Dear Scarlet, 
Every single year at 7:18PM we take a photo together and listen to Blackbird by The Beatles. It’s the exact minute you were born in 2007 as that song played and rain lightly drizzled down the windows of the hospital room. I remember your eyes looking up at me, the same exact pair of inquisitive eyes with that curious gaze I still see on a daily basis. The same perfect little bow tie lips that kiss my checks and spit out hilarious one liners. You’ve always looked exactly the same to me, my Scarlet. It’s insane how much change we’ve gone through each year, how for some reason September is always an annual metamorphosis for us. This year was particularly intense. Everything about our lives changed after your birthday last year. You braved through your 4th year. You are, hands and piggies down,  the most resilient girl I know. This may have been the roughest year yet, and  you have still come out the other end as brilliant as ever. You dance  through your days on the very ends of your toes, always smiling or saying something clever and singsongy.  The truth is, I don’t know where I’d be if there was no you, and I really don’t want to know. You’re my consistency. My constant. We may have to adapt to these crazy life transformations that each year brings our way, but we adapt together. We grow together. Just the two of us. You’re the only family I have within 10 hour radius. You are my blood, my entire life. September 7th, 2007 was the first day of my life. No matter what changes each year, there is really only one change that matters. And that’s the day they put your tiny body on my chest and my eyes met yours. That love, this love, has since been the only relevant thing from that point forward. This morning you woke up and ate cake for breakfast before school. After you got home, we opened more presents and you painted with your new finger paints. We went to lunch with TJ and Vickie. We came home and built forts with Ashley and opened presents from Bobby and Brooke. You went to watch Paranorman with your dad. Bobby put up the new curtains that Aunt Carly made you. Later we went to paint little sculptures and magnets and the paint your own pottery place. It was a blast! Then we came home and had a cotton candy cake that I made for you and Brooke. It was actually for Sabrie’s birthday too, but she was sick. You set up your fairy playhouse and started coloring it. Now we are watching Corpse Bride in the fort we are going to sleep in, slumber party style. I can’t wait for your party on Sunday! I hope you had an awesome birthday, baby. I love you. Lock and Key for life. - Mom