Clara is ONE month old!

Happy one month, Clara! 

This month has gone by so quickly. It feels like you just joined us and here you are, already four weeks old, one month! And while you still seem so new, I can also see how you've been changing and growing so much. Some days it feels like I wake up in the morning and look at you, only to see that you've grown overnight! Already you don't seem so small and floppy as you did a few weeks ago. You are getting very good at holding your head up, you love to raise your head off our shoulders and look around with wide eyes, taking everything in. You seem to be a perceptive, watchful, thoughtful girl who notices everything and listens intently when we talk to you. In the last couple days you've even given me a few smiles that I'm very sure are intentional. You have a beautiful smile, my girl. I can't wait to see more of those!

You are still wearing newborn clothes...sleepers I should say. You've only worn "real" clothes twice in your life! I can tell that you're starting to stretch to the end of your newborn size things but 0-3 month size is still so big on you! I weighed you just now on our home scale and, complete with clothes and diaper, it said you are 8.2 lbs already! You have a full head of dark brown hair that everyone comments on. Your eyes are very blue right now with no sign of any other colour yet. I wonder if you'll have blue eyes when you grow up? I do remember Kayden having very blue eyes just like yours for a few months, though, and hers aren't blue now so maybe you'll take after her and have eyes like your daddy!

You are mostly a very content baby, Clara. Sometimes your tummy seems to bother you, and then you get a little fussy. Who could blame you? Gripe water, being bounced, and sucking on a soother or finger seem to help when you're fussy. You seem like you would love to have a soother to sleep all the time but I'm not sure I want to deal with having to take it away when you're older so for now you only get it when you're fussy. You don't seem to mind too much. 

Your sleep has been mostly ok this month. You go to bed around 8 most nights and are up every 1-4 hours all night long. You have slept one or two 5 hour stretches, but that doesn't happen much. Hopefully soon you'll start sleeping longer stretches! During the day, your naps are not predictable but not terrible either. You are usually awake about an hour before you start to seem tired again. Sometimes you only sleep 5 minutes after we put you down and other times you'll sleep for a couple hours. You sleep swaddled in your playpen in mommy and daddy's room at night and in your basket in the living room during the day. You eat every two hours or so during the day and whenever you wake up at night. 

This month you have met all of your extended family (grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins) except Auntie Carrie. You've been to church for the first time and to Levi's soccer game. You don't love your car seat but usually fall asleep in it before too long. You have spent most of your time this month hanging out with me as I recover from your birth. Thanks for being such good company for me!

We are enjoying you so much, Clara. Your brother and sisters love you and always ask to hold you. Kayden calls you "Miss Clara" and Maddie will often put her face near yours and say "ooooh...Baby Cara..." Levi loves to hold you so your head is on his chest. They are such wonderful helpers and siblings. They will take very good care of you as you grow up. 

Happy one month, Clara Mercy! We look forward to continuing to watch you grow!