Dear Sofia,
How is it possible that you're turning nine today? It's your last year as a single digit, I remember nine was a really exciting year for me. I met Derek when I was nine. You've already met your best friend, Zola. I know I've said it in my past letters, but I'll say it again: I hope you two girls grow up to be as close as Derek and I and don't let anything come between you.
After hearing me mention her for years, you finally met Sloan, your older sister, when she visited for Christmas. You might learn this before actually reading this, but you have another big sister. Addison and I were going to have a baby about seven years before you were born, but she didn't make it. We like to think it would have been a girl named Ella. That's the reason I'm always super bummed the middle of January; it's when she was supposed to have been born. If you read this and want to know more, I'd be happy to tell you more about what happened. I don't talk about it very often and it's something that even your moms don't know about me, but I hope by being honest with you, you'll be honest with me.
You're in third grade this year and you love school. That's definitely something you got from Madre because I was not the best student, nor did I enjoy school. Your favorite classes are math and art. I think those classes reflect your personality quite well: you can be serious and sometimes frustrating, but also fun and imaginative.
I'm so glad that you're still the cuddle bug you've always been. Nothing makes the stress of the day disappear as quickly as a hug from you when I come home. I'm dreading the day you decide you're too old to give your parents hugs, so if that should happen before you turn 18 (and I'm praying it doesn't), please make your old man's day and give me a hug every so often.
These letters seem to get shorter each time I write one. That's probably because we talk more so I don't have as many important life lessons to pass on to you. It's also because you're at a relatively easy age, I'm sure the letters from me in a few years will be pages long.
Love,
Daddy