomore year of high school, I was no longer in Alabama to be around Victoria. At first, this was no big deal but over the years, I miss her all the time. She is her own person now, also in college and she is no longer that baby that stole my dolls or messed up my room. She is now Victoria Liz-beth Bailey, the young woman who has done it better than any of us ever could. Just recently we apologized for EVERYTHING that ever upset the other. It was a great thing because I miss her and I feel awful for missing out on some of this biggest parts of her life so far. I was suppose to be her big sister and most of the time, I was her enemy. I think if we can learn to understand each other, we will be just fine.

We may not be a like in all aspects but we are very similar and I just never opened my eyes wide enough or long enough to see this. I am still working on my attitude to "mother" her sometimes but we are making progress. I feel it is important everyone knows the truth. I think it is important that Victoria knows the truth. I have never been jealous of her but I do envy her spunk, wit, and curious personality. She is a girl who knows what she wants and knows how to get there. She is a girl who loves her family and friends. She may be a little guarded and reserved but hey, she is who she is and I love her for it. I love that she has a deep interest for squirrels, I love that she is classy and simple. I love that she has made it to college and loves being a true student. I love her who she has chosen to be her boyfriend and best friend. I love how she is smart and can out talk anyone. Most of all, I love how we were as litte girls.

I only hope that Victoria and I continue to work on being better sisters to one another and I hope that as we get older, our families are tight-knit and that calling each other everyday is not out of the ordinary. I love my very first baby sister and I always will, no matter what happens.

Ode to little sisters

VICTORIA

quite the studious one.

KYLE-LEE

always tons of fun.

MACKENZIE

not afraid of anything.

IZABELLA

this girl is always the one to sing.

A better foot forward

Hey all! It is the last Thursday of the year~~

Not much to say today except that I am in a very positive mood and have been all week. My new "healthier living, healthier me" workout has kept me pretty motivated. Even though I have been working both jobs all winter break, I promised myself I would find more time for me. Therefore I have started a new book about Marie Antoinette, I have been working out everyday, and I set not just one goal for the new year but FIVE.



It is pretty gross outside right now, the snow has melted away but it is still really cold. Everyone is at work except for me because I have the day off :) I got up around 8 and I plan on being productive today. With my workout already out of the way, laundry is now stealing my attention. Yesterday I had the kids I nanny for and we ran errands. I LOVE THAT JOB! It never feels like work and I really enjoy hanging out with the kiddos. I also got to spend a couple of hours with my grandparents who I have not seen in two years! I missed them so much and I pretty bummed that they have to leave tomorrow.



Classes start back up again the 12th and I am kind of excited! I am taking Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Physics II, Ethics in Sociology, and one more course which at this moment is still undecided. I could keep my course load at about 15 hours but so few hours never looks good for graduate schools. Either way, it will be a busy LAST semester & I am so pumped for graduation (if you couldnt tell). Looking back on my Bio student career has been very eventful but it will be the people that I miss the most just because we are such a tight knit group. Shout out to Rachel,Ann, Carmen, Jessie, and Jessica!! We are almost there class of 2011 :P



On another note, I AM SO VERY READY TO BE IN ALABAMA!! The bestie Kara is due Jan. 5th but those babies come when they want to so we shall see :) I cant believe I will be a godmomma to 3 baby boys...its better than awesome.



Anywho...I'm outtie 500...I have some errands to run and some shopping to do. TTYL!

"Just like driving on an open highway
Never knowing what we're gonna find
Just like two kids, baby, always trying to live it up
Whoa, yeah, that's
our kind of love
Mm that's our kind of love"-Lady A

Let me remind you

Hey all! I have not given up on blogging..I have just been busy with living life! It has been a crazy and beautiful year but everything in 2010 turned out to be wonderful and I am honestly looking forward to what lies ahead in the year 2011.

So....

In the past year I have completed another year of college and accomplished quite a bit. This past summer Stephen's family and I went to Disney World and various places in Daytona Beach Florida. IT WAS AMAZING! and a much needed break. However, I took an Evolution course during the summer also, and a massive 20 page paper was due during that vacation. For the first couple of days I did not participate in much because of needing to meet the deadline BUT in the end, I finished the paper (which received a 97%) and had a blast. From feeding baby alligators to just hanging out on the beach with my best friend, vacation summer 2010 was picture perfect.

In August Stephen and I started senior year and as much as I thought college had flown by, this past year in school has been rough and drawn out! Classes occupy a lot of my time especially because the first semester involved me driving to a separate university 30 minutes away 4 times a week, twice on Mondays in order to complete a class needed for graduation.

Now that the semester is over...things during winter break have been slow and peaceful :) It is not the same kind of Christmas like in Alabama but I have to say it was a pretty good one. First, we opened everything at Momma T's house and played Just Dance 2 for a long while. That night we went to His brother's house and played Xbox kinect all night and also went to his grandmother's to see family. Yesterday we went to his uncles house in Jefferson City and saw that side of the family. Today, everyone went back to work except for me. I have started a new exercise program and I hope I can follow through for the next 10 weeks. I need to get back in shape and right now, I have a lot of motivation. Once at school though, the real challenge begins because eating healthy is not always an option. Sometimes I am so busy that I do not get a chance to eat all day and then pig-out at night. Oh well! Maybe I can change that soon! Routine, routine, routine!!

Usually with New Year resolutions I am like most people and do not reach goals I set. This year is actually a new start and almost a "pre-game" warm up for what lies ahead. I graduate soon and that means a new place to live, a new routine, and a new career. Medical school is just around the corner and I am so ready for that part of my life that I can hardly stand it. To get ready for it all, I have been making sure everything is order financially. Working two jobs is really rough with a 18+ semester but I have been doing it pretty well. It get stressful at times but I always have my best pals and boyfriend and family to get me through it. Once my LAST semester starts I will be counting down the days until I get to wear the cap and gown (it is already marked on my Grey's Anatomy calendar). For Spring semester 2011, I have to go to 3 different universities in order to graduate on time, handle two jobs, volunteer work, and a butt-load of classes but I CAN DO IT!! (I hope hehe).

So to end this life update I posted some of my goals for 2011:

• Read one or two books over Winter break
• Complete an exercise program and eat better
• Finish my last semester with a 4.0 gpa
• Find more time for friends & family :)
• PAY ALL BILLS!!!
  
• Visit Alabama to see the birth of my Godson Tristan

I also usually end my blog with song lyrics so for today, I chose "Then I did"-Rascal Flatts because it kind of explains my outlook on life right now!

Cause I been waiting all my life
For a break like this
It's my chance of a lifetime I just know it is
I gotta go find these dreams
Was the last thing that I said
And then I did