Sofia,

My little girl isn't so little anymore. You are fifteen years old and a freshman in high school this year. I love seeing the woman you've grown into.

You are definitely Madre's daughter, but you have your moments where you'd never know that I wasn't your biological mother. We've gotten past your days of stating that I'm not your mother. I like to think we're closer because of it, especially after I told you about how I declared that you were my baby and I didn't want anything to happen to my baby.

It's been a big year for you, not only did you start high school, you also had your first boyfriend. As much as I think fourteen was too young to be in a relationship like you were, Jake made you happy, so I was happy for you.

I love seeing you become your own person. You refuse to wear to popular clothes or do what's considered "cool." You still love playing soccer and look forward to going to camp every summer. You've even talked about working at camp some day. I don't understand why anyone would want to spend their entire summer in the middle of the woods, but that's what you want to do.

You've also been talking about your future a lot and what you want to be when you grow up. You've talked about being a surgeon, unlike when you were little and didn't want anything to do with medicine. If you do go into surgery, I could see you really enjoying ortho. I know it's what Madre does, but the two of you are so much alike. Ortho surgeons are rock stars, building bones from nothing, and you most definitely are my rock star child.

I want you to know that if nothing works out the way you planned, don't let that hold you back. You have dreams you don't even know you have and they will come true for you some day. I never dreamt of being a mother or wife, but I wouldn't change my life, because if I did, I wouldn't be able to call myself your mother.

Happy Birthday!

Love,

Mom

Author's Note: Sorry for the updates being so far apart lately. I just moved and started a new job. I have the last letters already written & uploaded, but I'm lacking Internet in myapartment right now, so I have to gosomewhere that has free wifi when I want to upload. I've gotten several requests for Sofia's reaction to the letters and I'm definitely considering writing one, however, I don't really have time to write until the middle of next month.