My beautiful baby boy, mi chango peludo, mi pedacito de carne…

Today, Wednesday, October 14, 2026, you are turning 18.

A whole adult, they say. But as your sister keeps reminding you, your frontal lobe won’t be fully developed until you’re 25, so congratulations, you still have seven years left to blame your brain! 😂

In 2008, early on a Tuesday morning, my water broke, and there was no turning back. “He’s coming, it’s time!” Daddy announced excitedly to your abuelos, who were here from Mexico, awaiting the arrival of their first nieto. You were so wanted, loved, and prayed for. And that day, at 5:11 p.m., our lives changed forever, in the most beautiful way. We were parents to a beautiful baby boy!!!

I am so glad you are not reading this, at least not today. You really don’t like it when I get emotional. I get it. But there is no way in heaven or on earth that I am NOT going to be emotional today. So many emotions are fighting for space in my heart. I guess no one told them there is room for all of them. The incredible pride, the joy, the anticipation, the grief, the sadness, the powerlessness to undo the hurt and the loss ❤️‍🩹.

I will always wish Daddy were here to watch you grow up, and I know you wish that, too, even when you don’t say it.

Looking through the pictures of our 18 years of life together, my heart is full of gratitude for the young man you are becoming. I am so proud of the way you have navigated the highs and lows of your short life. Of the way you acknowledge your mistakes and try to learn from them. You have a maturity, a depth, a recognition of what is really important in life. A wisdom that came at a great price, but one that has already made you a better human.

You are still finding yourself, your voice, your purpose, and I will be right here as your #1 supporter, fan, and cheerleader. I love being your Mama 💕.

I KNOW daddy is so proud of you as well. You remind me so much of him, our handsome boy.

Our kind boy, our goofy kid, our funny buddy, our loud and annoying teenager.

Our talented artist, our theater kid, our budding musician.

Our traveler soul, our lover of nature, our opinionated young man.

The one who still blows me kisses when I drop him off at high school and still says “te amo” when saying bye on the phone. The one who will humor me and my every picture-taking opportunity—OK, most of them. My very own human selfie stick! 🤳🏼

The one who towers over me and randomly comes up to hug me, to check on me, constantly.

The one who still lets me take a first-day-of-school picture with him holding the sign I make 😊.

 

Feliz cumpleaños mi cielo 🎉.

Tu mami que te adora 💝 Forever and ever!!!