Single Parent

Nate left for Rio yesterday afternoon and left me to fend the house and Belle on my own. He had some work to do, tie up loose ends with the paperwork, pay more doctors and pick up Belle's Nana and Papaw from the airport so it was necessary that he leave us.

At first fear kicked in but then I realized that life won't end! The past day and a half flew by and nothing really changed other than me missing him like crazy. Even though it's not that bad I still do not envy single parents with a newborn.

Today a friend of mine came over for the day and held Belle while I finally unpacked from our long stay in Rio, made lunch, finished laundry, organized Belle's outfits and took a breath. Granted, my mom spent a week here with me but I spent all my extra time catching up on sleep. Now that Belle has a few weeks under her belt she sleeps amazing at night, 4hr stretches, and I feel rested after a night's sleep.

Everything is now ready for our visitors and I won't feel stressed to get things done! After lunch tomorrow the house will be filled with family, love and laughter. Pictures and adventures to come as we travel with Belle to Buzios and take a boat tour of some islands.... so excited!! Maybe I can dress her in one of her 10 bathing suits.... (don't worry, no sun for her at all!!)

Tchau,
Sara

Declaration of Life

The document proving that Belle is alive, that we have been missing for the past 3 weeks, has been located! According to Dr. J, the hospital claims that Nate refused the document because it wasn't laminated.  Good try hospital. I would believe that LIE if you would have just said Nate refused the document but you made the lie too specific. First of all, Nate doesn't know enough Portuguese to refuse something because it isn't laminated and second why would he refuse something that's free....

Now Nate needs to pick up the document from the hospital, scan it and then turn it into the lady taking care of Belle's Brazilian passport. Hopefully the ball will get rolling and we will have her passports in our hand very soon! The sooner we have them the sooner we can visit home with Belle :)


Tchau,
Sara

Success!

Nate fed Belle her first bottle yesterday and she loved it!! I was a little worried she wouldn't take it because she won't take a pacifier but she didn't have a problem at all! This is great news for me since I can now have a little break every once in awhile. Now I just have to maintain pumping to keep the stock up to give me free time!

Tchau,
Sara

Can't stop

Seriously I cannot stop taking pictures of her! Everything she does is fascinating and cute. Tomorrow I plan on dressing her up and breaking out the fancy camera for a photo shoot but it all depends on how well she sleeps tonight!!

Two Passports

The interesting stuff we are dealing with because of living outside the US and having a baby now comes into play a little bit more. Last Friday we gathered all the paperwork we could and ventured out to the US consulate to apply for Belle's US passport. Let's just say that the consulate was less than impressive. It was not at all like the movies where you can run for safety from the police....

First Belle will receive her US passport, which should arrive in 10 days to the house. Then we can apply for her SSN#. I am pretty sure that along with the US passport we will be receiving a US birth certificate but I could be wrong. The paperwork needed was just a simple application including a passport photo, parents passports, US marriage certificate, proof of pre-natal care, brazilian birth certificate and proof of living in the US for a minimum of five years- which we didn't have with us. Then we were interviewed for five minutes and stamped approved and sent home.

While we are waiting for her US passport to arrive the paperwork for her Brazilian passport continues to drag on. The documentation needed seems to be the problem at the moment. The hospital was supposed to give us a document stating that she was born alive. I thought that a birth certificate would do but I was wrong. I don't know why this is necessary since she has to be at the interview. Right now Dr J is trying to locate the proper person to obtain this information for us.... ahhh Brazil. We knew this part of the process would be difficult and you just take it in stride.

Once we all the paperwork is sorted out we can go to our interview, located at the international airport, and hopefully receive the passport within a month. Maybe I should lower the expectation bar so I can be pleasantly surprised when we get it?

Until we physically have both passports in our possession we cannot leave the country with Belle. So we play the waiting game with our fingers crossed for a few months.

That seems to be about it on the international side of having a baby. For right now at least. I bet something comes up around the time we interview.

Tchau,
Sara

They Call Me the Milk Lady

So little milk eating machine increased her needs the other day. I read that this usually occurs about the time they turn 3 weeks old and go through a growth spurt. What this means for me is little time for anything other than producing and providing milk. Supposedly this goes away after a few days but until then I will continue to be a slave!

Good news? At least it doesn't hurt anymore.... well a little every once in awhile. Also, good news, I have enough milk that I have started pumping so Nate can help out with baby duty! He wants me to get out of the house even for an hour without her one day this week. Little does he know I am planning a few hours which include a massage and maybe some acupuncture!

I think I am going to try and grab a quick nap before the feeding commences :)

Tchau,
Sara

Passport Photos

Today, Friday, we had interviews with the consulate for all of Belle's US passport paper work. She needed passport photos but from what I have heard few places will take photos of babies. A friend of mine, who has been through this process in Brazil already, told me to lay down a burp cloth and make sure she has both eyes open and looking at the camera. Turns out this is harder than you think with a two week old. Belle has her own agenda!

This happened to be the only photo of quite a few that we took... guess she is just like the rest of the world and takes terrible passport photos! What ever gets the job done, right?

The winning photo

Check out the flunky photos below!!

Not looking straight at the camera... love the confused look though!

Probably thinking she is going to be fed... guess again Belle!

Realizing that she doesn't like all the flashes and wants it to stop. We stopped at this
point and held and then fed. The crying didn't last long at all and stopped immediately
when I picked her up.

Well that was the adventure in passport photo 101 for the day. Turns out after all that hard work the photo didn't meet the requirements but they were going to try anyway. I took another photo of her just in case but we couldn't get it printed in time... of course that would be the case. Nate wants to do sort of a flip show with captions below of ALL the photos we had to take to get a decent picture the second time around. We will see if that ever happens when either one of us has time!

Tchau,

Sara

Check out the birth announcement I just sent out to everyone! Be looking in the mail in the next week or so. We want to thank everyone for all their support throughout the past year. We couldn't have done this without you. Now we have the most precious gift god could have ever given us and we are thankful every waking and sleeping, which isn't many, minutes of the day!

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Tchau,
Sara, Nate and Belle

Flying Solo

My parents have come and gone :( My dad stayed for one week while my mother stayed for two weeks. The trip proved to be oh so helpful. I don't think that I would have eaten or slept if the two of them hadn't been here. Now that they are gone, Nate and I have one week to be a little family and then his parents come for a visit. This gives life a chance to fall apart for one week and then his parents swoop in and save the day!

We are so lucky to have great parents that love us so much.... well now we have been replaced by the eating machine! Here are a few pictures of my parents with Belle.

Dad on the last day.

Are you going to feed me?

Outside with mom.

Me-Beija!

First encounter with Belle!

First Hold... Dad claimed the spot!

She sleep like a champ!

Probably passing gas on Grandpa!

So sweet.

I wish that the whole family could be here or close by to see her grow. I always knew that family is the most important thing but now that I have a kid I really believe it. More than ever do I want to be closer to those who mean the most to me. Some day we will get the chance but for now we will have to do with Skype and long visits home a couple of times a year!

Miss you mom and dad!

Tchau,

Sara

Calma Belle

Belle has a favorite singer. I was playing some classical music to calm her down when she was getting a bath. I wanted the mix just to be instrumental and the shuffle included Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli. Don't ask me why I have this on my iPod. I think it was a random CD given to me at some point in my life. Anyway, his voice came on and I immediately told my mom that I hate this guy but Belle instantly stopped crying. 

At first I thought it was a fluke because the end of the bath was approaching. Then today she threw a fit getting into the stroller so I but Andrea on and she calmed and fell asleep in less than 30 seconds. So far the music has worked several times. Looks like we better get used to some Italian opera singing! Ahhh Belle I love you more and more everyday!!

Check out the clip below of her favorite song.... not bad just not what I would prefer on a daily basis!

Tchau,
Sara

Floods Comin!!

Looks like all the newborn stuff needs to be retired! Love how she melts my worries away ;)

Tchau,
Sara

Not Again

Nothing like being home but unfortunately our home sucks sometimes. Once again the hot water doesn't work. Why can't this happen in the summer? That is in addition to random power outages because of a little rain. Then the little rain brings on all the leaks that the owner refuses to fix because he probably thinks that Nate's company will front the bill. Did I mention that the ants are back? Oh and the cable seems to have a mind of it's own these days along with the internet.

Sorry to say but I really am fed up with Brazil and all the little things that go wrong on a daily basis. Normally, I could shrug off the problems because I know that every single other person in Macae deals with all of the same things I do. Misery love company :) These days filled with little sleep and little patience for anything other than sweet Belle leave me discontent to deal with Brazil.

Maybe the problem exists because I am ready to move onto something more. I understand that things shouldn't be easy in a developing country but I think I have reached my limit. Been there done that and now I know how good I had it in the US. Before I left for Brazil a friend of mine at the hospital, who grew up in India, told me that she was so happy to see me leaving. That way I truly can see how the rest of the world lives. Only then will I truly appreciate the simplicity of the life in America.

That's not to say that they are not problems in the US but the overall ease of life definitely beats the pants off of life in Brazil. I often think that things might be different if we lived in Rio where the quality of life mimics life back home. Pipe dreams run around my head but I cannot grasp the concept of ever leaving here. I guess I feel that we are stuck forever and the chance for us to leave will never present itself.

Ahhh- things will get better and Nate and I can't help but laugh. I am glad that my mom gets to see all the problems that we deal with because now it's not empty words. Thank goodness she is here to help me otherwise I would have gone batshit crazy! On deck Nate's family will take a shot at the house of doom and city of doom :) Love you guys and can't wait for the fun to begin!! Fingers crossed that at least the hot water will work.

Off to contemplate taking a cold shower and feed Belle.

Tchau,
Sara

Professional Pics

The dreaded photos and video arrived at our front door this morning. Good news that they actually made it to our house through the mail and bad news that I now get to see myself fall apart on video. When I actually watched the whole thing I found that she edited pretty good and she also got a few good surgery shots!

Check out the pics below.

Laughing because it was so weird..

Let the fear begin. This is where Nate and I said our goodbyes  before surgery.

She has changed so much in the past two weeks! I can't believe how much she has grown and developed already.

Tchau,

Sara

Hearing Screen

I guess while in the hospital I told them they couldn't do an ear test on her. I think that they were just sick of talking to me and decided not to do it. Either way the test did not get done. The Pediatrician made a call to a lady to visit us at the house to test her. 

For this test, a miniature earphone and microphone are placed in her ear, sounds are played and a response is measured. If a baby hears normally, an echo is reflected back into the ear canal and is measured by the microphone. When a baby has a hearing loss, no echo can be measured.

Belle getting ready for the test

The earphone being placed in the left ear.

So cute!!

Done with the left and now for the right.

She passed! Both ears :)

Now she is testing the hearing reflex to sound by using sound to startle Belle.

Passed again for ears :)

This test happened last Thursday but I haven't had the time to post up the photos and write about it until now. We are back safe and sound in Macae just trying to get organized and settled in. It's looks like a pink explosion went off in our house :) and there is stuff just everywhere! It's so nice to be home though and finally start some sort of routine.

Unfortunately we have to travel agin this Friday back to Rio to visit the US consulate to file paper work and I think we have interviews to complete as well. She has her Brazilian birth certificate but she needs: Brazilian CPF (like SSN), Brazilian Passport, US birth certificate, US Social Security Number, US Passport. 

Ahhhh. not going to think about that until later this week. One step at a time. 

Tchau,

Sara

Car Seat Test

This afternoon after a feeding we decided to test Belles ability to stay in the car seat comfortably. Just get her used to the positioning before our long car ride back to Macae. She really didn't seem to mind but she was also in a milk coma so who knows what will happen next time.

We leave today, Friday, to the home we haven't been to in five weeks!! Our house should be spotless :) and our pool crystal clear!! Wish us a swift and safe drive home.

Tchau,
Sara

We've Got an Eater!

I took my mom, dad and Belle to the Dr. appt via cab down the street to Belle's one week check-up. I thought about walking but didn't want to over do it. Belle's one week visit with the Pedi went great.  A side from waiting forever to get in and forever to wait for an official receipt of payment the whole check-up left me feeling very happy. The Pedi, who attended the delivery of Belle, spent about 40 minutes with us discussing all of our family history and future plans for Belle's health and then her exam.

She weighed in at 3.59 and 53cm which happens to be amazing! She is up in weight from 3.4 something and up in height from 52cm. Most babies lose 10% of their birth weight the first week and then continue to gain but she gained a half a pound. The Pedi wants to sell my breast milk :) Possible income to pay for his services... This might work out great- Nate could stop working and I could be the bread winner for once! Just kidding I already feel like a slave where my life revolves around my boobs. No need to enhance that!

Belle also received her first vaccination, Hep B, and we talked about giving the Tuberculosis vaccination (TB). The TB vaccine is not given in the US, where they just check using a skin test for exposure. Here in the state of Rio, TB is the second most populous state in Brazil for cases of TB leaving the Amazon region with the highest rate. My Pedi also works in a public hospital and he says everyday he treats children with TB.... crazy because we rarely see this in the US.

If you ever come to Brazil and stay in Rio you can notice the people native to Rio, called Cariocas, have a scar on the their arm similar to the small pox vaccine scar. A round scar in their upper arm about the size of a quarter which resembles a burn. Other than being a sign that someone was born in Rio and a true Carioca this tells everyone that they have been vaccinated against TB.

Our Pedi wants to hold off on getting this vaccine for a month or so just to make sure that we are going to be here for another two years. If Belle receives this vaccine then the injection site boils up leaving a pustule that take a few months to heal which causes the nasty scar. She will be receiving this vaccine next month for sure just to be cautious. Can you imagine if your child got TB this day in age?? Crazy to think that this is even a possibility.

After the appointment we decided to walk the two miles home since it was such a nice evening. Belle's first adventure walking the streets of Rio! I was wearing the Moby wrap shown in the pictures below and Belle slept the entire time.

So comfortable!

I won't be able to wear this for vey long because it gets so hot.... around the house it will be
great when I have to start cooking for myself!

The walking felt great but I was a little sore that night. I guess after not leaving the house for seven days and having major surgery will do that to you. Still crazy to think I had surgery in a foreign country....

Off to eat.... never ending cycle!

Tchau,

Sara

Sleep Time

I have turned into one of those moms who wants to take pictures of everything and show everyone. I guess that's the mother's love people talk about. Each and every move, half smile due to gas, burp, hiccup and spit up take my breath away. I find myself constantly saying, "did you see that?" or "come look, quick!" all the time. Luckily the grandparents and Nate are just as eager as I am so I am not losing any friends yet.

I know I need to sleep while she is sleeping but that of course is easier said than done. I can't take my eyes away from her. I read that at two weeks she will recognize my voice and start to pick me out from a crowd. Right now I think she knows me as the milk lady... She calms down immediately once she gets in my arms before a feed.

Did I mention I love being the mom?? Life is amazing!!

Tchau,
Sara

Labs

Since labs in Brazil are taken outside the doctor's office the Pediatrician had the labs come to us! Of course the lab gives us the time frame of 9am-1pm which leaves me stinky from the day before waiting for them to come. The lady finally shows up 15 minutes before 1pm to take Belle's labs.

After getting all the paper work ready and checked it was time to get Belle ready. I just had to swaddle her leaving her legs out. The lab lady had me hold her while she did a heel stick to draw the blood.

Grandpa was taking the pictures and only got shots of the foot :) It's ok- we were all a little stressed at the moment.

Getting the heel stick. I felt so bad because she thought she was going to eat :(

To get the labs the lady only has to put a few drops on a test sheet which will then be sent for examining. I am not sure how we access these labs... do they send them to the Pedi? Do they send me an email? Oh gosh I was too caught up and out of my mind to concentrate on the details. Not to mention the lack of sleep thing.

Crying reaches a maximum and I stay strong while Grandma loses it... maybe it's because I have seen this done so many times??? Who knows. 

Trying to console her while she can't catch her breath- tear.

I guess in a few days I will find out what in the world is going on. I know that she told me something about email but I thought she was talking about receiving an official receipt. Maybe she meant the results too? Ahh the confusion :) I bet having a kid in the US is ten times less stress than the random hoops we jump through down here in Brazil. Oh well. We signed up for this stress.

Tchau- I promise that I really am going to try and get some sleep..... really. I am.
Sara

Belle's First Bath at Home

Belle's first bath outside the hospital. Since all the sinks were too small and she still has her umbilical cord we decide to give her a sponge bath. I set up all the stations. One area for the sponge bathing then a transfer station to dry her off and finally to get her lotioned up and dressed. 

Dad giving up cuddling Belle to place her at station #1

Happy little Belle eating her fingers

Getting her wet with warm water which she didn't really seem to mind at all!

Still no crying!

What you lookin at?

Hello world. I am naked.

Mom helping out at the lotion station.

More naked photos!

Eating the blanket. Yummmm.

Can I eat yet?

Finished! Ready for dinner and I am ready for bed... exhaustion.

Can I just say that even though I am so tired life really couldn't be any better!! Each day gets easier or maybe the lack of sleep leaves me impaired enough to fool my mind. Once again off to feed Belle and try to sleep in between. 

Tchau,

Sara