Instead of being two bedroom doors apart at home, we’re now a 40 minute drive. It’s tough to be further from you and deal with the hectic college student lifestyle, but thankfully it’s made me reflect an awful lot these past few months. Believe it or not, things that I don’t always think twice about—the “little” things, if you will—are all things that I especially love about you.

I love when you check in on me two, three, or even four times a day. (Whether it’s a snapchat, a text, a phone call, a Facebook comment, or all of the above.)

I love when you ask me what meals I want when I come home on a weekend, and you’ll cook it just for me even though my brothers won’t want the same thing.

I love when we watch a show together and you make corny comments the whole time. (Ahem, The Voice. And especially The Bachelor.)

I love when you jump on my bed to wake me up when I’m at home, even though I yell at you to stop, while I fake-cry saying I’m still tired and I need more sleep.

I love how you laugh at me when I miss a step on the staircase, or spill something down my shirt, or trip over my own feet, even though I throw back an eye roll or give you the silent treatment.

I love how you swear you’re “hip” and “cool” when you sing along to the radio in the car, even though 9 times out of 10 you don’t know the words.

I love how much you support my hobbies and passions, even though cheerleading competitions aren’t the quietest or most relaxing events to attend. (I especially love how you refer to it as the “rah-rah” instead of cheerleading.)

I love how I can call you in tears of stress and frustration, and you comfort me and remind me that everything always works out from the other side of the phone.

I love that you are the reason why I am who I am today: strong, independent, happy, hardworking and dedicated. Just like my momma.

But most importantly, I love that YOU are my mom, and there isn’t anyone in the world that could do it better than you.

Oh, and P.S. Happy Birthday! (You don’t look a day over 29.)