To Jon David on His Birthday
Seven years ago today, you entered the world.
Life had not always been easy for me. It was full of struggle, and heartache, and tough lessons. But on this day, seven years ago…everything clicked. I understood who I was supposed to be.
And when I looked at your face….your sweet, blue eyed face….I realized that I had become extraordinary.
Being the mom of one, it is easy for days like today to fill me with sadness. Because every first of yours, is my last.
The first time you kicked in my belly (I was eating meatloaf), your first word (dog…I was a little insulted) the first time I walked away from that kindergarten door (I cried for 3 nights leading up to it) are behind me. Over. Those firsts will not happen for me again.
But today, instead of sadness, I choose joy.
Joy because we are one day closer to so many memories that await us.
One day closer to you being old enough to stay up late and watch awful scary movies with me.
One day closer to you taking me to lunch. And paying for it with your OWN MONEY.
One day closer to me hugging your dad while we watch you throw your graduation cap in the air.
One day closer to you moving out. And coming over hungry, with a bag of dirty laundry for me to wash. And although I will complain, I will wash it and I will feed you and be secretly grateful that you need me.
And one day closer to the day that, with pride in your eyes, you hand me my very first grandbaby. (Not that I’m already pressing for grandbabies. Except that…I’ve been practicing to be a Grandma since I was like 5, and I’d make a really good one. Whatevs)
So on this day that you turn 7, let us celebrate what is to come.
Thank you for filling my days with silly magic tricks, cookies, and hugs. Thank you for being smart, and funny, and kind. Thank you for making me whole.
I love you more than every colored sprinkle, every rainbow, and every balloon that has ever filled the air. Happy Birthday, Jon David!!!!
Thanks for visiting my blog! I realize you could be doing more important things with your time. Like watching the news or washing socks. I hope you stay awhile. Much more fun than socks, I promise. 
Thanks for making me cry. Dude, not cool.
Happy Birthday little Mindfreak! You have a great Mama!!
Kristan, You dont want any more kids?
Happy birthday to your sweet little boy and you. My 2 boys are the age where they bring home dirty laundry from college and I spend the day before cooking up a storm all their favorite foods….and loving every single minute of it. Enjoy your little boy!
What a truly beautiful post. I really loved your description of your love for him. Well said.
I’m thinking you’re probably making a lot of us cry with this. ;-) Happiest of Birthdays to your little man!!! And thanks for making me laugh(& sometimes cry) almost every day!
Happy Birthday John David!
(And Kristan, don’t you ever make me cry again girl – you here?!?)
Happy birthday to your little boy :) That was a very sweet message and he is very lucky to have a mom like you. Thanks for the tears today! haha
So touching. Thank you so much for sharing that with us. As a Mom of one, I never really looked at life that way. Happy Birthday to Jon David and Happy Birth Day to you, too!
Happy Birthday to your sweet boy!! Thanks for a good morning cry! What a beautiful way to put into words your love for him!!!
OMGosh!! I’m bawling here!! I had a tough night with my 4 yo, now I just wanna grab him & hug him. & magically stop him from growing!! I also wanna rush over to my 13 yo’s middle school & hug & kiss him & say “I LOVE U PUDDIN!!” That was my nickname for him when he was little & didn’t mind me calling him that. He made me stop when he turned 10. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JON DAVID!!
LOL!!!!
Happy birthday to your cute son! What a beautiful ode to your son. I agree with Shelly, you’re an awesome mama!
I love reading your blog…today’s post brought tears to my eyes. I just sent my “baby” off to college two weeks ago. I was once told, “being a mom is the only job you work your way out of…if you do it right.” I have to admit..I’m very grateful for Skype!! :)
I’m crying too…dang it!
Your son is going to grow up to be an awesome, funny, loving person because of his mama.
Happy Birthday Jon David!!
Oh Lord, I’m crying! Way to take the high road, because I can’t bear the thought of my two boys leaving me, getting married, having babies…yet. Someday maybe I can let it go that they won’t be little forever. Already when I look back on pictures I wonder, where does the time go? You’re an awesome mom, with an awesome son! Happy Birthday, Jon David!
I don’t want my son to ever move out and I have let him know this…..He will be 18 next month :( I sure do wish I could invent a way to stop him from growing.
You made my cry first thing in the morning. He’s a lucky guy! I love the top picture…that look, like he’s saying MOOOOOOOOOOOM…And I read this right when Evan came over to me, for me to rub man smelling AXE on his hair, and spike it perfectly {while pointing out that I wasn’t doing it right} and I ALMOST got annoyed. Until you reminded me…that I was the girl who never listened to anyone, or made any right decisions until he came along. The tiny baby who made me want to be better so he didn’t suffer for my mistakes. I always tell him he’s my hero because he saved me. Thanks for the reminder. PS…tis true. You were made to be a mom. You’re good at it…
Same here……if it wasn’t for my son, I probably wouldn’t be alive. A rebellious teenager who did what I wanted no matter the consequences. Because of him I am the person I am today.
I sure miss those days when he was four and wanted me to spike up his hair. I sure do miss those days.
You are such a good Momma! Happy Birthday Jon David!
Sweet post Kristan!! Happy Birthday Jon David!!
Such a sweet post to your baby boy. Yes I did say baby, he’ll always be your baby. I know how you feel. I have just one child too, and he’s my world. : ) You’re a great momma!
Also being a Mom of 1; daughter 6 years old – this post hit home so hard – I am now balling my eyes out. What a sweet post for your birthday boy.
That was absolutely beautiful! My daughter is about to be 9 and I understand exactly what you are saying because she is also my first and last. Time goes by so fast, it’s a shame you can’t freeze time for a bit sometimes. What is cool is the fact that we get to see these little humans turn in to amazing adults and we can take some credit for that ;) It’s the most rewarding job to have. Happy Birthday to your little man!
Cheers to *firsts* & joy and love. If it makes you feel any better, I feel the very same way about my sweet Cheeks even though she’s my second. *sniff*
Hope you both have a magical day!
Wow, I used up my last three Kleenex on that one! I have 3 kids, but my middle one I just dropped off at college (cried for the whole year prior to that) and my baby just started junior high. I feel those “lasts” every day. But, like you, I’m in training to be a grandma, just not anytime soon. You sound like an awesome mom and you both are blessed to have each other. Plus, your Jon David shares his name with my husband, John David. Now I need some Advil and a diet Dr. Pepper for this crying induced headache. Enjoy every moment!
Okay I’m glad I am not the only one tearing up reading this… Happy Birthday Jon David, and Happy Best Mommy day to you chickie! I say you deserve a bucket o margarita . You’re the best
I wrote something similar to that for my daughter this year. She turned 21, so I wrote the tearful letter telling her what a wonderful woman she has become. Keep enjoying all the moments!
Happy Birthday to your baby!!! My Noah is 6 on Saturday. *Sob*
Such a sweet post.
‘I’ve been practicing grandma since I was five’. Priceless!
This is seriously the sweetest post ever. All mom’s should love their children this much :)
What a sweet post (and it made me cry too). Happy Birthday little man.
I have always said I will make a stellar grandma myself! The kind where all the kids want to come over and I feed them until they are stuffed and happy. ;) I really want to sit on my rocking chair on the porch though and watch the lil grandbabies and friends play outside. You put words together so well!! Congrats on making a fine young man!
Your son is adorable! Happy birthday to him. Can’t wait to see the birthday dessert you come up with.
you made me cry….but not a gulping for air full blown bawlfest….but i did cry…your son is very lucky to have such an amazing momma!
Wow! I got a little teary on that one. I to am a mom on one son so I can totally relate. Happy Birthday to your little boy! I hope he gets all the Billy the Exterminator gear and magic tricks he could ever hope for!
happy birthday Jon David from some weird lady in canada who thinks your mom is super cool. always remember your mom is amazing and loves you!
Ugh, you made me cry! Just thinking about my little guy graduating high school, and having children, it’s just too much for me. Happy birthday, Jon David!
Um yeah I have no idea whete my comment just posted to. But it’s inteded place was here. ;)
Oh, you just made the momma of one cry. KRISTAN! How dare you? ;) Your Jon David is precious…as are you. I love the pictures of both of you.
Kristan~
You are a doll~baby!
Happy Birthday to your adorable magician!
You and Jon David make a GREAT team!
Happy Happy Day to you both!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox~
I can only imagine what THE CAKE to celebrate will look like….and …
what you took to his first grade class to CELEBRATE! Wish I was his teacher! ;)
Aw, that made me tear up. :)
OK…..my makeup that took me hours to do is so ruined. That was so touching. It hit home way too much. Although I have five, I only have one baby boy….well grown boy is more like it. Graduates this year.
Have a very happy birthday Jon David. I hope your life is filled with nothing but love and joy :)
What a sweet tribute to Jon David, I hope he has a wonderful birthday!
I hope he reads this when he is older and realizes how incredibly lucky he is. It is so beautiful, heartfelt and lovely. I cried. there, I admit it: I cried. It reminded me of when my first born was doing all of those first things and how grateful I was to take the time to slow down and enjoy them. Now I have three children and I have just made the choice to slow down again and enjoy my children and family more than I have been for the last couple years. I went to very part time at work, and while we may have to adjust a few living habits it will be SO worth it, and your post reminded me exactly WHY I choose my family first, always.
thank for that
Joycelyn
Happy Birthday to your sweet little man!!! :)
was that your goal, to make everyone cry? Beautiful post, and happy birthday to your son!!!!
What a beautiful message! This brought tears to my eyes. I currently dont have children but i will remember this for when i do. xx
Oops, also Happy Birthday Jon David ! Keep up the mindfreak training.
I think this is your first post that produced a lump in my throat instead of a laugh. Happy Birthday to your Jon David~I love the photo…a mixture of “The Beaver” and “Dennis the Menace” cuteness:)
Beautiful post! I’m now crying at work and battling a sudden surge of baby fever…my husband will be so happy to hear about this when I get home! :)
Happy Birthday Jon David!!!! I hope 7 turns out to be the best year yet!
OK – I totally cried while reading this post too!
My little guy turned 8 on 09/09 and like Jon David, he is an only child.
Happy Birthday Jon David!
I love your mommy’s blog : )
How special is this post and how very special is your Jon David! Happy Birthday to him and may he always know that he is loved and cherished beyond measure by the best Mom and Dad that God could have ever chosen for him.
P.S. Adorable photographs.
You are an amazing mom. Love your posts and can’t wait to see all the fun you and Jon David have in the future through our little glimpse into your life.
Happy Birthday to Jon David! He is lucky to have a mom that loves him so much and you are extraordinary, even aside from being Jon David’s mom.
Beautiful, beautiful post!
I’m all choked up. And I don’t even have feelings. This is so sweet… I can’t help it.
Ooh, this is so sweet. It had me crying in the bus as I read this. Happy Birthday, Jon David!!
This post is so sweet…made me cry.
As a Mom to an only, I really loved this post…’nuff said
Your post made me bawl like a baby. I only have one precious little boy as well… and spent the first 6 months of his life waking up in the middle of the night crying because he was getting older; now I eat brownies and drink Simply Apple straight from the container. You know whatever works, right?
Happy Birthday to your precious not so little one!
Wow what a wonderful post. Truly one of the BEST!! Sending happy birthday wishes to your little man.
crying here too. that was lovely… my son is between the dirty clothes and grandbaby… enjoy EVERY moment with Jon David… and i think you need to start writing a novel… SOON!
Awwwwww…you normally bring me to tears from laughter but this time was not the same. You say what I’m thinking because I’m a Mom of an only child also. She just turned 9. Happy Birthday to your beautiful boy!
Tears from me, too! This is the sweetest tribute I’ve ever read!
once a month, i have a meeting at my children’s school, which includes the principal, teachers, and parents (no, my kids are not in trouble, just a committee i’m on), so i get up extra early, to carefully do my make-up so i can at least LOOK like i have it all together (and yes, looks are deceiving). well, it appears that i will be going to this meeting with smeared make-up from all the tears that rolled out of my eyes.
this was an absolutely beautiful post!!! from your blog, i know that you are one of the best moms out there! everything comes from the heart! happy birthday to your little boy!!!!
Happy birthday, Jon David!!!
Kristan – Jon David is a lucky little boy to have you for his Mama!
awwww . . . so many firsts yet to come Kristan . . . you’re an awesome mom, with an awesome son . . . love watching from the sidelines – HAPPY BIRTHDAY JON DAVID!!
Beautifully said!
You made me cry. I am a mom of one and I could not have said it better myself. Heartfelt and beautiful. Happy day to your family! Still crying….
My two are grown and I have 3 grandchildren but you brought back so many memories. And being a grandmother is sooooo much fun and sooooo much easier.
Wow, that’s so beautifully written and it made me cry too. John David’s a lucky little boy. Happy Birthday little man.
Beautiful!!! Jon David is a lucky lil’ guy!! Hope he had a fantastic birthday!
Oh, Kristan, you made me cry. I have two little boys, one 3 and one 5 months, and OH do I understand how you feel. Happy birthday to one lucky little boy!
P.S. You really have a gift for writing!
Kristan. I subscribe to a ton of blogs and spend an inordinate amount of time reading them at work (shhh!) and even get mad when I get interupted (WHAT NOW PEOPLE?! CAN’T YOU SEE I’M READING AN AWESOME RECIPE HERE?) Anyway, whenever I see a new post from you I immediately click it and prepare myself for some hysterical laughter. Last couple weeks have been a struggle for me and my 8 yr. old son and his schoolwork. I tutor him everyday for 2-3 hrs after work (which is why I read blogs here instead of home) and it just kills me sometimes. Moms are not the greatest tutors for their kids! Anyway, a HUMUNGOUS lump formed in my throat after reading your post and like a million others, I teared up. But something also happened. It clicked. And what I mean by that is, your post reminded my just how very very very lucky and blessed I am to be a mother. THANK YOU!!! Here’s to wonderful things ahead for you, Jon David and your hubby :) Now I can’t wait to see my little guy after school and smoosh him with kisses!
So sweet. I’m glad I brightened? your day :) And don’t be hard on yourself. Homework is awful. When my son comes home with homework, I’m like “why did she give ME homework”!!
After reading the first couple lines of this I already had tears in my eyes..and I’m not even a mom. What a sweet, sweet post!
What a lovely post. This post is “frame-worthy.” Print it out and frame it for him. Right now, he’ll probably think “whatev.” But as he grows, it will mean more and more to him. And when he is a teenager, you may need to read it daily!!!
Very sweet post. My firstborn is 6 and I just worked in his 1st grade classroom for the first time today. Enjoying it all while it lasts because it moves by so fast.
Ugh, you started my day with TEARS, lots of TEARS! I’m so used to laughing hard at your blog and you made me WEEP. This was beautiful. Your boy is beautiful. Your outlook is beautiful. I have one baby left at home and I only have him for another 11 months. Every day that I think of that, I CRY. I have a baby girl that is already moved out and married and I adore her and because of her, I know how hard it’s going to be to see my son go. This is our job as parents though. Raise our children to be independent, strong, capable and loving. They are so loving. I’m so grateful and so beyond blessed. Great blog. Thanks so much for the tears. Cristin (Pinkie) of Cristin’s Cookies
Beautiful. I was already weepy this morning and this just made me start all over – but in a different way. I hope you both have a fantastic day!
Happy Birthday, Jon David!
Happy Birthday, Jon David! And Kristan, you look amazing in that photo!
You are too sweet. Thank you :)
I’m thinking about how quickly it all went by with my girls as I wipe away tears from your sweet post!
happy brothday jon david! hes so cute! i love your outfit kierstan
That face is priceless. And happy birthday to you too mom!
Seven is a great year! I have read so many posts referring to Jon I feel like I know him :) Happy 7th Birthday Jon David!! Kristan you are a great mom, my best wishes to both. Love all the goodies you prepare and share here.
Blessings
Awww….such a heartfelt post :-) Happy birthday to Jon David and Happy Mommy day to you Kristan :-)
*sigh* That was SO beautiful! I stopped my husband from what he was doing and read it to him….now we’re both feeling sappy. Excuse me while I go get a hug….
I just happened to stumble upon your website thanks to a friend of mine. I went straight to this post after reading the first few sentences of it and couldn’t help but read the rest. It is probably the sweetest written message I have ever read and, even though we’ve never met, it did make me cry. You do amazing work by the way. Keep it up and thank you for sharing it with the world.
Lovely post and beautiful pic of you and your son. I, too, have been looking forward to being a grandma since I was very young. You certainly would make a wonderful grandma, including in the goodies category!!!!
Awww, so lovely! Happy (belated) birthday John David! :-)
Happy belated birthday to your little man. Your post was beautiful. :) Thanks for sharing with us!
Cried like-a-baby!!
I just found your blog, and am a little freaked out by how much we have in common as I read your posts! My (only) son turned 7 on September 15th!! This post echos my heart. Happy birthday to your sweet little man!
Thank you!! And Happy Birthday to yours also :)
you actually brought tears to my eyes… that’s the sweetest thing ever :)
Sob – my one-and-only baby is only 6 months old, and reading your post I see not the things that have already passed, but the wonderful things yet to come. Such a sweet post.