Sophia's 1 Month Update
Dear Sophia Mae,
What a joy it has been to see you grow and change over the last four weeks. While there is still a lot we have to learn about each other, we are getting into a routine and figuring things out. Your dad and I love to see the different facial expressions you make, my favorite being the kissy face you make while lifting and turning your head. You are already so strong, constantly lifting your head up off our chest. During tummy time you do so well with pushing yourself up with your arms and also lifting your legs up. We don’t know how this happened but on January 23, 2020, you rolled yourself over from your belly to your back! We were speechless!
We are getting better and faster at changing your diaper, but you’re full of surprises. You LOVE to pee and/or poop right after we’ve put a new diaper on you. You even had projectile poop that went about five feet across the room. Way to go! Now we know we need to cover you up when changing you, since you’re so unpredictable. Sneezing after you poop is also one of your favorite things to do and we have yet to catch it on video (we will get it one of these days). We both have been peed on multiple times and because you’re our daughter, we don’t find it that disgusting.
Breastfeeding started out very challenging for both of us. The first week I had extremely sore nipples as I was becoming accustomed to having you latch on. We quickly found out that you like to nurse for comfort, which is actually pretty annoying since it made the length of our breastfeeding sessions really long. I love you so much, but I want our snuggle time to be fun for both of us. Two weeks in you still had not gained back your birth weight and at our first lactation appointment they mentioned the possibility of you having a tongue tie, making it difficult for you to transfer milk. This has been so stressful for mama because I want to make sure you’re getting enough milk. Sure enough, at your tongue tie consultation, the physician diagnosed you and performed the revision right then and there. You did so well, only crying for a minute and then calming down once I fed you. Your tongue looks so good and you nurse so much better. We are so proud of you. During this learning period, you had your first taste of formula and I’m pretty sure you didn’t like it as much as you like my milk. ;) Week three you FINALLY surpassed your birth weight, having gained 4 ounces in 1.5 days. I’m still trying to figure out pumping, increasing my supply, and interpreting your hunger cues (although you do a great job at rooting around), but we are moving in the right direction. Currently you weigh 7 pounds 13 ounces, which places you in the 14th percentile. The doctors still think your weight gain is slower than the average, so you now get “dessert” bottles throughout the day. Lucky you!
You really like your sleep and we often have to wake you up for feedings. You even gave me a five hour stretch of sleep when you were three weeks old and I still had to wake you for milk. At this stage in your life, you’re a really happy baby; only crying for food, gas/poop, or because you’re tired. Please keep that up. :) When you are crying for more than a few minutes, Jericho will get up and leave the room. It seems he has a low tolerance for baby cries.
Sophia passed out on the changing table
From day one you’ve had your daddy’s long, skinny, fingers accompanied by very sharp nails. Scratching your face is your favorite hobby so you’re constantly wearing baby gloves. Half the time your feet are so ticklish that you start crying. It’s sad but funny at the same time. So far you’ve had one sponge bath and one regular bath and you didn’t like either of them. Dad does such a good job of getting you clean, which one day you’ll be thankful for.
A few other things we love about you are the sounds you make. You have the cutest snoring sound and your toots and poop noises are so funny! You are so uninhibited and let them out whenever and wherever. We jokingly blame our own farts on you, but yours don’t stink yet. Every time we unswaddle you and wake you up, you stretch your arms above your head and your feet out long. It is the cutest “good morning” stretch we have ever seen! Your Moro Reflex has brought us many laughs. You might think we are mean, but sometimes we try to provoke it by tickling your chest or making a loud noise.
Uncle Austin, Aunt Shelby, Sophia, Dad, amd Mom at a local whiskey distillery
We might be a bit biased, but you have the best family in the world. In your short four weeks of life you’ve met three of your grandparents and your aunt and uncle. You get to meet the fourth grandparent when you’re five weeks old. At three and a half weeks we took you to Bible Study, where you met your first doggie friend, and to Daddy’s work, where you slept through all the socializing. You’ve also met a lot of new baby friends and we can’t wait for you to grow up with best friends from birth.
Grandma Penny and Sophia right after she was born
Grandma Karen amd Sophia on a neighborhood stroll
Grandpa Danny and Sophia
We love you so very much and still cannot believe that we made you and that you are ours to keep! God has so richly blessed us with you!
Love,
Mommy and Daddy
