It's for Real Now

She is crawling for real now and pulling up!!



Tchau,
Sara

Belle Eating

Belle during one of her eating sessions and she can't seem to get enough!




Tchau,
Sara

I'm in Trouble

I meant to post this last week but better late than never!! Now that Belle is pretty mobile, especially with the walker, it's making day to day life pretty hard :) I have now reached the part of mommyhood where I never get a bathroom break. Below is why.... I go to the bathroom and five seconds later I walk out to find this- (of course I tried to get her walker stuck in the bathroom doorway so I could see her but she broke free)

What does she have you ask? Well it's the emergency flashlights that are plugged in to the outlets in the wall. I died laughing but wondered how she did it so I watched her!

There she goes!!

So there you have it! Now I had to take down all our emergency flash lights, which are needed cause the power does flash often. They are now replaced with socket covers. The medicine cabinets have also been locked down and the cleaning supplies. We now have to work on the cords for the TV and a few other things I haven't thought of just yet!

Tchau,

Sara

Tuberculosis Vaccine

For Belle's 7 month appointment, last week, she received the TB shot in her right arm :( While I hate to see her in pain I do feel comforted knowing that she will be protected from this terrible disease. Unfortunately in recent months there is a strain of Totally Drug Resistant Tuberculosis floating around India. I guess Belle will be safe if there is every a large epidemic!

Day after the shot- The vaccine itself is intradermal which means that it's given right under the skin instead of in the muscle like all the other shots. 

It's hard to get a picture of her sitting still but this it was it looks like this morning.

A few days after the shot it sort of looked angry red and infected. Of course since the vaccine is a weakened live virus technically it was infected. The instructions for care include ignoring the site. No creams, ointments or covering with bandaids. Pretend that nothing ever happened to prevent too much scarring. I have done just that so far and it seems to be running it's course pretty quickly although it looked gross for a few days. 

All in all she doesn't even notice anything and continues to be on the go all the time. 

Tchau,

Sara

Africa

Just wanted to let everyone know that my parents have made it safely to Africa. Their flight from London was delayed so by the time they arrived in Johannesburg they had to wait a while for the next flight. No worries the minute they got to the lodge they went on safari and saw quite a few amazing animals- Rhinos next to the car and cheetahs in trees!

They have also already seen the Big 5 (Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Leopard, and cape Buffalo) and baby giraffes. I honestly think my mom is in heaven :)


I will let you know if I get anymore updates from them so you all don't worry!

Tchau,
Sara

The Belle Brigade

Yes Belle is strategically planning my demise. I assume that she is at the age where she is starting to realize that her actions have consequences... just a little bit but not completely. The term "your being a baby" applies to Belle everyday. I even caught myself telling her those words exactly and immediately after the words came out of my mouth new words formed in my head telling me, "that's exactly what she is....". Thanks mind for clarifying that but it doesn't help the fact that my 'baby' is throwing herself backward crying because I took a cord plugged into the wall away from her or I wouldn't let her stuff the side of the trash bag into her mouth.

My favorite trick of hers is now on our morning walks when we reach the furthest point aways from the house she gets separation anxiety and I have to carry her all the way home while pushing the stroller too! I know that this too will pass but it's wearing me out! I don't know how much she really understands or is starting to and this is where the being a new parent is going to fail me.

Going with my instinct I believe she understands more than what I give her credit for but my head tells me she is still just a baby and that's what babies do. Needless to say I am not going to make any rash decisions and when she pouts or throws herself around the room I am just going to redirect her and go with the flow. I am sure this is where second children get the shaft.... can't always pick them up when they want... they kind of have to learn to deal with it :)

Other than that I bet for sure that she will be crawling pretty soon. The army crawl is still her main mode of transportation and she absolutely loves her walker. She can run around the house and explore tons in that thing. Not to mention run over mom and dad's feet to make us scream out in pain!!

Tchau,
Sara

Happy St Patties Day

When you live in another country it's easy to forget the little holidays. I dressed Belle this morning without realizing it was the perfect outfit for the day! Around lunch time I thought to myself what a great outfit for her to wear on St Patricks Day.... Then I looked at the date :) Still American to the core!

Tchau,
Sara

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

The reason behind Belle's fever and crying is hand, foot and mouth disease which is a common infection passed on through saliva. Since all the kids at the park had a fever too I assume that she got it from one of them. Of course I don't think she was the one who spread the infection!! She was the last one to get the fever so I think it was the other dirty kids :)

So much for me being a mother who tries not to obsess with cleanliness and let my kid eat dirt. I do wash her toys regularly but I am not opposed to her crawling in the grass and playing with other kids. Maybe I should re-evaluate?

Anyway, I dismissed some of her symptoms to teething and other things. She had these little red bumps that looked like chiggers on her feet. Then she got a few little blisters on her toes which I attributed to army crawling or possible ant bites from the grass. Not to mention all the drooling she was doing. When we went to the doctor the other day I showed him the blisters and that's when I heard the news.

She had hand, foot and mouth disease over the weekend plus she was teething. No wonder the poor girl couldn't sleep or eat. I felt like I was giving Tylenol and Ibuprofen around the clock not to mention constant rocking and comforting.

I guess the disease can cause blister lesions on the hands, feet and mouth.... I am not sure if she had any in her mouth/throat but I bet she did. Other than a few little blisters on her toes, and one on her hand she was free and clear of any other signs.

Today she seems to be feeling better even though we had another sleepless night. The constant crying is over for now and she has moments of being her old self. I hope with-in a few days this will all be over and hopefully the teething will follow!

Poor little baby. I honestly hope she never gets sick again (I know that's impossible) because seeing her hurt is the WORST feeling in the world. Now I truly understand how a mother could commit murder to anyone who hurt her baby....

All of Belle's toy have been sterilized and we are going to avoid contact with other kids for a little while. At least until this whole thing blows over then it will be back to the park for some more natural immunity.

Tchau,
Sara

Belle Army Crawling

Here is a video to hold you over until I can write a real post later today!!



Tchau,
Sara

Sick or Teeth

The past few days have been less than fun. Belle started to get a fever and really didn't feel good :( I suspected teeth but something else was going on as well. I made a few calls to the doctor and he said that a little bug was going around. Turns out every kid from the local park was sick over the weekend as well.

Today started out rough but ended pretty well. Belle now has 4 teeth and it looks like we are going to be waiting on 4 more.... She has the bottom two teeth, the upper right and the right incisor. The upper left and the one next to it should be coming this week.

Wednesday we have a doctor appointment and also Nate should be working a little bit less so I have high hopes that by the end of the week our little family will be happy and healthy.

As for now I am going to take advantage of Belle sleeping and get some myself.

Tchau,
Sara

7 Months

Can't believe that I am already having to write this post. Yep. The little one is no longer the little one. She is 7 months today and almost mobile. Honestly it won't be long before the real exercise happens for me. For now I am anxiously waiting on deck.... oh belle. 

She is always busy. Always. It makes going anywhere a mission. Each time we venture out to the mall, lunch with friends, or even a trip to the grocery store I have to prepare for battle. Each day I thank the lord that I made it out alive. To those who says baby wearing is awesome it can be put most of the time it's just as much trouble as pushing her in a stroller. That is when she will let me push her in a stroller. 

I guess the only reason I bring a stroller is to push the diaper bag around. Forget about her sitting in it while I eat or talk to someone. She wants to be out. Grabbing drinks, the menu, the table, the waiters apron, my clothes, my food, her bows, and the list could on forever. The only think I can leave off the list are her toys which she has zero interest in these days. The sayings are true. Your kids will never play with toys but the boxes they come in. Right now she loves playing with water bottles....

How can I ever have more than her??? I guess you just do it right! 

Right now she can:

1. Army crawl 
2. tummy to sitting
3. eat a banana by herself though sometimes she wants you to shovel it in her mouth
4. try to turn the pages of a book but doesn't really like to sit still
5. She love other kids and wants to be out with them. 
6. She stares at all adults.
7. She started clapping which might be the cutest think in the world
8. She only babbles a little and says babababa but nothing really else other than screams and laughs
9. She can sleep through the night but that doesn't mean she always does it.
10. She loves Skyping! She gets so excited to hear the ringing and her Nana and Grandma in the box.

Now for the photo shoot!

It wasn't me.

You bore me.

ohhh a tag... love me some tags.

I must eat all the tags of the world.

Not no Pooh. I am taking photos.

Momma. Watch this.

I fear the end of bows will be coming soon. It took me a good 5 min to get this one in her hair and she cried and cried. Nothing like making you feel terrible for making her sit still for 5 seconds!

Though each day may be a challenge after she goes to bed I miss her. I can't imagine life without her and feel so blessed for being the frazzled mom with a sucker stuck in her hair. 

Tchau,

Sara

Brazilian Birthday Parties

Belle went to her first little Brazilian Birthday Party. It wasn't the full blown party but just a little one in the park with all the baba's and other kids. Still, we got invited so I will take it!! 

Every one is just like a family :) Sharing everything! I love it.
Really I do and this would never happen in the US.

She is so pretty... yep I said it!

Belle next to the birthday girl who turned 1 last week.

Tchau,

Sara

Flowers Along the Walk

This morning along our walk, which gives me time to drink coffee and wake up before starting the long day, I decided to take some photos of some of the flowers that I see. 

This one just started blooming... isn't it pretty?

The floor is covered with bright pink petals.

These are the guys that are doing the littering :)

Further away view.

Belle wondering what the heck I am doing!

Flowers just start growing off trees.

A close up.

Each time that I see these things it really makes me appreciate where we are living. It can be easy to just   dismiss everything and take it all for granted. I really need to do a better job of soaking it all in!!

Tchau,

Sara

More Teeth

Well I hope that more come through soon. My poor little one is teething again and it's just as painful as the first time. Tons of cuddles and Tylenol are getting us through the days and nights at the moment. Right now the top gums look as if someone cut through them or there is a blister... it really weird. On top of all this we are revamping her sleeping so she stops waking up at 5am ready to go!

Those are just a few of the reasons that I am falling so far behind. This week promise that the posts will keep coming! Plus, Belle turns 7 months this week and she goes to the doctor next week so that will add to the posts. :) Hope everyone is having a great week!

Tchau,
Sara

I Can Sit!

This is how she sits when she goes from her tummy to sitting. She is scared to sit up all the way by herself! Oh and the ducky is her favorite toy at the moment.