My eyes red and the bottoms about to burst from the welling-up tears was NOT what I had expected when I opened my email last September.

Since when did I become super sensitive and start to cry over other peoples kids. Since when did I, dare I say, become my own mother? The person I always looked at and thought was “overly emotional?” I guess it’s true what people say – everyone turns into their mother.

“Little girl features are turning into beautiful more defined features.  They each have their own personal style now, some I might not agree with 100%, but their own, and I love to see that. “- Danica A.

 

This is just one of the absolutely heartwarming yet heartbreaking answers I got from 2013 Celebrate Mothers participants about how much their children have changed 17 months later. And the best part is reading their original hand-written note from 17 months ago and then comparing it to the NOW (click the image above to make larger and read).

There are many, MANY more amazing mom quotes at the bottom of this email.

Do you want to make sure you can remember the heart-warming moments of your kids childhood?

Celebrate Mothers Sessions are next Monday, Friday and Saturday, and there are STILL a couple of coveted Saturday Sessions Left!

Last Chance to Signup for Celebrate Mothers

Sessions next week – DEADLINE to signup this Sunday 3/29/15 at midnight.

 

The Secret I Love

I secretly love that Billy still needs his mama to fall asleep and carry him around (although at times it does make me crazy!). Liberty actually has hair and her baby face is completely gone… She is a toddler!!!  – Teal L.

Style I don’t always agree with

Little girl features are turning into beautiful more defined features.  They each have their own personal style now, some I might not agree with 100%, but their own, and I love to see that. – Danica A.

More Adult Talk

Dana B.: We can talk about “adult” stuff, but the next second, we are talking about “kid” stuff too.  I love the new chapter that we have begun and look forward to the future! – Dana B.

3 going on 13

Lilly has gotten her diva personality since the photo too.  She already acts like a teenager and is only 3!! – Mindy C.

Squishy to Soft

I am watching her go from a squishy, cute giggly baby, to a softer beautiful, inquisitive child. – Andrea K.

No Big Deal

When I go to pick my son up from work every day at grandma’s, he used to always run up and give me a big hug and now when I show up and it’s like “oh moms here, no big deal”, and just keeps doing whatever it is that he’s doing! – Meghan L

Scared they’ll someday be seniors

My boys have changed so much that it scares the bleeping crap out of me. When I photograph high school senior boys, I realize that someday they will not be my snuggly, cuddly, lovey-dovey, hug-smothering little people. They will be their own people. -Lisa (Me!)

Signup for Celebrate Mothers HERE

 

Here were the answers in full:

 

Teal L. –

1. Billy’s sweet smile and mischievous grin! I love his perfectly spaced teeth and one sided dimple! I love that he stills thinks he is batman and that he still has a batcave at Gotham city!!! I also…secretly love that he still needs his mama to fall asleep and carry him around (although at times it does make me crazy!)

Liberty’s wild hair and loud voice! I love her spirit…its confident and beautiful. She has wisdom beyond her years and is always trying to figure out how to do everything herself. On our lastest girls night, I ask her if she wanted to buy a toy or shop for makeup… MAKEUP!

 

2. Both Billy and Liberty have grown taller for sure!!! Billy’s face is chiseled(hahaha… Lost toddler boy face) and Liberty actually has hair and her baby face is completely gone… She is a toddler!!!

Billy has gained so much confidence and is reading!!!

Liberty finally ditched her beloved binki,dresses herself and daily demands she fixes her own hair!

Billy still has fabulous stories and Liberty is still a little hug-a-bug!

 

Mindy F –

1. Right now I love the fact that there are no more diapers in the house!!  Well almost no more diapers.  Lilly still has pull-ups on occasion and an accident or two but the endless dirty diapers are going away!!  I love their joy of all things small, small accomplishments, small moments

 

2. They both have grown soooo much since the photo! They really do grow up too fast!! Lilly has gotten her diva personalty since the photo too.  She already acts like a teenager and is only 3!!

 

Andrea K –

1. I love her curiosity and how she thrives to learn, every day is a gift to her and uses it to its full extent. It’s a beautiful reminder to me that life is beautiful and full of wonder, she teaches me something everyday while I attempt to help her understand this crazy world.

 

2. I am watching her go from a squishy, cute giggly baby, to a softer beautiful, inquisitive child. She has developed her own sense of person with habits and a love for helping others. She still knows I’ll always catch her but she now realized how much she wants to be there to catch others some day.

 

Meghan L.

What I love most about my child right now is that the slightest thing will make him laugh!  Like throwing food to the dogs, he thinks it’s hysterical!

There’s been a lot of changes!  He’s walking now, he’s a lot more independent, like when I go to pick him up from work every day at grandma’s, he used to always run up and give me a big hug and now when I show up and it’s like “oh moms here, no big deal”, and just keeps doing whatever it is that he’s doing!!

 

Danica A.

1.  That they are becoming so independent and have such specific likes in in the outside world whether it be music, art, books OR even political views, and they are asserting their own very different personalities.  They are really becoming amazing young women.  

 

2. Physically so much, little girl features are turning into beautiful more defined features.  They each have their own personal style now, some I might not agree with 100%, but their own, and I love to see that.  They are really, strong willed and independent young ladies, and those traits shine through more and more every day.  They are not my little girls anymore, I have a couple of tweenagers now!  <3

Dana B.

1. I love that Zach is growing into a wonderful, caring, and very appreciative young man.  We have always been able to communicate about anything, and that is still strong.  We can talk about “adult” stuff, but the next second, we are talking about “kid” stuff too.  I love the new chapter that we have begun and look forward to the future!

 

2. The changes I see in Zach are huge.  Even though he was forced to grow up faster than his years, he was still able to maintain a great sense of being a kid.  He still has that but his mature side is starting to take over and it is amazing to remember how he was just a couple years ago.  He is more independent, more protective, and is starting to get a real feel for the man he is becoming.  Zach has been a great child to raise and I am so thankful that I was able to be his mother!!!

 

Dara S.

 

What I love about my son, he keeps me on my toes and love the things he comes up with. In the last 17 months we gained another member a little girl. I get to watch my son be an amazing big brother. And had grown up so much since then .

 

Lisa W.

My son Noah just LOVES to kiss me and everyone else that is around. He has these slobbery not quite a toddler kisses and pulls your face in to hug. My son Jackson repeats the funniest things! The sweetest thing he says is, “hey Mom, I love you so much.”

 

They have changed so much that it scares the crap out of me. When I photograph high school senior boys, I realize that someday they will not be my snuggly, cuddly, lovey-dovey, hug-smothering little people. They will be their own people. -Lisa (Me!)