Night Lights

They work! This photo was taken from my iTouch without any flash... You can see the ocean and all of the beach!! I bet so many people take advantage of the safety and run/walk at night now.

Tchau,
Sara

Beach Path Lighting

Since we returned to Macae after Belle was born the beach path has been torn to *&%$. Bright orange temporary plastic fencing blocked the path from street entrance. Leave it to the pissed off runners, walkers and beach goers to tear down the fence to access the path and beach. At first, the construction seemed to go along without direction and now it's pretty clear that they are replacing all of our lighting along the beach path in Praia Campista. 

I would have liked to see them fix the torn up beach path that was destroyed by the waves over 6 months ago along Praia Picado and Praia Caveleiros but I assume that this project was already set in motion. 

The guy standing by the orange fence is a city worker trying to repair it :)

The blue light poles are going to be torn down and replaced with the yellow poles.

Surprised these made it intact through the night. Yesterday the city workers laid out all the lights and left them so they could finish today.

Part of the yellow pole set up. The lights will be placed on later today.

Since the project is proceeding I really hope that the new lighting doesn't shine directly into my bedroom window anymore! I also think that part of the beach will be lit up. Maybe since this happens to be the only beach in Macae that isn't destroyed they are trying to build it up? Who knows what the real reason is behind the construction. I just hope it works and the power outages cease.

Tchau,

Sara

Story Time

I am so impressed with her head control! I thought he neck would be floppy forever but she seems to be running through that phase and I love it! Now she is getting tummy time, strength training, visual stimulation and a little alone time. Love this morning!

Tchau,
Sara

Captain Picard

Nate calls Belle's hair do a Captain Picard. Fortunately I had to ask who that was and unfortunately Nate was all to familiar! A quick google search resulted in several pictures of the famous do but I found one that matched Belle. Too funny!

Can't wait until I can brush her hair!!! Still she is such a cutie :)

Tchau,

Sara

Belle Photo Shoot of the Week

I vow to do a photo shoot a week and post it that way you all can see her grow as much as I do! She wasn't as smily as usual but she can sit up so much better!! 

Pictures again. Really?

Ok I will smile!

Lip curl

I just want to be moving my feet all the time

Taken after she decided she didn't want to sit anymore!

We changed outfits throughout the day because the red/pink jumper wouldn't stay buttoned and it started to annoy me! So we went with a racerback onesie and little pink skirt with built in bloomers.

lovin life

Mini push-up

Hope everyone has a great Wednesday! The sun is out here and Belle had a great night... for a baby.

Tchau,

Sara

Avenida Niemeyer

Wanted to share with you one of my favorite views in Rio. The double decker bridge, on Avenida Niemeyer, links the two neighborhoods of Barra and Leblon, with Sao Conrado in between. Each time that Nate and I drive on this road I am gently reminded of Brazil's beauty. A breath of fresh air from all the craziness a person can experience while living here. 

Sometimes it's a good idea to take a step back and be thankful for the little things. Remember that things can always get worse so relish in the goodness of what you do have and the people around you.

Loving life and all it has given me!

Tchau,

Sara

New Day

I have embraced the 'new day' starting with a morning walk when Belle woke up, after her feeding of course. We were going to take a short walk but then she fell asleep so I took advantage and walked for over an hour! It felt great :) She started to wake up right as I we arrived home but then fell asleep in my arms shortly afterward.

Since previous experience with putting her down results in immediate waking with tons of crying, I decided to just hold her.... forever! I think because she finally got some good sleep last night that today she feels ready to conquer the world. I think both of us are ready for a GOOD day before we have another exhausting day. (I don't like to say bad day because everyday I cherish with her but some are more challenging than others.)

I plan on posting several pictures to give you an update of how much she's is growing... unofficially she weighs 14lbs and a little over 24inches. I hope the growth slows down because she will run out of clothes soon. She is wearing 6-9 month in her Gerber Onesies, which are known to run small. For her Carter Onesies she is wearing 3 month old and some 6 month pants. Well, the pants end up being capris but we will take it!

Ahhh. Great morning.

Tchau,
Sara

Tired

Why didn't anybody tell me how hard it was to get a baby to go to sleep? I understand the constant feeding and being up all night with that but being up because she won't sleep?? Someone should take out a billboard ad so all moms know in advance. Maybe it's one of those taboo things that only new parents find out the hard way...

When I google: My baby won't sleep/maybe baby hates sleeping/how to get my baby to nap/my baby cries the minute I put her down, I get a ton of information. It seems that everyone has gone through this. I guess that is why there are so many books and gadgets promises new parents sleep if they by their product. 

Honestly I would pay anything right now for her to sleep longer than 45 min at a time during the day. Let the bargaining begin. Belle you can have a Porche when you turn 16 if you promise to nap during the day...

At night, for the past week, she has been sleeping pretty descent so I really cannot complain. The problem is that I have so much 'new mom' anxiety that I find it impossible to quite my mind enough to take advantage of her sleeping. In my logical thoughts I know that a missing classical music every once in awhile won't scar her for life but let's be real. I haven't been logical since the day she was born. The lack of sleep perpetuates illogical thoughts. I cry every day at some point. 

I know that I need to chill out. Starting tomorrow bright and early when Belle wakes up, around 5 am, I plan to feed her and then go out for a walk. Hopefully this will help relieve some stress and maybe calm me down enough to calm her down to sleep. ahhhhh..... 

Off to try and sleep. Out look doesn't look promising at all as I sit here typing staring at the video monitor of Belle tossing and turning with her eyes wide open. 

Tchau,

Sara

Now What?

From my Day 1 this is what I ask myself every morning :) Today is no different. I feel I have exhausted almost all of my resources on trying to get Belle to sleep in her own crib which is in our room. She can be dead asleep in my arms and her little eyes pop open the minute I put her in her bed. Sometimes I catch her peeking at me with one eye when she is sleeping. It's like she is saying, "don't even think about it or you will pay." Swaddling, rocking, music, the neat vibration bed machine and even placing something warm down before I lay her down doesn't work. I even tried placing something that smelled like me in bed with her. 

I think she really is becoming more aware of her surroundings and wants to be in all the action. This too will pass I know but sometimes it's hard to see out of the weeds. Already time passes to quickly. 

Today is a new Day. I feel it :) For ever rough day there should be a good day right? We will see :) Off to catch 15 min of sleep before she realizes that she is in her own crib.

Tchau,

Sara

Foot in Mouth

First rule if babies: each day is different. Now she hates the moby wrap and her bed. My arms are being abused!!

One day I will sleep and then she will blame me for all her problems and attachment issues. Little does she know that I will always remind her that she made me carry her 13 lb booty around for hours on end.

Then again, who wouldn't want to carry this cutie around?? Hard to stressed when she smiles at you like this. There is a reason God made babies cute!!

Tchau,
Sara