It's Your Birthday, BabyGirl!

Dear Sofia,

Happy One Month Birthday! What a remarkable month it has been. You are now officially sleeping 3 to 4 hours at night ...wahooooo! Your papa has taught you to stick out your tongue, smack your tongue on the roof of your mouth, and got you to "oohhh" on command just last night. You are such a content little baby and you are able to chillax for extended periods of time in both your swing and bouncy chair. Can't imagine all the changes you will undergo in month number two.

xo's my love,

mama

Meet the Grandparents

This past week was a very exciting one for our little Sofia. She met her Nana & Grampy Pelletier for the first time. It was a week of many firsts for her. She made her first trip to the Denver Art Museum where she stared in amazement at all the colors and lights throughtout the museum. She also made her first trip to up to Evergreen and to a real restaurant. She enjoyed all these firsts but the thing she definetely enjoyed the most was spending time with her Nana ,Grampy. They've only been gone for a few hours and we miss them terribly already. Life is so much more fun with those two around. She's been super cranky all day since they left and I think it can only be attributed to their absence. Thank you for such a wonderful time and for all your help and most importantly for being such a loving presence in your granddaughters life.

In Case You Missed It..

Dear Sofia,

Today we awoke to watch bits & pieces of THE inauguration. You may have missed it since you were extremely cranky from the sleep you decided not to get last night. I believe you wailed through much of Obama's speech, so I will give you the jist of it. Today we received a new president unlike any other and not just because of the color of his skin. They also spent an insane amount of money on said inauguration which seems quite disrespectful for those of us who are currently feeling the hurt of our current economy. All of which you will no doubt learn in history class making your parents feel incredibly old. So was it the anticipation of a new administration taking over today that kept you up all night? Or perhaps a sudden growth spurt that only allowed you to sleep for twenty minute intervals. Whatever it may have been I wanted to let you know that something rather historic took place today while I tried with all my might to hypnotize you into napping long enough for me to brush my teeth. Every mom-to-be should be offered a class on how to multi-task at the speed of light with 3 hours of sleep...now that would be a useful skill.

xo's mama

All the Excercise & Fresh Air Makes a Little Girl Very Sleepy

Sunshine & 60 degrees in January...

Today we went for her first walk around the block. She was completely asleep as soon as we hit the pavement. Mom was glad to get out the house as she is beginning to get a touch of cabin fever. This was my first big walk since the c-section and although I had to walk slow it felt so good to get some excercise. Tuesday is supposed to be 68 degrees and I'm thinking it will be a great day for another walk.

A Look Back

Dear Sofia, Perhaps its the rare quiet moment I've been granted by you & your daddy sleeping in on this Sunday morning that has made me nostalgic as I look through the pictures of you we've taken over the last 3 weeks. But it seems truly surreal that its only been a little less than a month since you came into our life. I suddenly can't even remember our life before you although it has been a lot longer if you count the nine months you grew inside me. You were such an active little baby from the first moment I could feel your kicks and movements you just never seemed to tire of letting me know you were there. Always ahead of schedule when it came to development you popped into the world all bright-eyed you began focusing on the world around you early. This past couple of days we have seen the biggest change in your ability to not just see the things and people around you but to begin to react to them. Little smiles, grabbing at our faces, staring at us & studying our expressions with such curiousity, and reaching out. The smallest of changes & gestures seem so huge coming from such a tiny little girl. I love these moments - each & every one. I can't wait to see what you have in store for me this week...xo's mama

Tosh Welcomes Her Home

Hip Hip Hooray for the Swing

Our little peanut has had a bit of a struggle while we work out the correct amount of formula supplement to breastmilk intake - actually the struggle has really been ours since an incorrect ratio has thus far resulted in one wicked unhappy little human. (She seems to overcompensate for her small stature with very large wails that we fear will result in her head blowing up.) After an afternoon of attempting to soothe her with extra dosages of breastmilk & formula between feedings were getting me nowhere and I began to realize I would never get out of my pajamas before Scott got home at 5pm ever ever ever again, Scott came home took her from my arms placed her in the swing and within minutes she was a sleeping little angel. To whoever invented this heavenly machine - thank you a million times thank you. I will immediately begin my campaign to nominate you for a nobel peace prize. You are my hero - whoever you are. P.S. Thank you for my snuggly new blanket, Aunt Erin, Uncle Jay, & Cousin Jaeda - love, Sofia

Another First

Dear Sofia,

Today was a monumental day in your new little life.... your first trip to Target with your Yah-Yah & I. This may not seem all that important to you now especially since you were asleep from the moment you entered the store until the moment we left, but believe you me this was the first of many trips we will make together to this superstore babylon. There will be many memories that will be based on trips to Target for various purchases. I believe you felt the excitement of this new adventure and were so overwhelmed the only way you could contain yourself was to just close your eyes, and enjoy your first cart ride. I can completely relate as I too have had some pretty strong reactions after a really good trip to Tarjay. In fact I could use a nap myself.

love & xo's

mama

Welcome to your Third Week on Earth..

So, it begins with a winter snow storm - her first one ever. Seems so appropriate after the warm magical snuggie her Aunt Allison just sent her (which makes her fall to a deep sleep almost instantly). New on her agenda thus far: 1. smiling when she wakes from a nap on her own as opposed to be awoken by a dog, Daddy, or a poopy diaper which does not make her smile 2. covering Mommy's face with frantic kisses when she's hungry 3. pushing up on her legs during tummy time 4. holding her head up 5. continuing to focus in on her surroundings her favorites are the kitchen, her bedroom, the large orange poster in the living room, the lights around the fireplace, the curtains in the living room, our faces, & the animals. It's amazing how such a little girl can change so drastically in a few days. I suppose its even more amazing how much she has changed us.

Our Little Piglet...

Sofia had her two week check up today & we are happy to report she is back to her birth weight of 6lbs 31/2oz. She is still a small little girl at 193/4" in length, but considering her parents we weren't expecting a giant. Her development is right on track to ahead of schedule. Her motor skills are advanced so she may be small but she's got one tight little grip. She is responding to sounds which unfortunately today became the sound of Elroy's barking which led to a stand off between baby & dog - who was louder a baby crying or a labrador barking. I called a tie and asked that no rematch be set anytime soon.

So Much to Learn

Thus far in her little life Sofia has been ahead of schedule when it comes to development. She may be small, but she's already able to take her pacifier out of her mouth and put it back in, focus on her new environmnet, hold her own bottle, & is beginning to become less of a bobblehead. We couldn't be prouder of our babygirl.

Princess Chubby Cheeks

Sofia had her second trip to the pediatrician yesterday morning for her weigh-in. We are happy to report that she has gained 3oz since Friday. We are also happy to report that we are beginning to finally figure out this whole newborn feeding schedule. It's been rough trying to give her plenty of nourishment in order to put some pudge on those little limbs. Now maybe she'll be able to start fitting into some of her newborn clothes...

My Biggest Fan

While the dogs have only begun to show signs of understanding that she is here to stay, Tosh the Cat has been the most accepting of the tiny human. He likes to pet the top of her head ever so gently with his paw & stare at her endlessly. We believe the truth behind this admiration is the realization that he is no longer the smallest living thing in the house. This has him very excited and anxious to teach her all the things he has learned being such a small kitty in a household of much larger animals. I'm sure lessons that will prove most useful throughout her life....

One Week Old

Sofia is officially a week old as of 11:37am yesterday. Everyone told me how amazing, hard, & special that first week is and they were right . It has been all of that and so much more. It's hard to believe you can fall so in love with anyone from the moment you first lay eyes on them the way I fell for her. To see how she changes from day to day and her personality begins to slowly emerge - there really is nothing better. To have her look at me for the first time and feel like she sees you and knows who you are and who you will always be to her for the rest of her life. Perhaps, thats a bit too existential for a one week year old but during our 4am feedings with the lack of sleep and the lighting everything appears a bit surreal. All I know is as we muddle our way through figuring out how to soothe her cries, dealing with cranky outbursts from lack of sleep, and the amazement that we actually created such a beautiful little girl - I will forever cherish this first week of her life and all the weeks that follow. We are truly blessed.

First Impressions

Sofia took her first trip into the outside world (besides the ride home from the hospital) yesterday to get her first check-up. She did fantastic until they put her on the scale naked at which time she felt it a perfect time to show off two of her baby skills - projectile pooping while peeing paired with some fantastic sound effects. Doesn't take a genius to see which one of us she acquired this talent from. She has gained exactly 1oz since leaving the hospital she currently tips the scale at 5lbs 11oz. So, we have upped her formula supplement intake and thus far its made for a much happier baby & parents. So, we are now feeding her between feedings whenever the need arises and making it our mission to make her one chubby little girl. We will be making a trip back on Monday to check in on her progress.

Welcome to the World!

Sofia Frances Pelletier celebrated her first first birthday on December 27th. She weighed in at a whopping 6lbs 3oz to make her one very tiny human being. Who does she look like? I think she has Scott's eyes, & my lips & chin - however when compared to my newborn baby pic she does seem to resemble a mini-me. Characteristically she is definetely our child - stubborn, & funny. So far she has taken a liking to her vibrating bouncy chair, being swaddled with her arms free, trying out new facial expressions, and listening to music. The animals are beginning to act less traumatized until she begins to wail and then they are outta there. Elroy refused to be in the same room with her for about two days & has finally gotten within a few feet. Myles thinks he's been replaced and the cats think she's a baby kitty. Welcome to our crazy world Sofia "Babycakes" Pelletier - we promise if nothing else it sure won't be boring!