Slow down!

All this traveling has me worn really thin! Since we have been back in the US I haven't spent a full week in one house. Luckily I have an amazing child who just rolls with the punches. Between growth spurts, which suck by the way, pre-teething, time changes, storms, cold weather, earthquakes and being without her daddy I think that she is pretty awesome!

New news with Belle:

NO more pacifier! Well it's been two full weeks of not needing it. Then again she is starting to find her thumb.... I don't know which is worse because you can't take a thumb away.

She can put herself to sleep without crying. Not all the time but most of the time.

I think she is done with her growth spurt and has grown at least two inches!

She wears 6 month onsies and 9 month footed onsies.

She has a doctor here in the US and gets her 4 month vaccines on December 12th.

She talks to everyone and everything!

She isn't scared of anything but when you play peek-a-boo she flinches- tooo cute!

Since she is napping I am going to follow her lead and try to catch up on some sleep too. I still have Christmas shopping to finish and Christmas cards to work on. The list seems to be never ending! I wouldn't change a thing in the world right now. Well, maybe for my husband to come home!!

Tchau,

Sara

Sophie

What looks very similar to a dog toy is rapidly becoming Belles favorite toy. I am not sure if I am making it her favorite because of the cost or she really does like it. If you google this Sophie Giraffe or ask any mother you will find nothing but positive reviews. I broke down and spent the 20$ on one in hope that I would have positive reviews as well. 

So far it hasn't been spectacular but Belle can manipulate the toy pretty well. My mother hates its but all the family loved the toy! 

Below is what the website says about why the toy is sooo popular. Call me a sucker for marketing!

Why is Sophie such a huge success? Sophie the Giraffe is BABYS FIRST TOY, stimulating EACH OF HIS SENSES from the age of 3 months:

*Sight: 



At the age of 3 months, a baby's eyesight is still limited and he can only make out high contrasts. The Dark and contrasting attention-catching spots all over Sophie the Giraffe's body provide visual stimulation and she soon becomes a familiar and reassuring object for baby.

*Hearing:Sophie the Giraffe's squeaker keeps baby amused and stimulates his hearing. To begin with, the funny sound Sophie makes when she is squeezed helps to stimulate baby's hearing, and then later, helps him to understand the link between cause and effect.

*Taste:

Sophie the Giraffe is made of 100% natural rubber and food paint, and is completely safe to chew, just like a feeding bottle teat. Her soft texture and numerous chewable parts (ears, horns, legs), make her perfect for soothing baby's sore gums during teething.

*Touch: 

Touch is the first means a baby has of communicating with the outside world. Sophie the Giraffe's soft feel, like baby's mother's skin, stimulates physiological and emotional response that soothe baby and promote healthy growth and well-being. 

*Smell: 

The singular scent of natural rubber from the Hevea tree makes Sophie the Giraffe very special and easy for your child to identify amid all his other toys. 

*Easy to grip: 

Sophie the Giraffe's shape and 18 cm (7 inches) size are perfect for baby's small hands. She is very light, and her long legs and neck are easy for baby to grip, even from his earliest days.

I guess only time will tell if this toy is worth the money :)

Tchau,

Sara

Thanksgiving Photo Shoot

Here are some photos from a week spent with family for the holidays!

Puzzling with Great Grandma! A favorite for all the girls.

Proud Grandma!!

With her Great Aunt Dawn

Love this one!

With Great Aunt Gail!!

All the girls! The Great Grandma, 3 Great Aunts, Grandma and the mom!

Belle travelled so well. My mom and I drove the 11 hrs there and back... well my mom drove and I tended to the baby. Either way it was such a nice trip!!

Happy Holidays everyone!!

Tchau,

Sara

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so thankful for a healthy little family. Even though we are separated by thousands of miles it warms my heart to know that we will be together soon. I love you Nate! I am also thankful that Belle gets to meet all of her family this year for the holidays. I am glad that she can meet such wonderful people that love her soooo much! Hope everyone has a great holiday!!

Tchau,

Sara

Five Silly Turkeys

I am trying to read with Belle everyday so I thought a great book would be a Thanksgiving book! I found a cute little picture book that is short enough to keep her attention and has little crinkly feather tails for her to grab. Such a cute counting book and I love it!

By the way- when did children's books become so expensive? Even the little Golden Books are 4$ a piece.... Good thing kids love to read the same books over and over again!!

Tchau,
Sara

That Long?

Wow. I didn't realize that I haven't posted in soooo long! Time seems to be flying by and everyday I hope for a nap and some peace. Of course having a new baby doesn't really allow me to schedule things when I think would be convenient but when Belle agrees with the time.

She is the princess and everyone must follow her rule :)

Right now we just traveled up North and made a 12hr drive to see family for the holidays. Belle traveled great with a few little fits but nothing major. I really just didn't want to fly with her again. Not that flying was bad but driving we can slow down make stops and just relax!

She is napping now, put herself to sleep,  so I think she traveled pretty well! Up and coming are pictures with Belle and her Great Grandma, 3 Great Aunts and 3 Great Uncles!!

Happy Holidays!
Tchau,
Sara

Belle Playing

I put Belle in her cousin Colson's highchair and she loved it!! I put all of her toys in front of her so she could practice grabbing things and also work on sitting up ;) 

Tchau,

Sara

Fall Photo Shoot

The day ended up getting started a little late but I still wanted to see if the spot I picked out would work. Of course the sun was a little to bright and these are the best shots I got..

They all looked like this!!

Finally one of her looking up!

After making her endure the sun I moved her over to the shade in hopes of getting a better shot. They were better but still not great. She wasn't really in the mood for photos as you can tell from her wrinkled forehead!

Of course the day would be complete without some blooper photos :)

Gotta love the dogs!!

Tchau,

Sara

Fail

Coconut water in a can you fail on all fronts! To start off you have a brown mature coconut on the front. Te coconuts that we drink are green and immature.  Then you went ahead to describe this difference on the back of your can... Wonder why people are confused! 

After the first taste I knew it wasn't natural. Looking at the ingredients you have completely ruined it by adding sugar. Why must everything have sugar? Even though adding sugar to natural fruit juices is a very Brazilian thing to do this is wrong!

Overall a complete fail. I still drank it anyway but it wasn't coconut water!

Tchau,
Sara

Fall Beauty

I miss the fall so much! These photos were taken in my parents front and back yard. Living in Brazil you see summer all the time even when it is winter. I miss the crisp cool air when the sun is shining. I miss being able to sit outside and not fear turning into a lobster. I miss the changing of the leaves.

I guess it's a good thing that I am home for so long! I bet by the end of winter I will be praying for the warmth and sun of Brazil!!!

I wanted to take a few test photos before I did an outside photo shoot of Belle. Of course the today there is an overcast and no good sun :( Maybe tomorrow!

Tchau,

Sara

Not Fair?

Oil royalties are now going to be redistributed across Brazil. Instead of each state collecting and maintaing royalties resulting from the drilling of oil, the monies will be spread out among the states. I really don't think that this is fair.

From what I have experienced being in Brazil most of the country is very socialist. Now Rio state will lose millions of needed dollars to support other states of the country :( I really hope this doesn't effect the plans for the World Cup 2014 and Olympics 2016.

People in Rio are protesting the decision and hopefully they are heard! Check out the article from Rio Times Online. 


Tchau,
Sara

Moving On

Not me but it's what I feel like!

Time to pack up and move on to my parents house for the weekend and week! I am trying to spend and equal amount of time between the two grandparents that way Belle get to know them both. Plus she gets some good lovin!

I really need to try an figure out how to keep stuff at both houses that way I don't have to pack everything up. Little things like a toothbrush, face wash ect. Not to mention all of Belles stuff!

That little monster keeps growing! I can't keep up with what to buy for her :) She is wearing 6-9 month clothes now and needs the length of 9 month stuff. Her skinny bottom doesn't fit in the clothes but she will live for sure! I wonder what's going to happen after this growth spurt.... it's still going by the way!

Off to pack more!

Tchau,
Sara

Always Ask!

My pump that I burned out about two months ago was replaced for free!! I made the call and Medela overnighted a brand new one to me :) I had to send the old one back but I am soooo impressed with the service!

Also Nate made a phone call because our suitcase wheels have been falling off and they sent us a brand new bag!! All we had to do was give a copy of the receipt. Too bad we only had one of the receipts so we still have one bag without wheels.

This is just a reminder to always ask. You never no what you can get when you complain or just ask!

Tchau,
Sara

3 Months!!

Already? Really? Here we go with the 3 month update: 

• Started teething last week on the flight home 
• She is going through a mean growth spurt
• Loves her hands/feet and sticks everything in her mouth
• She is getting stronger by the minute 
• She can reach and grab things now with a purpose
• She belly laughs when you tickle her- I need to get it on video!
• If I could sell her drool I would be a millionaire.

On to the photos!

I can't get her to smile for photos anymore!!

What are you doing?

Classic Belle pose these days. Hands in the mouth.

Always staring at her feet!!

I want to stare at my feet lady not you. 

Your weird noises only frighten me. Are you on meds?

Seriously. You should talk to someone....

Almost grabs her feet!

Big push ups and roll overs now!

Work it Belle.

About the biggest smile I got from the photo shoot!!

She is growing at an alarming rate. We have conversations daily and you can tell she wants to communicate so bad! I guess that's the girl in her. I can't wait for her to tell me what she is thinking. Until then I can only guess. 

Nate is back safely in Brazil and Belle and I are staying at the in-laws house for the week. Then this weekend I will transfer to my parents house for the week. Hopefully I will just be able to switch back and forth so everyone gets equal time! In between family, growth spurts, teething, cold weather, friends and a new environment I try to get some sleep and shower! I feel like I am getting less sleep that ever. 

She was sleeping 530pm to 2am with a short feed then back down until 6am. Now she is going 530 wake at 930 feed/wake 1230/wake 330/wake 6ish/wake 730 for the day.... I am worn out!! Can't wait for her to be done with the growth spurt! I also think that she is a little cold here so that's messing with her not to mention the uncomfortable teething issue. 

All things will pass and I am loving every minute that I spend with her. She has started napping better so I really do get enough free time! Not to mention we can travel and drive around town. Trips to Target and Wal-mart are awesome!

Plus I have so many people that love to watch her. If only I could pump enough to keep up with her needs. 

Ahhhh. Missing the warm weather but loving being surround by family and tons of love.

Tchau,

Sara

Errors

Well I just now realized that all the photos that I have been sending to Blogger via itouch via email are not posting. This means that half of my posts are not showing up and you are missing some cute photos! Don't think that I haven't been posting because I have so here are the photos you have missed out on so far. I have been trying to solve the problem but haven't had to much luck with the time that I have. Belle is teething and going through a growth spurt. Back to the days of waking up at all hours and eating everything I can get my hands on :)

Looking like a little lady.

Fell asleep after feeding and I left her by her daddy.
Don't worry I was in the room with them :)

Drool monster eating her hands because she is teething!

Staring down the frog in her cousin Colson's bouncer!

Finding her feet which she finds fascinating!

Off to eat lunch and do some errands while Drool Monster sleeps! 

Tchau,

Sara