Rock in Rio

The past weekend marked the first time in ten years that Rock in Rio returned to Brazil. The concert rotates between Portugal, Spain and Brazil every few years. Tickets went on sale earlier in the year for pretty cheap but almost impossible to get. The 600,000 tickets sold out in four days but what was even more impressive is that most of them sold out from people purchasing without internet. The good old fashion wait in line and purchase at a ticket booth. A friend of ours paid his maid to stand in line for 8 hrs to purchase as many tickets as possible.

Scalpers then took advantage of the situation and increased the prices from an original 200R to 800R a ticket. Nate planned on attending one of the days but opted out to stay home with me and Belle. Thank you!! Little did we know that the concert is shown on TV... live. So weird to me! I would be pissed to pay 800R a ticket to know that I could have avoid the crowd, traffic and other craziness to sit in the comfort of my home.

Check out the article in English describing more of the concert and the bands that are playing. A wide variety of groups to appeal to everyone! Such a great idea :) Rock in Rio in Here

From the looks of the concert on TV all of the tickets are standing room only. So pretty much a huge field with hundreds of thousands of people at eye level for a concert... no my cup of tea but to each there own.

Our friend that went this past weekend had an amazing time despite the pickpocketing scandal that took place. Apparently people trained for it and a large group set out to pickpocket everyone at the concert. My friend got his wallet stolen then a friend of his got his camera stolen with in a matter of minutes of walking into the concert. When they realized what had happened the kept checking their pockets only to find they fell victim again by losing their phones.

The police have arrested people and supposedly are investigating the incidents. Better nip this idea in the butt before the World Cup 2014 and the Olympics 2016. Set an example of these people that way no one thinks it is a good idea in the future!

Tchau,
Sara

PS- Funny bit: In Portuguese you don't pronounce the R when it occurs before a vowel which makes Rock in Rio pronounced Hock in Hee-oh :) Always makes me laugh.

Make You Smile

Here are a few photos to make you smile today. Belle being a diva in her big sunglasses and another one of her smiling in the swing!

Tchau,
Sara

Proof

Here is a photo to prove she is sleeping in her own bed!!

Love her way too much. Now I just want to pick her up ;)

Tchau,
Sara

Sleeping??

No way. I don't believe it. Belle has fallen asleep on her own, no crying, in her own bed three times today!! I haven't had to rock, walk, pat for hours on end to get her to close her eyes. Now that she is finally sleeping I have no idea what to do. I keep walking into the room to see if she is still alive.

I seriously don't believe that she is sleeping. I hear all those parents who say there kids fell asleep anywhere and anytime. Who knew that Belle would be ready to go all the time?

I guess I called it when I was pregnant. She moved all the time then and she moves all the time now. Today I have been taking advantage of her sleeping by trying to catch up on mine. Off to sleep some more!

Tchau,
Sara

Crazy Crasins!

Brazil is not the country you can see something in the grocery store and just buy without looking at the price. These days my stomach drives the car and I saw them and couldn't pass them up!! I just now saw the price... Almost 10 USD!!! Oops. I bought two packages. Note to self: Crasins are not worth 20$

Tchau,
Sara

Brazilian Passport Time

Friday Belle had her interview with the Brazilian Federal Police for her passport application. Maybe some of you recall the first time Nate and I had to venture into Centro for our Visas. If not then I will tell the story again.

In a country, or at least town, where it is acceptable for men to wear a speedo with no shirt or shoes into the grocery store it is UNacceptable for me to wear shorts into the Federal Police Station.

What a normal person you see walking around in a Speedo.
Trust me. Nothing you want to see..... ever!

Since we were new to the area we had a driver take us to the office where I quickly found out that I could not be admitted because I was wearing shorts. Due to time limitations and needing the paperwork to be done that exact day I opted to wear my husbands pants over my shorts..... I am 5'7" and Nate is 6'4". He out weighs me by a good 120lbs give or take. While Nate sat in his underwear in the car I wore his jeans rolled up and cinched at the waist. Everyone in the station laughed but I was admitted and the paperwork was processed. When I returned to the car I found Nate still in his underwear working away on his laptop while the driver continued to look at us like we were crazy.

I could have been friend with these guys with my baggy jeans!

This time around I went overboard with attire with jeans, closed toed shoes and a blouse. I have to say that it was nice to wear something other than yoga pants and a tank top. Nate was able to keep his pants on so I say the trip was a success!

All our paperwork was completed and all we had to do was sign some paperwork. Belle's photograph may be cause for concern. The dimensions we were told are wrong but the lady at the desk said it wouldn't be a problem. I doubt it and it seems like very lax security. Then again, the same thing happened for her US passport that arrived last week to the house. I think that security might not be as tight for an infant. Just a guess though.

Everything went great and we can pick up the passport in 5-8 days. They normally would mail it but the postal office is on strike. And you wonder why we never let anyone send us anything in the mail. another story for another day!

For now we patiently wait for the word that we can pick up her passport. Then I can start scheduling a trip home to see the rest of the family and friends!!

Equals trip home!!

Tchau,
Sara

Juan Valdez

Nate brought me home the best coffee ever! Last year a friend of ours brought us some from Columbia and I fell in love. Sorry Brazil but I am not a fan of your coffee at all.

Now I will have the energy to be supermom! He also bought a hand grinder for me. Don't you love the photo where you can see the ocean? Just thought I would share my amazing view this morning along with my special coffee treat!

Tchau,
Sara

Ps- Belle slept 5 hrs up 2 hrs with her dad when he got home. Then another 5... Feed for 10 min and back to sleep for 5 all on her own!! Guess she missed her dad as much a I did.

Let the Tears Fall

Even though Claudia came each day this week I still managed to break down and feel overwhelmed. A dash of feeling lonely mixed with uncertainty topped with tired makes deadly cocktail. Each morning I felt energized to take on the new day but by the end, with several failed attempts to get little Belle to sleep, I felt incompatible to be a mother.

The book says this and the mom next door's infant was sleeping by herself through the night at 5 weeks. So many opinions and information running through my head. When your tired, consistency lacks in everything you do. Most of the time you look for the quick solution and get frustrated when it doesn't succeed.

It's amazing how deflated you can feel in such a short amount of time. When you finally take a step back and realize that your baby is still a baby. A baby that is still learning and if she needs me to help her sleep then so be it! When she is ready to sleep on her own without being held then she will and I shouldn't feel like a failure because of some book or what another person's infant did.

Each day she makes huge strides in development. She found the swing toys above her head and now can tolerate the swing for 15 min. Tummy time has been extended to 5 min and she loves when I walk with her so she can look around. Each time she sees me she smiles and sort of giggles which melts my heart.

One of these days I will get some sleep and my arms will get a rest but only when Belle is ready. I will continue to try each day to see if she can tolerate it. Right now she is sleeping on her own in her bed without being held. I rocked her to 'almost' sleep and placed her down to nap. This lasted for about thirty minutes and then she woke up when she realized I wasn't next to her. I don't blame her. This world is scary!! I went into the room immediately then patted her belly and talked her down until she started to get drowsy again. I had to repeat this one more time but now she has been asleep for 45 min on her own. She is growing up so fast!!

The little steps. Maybe tomorrow there will be more progress but I am taking the win for today. Sad to say that I already miss the days where I didn't have to place her in her bed alone. I need to do what is best for the family and her development and help her through this transition. I guess I will need to get used to letting my baby go because for the rest of her life I will be teaching her to succeed without me constantly by her side and to be independent.

Can I have another baby please?

Wow. I must be tired :)

Tchau,
Sara

PS- did I also mention that Nate was gone for the whole week and that our power went out every single night? Talk about a stressful week. I am so grateful that Nate returns this evening. Adult conversation and someone to tell me it's ok Belle didn't get accepted into Harvard this week..... that can wait for 18 years!

Rattle?

Belle playing on her mat playing with a rattle that I placed in her hand and looking at some picture books so I can eat!!

Tchau,
Sara

Let's play!!

Recently belle has decided that she doesn't want to sleep ever!! Maybe she really needs me to hold her so she can sleep? Hopefully this will pass soon so at least I can get good sleep. The one good thing is that she doesn't cry. She just won't sleep!

So not only will Belle not sleep but the power keeps going out. Nate is gone and I am breaking out the candles and flash lights taking care of a newborn. I really cannot wait for things to just work and for Nate to be home to help out!!

Tchau,
Sara