I have been putting this article off for some time. I'm not sure of how to accurately capture the way I feel about my mom. I've decided that I'll never really be able to put down in words the amount of love I feel for the most amazing, powerful, influential, shy, hilarious woman in my life. So it's time. It's time for your thank you, Madre.

1. Thank you for asking so many questions.

Thank you for all of the times I have asked you to stop asking me so many questions. Thank you for being so involved in my life that you ask me every detail of my entire day. I used to get annoyed at how involved you were - how you had to know every single detail of my plans and my friends before I could do anything at all. Now, I understand it completely. Now, when I call you, I tell you all the details of my day, without you even asking.

2. Thank you for answering all of my phone calls.

Thank you for answering all of them. The 7 a day. The pointless ones. The, "Did you watch Kylie's baby video?", ones, the "I had another girl quit my team today," ones, the "Can you book flights for my entire team?" ones. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

3. Thank you for going above and beyond for my team.

You basically have 32 daughters - you pretty much do as much for all of them as you do for me. You book our flights, you book us buses/vans, you organize dinners for us, etc. You're just as much captain of the team as I am.

4. Thank you for never, ever missing a competition.

Literally, ever. I've been cheering for 13 years now, and you haven't missed one. Not in little league, not up until now, in college. We've spent hours and hours together in the car, on planes, traveling to competitions. I love those memories.

5. Thank you for saying those cheesy sayings my entire life.

6. Thank you for being secretly strict.

In high school, I think I stayed at a friends house maybe 3 times over the entire four years. If I wanted to go somewhere, she had to know every single detail before she even considered it, and even after consideration, the answer was normally, "Why don't you just stay home?" So I did. I sat on the couch with you and dad and watched Two and A Half Men. Now, I see where those friends are in life, and I am so so so happy you kept me home. You saw the selfish, two-faced, betraying properties that they all have and had so you kept me home. And I would like to thank you everyday for that.

7. Thank you for being the best grandma in the world.

Or best "Gabba," I should say. I get to watch you spoil the four boys, and I get to watch your excitement over your first granddaughter. I get to watch (and help) you Christmas shop for them, and surprise them with Valentine's. Someday, I'll get to watch you spoil my own babies. My children will be blessed and loved beyond belief - just like I was.

8. Thank you for teaching me how to shop.

This one is self-explanatory. Thank you for dressing me to the nine's when I was young, and I'm sorry for the multiple-year-long "Jeans and t-shirt," phase through elementary and middle school. I can only guess how happy you were when I started being girly again in high school. Thank you for taking me dress shopping every year - that was and is something I really looked forward to. I also really look forward to Christmas shopping for our family every year, even though after this year you'll probably never take me again...

9. Thank you for marrying Daddy.

(I am 20 years old and I will forever call my dad Daddy.) He is the most brilliant and giving man in the entire world. He has given us everything we could ever want or need and everything more. He is awesome and loving and is the best man in the entire world. He has the best sense of humor, and yes, anytime we're together, we pick on you non-stop... it's completely out of love. We love you.

10. Thank you for making me just like you.

You are generous, and beautiful, and loving. You would give up absolutely anything for the ones you love, especially me. You are warm and kind and full of great advice. And most of all, you are hilarious. You've molded me and continue to grow me into the woman that I am becoming.

11. Thank you for being the best mom in the entire world.

I love you more than anything in the entire world. You are the best friend I have ever had, and since I moved out, I miss you every day. Thank you for everything mentioned above, and for so many things that I couldn't write about (because this would quickly turn into a novel.) I've lived my entire life so blessed and so loved, because of you and the family that you provided me. Thank you, Madre. I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always.

(I got this tattoo on my mom's birthday last year and it's in her handwriting. She cried when she saw it. Partly because she hates tattoos but partly because she loves it.)