dear mom,

today is a special day. it's my mom's birthday, and it's kind of a big one. this is the only year i'll be exactly half of her age. (i'll let you figure out how old she is... how's that mom!?) growing up, i always thought it was cool i got to celebrate my mom a week or two before everyone else did on mother's day. but now i can see the benefits and drawbacks to this situation. thanks for taking one for the team mom.


(the blessed day kristen was brought into this world)


(mom with her grandbabies)

mom is one of those words that not everyone gets to use on a daily basis. everyone has a mom, but not everyone gets to be as close to their moms as i do. luckily for me, my mom is one of my best friends. i think i finally understood the love a mother can have for her daughter the first time i held sophie in my arms. the first time i stayed up all night with her while she cried. the first time she puked on me in the middle of an amusement park. the first time she fell down and wanted me to make it better. the first time i couldn’t sleep, and got up six times to check on her, because i was worried if she was ok. the first time she said, “i wub you mommy.” it’s hard to know how much a mom sacrifices for her children until you have children of your own. now, with two daughters of my own, i make every possible effort to create that feeling of safety and love my mom created in her home. i can truly appreciate the little things my mom did for me. from staying up late to work on school projects, to sewing my clothes, to braiding my hair (while i whined at her), to watching me at every recital or performance or game, to lacing up my dress on my wedding day, to taking care of my family while i suffered through pregnancy nausea, to loving my own children now, i have seen the capacity my mom has to love. i see little pieces of my mom come through my own personality, and can only hope to be the ideal mom that she was and is today.




(i know what you're thinking... "where can i get myself a pair of sexy jeans like that!?")





thanks for being the best example of motherhood a girl could ever hope for.

happy birthday mom. i love you.

kri





my dad surprised her today with tickets to come visit us next weekend. i've had a hard time keeping my mouth shut. and sophie thinks everywhere we go is to go see "bobo." almost... can't wait!

what a cute family you've made mom!


(remember how i never posted those christmas pictures? yeah...)

hope your day is fabulous!