Sick days

After Christmas I moved out of my inlaws and into my parents house. Nate had to travel back to Brazil :( and I needed to spend some time with my family!

Day 2 of being out here, in no mans land, the whole family gets sick. Except for my mom. Poor mom has to take care of all of us and then she is going to get sick!

Pretty sure we have bronchitis but who knows for sure. I feel good one minute and the next like crap. Good thing is that Belle seems to be bouncing back pretty good. She only coughs when sleeping which means no sleep for me and a longer recovery time.

Oh how I wish Nate was here to share these fun times!

At least I get good cuddle time with izmiester.

Tchau,
Sara

Blessed

This Christmas we enjoyed four different houses!! Surprisingly zero meltdowns occurred, unless you count Santa.

Belle loved opening presents and also loved her new stuff so much she would take all of it somewhere quiet so no one could take it away.

We are all exhausted so here are just a few of the photos from the two day festivities.

Tchau,
Sara

Morning Hair

Each morning Belle wakes up with some pretty interesting hair. While Nate was gone I took a pic for him and here are a few of my favs!

Since Nate is finally in town we are enjoying being a family before he has to leave again after Christmas. For now I won't think of that and only look forward to the good times now!

Tchau,
Sara

New Happenings

Results are in and Belle is NOT allergic to milk!! This means a ton of new food options for my almost vegan.

Yogurt, cheese cubes, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, and just about everything you can think of in the American diet. So far each time I have given her the dairy product that's all she eats.... Note to self- give dairy post substantial meal.

I guess I should also mention that she passes gas like no other now! Then she imitates the sound with her mouth and laughs. Maybe, just maybe, dairy should stay out of her life!

Also we have been meeting up with family and friends. More Christmas shopping and more eating foods I shouldn't because I can't buy new jeans!

Life is great and I couldn't be more thankful this year. Well, I lie. If Nate was here to hug then things would be perfect!

Tchau,
Sara

Settled!

I really believe that both Belle and I are settled in finally! We have a little routine going and sleeping and eating have returned to normal!

Who knew that it would take roughly two weeks?

Lately we have been doing a ton of shopping, playing outside when it's warm, chasing the dogs, going for walks, going to the grocery store, and just about everything we can possibly do! We did library time twice, which proved to be challenging for my mover and shaker, and we have gone out to my parents land several times to run in the wild :)

I can very easily see myself settling in the US with very little discomfort.

Right now in the recent events surrounding the shootings I have been holding Belle tighter than ever and wishing that I could never let her go. I also long to see Nate home soon so our family can truly take a deep breathe and thank god we are all together.

I know that I am not the only one doing this at the moment so I want to take the time to tell you all how much I appreciate all of you! My friends and family are things I cannot live without. Hug your family tonight even if you already have been for the past week.

Tchau,
Sara

Nate- COME HOME!!!

Freezer Section

Looks daunting.... right?

I am pretty much scared of the freezer section in any grocery store. After living in Brazil for the past three years, where freezer sections resemble the small middle of the isle coolers from long ago, I have opted to buy fresh. Well, really I had to buy fresh because the only thing available frozen tasted like crap except for the yummy cheese bread balls that come frozen and you bake.... sooooo good.

Now my shopping experience goes something like this.

Enter the grocery store where a warm blast of air blows my hair all over the place and Belle is squiggling screaming, "ooooohhhh!". I grab a cart where there is not only one place for my child to sit but two so I struggle to get her legs in the appropriate holes. By the time we actually enter the grocery store I am already sweating and Belle is saying, "da", which means done. Yes, I know. I am done too sweetie.

We walk circles around the fresh fruit and veggie section trying to find the basic tomatoes, onions, and  bell peppers. Too many choices!! Trust me I love it but my mind is in overload. How do people deal with this many choices everyday without their head exploding? I guess I will just have to learn to turn off all the stimulation. Not to mention that tons of employees that sense my body odor screaming 'lost' and they swarm like vultures on fresh road kill. Then to add the fact that I actually understand everything they are saying.... EVERYTHING!

I do have to say that our ears go through tons of information littering.

Now on to the meats. Really. I don't even know where to begin with all of this. Reeducation of types and cuts will be performed once I get over the anxiety of the fruits and veggie section. For now I just grab one type and cut be it ground chicken or lamb shanks.

Next to the dried food. At this point Belle is really telling me she is done and I am there too. I don't even pretend to know the types of food available..... barbecue wheat thins? When did these come into play? I grab a box hoping to have found a healthier option than barbecue Lays.

Then I see it. The Freezer section.

It stares at me, whispering for me to come and take a look. I mentally scream back at it saying, "the last time I did that I almost peed my pants because automatic lighting came on each cooler I walked by..." no I will not venture to you again. The five floor to ceiling isles stand unvisited by this freezer novice for now.

Eventually our paths will cross but not today freezer. Not today.

Tchau,
Sara

Fast Food Fight

Now that I am back I have to say that my jeans are working a little bit of overtime! It's so easy to just run through the drive through.... uggh!

I have been trying to break the habit because not only am I eating like crap but I am not taking a walk everyday because it's so freaking cold!

I have set a goal for myself to just not eat out. I can eat whatever I want just no fast food! We will see how this goes :)

Welcome back to the US. Here is your extra 10lbs!

Tchau,
Sara

Techy Belle

So my child loves the iPad and my phone and anything she can turn on and off. Since I recently upgraded to an iPhone I cleared off my iTouch for her and put on a bunch of kid apps. Turns out she can work these things better than me!

The photos above are of her playing with the iTouch and the photos she takes of herself! Darn iCloud syncs all the photos across all your devices so each day I delete 50 Belle photos!

The photo where she is laying on the ground has a cute story. She went to my purse and dug around until she found the iTouch. Then she unlocked it, pick out her game, and laid on the floor to play.... My jaw hit the floor. When are developmental books going to include technology milestones??

I am just going with it because computers have become such an important part of our society that she is going to need the knowledge! Maybe when I am old she can help me with the 3d holographic computer...

Tchau,
Sara

Mix the Two Worlds

Well, I feel that I am finally getting into the groove of being back home. Belle is starting to adjust and sleep better which means I have more energy to chase her around and actually try and teach her some new things. Right now we are working on drinking from an adult cup which she loves! She also loves to watch the water pour out of the cup when I am not looking..... Really it's cute though the first couple of times.

Being back home has given me a sense of tranquility. I don't feel the anxiety that I once felt while living in Brazil. Of course if I could mix my two worlds then it would probably mean that I died and went to heaven.

When I am in Brazil I crave my family, the ease of driving, the ease of shopping, and the ease of basically everything everyone takes for granted that hasn't lived outside the US.

When I am home in the US I miss the perfect weather, daily walks with beautiful scenery, fresh fruits and veggies that taste like candy and not plastic, cheap amazing cuts of meat, and the view of the ocean.

Since I haven't died and went to heaven I need to take what I can get and enjoy every moment. If I had to chose though, hands down it would be friends and family. They make even the toughest of moments bearable and memories out of nothing.

So for now I am enjoying the ability to be spontaneous, talk to everyone, cuddle up with family, and stay close to friends.

Tchau,
Sara

PS- I hope that this goes without saying that I miss my husband more than words can ever express. This is probably why I don't write about it often. The blog would turn into one sad sob story. I just cannot even imagine being an army wife. So if you can say a pray for the families who cannot be together this holiday season.

Christmas Train

This past weekend we went to Dry Gulch and visited the Christmas Train. The have set up a cute little town where they tell the Christmas story and kids can be kids ;)

Belle loved it! She even started copying her older cousin and made the choo choo sound with the hand motion!
Next year I am sure she will love it even more when she can ride all the big kid rides!!

Tchau,
Sara

Car Trouble

Last night I got a phone call from Nate. He wanted to speak to his dad about some problems he was having with his car. Turns out that the engine wouldn't stop running even with the key removed!!

How are you supposed to solve that one?? Good thing you can google anything these days. He ended up having to pull a fuse under the hood of the car.

Only problem now is that he needs to put the fuse back in to start the car.... As soon as the fuse is back in, the car starts without the key but with a little spark just to add excitement.

Poor Nate has to get gas too ;(

The picture below is the actual fuse box to his Italian car with a Portuguese manual.

Tchau,
Sara

Distance Makes the Heart...

Grow Fonder. Of course it does but I think at this point my heart is fond enough! The other day I began to think about when Nate would return to the US for Christmas and I started to feel sad and lonely. It will be another 3 weeks at least before he returns. I guess that you know your husband travels a lot when you actually forget how long he will be during this hitch.

Maybe things are different because I am surrounded by family and friends. Either way I miss him. It seems crazy to me to know that some of my friends have seen their husbands everyday this year. My husband is about to hit 100,000 flying miles this year alone to give you and idea about how much he has traveled.

Even if I could be back in Brazil with Nate he still wouldn't be home so I know that I made the right decision to be here. My heart longs for the days when travel slows down.

I joke that when/if we have another child that they won't leave the county line until he/she can drive! Belle has dial citizenship and our second will be house bound :)

Hears to a heart that's missing the other half but somehow feels at home.

Tchau,
Sara

Viral Brazilian Elevator Video

My inlaws were laughing and watching this video the other day and I over heard the Portuguese... too funny that a viral video happens in Brazil. Maybe I will be able to keep my Portuguese in practice while here in the States.

I haven't re-watched the video but they I know for sure that they tell the people good luck before they get on the elevator! I will watch it again and post what I think all the commentary is ;)



Tchau,
Sara

Old Friends

This time in my life is so special because not only do I get to see Belle grow up but also my closest friends kids grow up too! You know when your little and you talk about living next to your childhood best friend and marrying twin brothers and having ours kids grow up together..... Well so far the plan hasn't worked out but we have married great guys and our kids will at least know each other!!

Here Bryna is playing with Belle and the are very close in age. I believe that Bryna is three weeks younger than Belle. Best friends in the making half a world apart!

Moments like these are the reasons family and friends are so important!

Tchau,
Sara

Thanksgiving

This year we spent Thanksgiving with the H side of the family! The photo above is all the kids together at the end of the day. I have to say that I am in love with being around family and so much good food. Makes me never ever want to leave!!!

Tchau,
Sara

Cold Weather

Enjoying the sub 50 degree weather! Although to me it feels like something in the 20's!! I will probably just die when it actually does get that cold :)

Tchau,
Sara

Alive!!

I promise we are alive despite my longest absence from the blog ever! We have had a long two weeks and soon I will be able to tell you all about it but not right now :) I will just say that it's great news so don't worry.

Here are some photos of Belle recently to get you caught up on all her craziness! I am sure she will hate some of these photos when she is older!

Oh I guess I should mention we made the flight home last Friday for the holidays!! Let me just say I am loving being back!!

Tchau,
Sara

Hugs Welcomed

Here in Brazil everyone does the kiss kiss (kiss to the right then kiss to the left) when meeting someone or saying goodbye or hello or just whenever they feel like it! What I didn't ever think about is that I miss hugs and the warmth you feel.

All of my close friends hug each other when greeting each other. The same goes for family and really nothing can make you feel more loved than a nice good full hug.

There is a lady at the park that I see practically everyday and for some reason she hugs and kisses ALL over me. It was awkward at first but now I look forward to seeing her. Each time she hugs me it really makes me a believer that you need hugs to survive.

Because of this I make sure to squeeze Isabelle every chance I get. Soon I will be the mother that she is pushing away because I am embarrassing her. I know that she loves it though because the other day she hugged me while patting my back then grabbed my face with both her little hands and pulled me in for a kiss.

Where did my baby go?

Tchau,
Sara

New Do

Now Belle lets me play with her hair! Next up will be pig tails ;)

Tchau,
Sara

Ps- Nate made it home safe and sound!

Hibernation

I should probably cut my nails.

Basically when Nate leaves the roost for work I spend the days hibernating. Making sure that all of my energy stored can be easily accessed in case of a Belle crisis. In case you haven't guessed, based on the blogs, he has been gone for five days already. Therefore I am using some of my stored energy to pour back into writing.

Belle is known for extreme teething, getting sick, running fevers and not sleeping through the night in Nate's absence. Of course the one time I leave town for a week she acts like a perfect angel so who knows what I am doing wrong!

So far we have had a good week together except for a few restless nights and no nap days and one allergic reaction. Could've been worse I tell ya cause I've been there!

Either way we both are looking forward to Nate's return and fingers crossed that it doesn't have to happen again soon. 

Tchau,

Sara

More Giggles

Belle was laughing so hard with her little Dutch friend, Vivien. I thought I would share the cuteness since I posted an earlier video of her laughing when she was little.



Tchau,
Sara

Halloween

As I write this post I am hiding out in my house avoiding the trick-or-treaters! I didn't know that Brazilians celebrated this holiday!

The past years we have never had a trick-or-treater and now the door buzzer won't stop :(

So sad too because all my years in Houston I never had trick-or-treaters either. The one time I can celebrate and now I am hiding out...

It's going to be a really long night!

Tchau,
Sara

New Passport

Remember these old photos from her first passport?? Yea they were not the greatest! I feel bad that she will have to cherish this moment as her first set of photos for passports!

Now, one year later these are what her photos will look like!!

She looks completely different! The things a year can do!!

Tchau,

Sara