Happy One Month Sophia Lee Gowan!

I can't believe it has been one month since sweet Sophia Lee was born. I still look at her in awe and can't believe the little miracle that she is! I can say that I have learned so much about myself, motherhood, and this beautiful baby that God has blessed us with. The joys of mommy-hood is an emotional roller coaster for sure! No matter how many books I have read or how much advice has been thrown my way, I have learned that the best thing I can do is listen to my heart and pray that God is leading me on the right path to raise this precious baby. I have felt so much happiness seeing her sweet face daily, so much love for her that I can't describe, and so much joy in my heart, but have also felt feelings of self-doubt, frustration, anxiety, and being scared. Hearing her cry and not being able to soothe her even after trying everything the "books" advise you to do, not knowing if I'm feeding her enough or if she's getting enough from me, the frustration of not sleeping (that's no fun at all...my 10+ hours of sleep during pregnancy is now a distant memory...), and trying so hard to get her to sleep, but failing so many times has left me feeling those feelings. But, looking back at this past month, I wouldn't change anything for the world. I treasure each moment that I have with our baby and am so thankful that I am learning how to lean and depend on God each day & every moment as a new mom, just as my daughter depends on me.

I am also so thankful that I have such great In-Laws who were able to help out so much in the beginning and for my family here in San Diego as they are helping me out while Caleb is gone. My mom has also been such a wonderful help, teaching me simple tricks like how to hold her in a more comfortable position when I cradle her, and being the extra pair of hands to hold her while I use the bathroom or take a shower! I love how God provides and I am so so so thankful for her. It's been a crazy roller coaster of a month, but I feel so blessed. Motherhood is truly a blessing, and I am so blessed that we have our sweet baby Sophia Lee!

I don't have her current stats, but here's what I know:

- Last Thursday at her weigh in, she was 8 lbs. 5 oz, 21.5 inches long. We will be doing another weigh in next week!
- She is very alert and is awake most of the time (NOT what I was expecting for a newborn..I thought they sleep all day!). We are still trying to figure out how to get her to sleep. So far, the best technique is in my mom's arms while she sings a lullaby! We have tried everything, from the miracle blanket, swaddling, white noise, swings, bouncers, leaving her in the crib to fall asleep by herself, but nothing seems to work better than being in Grandma's arms!
- She grunts and loves to stretch A LOT in her sleep
- She has a lot of control of her head movement. When she does tummy time, she can lift her head and peck, and also move her head from side to side
- She tracks sounds very well. When you talk to her, she will follow your voice with her eyes!
- She loves falling asleep with her right hand on her face
- Her sleep cycle usually lasts an hour, but has reached 4 hours once!
- She coos and hums while I feed her (best sound ever!)
- She has stolen the hearts of both me and her daddy!