Dear Darling Daughter,

Today is your seventh birthday. It seems like only yesterday when the adoption agency called me to tell me all about you and that I would become a mother.

I remember the day we went to pick you up, you were sooo tiny and so quiet. How different you are today. In those first days, living moment to moment, waking up every two hours to feed you that I could not even imagine what you would be like when you turned 7 and now the day has arrived.

You are truly a treasure. When people hear that I adopted you, they always seem to say that you are so lucky and that I am doing a wonderful thing but I am the lucky one. I liked my life before you came along but I love my life with you in it. Now I can't even imagine my life without you.

It makes me so happy that you are such a happy kid, full of joy and energy. Your comments never cease to amaze me or make me laugh, like your list of things you are going to do when you turn seven.

Last week you announced to me, "When I turn seven, I am going to

• Sleep in my bed
• Be more responsible 
• Do more around the house
• I am not going to write mean things but keep it to myself 
• Take out the recycling