7 Months

Can't believe that I am already having to write this post. Yep. The little one is no longer the little one. She is 7 months today and almost mobile. Honestly it won't be long before the real exercise happens for me. For now I am anxiously waiting on deck.... oh belle. 

She is always busy. Always. It makes going anywhere a mission. Each time we venture out to the mall, lunch with friends, or even a trip to the grocery store I have to prepare for battle. Each day I thank the lord that I made it out alive. To those who says baby wearing is awesome it can be put most of the time it's just as much trouble as pushing her in a stroller. That is when she will let me push her in a stroller. 

I guess the only reason I bring a stroller is to push the diaper bag around. Forget about her sitting in it while I eat or talk to someone. She wants to be out. Grabbing drinks, the menu, the table, the waiters apron, my clothes, my food, her bows, and the list could on forever. The only think I can leave off the list are her toys which she has zero interest in these days. The sayings are true. Your kids will never play with toys but the boxes they come in. Right now she loves playing with water bottles....

How can I ever have more than her??? I guess you just do it right! 

Right now she can:

1. Army crawl 
2. tummy to sitting
3. eat a banana by herself though sometimes she wants you to shovel it in her mouth
4. try to turn the pages of a book but doesn't really like to sit still
5. She love other kids and wants to be out with them. 
6. She stares at all adults.
7. She started clapping which might be the cutest think in the world
8. She only babbles a little and says babababa but nothing really else other than screams and laughs
9. She can sleep through the night but that doesn't mean she always does it.
10. She loves Skyping! She gets so excited to hear the ringing and her Nana and Grandma in the box.

Now for the photo shoot!

It wasn't me.

You bore me.

ohhh a tag... love me some tags.

I must eat all the tags of the world.

Not no Pooh. I am taking photos.

Momma. Watch this.

I fear the end of bows will be coming soon. It took me a good 5 min to get this one in her hair and she cried and cried. Nothing like making you feel terrible for making her sit still for 5 seconds!

Though each day may be a challenge after she goes to bed I miss her. I can't imagine life without her and feel so blessed for being the frazzled mom with a sucker stuck in her hair. 

Tchau,

Sara

Brazilian Birthday Parties

Belle went to her first little Brazilian Birthday Party. It wasn't the full blown party but just a little one in the park with all the baba's and other kids. Still, we got invited so I will take it!! 

Every one is just like a family :) Sharing everything! I love it.
Really I do and this would never happen in the US.

She is so pretty... yep I said it!

Belle next to the birthday girl who turned 1 last week.

Tchau,

Sara

Flowers Along the Walk

This morning along our walk, which gives me time to drink coffee and wake up before starting the long day, I decided to take some photos of some of the flowers that I see. 

This one just started blooming... isn't it pretty?

The floor is covered with bright pink petals.

These are the guys that are doing the littering :)

Further away view.

Belle wondering what the heck I am doing!

Flowers just start growing off trees.

A close up.

Each time that I see these things it really makes me appreciate where we are living. It can be easy to just   dismiss everything and take it all for granted. I really need to do a better job of soaking it all in!!

Tchau,

Sara

More Teeth

Well I hope that more come through soon. My poor little one is teething again and it's just as painful as the first time. Tons of cuddles and Tylenol are getting us through the days and nights at the moment. Right now the top gums look as if someone cut through them or there is a blister... it really weird. On top of all this we are revamping her sleeping so she stops waking up at 5am ready to go!

Those are just a few of the reasons that I am falling so far behind. This week promise that the posts will keep coming! Plus, Belle turns 7 months this week and she goes to the doctor next week so that will add to the posts. :) Hope everyone is having a great week!

Tchau,
Sara

I Can Sit!

This is how she sits when she goes from her tummy to sitting. She is scared to sit up all the way by herself! Oh and the ducky is her favorite toy at the moment.

Sleepy Time

Caught her sleeping with her little butt in the air on the video monitor! Too cute :)

Baby Led Weaning

There is a new fad going around in the world of babies. Basically it says puréed food isn't natural for babies. They should be able to explore foods and eat when the are ready. While there are some good points to this I still feed puréed foods but I give some whole as well.

Here is Belle chowing down on a pear which she loved!! I have also given her bananas whole and she loves them even though they get really slippery! This way of feeding is really messy but she seems to like what we have tried so far. I think I am going to give her some steamed carrots tomorrow and see how she fares.

Tchau,
Sara

Babas (Nannies)

I recently decided to invest some money on some much needed new clothes. Pregnancy changes everything. I bought a ton of new things from dresses to shoes and all from Brazilian stores made in Brazil. Maybe I should reiterate it was an investment :)

Anyway, for my morning walk with the little one I decided to show off this amazing long colorful skirt and I paired it with a simple white tank top so it wouldn't compete with the colors of the skirt. I thought it looked great but to my surprise I was not welcomed very well with the neighbors. 

For some odd reason no one would say 'bom dia' but the empregadas (maids) coming to work were over friendly and one even asked me for directions. I just chalked it up to an off day for some of the residents. A couple of times I went out of the way to say hello to a few people and received odd looks. 

Then I caught a glimpse of myself in a shiney wall that was wrapped around a building. I looked exactly like a baba, nanny, from the waist up. Unless you looked down behind the stroller to see my skirt then you too would have thought that I was just working and not a mommy with her baby.

You see in Brazil all the babas wear white. I am sure that few households allow their babas to wear whatever and I have even met a few that have the freedom of attire. For the most part though anyone wearing all white is a baba. 

Not that there is anything wrong with being a nanny but I was seriously surprised by the reception I received from those who probably thought that I was. It didn't feel good at all and I honestly feel sorry for those who have to feel like that everyday.

I need to try and get a photo for you to see of all the white they wear. Today that will be my mission when I get to the park!

Tchau,

Sara

New new smile

Belle has started smile so big that she closes her eyes. Cracks me up every time!

Tchau,
Sara

Where we live

Ok I finally am back... I think! I have been so busy tired that I just could bring myself to write. Here are some photos of around our little neighborhood. Belle and I have gotten in the routine to walk every morning for about 35-40 minutes.

In the center of the neighborhood there is a large track that you can walk around. Inside the track there is tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, a playground, and a mini- putt-putt area. 

The tennis courts

Cute little mile markers

The dirt path :)

Little table for chess but I have yet to see someone actually playing!

About our little park.

Two things in this photo. The sign is telling you that there is a fine if you don't pick up your dog's poop.  Then the pole next to it is security cameras. Not sure if they actually work or not but it is sort of comforting!

Sitting area. I love these trees!

From the sitting area the view of the volleyball courts.

The surrounding neighborhood.

Little paths connect the streets of the neighborhood with the large dirt track.

The park

More of the park

Min putt putt area.

More of just the track!

Some of the houses we live close to. 

Streets of the neighborhood.

The fence surrounding the park that's not surrounded by houses....

Looks like an ordinary chain link from far away but up close you can see it is all razor wire- ouch..

Our building is the last one

View of some other buildings.

Overall I have to say that I am very pleased with were we live. I feel that it's a little community and there are children everywhere! Tons of babies right around Belles age. When went to the park again and there were four other little girls under one and crawling everywhere. Soon that will be Belle!

Tchau,

Sara