well, seven years ago today i was at the hospital praying that the thing would happen to me that's supposed to happen to moms when they have babies. that "automatic love and nurture instinct" thing. i wasn't so sure i would be a good mom. i never really was a kid person (those of you who knew me back when remember) and when i was pregnant with big j, my biggest worry was that my life would change. ha.

today we celebrate big j's seventh birthday. that thing that is supposed to happen to moms when they have babies happened about one second after the doctor put my son in my arms. my heart turned to mush, and my life will never, ever be the same. THANK YOU GOD for my boys. we'll celebrate today with a new basketball and a hoop for outside (he's tall...you never know), a homemade cake and a sleepover with his best friend. he got up early and went to school with 16 chocolate cupcakes for his class...and a huge, toothless grin on his face. man, i love that kid.