May 4, 2021
Dear Scarlett Rose,
I once heard that a child’s birth can tell a bit about who they will be in life, and for you this rings true—strong, confident, extraordinary; not waiting for anyone to tell you what to do. Those long, beautiful baby days with you were nothing short of magical, like waking up to the sweetest dream every day and I truly savored every second. And while you will always be my baby girl, for the first time it is so apparent to me that you are no longer a baby. You are a sunflower who just keeps growing and I realized the other day that I no longer have to look down to see you shining in the sun. There is no trace of your thick, brunette baby curls, and your trademark hair swirl peeks out from your blonde tangles less and less. You don’t ask to be picked “uppy” nearly as often, and I know the times that you still do ask (your long legs practically skimming the floor now) could be the last—so this request I will always grant while I still can. I kept you in toddler clothes as long as I possibly could—compromising for slightly high-water pants and sleeves not quite long enough because I’m not ready for the big girl clothes that suddenly look so much older. There isn’t an ounce of baby chub left on you, except maybe a bit in your cheeks. I see you slowly being aware of how others might think of you, and I pray with all my heart that you never think you are anything less than wonderful.
However, while you may not look it so much anymore, in many ways you are still my sweet little baby girl. You still need to be held when you are sad or not feeling well, and while my heart breaks at your pain, it bursts from getting to be close to you. You still say Mama and Dada, and gosh, I won’t be able to take it when that fades away. You still have the same little raspy voice you’ve always had, but now it’s somehow saying these sophisticated, intelligent things. You still love your Bear with your whole heart, and need your stuffed animals to sleep at night. As smart as you are, you still have that sweet innocence only a child can have, and I will do everything in my power to preserve that for as long as I can. You still look to me for reassurance and approval and I hope with all my heart that when you look to me all you see is my unconditional love and nothing less.
Baby or not, at 6 years old you are a gem. Brilliant, imaginative, hilarious, zany, curious, beautiful, mesmerizing, enchanting, just pure loveliness.
Happy birthday, my sweetest baby (great big) girl.
Love,
Mama