My Mom

What can I say about my mom? She's been my constant best friend, cheerleader and rock. She is the epitome of what the word Mother stands for. When I hurt she hurts. When I'm happy she's happy. She's my best friend and she taught me everything I know.

As a child, I remember her coloring with me for hours. I wanted to be just like her. I wanted her long hair and her pretty smile. I wanted to fall in love and marry my high school sweet heart like she did. When my brother and I were little, she took a cake decorating class. We loved watching and "helping" her decorate those cakes! (Eating them wasn't half bad either.) She also made countless outfits for my brother and I (some even matched.) When Cabbage Patch dolls came out she didn't just go buy me one. She made me one! I loved that doll more than life itself. She even made my junior prom dress so I could go with Chad a senior.

She made this quilt for Bird and I as our wedding gift.

She's taught me to laugh (even at myself) no matter who's watching.

The HUGE bra she gave me as a joke on my 16th birthday.

She taught me to love with all my heart no matter if it meant I might get hurt. That said, she also taught me not to settle for just any guy but to wait for "the right" guy. After all, you don't need a man to take care of you or to make you happy. You can do it all by yourself.

She's been their for the best times. Like, when I married Bird, AKA Mr. Right.

More important, she's been there during the worst moments. For example, she was even in the room when our fertility Dr. placed our embryos back into my uterus during our 2nd attempt at IVF. Afterwards, she waited on me hand and foot while I was on bed rest.

As a child and even now, she's pushed me to be all I could be and more. She wanted me to be a dancer but when I wouldn't wear the pink tu tu she bought she didn't give up. Instead, she signed me up for gymnastics, baton lessons, softball, basketball, soccer and even flute lessons until I found my niche. My mom didn't sit on the sidelines. She was always right there by my side roller skating, dancing and even hanging out with me and my friends. Many of my friends called her mom some still do. She didn't judge us she just listened. Some of my favorite conversations with her happened in the bathroom while I got ready for school, a night out with my friends or a date. What more could I have ever asked for in a mom? Even now, I learn from her as I watch her interact with Yaya. Many times as I watch them I'm taken back to times in my own childhood. I swear my mom knows every nursery song known to man. Most of which few have heard before. It's fun hearing and singing them again with her and Yaya.

If I had a dime for all the times I've been told we look alike, sound alike, have the same facial expressions and laugh I'd be a rich woman. I guess that would make me doubly blessed because I can't think of anyone else I would want to be more like. I only hope I can be half the mom to Yaya that my mom was and is to me.

I love you mom! Happy Mother's Day!