Happy Birthday B! / Day 18

The past 13 years have flown by, entirely too fast for the mother in me.  Today I have a teenager, and that makes me a little sad, but as most mothers will tell you no matter how old she gets she will always be my baby.  I had B when I was only 19 so I wasn't much more than a baby myself and I sure didn't have a clue what motherhood would mean for me.  I can tell you this I loved that baby with everything in me and my love for her has only grown bigger every day.  Things didn't work out between her dad and I but I wouldn't trade her for anything in the world.  We have had some great times and some hard times but those times have only made us both stronger and closer.  She is amazing and there were times when she was defintely the only thing that kept me going.
B is everything I wish I had been in middle school.  She is so smart and I know that will open many opportunities for her, I see her going very far in life.  Her current future aspiration is to be a lawyer/judge and I know if that is what she truly wants that she has every chance of making that come true.  She is also gorgeous and the thing that makes her most beautiful is the smile that lights up her eyes.  She is athletic, something I was, and probably will never be.  I think that playing soccer has been fabulous for her and I am glad she is learning to be a part of a team and to enjoy exercise.  She has a big heart and is way kinder than I am, I try to learn from that and hope that she doesn't get too jaded in her teenage years to keep it that way.
I think that she is my greatest accomplishment and know she is my biggest joy.  I know that the teenage years can be tough but I know that we both have the love and strength and trust to come out on the other side with our great relationship only stronger.  Although I look forward to seeing what the future has in store for her I am sad that she's not a little girl anymore and she doesn't need me quite as much as she used to.  I am one proud mom and I hope she has even the slightest idea of how much she is loved and that mama is always her #1 fan.

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me.  They have clung to me all my life:" ~ Abraham Lincoln

This time 13 years ago / Day 17

Can you remember what you were doing this date this time 13 years ago? I can! This time 13 years ago I was a scared 19 year old being admitted to the hospital in labor. I couldn't even begin to imagine the ways my life would change when I had that beautiful
baby girl a little more than 10 hours later. To be continued..........

Joyful Noise / Day 14

Went to see Joyful Noise today, it was a good movie, some very talented people in the movie and I just love Dolly Parton and Queen Lattifa. Took along 3 of B's best friends, she's having a sleepover for her birthday that's this week. How is it that 4 girls can make so much noise? They really do sound like a herd of elephants upstairs! I guess I should consider it a joyful noise that my daughter has good friends to help celebrate her birthday even if they are loud:)

My B and Smash Journals / Day 2

Day 2 my picture is of my beautiful daughter B, who will likely be the subject of many of these photos, (she's almost 13, I can hardly stand it!) and her new Smash journal.  What is a Smash journal you may be asking.  Well I happened upon them in Michaels the other day (I am obsessed with Michaels and all things crafty) and decided to look them up and see what they were all about.  Its kind of a journal, scrapbook, non digital pinterest rolled into one(or whatever you want to make it I guess).  They have all these awesome cute accessories to go with them, and better yet they are totally affordable (I also LOVE a good deal!) I want one for myself, but B says that I am too old (I probably will get one anyway :). What do you think? Anyway check them out for yourself here because no explanation I can give can show you how cool they are (or at least I think they are.) 

Also speaking of cool things check out my BFF Natashas blog Snapp Shots here as she joins me in this 366 day challenge (her day 1 picture is beautiful).  Natasha if you are reading this I think you would love a Smash journal! :)