Happy 13th Birthday, Duffydoo!

Dearest Duffy:

Happy 13th birthday! Wow! Welcome to being a teenager.  You are growing up so fast.  I can't believe you are officially a teenager.  You have had a great year in middle school and I think you really enjoyed the independence and freedom.  You have made some great new friends. That's one of the most wonderful things about you--you make friends so easily.  You seem to never meet a stranger and have a great way of making people have fun and be comfortable.  You are so kind and just happy.  I like to call you my little puppy dog---you are just always so happy, bouncing around and enjoying life.  You even like to put your head out the window when we drive.

You still just like to be busy. You can't stand to sit still and not be active.  It's so great about you.  You take the time to enjoy every minute that life gives you.  You just love having fun and having fun with your friends.  You are also becoming so very handsome.  I think even the girls in your grade are starting to notice.  It's been so great seeing you grow up, test you independence and figure out how to navigate life.  You are making great choices and I am so proud of the man you are becoming.  You are starting to figure out the importance of great work/life balance and working hard.  You have so many wonderful natural talents and abilities.  I am so so very proud of you.

I wish your first year in teenagedom to be safe, happy, and FUN.  I love you so much.  I know we bicker sometimes but it's just because I love you so much.  I have such high hopes and dreams for you and know you will accomplish so much in your life.   You can do WHATEVER you set your mind to.

I love you more than I can ever put into words but do know that I love you more than I love candy.  And I love you more than the world.

Love,

Mommy

Happy 11th Birthday, Lulubear!

Dearest Lulubear!

Happy birthday to my so very sweet, caring, thoughtful and funny Lulubear.  I love you so much and can't believe you are growing up so fast! Wow!  11th.  Your lucky number and your lucky birthday (11 on the 11th).  I hope you take this year to be you--enjoy, celebrate life and continue to grow into the wonderful person that you are.  You are in 5th grade this year and you really have had a great year.  You love basketball and volleyball and you have made some really great friends.  You still love pasta and you have gotten really into making slime.  But most of all, you really haven't changed that much since you were born.  You always put others ahead of yourself, you are so kind, giving, loving and just sweet.  We don't know who you get that from.  You are very funny and your friends think you are very funny.  You still venture into Lulu-land every once in awhile but that's one of the things we love about you.

What else?  You are starting to find a sense of style and you are enjoying shopping.  You like the sporty clothes even though Mommy tries to get you to wear dresses a lot.   You are having some friends over tonight before volleyball practice for pasta and your special pumpkin cupcakes.

But most importantly, you have smile that can light up a room.  You always always make people smile and feel good about who they are.  You just love life and you love taking up YOUR space in this great big world.

I look at you and my heart melts.  Your kindness inspires me to be a better person every day. I want to do good things so you are proud of me.  I love you so much and know all of your dreams will come true.

I love you to the moon and back.  Happy birthday sweet Lulubear.

All my love,

Mommy