My wonderful son. You hate having your picture taken these days almost as much as I do. The early teen years can be are always difficult. And, I know that, some days, you don’t like yourself all that much. But I want you to know something that I have always known: You are so very very special. I know this because  I met you years before I  met myself. I know that makes no sense at all to you right now. How could it?

The afternoon you were born, while everyone was celebrating Independence Day, I was celebrating the birth of a son. A perfect, albeit mammoth size, precious son who would be named after my hero, and your Great Paw Paw. I was almost 22 and lost in so many ways… but there you were, my gift. I may have taken more than the average bear’s wrong turns in life. You and I both know I have made my share of mistakes… but on each and every leg of our journey, I have loved you more than air itself. You were and will always be my first born, my partner in crime and one of the best jobs I have ever had. James, you are so very special to  Larry, Abby and your Nana. And you are my very heart and soul. I am so proud to be your mom. But more than that? I am blessed.

The night before you were born… I had been in active labor about 39 hours already…

Once everyone left to get some sleep, I prayed. I just kept asking God to make sure you would be OK. It had been a long labor and I, knowing what could go wrong, was getting scared. I didn’t realize that I had been praying for hours until I saw the sun rise. “Please, God, just let him be Okay.”

And in the wonderful way that God works, he made sure you weren’t just Okay. You were, and are, perfect. My wonderful, beautiful, kindhearted, intelligent, funny, amazing son. Here’s to your first 14 years. Thank you for sharing them with me.

Your favorite lullaby when you were small….

Christopher Robin and I walked along
under branches lit up by the moon.
Posing our questions to owl and eeyore
as our days disappeared all too soon.
But I’ve wandered much further today than I should
and I can’t seem to find my way back to the wood.

So, help me if you can I’ve got to get
back to the house at Pooh corner by one.
You;d be surprised there’s so much to be done,
count all the bees in the hive,
chase all the clouds from the sky.
Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh.

- Kenny Loggins

Our days have dissappeared all too soon, indeed. So, try not to mind too much if I hold on tighter to the time we have left. I love you, son.

XoXoXo,

Mom