4 Months Old!

cutie pie, originally uploaded by wireframe.

Since we arrived home 2 1/2 weeks ago, lots has changed with Sophia.

She celebrated her first Christmas, making appearances all over southern Minnesota. We spent the afternoon with Sophia's great grandma and grandpa on December 22nd. From there, we headed to Grandpa and Grandma Proehl's for a few days. We celebrated Christmas Eve with Grandpa and Grandma Sonnek, and then returned back to the Proehl farm to celebrate with all of my family on the 25th. We came back to the cities that afternoon as Ryan had to start work the day after Christmas. Sophia and I were a little sad, but we knew it was just a few days until the weekend. We had no problem keeping ourselves occupied.

We decided that before Sophia celebrated Christmas with her daddy's family that coming weekend, she needed her ears pierced. That's right, little Sophia has sparkles in her ears! Sophia's honorary aunt, Tia Amber, came along for moral support (for me, or course, not Sophia). I held Sophia while Amber sat in front of her and kept her smiling--well, until Sophia realized what had just happened to her. According to Amber, her facial expression went from giddy to confused to angry in no time at all. Luckily, it was time for her bottle just as we finished. She recovered quite nicely once she started eating.

On December 30th, Sophia turned 4 months old. It's amazing how much she's grown and changed. Her eyes are constantly observing her surroundings and she loves to interact by smiling, cooing, sticking out her tongue (which she's just recently realized that she has), and spitting. Sophia LOVES to spit. It is currently her main form of communication (when she's happy that is). Crying is still her primary way of showing us she's less than pleased.

It has been incredible for us to be part of all of these changes. She is extremely strong. She still has her monkey death grip and now enjoys latching on to my hair. (I understand why so many moms go for a short hairdo). She holds her head and upper body up remarkably well for a four-month old, and she loves when you pull her onto her feet. She's even rolled from her back to her side a couple of times. Each day she seems to have a new surprise for us.

Sophia continues to be a bigger blessing than either Ryan or I could imagine. We are completely in love with our little girl and so grateful to be her parents.