New Toy

Number one most asked question when visiting home: What do you do with your time? Well now I have a perfectly great answer besides mumbling. Trying to dissect my new camera! I mentioned before that I purchased the camera but I didn't really do anything more than take it out of the box until now. I want to learn how to use all the settings and be comfortable with it before Belle gets here. That way I can take tons of great quality photos and pick up a new hobby! 

This probably wouldn't have happened if we still lived in the US. While I have always dreamed of being an artistic person I stumble short of the starting line. Give me sports or science and the game is on. That being said if Belle was born in the US I would be paying high dollar to have her pictures taken. Not to mention that I would be struggling finding time between new baby and possibly a job. 

How am I going to learn you ask? Practice makes perfect and these days there is so much information on the internet. Right now I am becoming familiar with all the settings the camera has to offer. Basically I spend the day looking up what this word means and why it's important. I found a great website that goes over all the basics and it's free. I looked into an online class but maybe in another month I will sign up. 

Haha- Below are a photographs of my new toy which Nate thinks is funny that I am about to post. Dork at heart, what can I say.

The set up looks almost identical to the power shot that I have. One of the reasons I chose the Canon over the Nikon.

Off to dinner with friends. Surprisingly this is the first meal that we have gone out to eat since we have been back instead of me cooking or Nate on the grill! This weekend will break that for sure as we are traveling to Buzios for yet another golf tournament put on by an oil company. Maybe I will nab some great photos to share next Monday?

Tchau,

Sara

House Update

One of the fears that I have after returning from a long trip home is to walk in and find that A. Everything is gone or B. Everything is soaking wet and molded. We pay Claudia to keep her regular schedule while we travel to negate those problems but could she really handle them if they arose? Good for us that each time we return home the house is spotless, mold free, water free and smells amazing.

This time around nothing changed and she even planted some new flowers for me to kill. The pool even still works! Go new pool guy :) Claudia likes him but she says that he talks way too much. I was curious to see how she would handle allowing him into the house to clean the pool while we were away. Turns out I had nothing to worry about. Monday he showed up per usual time, chatted away with Claudia and then went off to work.

Another worry this time around involved GG and the owner who is in the processes of selling our place. I think Claudia feels our house is her turf and GG wants to be a part of it. Too bad she hates him because he never works or does anything for that matter. Anyway, most of the time he feels entitled to enter our house and gets mad when she won't let him in. I have had several talks with him saying that I told her not to let anyone in while we are not home. That includes your worthless booty GG.

Back to topic. I could see GG forcing his way into the house to allow people to look around while we were away. We come home to find out that GG in on vacation too! Talk about luck. I dread the day I have to deal with him when he returns.

Other than that things are pretty good. The leaks still haven't been fixed and who knows if they ever will. The front gate still doesn't work with our phone (which is supposed to allow us to buzz people in without having to go all the way down) and we have reached the year marker that people have been working on it. The elevator button to our floor is on the fritz and I am sure it's only a matter of time before it needs to be fixed.

Overall I have to say that this was one of the easier returns. Brazil was good to me this time around. I can only really speak for myself though. Nate and Brazil always clash but the relationship continues.

Cheers to a great week!

Tchau,
Sara

26 Weeks

Houston. We have a problem. The past week I experienced a huge growth spurt and I feel it. The problem derives from the fact that I really didn't spend very much time getting clothes for my growing body. For some reason I only focused on bras and I bought three shirts just because. Well that's great if you have bottoms to wear with those tops.... I just could bring myself to go into the maternity stores.

Ahhhh. I didn't really think that I had a problem. I can still button a pair of my jeans so I thought that other things in my closet would fit. Denial. I guess those jeans only made of lyrca because nothing else does fit. I am left with yoga pants and a few dresses. As you can see in the photo even my tank top is working hard but still cannot cover the belly. 

Rumor on the street is that there is a good maternity store in Centro Macae and I am sure that will cost me a pretty penny. I will just have to see how resourceful I can be. If all else fails then Nate's clothes should work :) 

Onto other things: 

Belle moves all the time and I even see my belly move. 

I forget something everyday.

I haven't noticed any stretch marks but I am sure they are waiting for a bad day to show up.

I feel great! 

Starting to get tired more.

I am sleeping less. 

I have anxiety.

My next doctor appointment isn't until May 6th. 

Not sure when we tour the hospitals.

My face is clearing up.

My legs rub together when I walk now- Nate laughs.

I am sick of water and have started making more herbal tea with milk and sugar.

I have switched back to skim milk since my weight gain is on target.

Heartburn is not my friend but he likes to visit me daily.

That seems to be about it really. I still don't have any complaints about being pregnant and life is good. I will write up a house update tomorrow- problems, Claudia, pool guy, and GG. Then I will do a Macae update- Mr. and Mrs. Sticks photos :), bike path, acai place and whatever else I can find.

Have a great day!

Tchau,

Sara

Easter Time!

Easter in Brazil differs quite a bit from Easter in the US for me. In the US I wake up and go to church with my family then either go to breakfast or cook at home. Either way we spend time together. Here in Brazil I don't have a home church. There are several 'Life' churches and one Catholic church that I can walk to but no Lutheran or English speaking church. Therefore I rely on self study which I lack the self discipline so it really ends up being no study.

This year I thought Nate and I could find out a few interesting differences for the commercial side of Easter. Everyone knows that in the US for whichever holiday it may be, every candy maker has a special marketing strategy. The decor of the bag or the wrapping of the candy itself invites consumers to buy their product. Brazil works a little different. I haven't really noticed anything special for any of the holidays except for Easter....

You can walk into any grocery store and there are these foil wrapped eggs hanging from a scaffolding like set-up. Nate cannot fit under these displays which makes me laugh as I glide under the display. Actually it's more like I elbow people around and stumble out not knowing what just happened!

Saturday we bought a blue egg for Nate and a pink egg for me just to try out. Which I had to send Nate into battle to get since I could reach- haha. Jokes on him!

On Easter morning we unwrapped our eggs :) Fun right? 

Since neither of us our big chocolate fans the whole thing ended up in the trash.... If you were a kid though I could see loving the egg and the little toy. 

In the end we won't be buying over priced candies next year! I know that there is more to the holiday in Brazil than these candy eggs but really as an outsider it is all you would think mattered. A friend of our even bought his whole office eggs because they were working on Good Friday. He said everyone went nuts. I take it as a throwback memory to childhood! Everyone wants to be a kid every once in a while.

Tchau,

Sara

Fruits

From right to left

Mamao- papaya
Manga- mango
Maracuja- passion fruit
Caqui- not sure the English word for it.

The fruits in order have slowly become a craving over the past year and a half. It started with the papaya now I can't get enough of the passion fruit. Today I bought the caqui because I am thinking I need a new obsession. Plus I think they are in season because they are everywhere and very cheap. I will let you know how it goes!

Tchau,
Sara

Good/Bad

Our trip home turned out to be a little bit longer than expected so I am going to map out the good and the bad for each of the little events :)

Tuesday 19th at 6pm-
Good: Arrive at the airport with all our bags fitting in the car
Bad: Continental charges us for the car seat because I don't have an infant with me- Pregnant doesn't count. I will be calling them about this.

Good: We only had to pay 100$ per extra bag, 200$ total because we bought our tickets in February. The prices elevated to 200$ per extra bag the past week! Ouch!
Bad: After going through the check-in process we find out our flight is delayed 12 hrs.

Good: Continental is giving out hotel vouchers and food vouchers. Not to mention we don't have to drag all those bags around town again.
Bad: Back to the hotel. No extra clothes and no bathroom stuff. We are going to be some stinky beasts by the end of this trip home.

Good: The hotel has a shuttle at the airport and a decent restaurant to eat at.
Bad: We have to wake up at 430 am to get back to the airport.

Wednesday 20th at 430 am

Good: I wake up first time with the alarm.
Bad: It was set to Brazilian time..... 2 hrs ahead so it was really 230 am. By the time I fall asleep it's time to wake up again.

Good: Shuttle to the airport left on time.
Bad: Shuttle broke down and a new one had to pick us up- delayed maybe 10 min.

Good: The flight leaves at 645 am and will be easy for me to walk around and not feel so tired being prego and all.
Bad: We realize that landing in Brazil at 7pm is a little late to be driving back to Macae. Not to mention against new company policy. We need a hotel.

Good: Flight goes well
Bad: Only breakfast and dinner were served..... and you could tell it was from the day before.

Good: I am pregnant so we got to cut in front of everyone in immigration
Bad: We had to wait close to 40 min to get our bags from baggage claim

Good: Customs didn't stop us
Bad: Nate loaded me down like a pack mule to play the pathetic pregnant woman carry too much stuff. I guess it worked. Now Nate thinks he is invincible with customs.

Good: Our car started after sitting for 20 days
Bad: I realize how hot it is here and its 8pm at night.

Good: All of our bags fit.... somehow
Bad: We have to drive 40 min to hotel.

Good: It's the Sheraton and we have all our bags!
Bad: I just want to be home.

Thursday 21st 830 am

Good: I wake up in time for free breakfast! Yummy fruit here I come!!!
Bad: The breakfast lady knows me.....

Good: It's a beautiful day
Bad: It's a holiday

Good: We leave after lunch
Bad: So does everyone in Rio

Good: Nate and I didn't kill each other
Bad: It took us 7hrs to get home

Total travel time: 49hrs


I will write more when I have energy!!

Tchau,
Sara

Bags

Six bags... Check (2 bags apiece for free the other 2 are $$$)

Under 70 lbs each.... Barely

One car seat box... Check (free!)

Ready to go!!
Tchau,
Sara

Good Byes :(

We originally planned on leaving this past Sunday but Nate had some meetings so we had to extend our stay. This helped out tremendously because the suitcases needed some organization. My expert packing skills allowed me to get everything we acquired in Houston into the same overstuffed suitcases we came here with. I have my Grandmother to thank for that. All the clothes rolled and into little ziplock baggies.

A list of the things we are bringing to Brazil for Belle:

1. Tons of clothes 0-9 months ( I am amazed at how much she has now!)
2. Car seat plus all the little things that go with it- mirror and toys.
3. Swing
4. Bassinet for now. My parents are bringing the pack n play after she is born.
5. Breast Pump- Who knew this thing would be that expensive and heavy?
6. Teething toys
7. Bath stuff
8. Baskets and decor (It fit so I am bringing it!)
9. Not sure but more stuff....

Wish us luck as we weigh our six bags...
Tchau,
Sara

Belle's Revised Bag

Tchau, 

Sara

Next Top 5

Here is the other part of the Top 10. I really had so much fun doing this! It makes me excited to pick up my new camera and take tons of photos :) Just in case ya don't remember I purchased the Canon Rebel T3 EOS 1100 and I have already looked up some classes online. Of course some courses cost more than the camera itself so I will be sticking to something a little more basic. Plus I have heard that youtube also has tons of instructional videos... who knew? I even bought a book with ideas for photos or projects. By the time that Belle gets here I won't have to think twice about what settings are what in my camera. Good thing is that I already own a Canon so the settings are pretty similar :)

We have one more Baby Shower to go to today with all our friends in Houston. Nate's pretty pissed that he has to go but he needs to remember that once Belle gets here he will be out numbered all the time. Unless we have a boy next he better get used to girly stuff fast! 

Tchau,

Sara