I don't even know how to begin this post. I've written the first line several times and can't seem to come up with "it". "It" being that one statement that says everything about you.

Watching you at your birthday party last night, I was simply floored by your beauty- inside and out. I kept thinking about how lucky my son must feel every single day that you are once again in his life. Of course, I don't have to wonder how he feels because he's so dumb-struck in love with you, a perfect stranger on the street could see it a mile away. References to his Italian Princess, as he likes to call you, are scattered all throughout his poetry- even during the time that you weren't together.

It was so difficult to be fair to anyone else that my son dated in the five years you weren't together- because they weren't you. Nobody else could have ever filled your shoes. I tried to convince myself to just 'let it go', but everyone who knew me, knew that you would always be my sweet girl.

I'm awe-struck at the person you've become. I've always loved you and thought you were wonderful, but how is it that you continue to outshine yourself? You will graduate with your MBA at the ripe ol' age of 25. How many people can say that? You have a career ahead of you that is enviable. Your beauty? Well, you simply glow. It's impossible to look at you and not smile.

What makes you so wonderful, over and above all of that, is that you are so keenly aware of what's really important. It took me a long time to get to the awareness that I've found today- at almost twice your age. You seem to be already there.

My heart almost burst with pride last night as you were telling me why you were GLAD you broke your ankle. You said that having to go places in a wheelchair made you so much more aware of how blessed you are. Of course, that's wonderful and not a surprise- but I was even more happy to hear you say that it taught you to ask for help.

Sweetheart, that is HUGE. My son told me that even though you were on crutches, you still insisted on carrying your own things and tried to open your own doors. At one point, things started slipping from your arms, and you dropped everything. That's when you sat on the ground and cried. Soon after he told me this story, I told my husband that this was going to be a very hard, but important lesson for you.

I *know* that you're just like me in that regard. You are independent and do not want to feel that you need to rely on anyone else for ANYTHING. You've been this way as long as I've known you, and I know exactly why you're like this. You are used to being the one to care for everyone around you, and it's difficult to give that up.

I hope you know, beyond a doubt, that I want to be your soft place to land. You have my son, of course, and I know that he would move the earth and the sun for you. You also have your dad who, as I watch him look after you and your sister so protectively, is a WONDERFUL father. You and your sister would not be the women that you are, without his influence and sacrifices. The more I get to know him, the more I see what a good man he is.

But I also want to make sure that you know that there is nothing I wouldn't do for you. You've always felt like a daughter to me and you know how fiercely I love my children.

You are loved by so many, sweet girl. That says so much about you.

I am grateful for the day you were born, because it is the day that one of the most beautiful people I've ever met was brought into this world.