School Time

I started looking for a place to put Belle twice a week so she could interact with other children, learn, and start spending some time away from me. I went and interviewed The Children's University and fell in love immediately! 

It looked like something from the movies. The hallways are littered with school projects, maps, letters, numbers, and even birds in cages! The science room has koi fish and turtles along with a rabbit :) and then when you go out by the playground you see a Llama, a pig, chickens, turkeys, and goats!

Belle couldn't stop running around pointing and saying every word that she knew. I couldn't stop smiling knowing that this was the place for her and that she would really thrive here.

Yesterday was her exploration day to see if she would tolerate it and to makes sure that she was thriving. The class times are 8 to 230 but I was only planning on leaving her there from 830 to 1130 so she could nap at home instead of at school.

I dropped her off right as her class was walking to Spanish class and she gladly took the aid's hand and followed suit with the rest of the children. I smiled inside as I walked away to chat with the teacher. (maybe this is where I went wrong? Not saying goodbye?) After talking to the teacher for a minute about Belle I left the school wondering how I was going to convince her to come home when I picked her up.

Since I didn't get pictures of her in the morning I snuck in a little early to get pictures of her in action. When I walked into her hallway there she was, holding hands with the teacher walking the halls with tears in her eyes. I will NEVER forget the look in her eyes when she saw me. Words cannot even describe the gut wrenching feeling that took over my body. I ran to her and held her so close while tears streamed down my face. 

I talked to the teacher about what happened and it turns out she started having a hard time about two hours into the day :( My heart lays in broken pieces yet to heal. 

Nate and I discussed that Thursday we are going to take her again but I will pick her up at 1030! I have her teachers cell phone number so if she starts to crumble before then I will speed over to pick her up!!!

Argghhhh!! The emotional roller coaster kids put you through! I believe in my heart that this is something that she needs and is ready for. If she proves me otherwise then we will just hold off until she is ready!

Tchau,

Sara

Grown Up

Lately something has clicked with Belle and she seems way too grown up for me! Maybe because her vocabulary has really exploded recently or possibly the fact that she counts the stairs when we walk down them. Either way the girl has got it going on :)

She wants to read by herself, put her shoes on, get her own drinks, put her clothes on, and anything else you can think of. She won't even let me color side by side with her or dance when she is dancing to music!

Her favorite word is NO and it used to be cute but now I have to think of creative ways to get her to say yes... Like which jacket do you want to wear? Instead of asking her to put her jacket on. This way she feels like she is making the rules but not really.

Oh I have tons to learn! I just can't wait to get into our house and start making it our home! Finally!



Tchau,
Sara

Updates

Closing on the house is still moving through! As far as I know we still plan to close on march 11th... But I have learned over the years to not hold all my eggs in one basket.

Belle is sprinting into the terrible twos. I wouldn't say she is terrible but just really mean to me!! I really do thin she is just trying to assert her independence and I get in her way. Such a big girl already!

Nates job appears to be going good. Travel is always expected when entering into a new position so I assume that things will slow down in he next few months. Fingers crossed.

Lately I have the feeling that I smell like urine or poop. Mostly both but it sounds better to say just one of them. Not sure what's going on with Pampers and Huggies but they are not doing their job! This is actually an entire blog post alone. Especially when the phrase, "what do you mean you don't know where the poop is", comes into play.

The apartment living is a different beast. I feel the need to buy our downstairs neighbors tons of alcohol to drink the noise we make away. I never realized a toddler could put on a solo concert every night.

That seems to be covering it for now! We I finally boot up my laptop I will upload so more cute photos and maybe I will be able to get some more of the house!!

Tchau,
Sara

Sara Harris

Gary

Not sure if anyone remembers Gary, the dog we left behind for Brazil... Well, I stayed with his new family last night!

He has a new brother that just turned one and is the same old dog that he used to be ;)

I walked in the door and he couldn't stop smelling me and trying sit on me or just around me. So cute and really sad at the same time!

Belle had fun with a new friend, Louie, riding around in the red wagon. She wanted him in their with her all the time and kept giving him his drink and making sure he was staying put. Already a control freak!

She slept well and I was pleasantly surprised! Given the amount of change I couldn't believe we didn't share a bed. My little girl is growing up so fast.

Today we met up with Nate and are spending the weekend visiting friends and a few quite moments together as a family.

Tchau,
Sara

Leave it to me

To park right in front of the play ground..... Wouldn't be a big deal except for the fact that it just got done raining so everything is super wet!

Crying fit commence!

Tchau,
Sara

Houston Bound!

We are in our way to Houston to meet up with Nate where he has been working for the week. We figure it will give us a chance to see everyone we have neglected in the past two years. Also, none of my Houston people have met Belle!

Here we are at a rest stop where I am letting belle RUN! Only an hour to go so wish us luck!!

Tchau,
Sara

Lazy

Because I am too lazy to write her are some photos!!

Tchau,
Sara

More Cheese

This week has been spent gathering documents and signing papers. Everything I open my computer it's to research furniture, cookware, or beds!

Since we have buy stuff to fill our house to live, I want to make sure to do it right the first time and not waste money.

To start out we will be buying a bed for ourselves. Belle might just be sleeping in a pack n play until her crib arrives from the sea shipment. Or should I push her to sleep in a big girl bed?!

Next a couch. Leather or microfiber??

Washer and dryer. We are not going to deal with the front loader wash machines. I have heard to many problems with mold and other electronic kinks.

Refrigerator. I don't like the freezer on bottom so I think we are going to get just the side by side one. Also we have two refrigerators coming in our shipment... One for the garage and one just for storage drinks ect.

The rest of the stuff will have to wait and we will continue to buy things in stages so we both don't collapse in sticker shock!

Other than extreme shopping I have been working on Belle settling in by taking her out to the library and parks. Here she is avoiding me and then cheesing for the camera.

Tchau,
Sara

New Home

So here is a pic of the outside of the house!!

I am really starting to get excited about moving in and making a home ;) I am already planning an herb garden in the back.... Of course I will need fresh herbs to go with my cooking creations! Not to mention the new knives and pots and pans to go with it!!

Nate is already dreaming of an entertainment center with surround sound for the entire house and only god knows what else!

Busy weeks are ahead of us as we plan for the inspection, meet with the financier and shop for furniture.

This all seems like a dream that I don't want to wake up from!!

Tchau,
Sara

Week Wrap-up

So this week has been the usual crazy. Starting out the week:

Saturday- move into a furnished apartment that we have never ever seen. Ever.

Sunday- look at 5 houses that disappoint us.... well that we at least disagree on.

Monday- I turned 31 and Nate starts a new job

Tuesday- I kick a suitcase and go to the ER. Not my proudest of moments :) which ultimately ends in Nate pulling my toe halfway back into place and then the Dr. doing the rest of the job.

Wednesday- I try take the day off and explore parks in the area where I proceed to meet two other stay at home moms and exchange phone numbers. One is named George (Georgina- a British girl), whom I have been in contact with all week.

Thursday- I look at houses without Nate and find one that I love??? love-ish??

Friday- Belle turns 18 months! Realtor calls and says that the house I love-ish is getting an offer from another house. I inform Nate who gets off work to look at house. We make an offer 15 min post tour of the house.

Saturday- Find out that we purchased a house? Say what?? Oh and Belle cut two of her 2 year molars....

Let the fun begin?

Tchau,
Sara