Thirteen

Today, my son, my first-born, the sweet boy who made me a mom, turns 13.

A teenager.
A young man.

We know our kids are going to grow up, but when you’re in the throws of newborn/toddler/grade school chaos, that seems like such a distant concept. Everyday, someone says, ‘Treasure the time, because you’ll blink and they’ll be gone!’ Yet the notion that time flies somehow doesn’t apply in those early years. Even though there are days when you wish time would fly a little faster.

Motherhood is one-day-at-a-time for me…some days shine, others are a struggle. And yet somehow, I’ve managed to put 4,745 of those days together (but who’s counting, right?!). Not all the days have been good, and certainly not easy, but so worth every single second. Raising this happy boy has brought me more joy than I thought possible, and given me more love than I knew my heart could hold.

I am so grateful he knew one of the most important men in my life, and there was never a more proud great-grandfather! He really is as sweet as he looks, with a soft heart and a sharp mind.
Jackie
Jackie
Jackie

Jackie

Turns out, it’s true when people say, ‘The days are long, but the years are short.’ Now I’m acutely aware of how fast time is flying, and desperately want to slow it down. His time left in our home is dwindling, and that makes me anxious to think about. Funny how we spend the first years desperate for them to grow up, and the later years praying they never leave.

Happy, happy birthday my precious son! You are loved and adored…and we are so proud of the compassionate, thoughtful, smart, giving, faithful young man, son and brother you have become!

*Thank you for the personal indulgence today! We’ll resume glue-gunning soon.*

Leave a Comment

17 Comments

  1. Jennifer@The Chronicles of Home wrote:

    Sweet boy. I'm tearing up just a little. My oldest is 5, just lost her first tooth, and I felt sort of slapped across the face remembering watching and waiting for that tooth to come in and here we are and it's falling out. It's impossible to always be in the moment but GOSH it goes fast, and I think just being aware of that and treasuring more than you trash is the most important thing 🙂 Happy birthday to your big, little guy!

    Posted 7.2.14 Reply
  2. Denise Greenwood wrote:

    What a cutie! You are so right – when they are young it seems like the days creep past, but it is true what they tell us – blink and they are gone. My oldest boy leaves for college in the fall…which is a mere month and a few days away. Happy birthday to your boy! Teenage years are full of fun and adventure! Enjoy!!

    Posted 7.2.14 Reply
  3. Erin @ Crafts and Sutch wrote:

    Aww…Happy Birthday, Jackson! 🙂 What a sweet post! It really is amazing how quickly the time slips by…some days feel like an eternity, but when you look back it seems like yesterday.

    Posted 7.2.14 Reply
  4. Rebecca@littledevilswithwings wrote:

    I'm right there with you, Cassie! Preston turns 12 in August. He'll be 13 in the blink of an eye. It's hard to even remember him as a baby. I miss those snuggle days. Happy birthday to your oldest baby!

    Posted 7.2.14 Reply
  5. Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication wrote:

    Happy 13th to your son!

    Posted 7.2.14 Reply
  6. Freckles Chick wrote:

    You said it, sister. As a new mom, I hated when people would tell me to enjoy this time because it flies by. I couldn't wait for this blob to grow & be more fun 😉

    But now….now I get it. I GET it. Even though she's only 2.5 y/o & we're still in the thick of it, the year is already flying by.

    Love that pic of him with great grandpa! Happiest Birthday, Jackson!!! So handsome inside & out. College in 5 years?! Insert bawling emoji here. *sniffle*

    xoxo

    Posted 7.2.14 Reply
  7. Sarah Tucker wrote:

    Happy birthday to Jackson!

    Posted 7.2.14 Reply
  8. Kathy Olson wrote:

    Happy 13th birthday! What a handsome young man!

    Posted 7.2.14 Reply
  9. Katie Alberter wrote:

    Happy Birthday to your handsome son! My kids are only 6 and 3 and I already feel like time is flying by. I love that saying "the days are long, but the years are short", so true! Funny, I felt the same way when I was pregnant! I felt like the days were so long, but 9 months just flew by. Before I know it my oldest will be turning 13 and I'll wonder where the time went! Great post and enjoy this happy day with your son 🙂

    Posted 7.2.14 Reply
  10. Mix and Match Mama wrote:

    Oh my goodness!! Happy Birthday to your sweet boy and happy day to you mama :). You made me tear up! Such a sweet post.

    Posted 7.2.14 Reply
  11. Heather{Our Life In a Click} wrote:

    It gets even faster when they hit the teens. I find myself missing those little kid/baby days right about now!!! Happy Birthday to your handsome "man".

    Posted 7.2.14 Reply
  12. Allison wrote:

    Happy Birthday to your son! He's a handsome young man. Love the photo with his Great Grandfather and Maggie. So sweet. Celebrting my hubby's birthday today, too. July 2 is a good day!

    Posted 7.2.14 Reply
  13. Taylor Hoffman wrote:

    Happy Birthday to your son!!! 13 is a good age:)

    xo, Taylor

    Posted 7.2.14 Reply
  14. Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles wrote:

    Happy Birthday to your handsome boy! Yes, time is flying way too fast! I have a 13 year old too. 🙂

    Posted 7.3.14 Reply
  15. Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} wrote:

    Awwwwwwww! I could bawl my head off! TIME. SLOW. DOWN. PLEEEEEEEEEEEZ! Super sweet post friend!

    Posted 7.3.14 Reply
  16. Carey Otto wrote:

    Loved this post! My son's birthday is July 2nd too and reading this brought tears to my eyes. This sweet boy of mine made me a Mom as well on this day nine years ago and everything you wrote was exactly what my heart felt too! Thanks so much for writing this and Happy, Happy Birthday to your cutie!! 🙂

    Posted 7.3.14 Reply
  17. MN Girl wrote:

    My son turned 17 on July 1st – how did that happen?!? It's all so exciting, scarey and amazing. Sometimes I look at him and the man he's becoming and just loose my breath in the moment. Ok, ok. I don't loose my breath, I tear up cuz I'm a grade a sap. It's crazy to think that in one year he'll be off creating his own future. And it does go fast! Enjoy all the time you have with him!

    Posted 7.4.14 Reply