May 4, 2025 
Somehow our baby girl is 10! Two whole hands! She is ten years loved, a decade of blessings. Scarlett celebrated turning double digits with a cute cooking party with friends, horseback riding, hibachi, and of course ice cream cookie cake. The next day at school she brought homemade chocolate chip cookies to celebrate with her class. I think she had a good birthday and I hope she felt how much she is loved

Dear Scarlett Rose,

My baby girl, my bunny rose. Today you are 10 years old. My tiny daisy is a big tall sunflower that only yesterday we were celebrating being one whole hand and now you’re two. How have we already loved you for a decade? If I think about it too hard I will just cry and cry so instead I will think about the baby girl who was not waiting around for anybody, arriving bright-eyed and bushy-tailed that morning in early May. I will think instead about pushing you in your stroller through the park with Buddy by our side, swinging at the playground while you laugh and squeal, jumping in muddy puddles with your heart-print rain boots. A billion precious moments from the childhood you so fiercely want to hold onto—still playing pretend, making up stories, creating your own little worlds. You still want to be carried which we will do until we physically cannot or you stop asking which I hope you never do. You still look for the magic in the every day-fairies flying unseen, rocks and wildflowers and other treasures waiting to be collected into pockets, leaping out of the car to see the creek rushing by after a storm. Oh how I wish that this innocence could be preserved forever. For now I’ll be thankful that you still have it and pray that it lasts at least a few more years, preferably fifty.

Watching you become a big sister for the second time has been such a joy. Having a new baby brings back all the memories of when you were our little baby which makes it all the more sweeter. Pushing you around in your bassinet singing Down by the Bay, waking up to find your smiling baby face in the morning, remembering your sweet baby smell and gurgling coos, your kicky chubby legs. When we brought baby August home for the first time, you were so little but not too little to love, and boy did you love your baby brother from that first moment. This time, welcoming another brother but as a big girl who better understands all that comes along with it, still loved this new baby boy from the moment we all saw him take his first breath and your love for him just continues to grow stronger every day. You are so very proud to be his sister, and one day, not too far off, he will be so proud of you, too. 

You make my heart soar every day with the little joys like making sure to get an extra treat to bring home for August, and big things like when you were awarded the honor code award for honorable behavior at school. You were praised for your humility, kindness, patience, and gentleness towards others and your teacher wanted to thank you for the sweetness you bring to your class, the school, and the world everyday. We are so lucky to be blessed with your sweetness everyday and kept on our toes with your equal amounts of spice:)

You are truly the most special girl and you have been my very favorite decade yet.

Love,

Mom