Yesterday Steve and I became the parents of a teenager. Fortunately for us, he didn’t wake up with a face full of hair, pimples and mood swings. Instead he woke up with a sweet smile excited about turning 13!

I can remember when Alexander was born. Steve and I would try to imagine what he would be like as a teenager. Honestly, it is better than we ever imagined. I have been bragging about him for a while here on my blog and anywhere else that people will listen, but he is a good kid. He has a compassionate heart that likes to please, he is constantly helping me around the house, he is responsible and he is a lot of fun to be around. I often ask him, “How did I get so lucky to have you?” I really do feel lucky and proud of the person he is now.

For some reason Alexander’s 13th birthday has meant a lot to me. Maybe for me it is a sign of success that we have raised a little baby to become such a wonderful person. Maybe it is that I know things will change as he grows and becomes more of his own person. Maybe it is that I enjoy not only the mother/son relationship we have, but the friendship we have developed over the years. Whatever it is, I just feel excited for him and all the possibilities ahead of him. I feel very fortunate to have this teen in my life.

Here is Alexander with Sophia, not yet a teen, but pretty darn special in her own way! She will be celebrating her 11th birthday in June!