Happy Birthday to my day one; literally. Thank you, mom, for being by my side and being my number one supporter since the very beginning. Wouldn't want to be anyone else's daughter. I couldn't love you more.

As girls get older many tend to begin the transformation into becoming their mother. When you’re in college your mom begins to be your true best friend. The person that you know will be with you forever. You go to when your friends start bugging you and you just want to talk to someone from home. You have passed the teen years of disagreements and smart mouthing each other. You start to notice the little things that your mom has always done you are now doing. You look at yourself in the mirror every day and see your mom a little more.

For me, the transition to becoming my mom started from an early stage. I pretty much skipped the teen stage of fighting with her. If anything we grew closer during those years. I actually liked my mom over these years. She was more of a best friend figure who just happens to take care of me and occasionally tells me what to do. There was never a big fight over anything. Everything was pretty much turned into a joke anyway. That's one of the biggest things my mom has taught me; never stress too much over the things you can't change.

I would like to thank my mom on this day for everything she has taught me and all of the laughs she has brought into my life. You will always be able to make me laugh until I cry and I can't think of a better feeling. Thank you for taking me on drives just for the joy of it, dancing with me in the kitchen, making me feel like I am smart and pretty and can do whatever I set my mind on. All I have to do is start. Thank you for being your outgoing self and talking to everyone you sit down next to. For making me feel like I deserve the best.

Carole King couldn’t have said it better. “Where you lead I will follow anywhere that you tell me to”. For the last 20 years I have been following your every move mom. Except, maybe now is the time that you start following me. As my life changes in the next couple of years, I know you will be by my side every step of the way. Making me laugh from being your psycho self, Facetiming me too close up, and purposely doing things just to make me laugh.

So happy birthday mom! Another year older we both turn (our birthdays are a week apart) another year of being my very best friend. If I can bring as much laughter and love into my future children’s lives as you have brought into mine then I'll have a happy life.

Love, your daughter