You say, "I love you."

This week, you finally said the words I've been waiting to hear: "I love you."

Those three words--words I've heard before from men whom I've dated, including your father--are often words a woman wants to hear. But this time was so different, so sweet, so much better.

You are my son. To hear you SAY that you love me makes the word make sense now. Love: to always be there for someone--no matter what. Unconditional. Unconditionally.

...

Flashback to 1993. I am 16. A boy tells me he loves me. I don't know what to say. I love him, I think--but I don't have the courage to say the words. Words matter too much to mess them up.

...

Flashback to 2005. I am 29. I tell your father I love him. He doesn't know what to say. He love me, he thinks--but he don't have the courage to say the words. Words matter too much to mess them up.

...

Flashback to 2009. I am 33. You are born. They place you in my arms. I tell you I love you. I know it. I feel it. You are my son. I hold you and hold you and hold you.

...

Rewind: April 25, 2011. I'm reading you a story, tucking you into bed. I say, "I love you, Noah." You say, "I love you" back. Your "love" sounds like "of" but I love it anyway.

19 Months: Thoughts about Love

Today, on Valentine's Day, you turn 19 months. You're at your first Valentine's Day party at daycare; I'm home sick with the stomach flu. Here are some thoughts for you about love:

• Loving you is the easiest thing I've done--but it's also been the hardest.

• It doesn't get any better than listening to you say the word "hippo," the word "owl," the simple preposition "up."

• What I look forward to the most: Taking to you about Love.

• Someone will break your heart.

• Someone else will put it back together.

• You will break someone's heart.

• Someone will stay when everyone else ran away. This is the person to hang onto, tightly.

• Love isn't what you think it is at 16. Or 21. Or 25. Or 28. And I'm sure it keeps changing after your 30s, but I'm not there yet.

• I will always love you. NO MATTER WHAT. Never forget this.

• I hope your face always stays as sweet as it is today.