Too much travel?!

Is there such a thing as too much travel? Well when it's mostly leaving your family and flying for work I would say yes.

The other day Nate got his new rewards cards from United.... 1k club = 100,000 flying miles.

Belle and I only flew 30,000 miles putting us in the silver category which basically means nothing. Crazy to think that in the next year my flying miles will be practically zero and no hopes of meeting any rewards from United!

The same will hopefully go for Nate as most of his travel will now be driving! That means more time for family!!!

I hope that I am not setting my hopes to high but I really am super excited to have a normal life.

Have I mentioned that Nate comes home tomorrow?! I feel like a kid at Christmas right now and honestly cannot sleep thinking of seeing his face!

Cheers to the start of normalcy!

Tchau,
Sara

Growing Up

Belle is growing up way too fast. When we came to the US the week of Thanksgiving she could barely say momma and dada. Now look what's happening!









Nate jokes and tells me that in a few weeks she will be explaining why she shouldn't get time out! That, surely will be the day :)

Tchau,
Sara

Itching

I am just itching to get to our new place! Nate should be home this week and we will be scrambling for last minute goodbyes and packing. You would be surprised at how much stuff we have managed to accumulate over the past two months. Not to mention all the stuff that Nate and I have been keeping at our parents house since high school!

I am sad to go and happy at the same time. I know that once I get there I will miss the house always being full but I will also be happy to have mine own little family!

Once we get to our place that is fully furnished, down to the sheets and pots and pans, then the house hunt will begin. I can actually say that I am nervous to see our furnished place because we have no idea if it's even nice! I guess there is always hotel living which wouldn't be fun with a toddler. Keep us in your prayers over the next few days. We will need it!


Tchau,
Sara

Nap Lovin

She loves her naps and bed so much she doesn't want to leave her bed! Just look at the hair I have to deal with too.

When I walked into the room to get her from her nap she told me, "NO". So I threw (seriously) a couple of books at the other end of the bed to use as bait. She snatched them up and made herself comfortable.

When she finally warmed up to the idea of leaving her bed I had to then get her used to the idea of a diaper change. Of course sometimes there is no pleading and I proceeded to hold her down while she cried. It broke my heart cause half way through she started saying, "please" in between her sobs!

She cracks me up. I guess that's the whole toddler world. Hot and cold all day long.

Oh and have I mentioned that in one week Nate comes home! I swear I am never letting him out of my sight again!

Tchau,
Sara

So Excited!!

The movers are packing up the truck right now and I cannot contain my excitement. Even though I am not even in Rio to help with the move, all the progress updates Nate is giving me have me sporting a permanent smile!!

I just feel that finally my life will settle and be normal. I dream of a routine where Nate goes to work and comes home in the evening to a home cooked meal.

I know that the next few months are going to be a little shaky. We will be living in fully furnished corporate housing until we find a house that we want to buy. Then we will have to purchase furniture and other home stuff for the home.

More than likely our shipment from Brazil will arrive a month after we purchase a house and then we will be taking things straight to the dump and if it's in ok condition then to Salvation Army. We are required, by Brazilian law, to take everything we brought into the country (Brazil) home with us when we leave or pay taxes on all of the stuff. So that means that our broken bookshelves and molded bed have to be packed up and shipped back to the States.

It's kinda sad because I would have loved to donate these things to people in Brazil who really need them. I feel that donations in the US are not as greatly appreciated as they are in Brazil. That's just my experiences though.

Hope everyone is having a great of day as I am!

Tchau,
Sara

Packing

The movers came on time and are packing the condo as we speak! Nate is facilitating the event and tells me everything is going faster than expected. They are doing such a better job than the movers that moved us from Macae brazil to Rio!

This makes at least one of my stresses go away!

Tchau,
Sara

Ft. Worth

We are moving back to the States!! That's why I have been here so long. I refuse to fly with Belle again knowing the possibility of moving! More to come a little later when I gather the words to say about my time away.

Tchau (maybe I should start signing off in English now?),
Sara

Aquarium

Yesterday since the temperature dipped below my age ;) I took Belle to the Oklahoma Aquarium. I figured now that she is older, can walk, say fishy (sisshy), and generally interested in everything, that it would be a great idea to take her!

Turns out I was right. She was obsessed with the fish and running all around dragging me everywhere! We went at the perfect time since the stingray petting was going on and one of the underwater feedings. Belle practically swam with the rays and laughed, splashed and hung over the side rail with way too much excitement. The worker even asked to take her picture because she was having too much fun.

Every time she touched one of the rays she would tell, "oh soft!" Have I mentioned I loved this age?

Then after about an hour of running and playing we went to the gift shop to get a stuffed sisshy to take home. We ended up running into some kids speaking Portuguese and I debated on interrupting their convo to tell them Belle is Brazilian Then I just did it and we all spoke a little Portuguese. Good to know I can still bust it out when I need to! Although it felt weird speaking here in the US.

All in all it was a fun trip and I can't wait to take her to the zoo this spring!

Tchau,
Sara

I know that I keep making false promises to keep writing. These past two months in the US have me worn to the bone. I wait and wait for my life to become normal and slow down a bit. There are so many things that I want to write in the blog and I am pretty sure that tomorrow I will be able to start talking about our big news.... if that doesn't already hint you off :)

I am also thinking about opening the blog back up to everyone. We will see! I feel that if I have a larger audience to write to, it would push me to write more often. Who knows for sure though.

Tchau,
Sara

Long but short weekend

Nate flew into town for one night so we could have a night on the town! My mom watched Belle for us so we could have dinner and drinks.... Too many drinks.

That morning Nate and Belle reunited and she spent the next hour cover his face with 'sincess' (princess) stickers. Too cute!!

He had to leave us again. Once again, she gets sick with a little cold, no fever just really stuffing and not sleeping good. It's the paradox that this only happens when Nate is gone.

More cuddles for me but also little sleep. I am just hoping that I don't catch it too this time around.

Two more weeks of Nate being gone and then we will have so much time together! It will be like we are married or something ;)

Tchau,
Sara

Anniversary!

Today is our 3 year anniversary for marriage despite having loved each other for 15 years! Crazy to think of the things we have been through together and I look forward to the laughter, tears, and love to come.

I make a promise to always focus on communicating that way we can continue to grow together. The moment we start to grow separately I promise to drop the things I think are more important and focus on us!

I wish that we were able to spend this day together but text messages, emails, phones calls, and Skype will have to suffice.

I love you Nate!

The Land

We are back out to my parents house for probably the next two weeks while we wait impatiently for Nate to return from Brazil.

Finally the weather was bearable to venture outside. It's not just that's its cold its the wind that makes it not fun!

Belle had to adjust being back out here but that's nothing new. With each day I am realizing how much of a routine girl she is and how many little quirks she has. Now that she talking more, each day quickly becomes an adventure.

The other day she said, "momo freeese", which means Elmo please. I told a friend of mine that I am now trilingual by adding toddler to my list!

I have probably already said this but I am really loving the age for Belle!! It almost. ALMOST. Makes me think that having another one could be fun.

Tchau,
Sara

Favorite new space

Belle got a baby crib for her baby dolls this Christmas. Turns out she likes to hang out in it more than she likes to play with the dolls! Oh and if you can't see in the picture she also loves her hat and stickers.

Tchau,
Sara

Cheese!

Here is Belles cheese face! When you ask her to smile or say cheese this is what she does ;)

Too cute!

Tchau,
Sara

New year!

Someone had a party in her bed last night!! Hope the new year is starting off wonderful for you all!!

Tchau,
Sara