03/09/2026
Today my sweet AJ turns 13, and I’m completely overwhelmed with emotion. From the very beginning he has been special — my “little soulmate.” For reasons I can’t quite explain, I’ve felt from day one that we are deeply connected.
AJ is brilliant, witty, athletic, and guided by a strong moral compass. And somehow, here we are… with only five short years left of seeing him every day before adulthood begins. It makes me wonder: will I have done everything possible to set him up for success?
Motherhood is wild like that. When you care as deeply as we do for our children, the day-to-day can feel hard, stressful, and exhausting — especially in those early years when they need us most.
But the truth is, those early years are fleeting. Most of the challenges pass.
And then suddenly 13 years have gone by, and this little person you once held in your arms starts to look more like an adult than you ever imagined. The sleepless nights, the feeding struggles, the constant neediness — they fade. A lot.
And what remains is the realization that this wonderful, growing human exists because you loved deeply, cared fiercely, and worked really hard.
Don’t blink.
Happy 13th birthday, AJ. I love you more than words can say. ❤️
