Four Months

Dear Sofia,
Four days ago you turned four months old. We were driving to San Antonio and getting ready for the big Christmas Eve feast on your four-month birthday. I apologize for not writing this sooner, but this dial-up connection at your grandparents' house isn't easy to deal with.

Sofia, you are now four months old. It seems like time is just slipping away and every minute you are doing something new. Why, just this morning I heard you laugh a real laugh. A beautiful, sweet, silly little laugh while your grandpa tickled you and bounced you up and down. You laughed every time, and I couldn't believe it. Two days ago your dad and I noticed how you protested when we took a snow globe away from you. You cried until we gave it back. And did it again and again. Yes, we tried it multiple times just to be sure. Amazing. You now lie on your activity mat and enjoy it. You grab at all the animals dangling overhead. You have started noticing the cats and smile when you see them up close. You even try to touch them. You are getting better and better with your hands and know how to take out your pacifier and put it back in. You don't quite put it in correctly all the time, but you're getting there! You now not only roll from back to belly, but you know how to roll back again! I keep thinking you'll crawl soon the way you move those chunky legs. You like to stick your bottom up and try to move your legs.

You notice EVERYTHING. It amazes me sometimes how you'll be eating and notice something from the corner of your eye. You turn your whole head to get a better look. This makes your nursing sessions longer, but they don't last very long generally. You are now an extremely efficient eater. I can practically flash my breast your direction and you latch on with no problem. I still love to nurse you. Nothing makes me feel closer to you than that. You are my sweet little baby.

You have an incredible smile! It is beautiful. Sometimes you smile a smile so big we can see your tongue, and sometimes you give us a little impish smile. You still love mirrors and almost always smile when you see your reflection. You have a dimple on your right cheek that always shows up when you smile.

You got some good loot for Christmas including a Fisher Price Aquarium which absolutely mesmerizes you. You got lots of new books, and even sat still to let me read some to you. I hope you grow to love reading as much as your dad and I do.

You don't cry a lot. Usually when you do it is because you're tired or hungry. You were unusually fussy last week, and your dad had been sick so we took you to the doc just to check you out. You had the beginnings of an ear infection, so you are now taking antibiotics. A painful process. You spit out most of the medicine. You hate it. You also got a shot of antibiotics at the doctor's office. I almost cried it was so painful to watch. Poor baby had just gotten your second round of immunizations two days earlier. You weighed in at 16 lbs, 8.2 oz and measured 24.5 inches. I can't believe how big you are!!

You are an amazing child. And God, you are a beautiful baby. I can't believe you are mine. I can't believe you actually grew inside me for all those months. I am so thankful for you, Sofia. Your father and I feel very blessed and love you so very much!

Love,
Mom