New Happenings

Results are in and Belle is NOT allergic to milk!! This means a ton of new food options for my almost vegan.

Yogurt, cheese cubes, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, and just about everything you can think of in the American diet. So far each time I have given her the dairy product that's all she eats.... Note to self- give dairy post substantial meal.

I guess I should also mention that she passes gas like no other now! Then she imitates the sound with her mouth and laughs. Maybe, just maybe, dairy should stay out of her life!

Also we have been meeting up with family and friends. More Christmas shopping and more eating foods I shouldn't because I can't buy new jeans!

Life is great and I couldn't be more thankful this year. Well, I lie. If Nate was here to hug then things would be perfect!

Tchau,
Sara

Settled!

I really believe that both Belle and I are settled in finally! We have a little routine going and sleeping and eating have returned to normal!

Who knew that it would take roughly two weeks?

Lately we have been doing a ton of shopping, playing outside when it's warm, chasing the dogs, going for walks, going to the grocery store, and just about everything we can possibly do! We did library time twice, which proved to be challenging for my mover and shaker, and we have gone out to my parents land several times to run in the wild :)

I can very easily see myself settling in the US with very little discomfort.

Right now in the recent events surrounding the shootings I have been holding Belle tighter than ever and wishing that I could never let her go. I also long to see Nate home soon so our family can truly take a deep breathe and thank god we are all together.

I know that I am not the only one doing this at the moment so I want to take the time to tell you all how much I appreciate all of you! My friends and family are things I cannot live without. Hug your family tonight even if you already have been for the past week.

Tchau,
Sara

Nate- COME HOME!!!

Freezer Section

Looks daunting.... right?

I am pretty much scared of the freezer section in any grocery store. After living in Brazil for the past three years, where freezer sections resemble the small middle of the isle coolers from long ago, I have opted to buy fresh. Well, really I had to buy fresh because the only thing available frozen tasted like crap except for the yummy cheese bread balls that come frozen and you bake.... sooooo good.

Now my shopping experience goes something like this.

Enter the grocery store where a warm blast of air blows my hair all over the place and Belle is squiggling screaming, "ooooohhhh!". I grab a cart where there is not only one place for my child to sit but two so I struggle to get her legs in the appropriate holes. By the time we actually enter the grocery store I am already sweating and Belle is saying, "da", which means done. Yes, I know. I am done too sweetie.

We walk circles around the fresh fruit and veggie section trying to find the basic tomatoes, onions, and  bell peppers. Too many choices!! Trust me I love it but my mind is in overload. How do people deal with this many choices everyday without their head exploding? I guess I will just have to learn to turn off all the stimulation. Not to mention that tons of employees that sense my body odor screaming 'lost' and they swarm like vultures on fresh road kill. Then to add the fact that I actually understand everything they are saying.... EVERYTHING!

I do have to say that our ears go through tons of information littering.

Now on to the meats. Really. I don't even know where to begin with all of this. Reeducation of types and cuts will be performed once I get over the anxiety of the fruits and veggie section. For now I just grab one type and cut be it ground chicken or lamb shanks.

Next to the dried food. At this point Belle is really telling me she is done and I am there too. I don't even pretend to know the types of food available..... barbecue wheat thins? When did these come into play? I grab a box hoping to have found a healthier option than barbecue Lays.

Then I see it. The Freezer section.

It stares at me, whispering for me to come and take a look. I mentally scream back at it saying, "the last time I did that I almost peed my pants because automatic lighting came on each cooler I walked by..." no I will not venture to you again. The five floor to ceiling isles stand unvisited by this freezer novice for now.

Eventually our paths will cross but not today freezer. Not today.

Tchau,
Sara

Fast Food Fight

Now that I am back I have to say that my jeans are working a little bit of overtime! It's so easy to just run through the drive through.... uggh!

I have been trying to break the habit because not only am I eating like crap but I am not taking a walk everyday because it's so freaking cold!

I have set a goal for myself to just not eat out. I can eat whatever I want just no fast food! We will see how this goes :)

Welcome back to the US. Here is your extra 10lbs!

Tchau,
Sara

Techy Belle

So my child loves the iPad and my phone and anything she can turn on and off. Since I recently upgraded to an iPhone I cleared off my iTouch for her and put on a bunch of kid apps. Turns out she can work these things better than me!

The photos above are of her playing with the iTouch and the photos she takes of herself! Darn iCloud syncs all the photos across all your devices so each day I delete 50 Belle photos!

The photo where she is laying on the ground has a cute story. She went to my purse and dug around until she found the iTouch. Then she unlocked it, pick out her game, and laid on the floor to play.... My jaw hit the floor. When are developmental books going to include technology milestones??

I am just going with it because computers have become such an important part of our society that she is going to need the knowledge! Maybe when I am old she can help me with the 3d holographic computer...

Tchau,
Sara

Mix the Two Worlds

Well, I feel that I am finally getting into the groove of being back home. Belle is starting to adjust and sleep better which means I have more energy to chase her around and actually try and teach her some new things. Right now we are working on drinking from an adult cup which she loves! She also loves to watch the water pour out of the cup when I am not looking..... Really it's cute though the first couple of times.

Being back home has given me a sense of tranquility. I don't feel the anxiety that I once felt while living in Brazil. Of course if I could mix my two worlds then it would probably mean that I died and went to heaven.

When I am in Brazil I crave my family, the ease of driving, the ease of shopping, and the ease of basically everything everyone takes for granted that hasn't lived outside the US.

When I am home in the US I miss the perfect weather, daily walks with beautiful scenery, fresh fruits and veggies that taste like candy and not plastic, cheap amazing cuts of meat, and the view of the ocean.

Since I haven't died and went to heaven I need to take what I can get and enjoy every moment. If I had to chose though, hands down it would be friends and family. They make even the toughest of moments bearable and memories out of nothing.

So for now I am enjoying the ability to be spontaneous, talk to everyone, cuddle up with family, and stay close to friends.

Tchau,
Sara

PS- I hope that this goes without saying that I miss my husband more than words can ever express. This is probably why I don't write about it often. The blog would turn into one sad sob story. I just cannot even imagine being an army wife. So if you can say a pray for the families who cannot be together this holiday season.

Christmas Train

This past weekend we went to Dry Gulch and visited the Christmas Train. The have set up a cute little town where they tell the Christmas story and kids can be kids ;)

Belle loved it! She even started copying her older cousin and made the choo choo sound with the hand motion!
Next year I am sure she will love it even more when she can ride all the big kid rides!!

Tchau,
Sara

Car Trouble

Last night I got a phone call from Nate. He wanted to speak to his dad about some problems he was having with his car. Turns out that the engine wouldn't stop running even with the key removed!!

How are you supposed to solve that one?? Good thing you can google anything these days. He ended up having to pull a fuse under the hood of the car.

Only problem now is that he needs to put the fuse back in to start the car.... As soon as the fuse is back in, the car starts without the key but with a little spark just to add excitement.

Poor Nate has to get gas too ;(

The picture below is the actual fuse box to his Italian car with a Portuguese manual.

Tchau,
Sara

Distance Makes the Heart...

Grow Fonder. Of course it does but I think at this point my heart is fond enough! The other day I began to think about when Nate would return to the US for Christmas and I started to feel sad and lonely. It will be another 3 weeks at least before he returns. I guess that you know your husband travels a lot when you actually forget how long he will be during this hitch.

Maybe things are different because I am surrounded by family and friends. Either way I miss him. It seems crazy to me to know that some of my friends have seen their husbands everyday this year. My husband is about to hit 100,000 flying miles this year alone to give you and idea about how much he has traveled.

Even if I could be back in Brazil with Nate he still wouldn't be home so I know that I made the right decision to be here. My heart longs for the days when travel slows down.

I joke that when/if we have another child that they won't leave the county line until he/she can drive! Belle has dial citizenship and our second will be house bound :)

Hears to a heart that's missing the other half but somehow feels at home.

Tchau,
Sara

Viral Brazilian Elevator Video

My inlaws were laughing and watching this video the other day and I over heard the Portuguese... too funny that a viral video happens in Brazil. Maybe I will be able to keep my Portuguese in practice while here in the States.

I haven't re-watched the video but they I know for sure that they tell the people good luck before they get on the elevator! I will watch it again and post what I think all the commentary is ;)



Tchau,
Sara