This post is not for the faint of heart :]

If you’ve been around the blog then you already know…I am in love with the Harry Potter series. Scratch that…if you’ve been around me ever at all…YOU KNOW. You know, it’s like one of those things that is just associated with me. Oh Kaitlyn? She’s a photographer, does campus ministry, is married to David and has a cute baby…oh yeah, and she’s really into Harry Potter.

Here’s an excerpt from a blog I wrote three years ago about my not so secret obsession that I’m pretty sure no one ever saw: I am a fangirl at heart. I obsess. I think I put on a good front sometimes of being normal and tame as a person (i think) buuuuuut deep down I am a crazy fangirl who has scoured webpages, reread books dozens of  times, and speculated with the best of them. It all started with Harry Potter. That series stole my heart at the age of 8 and was a friend when I really needed one. I stood in long lines, stayed up all night long reading feverishly, dressed up every halloween as a Hogwarts student, and pined for the last book and wept when it was all over.

And I think that might even be putting it lightly. You’re visiting the blog of a girl who was seriously sad she had to change her beloved Harry Potter room (yep, a whole room in my house) into a nursery for a human child. Yeah, I’m that girl. The one with a sword of Gryffindor and collection of wands. And upon the release of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” last week, and all of the “what’s going on with Harry Potter???” texts I received in response my snapchat story/instagram followed by my HORROR that not everyone would know what was going on in the world of Harry Potter…I knew it was time to dig into the archives.

Harry Potter has been a part of my life since I was EIGHT. Eight years old, friends. That’s well over the majority of my life. I literally grew up with Harry. Starting with movie number 1, I was either at the Washington DC premiere screening as an 11 and 12 year old (for the first two, thanks dad!) or I was at the midnight premiere at the theaters. (except that one time I was in the Bahamas and was legitimately upset my parents could be so insensitive to schedule our vacay over an HP release #dramatic) I can remember walking down the stairs for a swim meet, ten years old, bleary eyed, to find a brand new copy of Goblet of Fire because my dad had gone to the midnight release book party to get me a book. And each subsequent book, there I was, in Barnes and Noble. Waiting anxiously for midnight. And yes, I cried when the books ended, when the movies ended…and when JKR (QUEEN) said “Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.”

And in the last few years, the super fans have gotten what we never thought we would…more Harry Potter. Between the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them trilogy coming out and the play/script book for Cursed Child, it feels like revisiting childhood. And it’s fantastic. So here’s a little should-be-embarrassing blast from the past. But let’s be real…I’m kind of proud of my nerdiness.

(sadly, most of these are pulled from facebook, so I only have memories back to 2006 :] also, no judgement on quality, friends)

A little glimpse into the actual party I had before the 5th movie came out. I changed my puppy Cooper’s name to Sirius White for the evening…get it?! And my guinea pig was labeled Peter Pettigrew of course.

My crazy friends THANKGOODNESS who either indulged for my sake or shared my love. Yes, we’re dueling in a movie theatre. 

This is the same summer as the 5th movie release. It was a good summer for Harry Potter. I think I even kept calling it that…The Summer of Harry Potter. The final book release was the best! Feverish late night reading, so much hype at Barnes, and lots of waiting in line! Can you tell I’m wearing a time turner?

And then there’s the college years, where I forced David to come with me and wear a sweater that looked like he was in Slytherin. (we’ve since found out he was a real Slytherin…shameful) Also you may spot one of my brides in the collage below :]

Right after David proposed to me using a Harry Potter snuggie…because he knows me, clearly.

And the extreme goodness/sadness that came along the next week of the final, final movie coming out. Here’s me with a homemade snitch cake pop (because duh, I hosted another party), and me with Abby Grace :] Also with all my friends who either cared about Harry Potter or cared about me enough to dress up and come.

Guys. This was our trip to NYC after getting engaged/the final HP movie. We went to a Harry Potter display and to see Daniel Radcliffe on Broadway. And I got misty every time I saw a billboard saying “it all ends here.” Aka NYC was taunting me. And David is the best ever for wanting to do all these things with me.

Annnnd of course, years later…Ollie is a Harry Potter baby like everyone always knew he would be. I freakin love all the HP stuff he’s been given!

The last book release I was a part of :] 2007 and posing with a fake Harry Potter hired to be at the Barnes event for the evening.

9 years later and just as excited…Here’s me, David, and my friend Krysta being sorted into Houses for the evening…somehow we all ended up in Slytherin!

Barnes had a Horcrux scavenger hunt…LOVED it, of course.

Because everyone always seems to appreciate some embarrassing shots of David. We made him take his OWLs and NEWTs and he carried a wand around all night :]

Two other embarrassing things…on the left: Barnes and Nobles “impressive” photo op for the evening. They turned out “all” the lights for the floating candle display. It was mildly interesting at best. And me on the right: looking tired, but not wanting to miss out on any of the festivities. 

Below: the only time I’ve ever been excited about Slytherin winning the house cup!

And finally, it was time. We got our books and as much as I wanted to read all night, I then remembered that I have a baby that wakes up in the morning whether or not I was up all night. So I finished the book the next afternoon. (also, David’s finally plowing through the series. He’s on book 4, which is now very funny thinking about the plot of the Cursed Child)

There’s nothing like judgement eyes from your infant. Aka “mom, why aren’t you paying attention to me?!”

Thanks for revisiting the crazy with me :] Let’s be real, Harry Potter is really just a gateway for further fandom-ing. So PLEASE share, what is it that you’re a little too obsessed with? Because I’d love to jump on that train with you :]

(thoughts on the cursed child minus spoilers: mixed. the longer i think about it, the more i’m finding it questionable. but new harry potter is always a good day for me!)