To: my mom

Kathy, Kath, Kandy (don't ask), Peanut, FRIEND.

This is a post about my mom, a month after mother's day. Meh, better late than never.

She loves the color green. No seriously, like she's obsessed with it. Her car is green.

3/4 of her clothes used to be mine.

She is the definition of "family friendly" If it ain't family friendly, keep it away from kath.

She's my bff.

But we haven't always been besties like we are today. We're insanely similar and I was (yes, WAS) a bratty teenager. Since my brothers are 7 years older than me, it was just my parents and I in the house when I was in high school. My poor dad was always in the middle of Kath and I's arguments. And we both do the silent treatment so well. But then I went off to college and my faith grew and I became more mature (more mature than I was...I still laugh every time C farts). Kath and I started to become friends and today she's my best friend. Now that I have a kid we have a whole new dynamic to our relationship. She sat in the hospital room with us until it was time to push when I, very politely I'm sure, said "ok mom you should probably leave now." She's been there for me whenever I needed her these past 3 months. Like the time we had to call her at 1:00 in the morning during the first couple weeks when C would NOT stop crying. She woke up, came over and got him to sleep so B and I could get a few hours of sleep. She gives her time every week, volunteering several days at different places in the community. She and my dad watched C during the 6 weeks I had to go back to school. They got up early to be at our house by 7:00 every morning. Have I mentioned how blessed I am? We can easily talk on the phone for 20 minutes and I probably just saw her the day before. B is constantly amazed at how well I know her. One day she and my dad came over to our house and I think she had only said like 2 words and I asked if she was crabby. To which she replied in a whiny voice "yeah...so." Later B asked, "how did you know she was crabby?" I just knew. I know my mom. She won't buy a purse, shoes or an item of clothing without getting my approval first (like I'm sort of fashion wizard or something...). When we're together we usually laugh until we cry (and then she pees a little). She encourages me daily to keep breastfeeding and to be the best mom I can. She challenges me. I pray I can be as good of a mother to C as she has been to me. She supports my dad. When he had knee replacement surgery, she was his nurse and I saw the love they have for each other on a whole other level. She raised twin boys and me (which was not as easy as it may sound. I was a handful I'm sure) and now she's a grandma to 6 grandkids (with #7 coming in October...hold your horses it's my bro not me peeps).

I KNOW. No comments about the hair necessary.

I love my son more than I could imagine and I treasure the bond we've already formed. But I pray that someday I can experience a relationship with a daughter like my mom and I have. I wouldn't be the woman, wife, mother, friend, sister, daughter I am today if it weren't for my amazing mother.

Thanks for always pushing me to be better, listening when I speak, supporting me in everything I do (even if I give up breastfeeding), and loving me no matter what. I love you!