City Life

This week I have spent my time in Rio. Seeing the ultrasound guy, a little bit of Nate, hanging out with friends I haven't seen in awhile and walking around the city. I have to say that I might have a little crush on Rio. There is so much more to do here than in Macae. It's a real city with real stores and real restaurants.

I find myself dreaming of moving here and taking all my friends from Macae here too. I just don't get it though. Macae is the oil capital of the state of Rio. The National oil company Petrobras is stationed in Macae as well as every other major oil producer and supporter. So why does the city have nothing? Maybe it's because our mayor has a castle in Europe....

The point is that Rio is a city that I could really like and enjoy. A city where life doesn't get put on hold until  we get transferred back to the states. The possibilities are endless! Who knows. Maybe we will never get the chance to transfer to Rio and that's ok too. If we do then I will put a big smile on my face because things will be looking up!

I get ahead of myself. Even though I have friends here in Rio we wouldn't be able to live close to them because of Nate's office. In Macae a short walk and I have so many wonderful people to have lunch with, walk, workout, grocery shop and have girls nights! I guess it's a catch-22. Close to friends or live in a great city.

Good thing I don't have to make that decision now or ever. The company will tell us when and where we move. For now I will focus on enjoying my time here and losing sleep over my upcoming trip home :)

Tchau,
Sara

21 Weeks and Counting

Yesterday made for a very long day. It started with an early morning trip to the lab to drop off a urine sample which only cost only 30$ US bucks! In and out with no complications. Although the girl couldn't figure out why I needed it done since I told her I didn't have any problems. I thought it was pretty apparent that I was pregnant but I guess not. She finally said your not pregnant are you? I laughed and said yes... should I have considered that a problem because I think it's the greatest thing in the world!

Then Nate and I made the long dreadful drive to Rio which I has become very old. Checked into the Windsor, since it was the only hotel with an availability this week, not the Sheraton. I find it so weird that Rio runs out of hotel vacancy so fast. I am sure that we could find somewhere to stay in a random hostel but that's not our style when your here for business. Anyway, I digress. We had to bargain with the hotel taxi who said they were giving us a special deal with the hotel car..... for double the price of a yellow taxi! The guy said I give you a ride for R50 and we said no. Then he said well I usually charge R100 and that's when I started laughing at him! Yellow cab took cost us R35. Ahhh I feel so bad for tourists who think they are getting a good deal.

We arrived at the ultrasound place with all my nerves intact. The ultrasound guy did half the consult in Portuguese which wasn't hard because it was just listing off the body parts he was talking about. Most of the medical terms are very similar in Portuguese so I had no trouble following. Then he switched to English when I didn't understand Renal Arteries. Hell, half the US population wouldn't know what that was in English :)

Isabelle is doing great! (We switched from Isabella to Isabelle since we want to call her Belle. Just makes sense). She is still a girl which is something that I was worried about. When we found out at 14 weeks it seemed kinda early to be 100% sure but I guess our guy is that good. Right now she is completely average and is measuring for the same due date given on our first doctor's appointment. August 1st is her date and we are planning on staying in Rio for the last two weeks of July until she is born.

She has all 10 fingers and 10 toes, four chambers in her heart, two kidneys, ventricles in the brain look normal, all the bones are appropriate length, no cleft palate, two eyes, and that's about it! It's so neat to see her heart beating inside of me. You can see all the chambers working together and you could even tell where the foramen ovale was!  I always loved see the echocardiograms done in the hospital but now it's even cooler that it's my baby!!!

I have a ton more photos to post for you but I don't have a scanner here in the hotel. They will all have to wait until this weekend when I get to my parents house. I really cannot wait to get home and see my whole family and all my friends. I might just cry when I see them. Ya, that's the emotional part coming out. Well off to a movie with a friend!

Tchau,
Sara

Fishing Tourney

This morning I awoke at 7 am to the sound of music and firecrackers. I looked out the window to see people scrabbling to get their fishing gear in order. So far I have yet to see them catch anything but the beach is littered with fishermen and women! I would not personally eat anything off my beach but then again I probably already have :)

Tchau,
Sara

Pool party and cook out!

It's a beautiful day here in Macae! After the past few weeks of rain all of us have been taking advantage of the sun... What not a better way to do it the have a pool party and cook out! I asked my friends to bring their pool floaties and drinks while the boys rant over work and cook meat :) Here is a photo of me at 20 wks 6 days!

Happy Saturday
Tchau,
Sara

Awkward!!!

Well the most awkward situation just occurred. The owner of our home is trying to sell his house. That means we have random people coming to look at all our shit. If they are coming to look at our house to buy then more than likely they have more money than anyone person I know personally. This house could easily sell for over a million. So people coming to look at the house is not a problem. The problem is photos being taken for a listing on the internet.

Today started and I knew that people were coming to look at the house. Well, it turns out that they were here to take photos of the house to put on the internet for a listing. The minute I found out I texted Nate who then turned into the Hulk. Knowing that my Portuguese was not good enough to explain the legal aspects of the situation and be able to understand the response I put them on the phone with a co-worker of Nate's.

Not sure what was said but the men turned to leave. I then told them I was sorry and it's just not safe to have photos on the internet with our address. During this conversation Nate called and asked if they deleted the photos.... ummm no I didn't see them. Then I was told to make sure they delete them before they leave. Oh no. How am I am going to do this. Then Nate said take the camera away and delete them or wait for him to get home to take care of the situation. This just took a turn for the worse. Oh no oh no oh no I don't want to do this.

So I sucked it up and told them that for security reasons I need them to delete the photos. I am five months pregnant and I don't feel safe having the photos out there. Sem problem, eu entendo (no problem I understand). Holy! O my that was easier than expected! Then I had to watch him delete all the photos one by one in front of me. When he was leaving I told him to try to have a good day :)

Wow. This would have been awkward in English but it's really awkward in Portuguese! Nate and I can both laugh now at the situation but it was really weird. Nate said he can just picture his pregnant wife wrestling away a grown man's camera. Ha, that would be funny but it wouldn't ever happen! Ahh. The weird crap that happens day to day.

I don't think I need to explain the safety situation here. Hope everyone is having a wonderful Friday.

Tchau,
Sara

T - 1 week until I leave for the US!!

Hate me please!

Here to all you guys suffering through the winter/spring... Today I am going to layout by the pool since it's too hot anywhere else! Thanks Kari for the new pool chair- lord knows it's worth a few hundred bucks here :) I would also love to thank my new awesome pool guy who goes above and beyond my expectations!!!

Tchau,
Sara

Door guy??

Dear Didi (gg),

I used to appreciate your presence but now I can't stand the sight of you. I am not sure what you do all day because you are not working. You have changed and not for the good. Once upon a time you opened the door for me but now you let me dig through my bags in the rain and watch me clumsily enter the gate. Each time I come down stairs your not there. Where could you be? I know: taking your two hour lunch, walking down the boardwalk, staring at girls on the beach, talking on your phone, banging the girl on the second floor who throws dirty dish water from her window onto our car, or watching other people work. The two pictures above are you caught in action. The first photo I am actually proud of you for having your shirt on but your playing with a stray dog instead of helping the guy who is in the second picture. The second picture is the guy who has been trying to fix the front gate for over a year now. I don't even want to talk about that subject. Even Claudia can't stand you and together we secretly make fun of you behind you back when you enter my house, walk all over my yoga mat and put your dirty hands on my white walls. Where ever the old Didi went please bring him back. That's all I ask.

Tchau,
Sara

The Visit

Here are the promised pictures from the past week!

Kari and I at dinner in Buzios at Don Juan's.... I know a argentine restaurant in Buzios for their first meal. Such a bad host!

Casey and Nate at the restaurant. The rain at this point was a steady sprinkle. After a few drinks for the group they had no problems.... as for me, I won't melt :)

After a late night out stumbling the cobble stone streets of Buzios and listening to bad English rock we managed to all pull ourselves out of bed and grab lunch. Of course that morning I work up around 7 am finished a book I was reading, got breakfast, got ready for the day. These late night trip to the bathroom are killing my sleep!

At Fishbonze eating Moquequa (sp). It's a brazilian fish stew and usually found in Bahia Brazil. Nate and I love it though so we always get it when we find the chance.

More food! We sat at the beach under umbrellas to fight off the rain.

At least we had some entertainment while we hung out by the beach. I would like to think that the two guys in the mini mankini's (sunga's) are famous soccer players. They had crazy muscles in their legs and well everywhere!

After our trip to Buzios we returned for some fun in Macae. Basically we just took them around our tiny city. The usual grocery store trip and walks on the beach. The sun actually came out for two days and they were able to leave Brazil with a tan!

Friday morning we woke up early and headed to Rio for all the touristy stuff. You have to see these things while you are in Rio. Who know when you will ever get the chance to visit again? 

Nate and I on our way to Christos by bus this time. The line to take the train was ridiculous! Of course the driver from the hotel kept trying to talk us into doing this private for us. We declined because initially she wanted R50 to even take us one way to Christos. We laughed in her face and said we would grab a yellow cab.... then she came running back to tell us she would lower it. So when she wanted to take us to up to the middle we just didn't want to deal with her! In the end we wished we would have listened to her :( but everything turned out great anyway.

Good thing we took the bus because it stopped halfway to the top and let us all take pictures. Normally this wouldn't be a big deal but with all the clouds we wanted to be sure to get a great picture of the city!

My favorite: Sugar Loaf. 

Playing around in the bamboo forest.

Check out the ant in this photo on the wood in the left of the picture! It's huge... and I would hate to see that guy in my house.

At the top of Christos and the clouds moving away briefly to catch a glimpse of the city below

Well this is better than the first time we came with Nate's sister Amy.... beggars cannot be choosers and we will get our good day at some point!

The classic pose. Check it off the list.

Drinks in Copacobana across from the famous Copacobana Palace hotel.

I feel like I have to show the boys every once in awhile!  The two of them together stuck out like never before. Each of them are 6'4" and are not small by any means. I don't think the entire time I have seen a bigger Brazilian than the two of them. Definitely makes me feel safe.

I am surprised he is still smiling because I made him take so many pictures!

Back at the hotel. We are actually standing by a railing to lead down to the beach but it's so dark you can't tell.

Sitting out by the fake fire they had. This is where Nate starts to protest the photos.

The next morning we traveled to Sugar Loaf

This day I was feeling really pregnant. You can see the belly band sticking out from under my shirt and I probably will not be able to wear those shorts any more. A little to tight for me.

It started raining while we were on top of Sugar Loaf so we put my scarf around our heads- look at the ladies behind us. They thought is was great idea too!

One last photo of Nate being the funny guy to end the trip.

Afterward we took them to eat and then dropped them off at the airport. I can't even tell you how exhausted we both were. I don't even think that we spoke on the drive back to the hotel. The next morning we each got massages and called it a day :) 

Now I am preparing for possibly spending next week in Rio because I have an ultrasound and Nate has a safety course. Then Friday I leave to visit home! I am so happy and the usual 'I know that I am going home soon homesick'. I just can't believe I go home again already....  I do need to buy things for Belle though!

Tchau,

Sara

Halfway there!

Yesterday marked the halfway until Belle makes her way into the world. I say this all the time but I really cannot believe that I am this far along already. Time seems to be flying by but I am trying to enjoy every minute. Each day I can feel her move around more and more. When Nate puts his hand on my belly she immediately stops! He thinks this means that she will be calm with him.... time will tell for sure.

During this time I definitely feel a shift in emotions. I find myself caring even more for babies and families. When I read or see a family story on tv I have to hold back my tears- it doesn't even have to be sad but just about a mother's love. It pulls on my heart strings. So far I have not given in to the tears and I fear it's only a matter of time before the flood gates open. Nate Run!!

Nate's really been great through the whole thing. Despite his recent venture of wanting to make a board game out of his pregnant wife involving food.... Nate- I regret to inform you that I might be 5 months pregnant but you still out weigh me by over 100lbs so ha!

With us being in Brazil I feel that we both go through everything together. He has to come to all my appointments, ultrasounds and even most of the lab work. With him being front and center I think it helps because I know he's clueless about physiology. We can leave him to his physics and other stuff I pretend to listen to :)

Oh- Here is something he did to me the other day. I wanted to discuss his role while I am in labor and I told him that he needed to be my advocate. Which involves sticking up for me to the doctor if she is pushing something I don't want. I really want to try to have a Natural Birth (scary I know) and I need him on my team. He then proceeds to pinch the back of my arm and just hold that pinch. I knew that he was tying to determine my pain tolerance but he took it to far. I didn't say a word and I just stared at him while he held the pinch. Eventually words were said and he let go. Seriously Nate. That pinch is supposed to compare to natural childbirth... I couldn't help but laugh because that's just Nate. He then told me that later in the pregnancy he was going to make me eat a carebear and see how it felt coming out the other end to prepare me since the pinching didn't work out so well. I told him that he was the one going to be eating a carebear so he could empathize with me!! God I love that guy because he always make me laugh!

Below is a picture of us on Sugar Loaf and you can see my growing little belly!

Later when the photos are done uploading you will get the rest from the week! 

Tchau,

Sara

Falling behind!

Our friends made it here and have already left to go home! I can't believe how fast the time went which leaves me so many things to post and share. Right now Nate and I are both still in Rio recovering. Tomorrow I have my third doctor's appointment and I am so excited. Each day she moves around more and more. When we return to Macae I will upload all my photos and catch you up on the appointment for tomorrow.

Tchau,
Sara