From the time I was a little girl, probably before I could even speak, I knew I wanted to be a mom. I remember taking care of my baby dolls, feeding them, clothing them, cutting their hair (sorry mom), and imagining what kind of mother I’d be when I had children of my own. Like many little girls, I had their names picked out and loved them long before it was even possible for any children of mine to exist.

I became a mom 13 years ago this Friday. It’s hard to believe that my little five-pound baby boy will be a teenager now. Of course, he’s been looking forward to this day for the last 365, but his mom is a little reluctant to watch him grow up.

Not all that long ago, I remember laying on the couch with him in his baby swing next to me, completely exhausted and overwhelmed, but so full of pride and love as I looked at this perfect little human who refused to go to sleep. For 13 years, I’ve kissed hundreds of boo-boos, cleaned up more vomit than I ever thought could come out of such a small being, changed diapers, been spit on and bitten, felt my heart drop more times than I can count, but despite it all, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Kids really make you grow up. Of course, when I was 21 and expecting Michael, I thought I knew everything there was to know about the world and I could handle anything that came my way. Boy was I wrong. 13 years into this whole parenthood thing, and I’m still figuring things out along the way.

I only had one kid, though my little-girl imagination would have loved to have a dozen or so. But, that one boy takes up all of my heart. The older he gets, the more I see the man he’ll be (soon, too, as it certainly goes by so fast like they say it does). He is witty, athletic, compassionate, handsome and smart. He makes me laugh all the time, and I am constantly thankful that I have the opportunity to be his mom.

So, happy 13th birthday to my Michael. I hope his year is full of happiness and love, and that he continues to view the world through his kind eyes and that the world is kind right back to him. He may be my only kid, but the love he receives from his mom is enough for those dozen or so siblings I once imagined.