Earthquakes???

Saturday after OSU won, thankfully, I headed upstairs where I could hear Belle starting to stir needing to be fed. While I tended to Belle, Nate got ready for bed and then the sound of a loud helicopter came. Then the entire house started to shake and I started to freak! I called out to Nate and Belle just started looking at me like, "why are you shaking me? I am trying to eat here". Then she started to study my face trying to determine if she should freak too. By then the shaking stop and I kinda chuckled and Belle gave me the biggest smile, closed her eyes and went back to eating.

Kinda crazy that we visit and Oklahoma experiences the largest earthquake they have on record at 5.6 on the richter. Actually as I am typing this another one just happened. It's weird that you hear them before you feel it and this one I just heard not felt. Probably just an aftershock of the second large one that we had last night at 4.7 on the richter. Yep, we had another one and you could see everything shaking once again!

I don't care whose fault it is just stop already!!

Needless to say that these are freaking me out. Not only did we have an earthquake last night but tornado warnings across the whole state with a thunder storm dumping rain on us. Just go with the flow is all we can do.

Take me and my family and friends back to Brazil where it's warm, no tornados, no earthquakes and the beach!!

Tchau,
Sara

Flight Home

Wow. I don't think that I could have flown home without Nate with me. Wow.

We make the four hour drive to Rio and take one more look at our new apartment. Then we stopped by a friends house to say hi and take a short break before heading to the airport. We arrive and checkin without any complications. In fact I made it through security with- my shoes on, milk in a bottle in my bag and my laptop all concealed in my carry on. Love Brazilian security. Love.

She took a small cat nap in the moby wrap but woke up immediately when we got on the plane. I could see all the other passengers looking at us praying that she wouldn't cry the whole flight. Trust me. I was praying too!!

She stayed awake for a long time and I thought she would be up the whole flight. She finally fell asleep when I fed her and I just held her for the next three hours until it was time to feed again. Then after that feed I placed her in the car seat which was positioned between Nate and I on the plane. She sleep until we landed and life was good. Then we managed to catch the early flight to Tulsa and that's when the tired set in for Belle. She had enough but the crying didn't begin until after we landed- Thank you!!

She spent the rest of the day catching up on sleep and eating a ton. Not to mention TEETHING. She started to teethe (is that a word?) on the flight home. The bottom gums are swollen and she won't stop eating her hands and anything you place near her. The drool is a constant flow these days but it doesn't seem to bother her that much.

All I have to say is thank goodness the flight is over and we don't have to make it again until January.

Deep Breath we are home!!

Tchau,
Sara

Photo Shoot of the Week- Tour da Belle

Some photos from yesterday when the whole family came over to meet Belle!

Lovin some GG-ma H

chewing on her hands :)

Her auntie Amy!

Papaw

With Nana

With GGma- T

GGma T and Great Aunt Janet!

My best friend from high school and her new baby girl who
 is two weeks younger than Belle!

Thinking that it's a mirror

The H Clan

Love this sweet girl! Next thing on my list- get my hair done!!

Nana and Papaw with the grandkids

Colson loves Belle and her bow!

We are exhausted but loving being home with family! It's so nice to be home.... really there is no place like it. I am just sad that today I have to say goodbye to Nate for 1 month until he returns for Christmas. More to come on how she did on the flight.

Tchau,

Sara

Goodbye Claudia

Well yesterday morning I had the top most uncomfortable conversation in Portuguese. I had to tell Claudia that we were moving to Rio and that I am leaving this week to visit the US for 2 months. Since Nate will still be here for another month we are keeping her working until mid December and then she will be done. I am hoping that I will be able to find her more work in replace of what she is losing with me. I have already found her a guy that needs help so now only two more days to go! 

I can't believe that she has been in my life for a year and a half. While talking to her this morning she started to cry and told me that it's not just the job. She is losing a family and Isabelle is like a daughter to her. Today I gave her some alone time to love on Belle and let her do the afternoon feeding. Belle just absolutely adores her and laughs when Claudia talks to her in Portuguese. Every morning that Claudia works she tells Belle what a Princess she is and that she is loved. 

To be honest I am not sad about leaving Claudia because I guess I always knew that I would be leaving so I never really opened my heart to her. What I am sad about is Belle losing someone who cares about her so much while we are away from family. It was so nice to know that Claudia cared and really does love her. Each weekend I receive text messages asking how Belle is doing and if she slept better. 

Claudia and Belle after Lunch.

We will miss her dearly and forever remember the help she has given us while so far away from family and friends. I know in my heart that she feels the same way. When we are in Rio I hope that we can find someone equally amazing.

Tchau,

Sara

Video of the Week

I tried to post this 2 weeks ago and you can tell from her outfit and her mosquito bites on the face :( The outfit no longer fits at all and the mosquito bits are another story. Still a good video though!!



Tchau,
Sara

New Apartment!

As promised here are some photos of the new apartment we are signing on! Nate picked it out and I have never seen the place. I didn't want to drag Belle back to Rio because she had a little cough and congestion. He loves it though. I trust his opinion and from the places that we have already looked at together in Rio and this place looks so much better from the photos alone. 

The grounds of the building

Brand new play ground

Indoor play area

Community Gym

Big kid play area

I think the front of the building...

Pool area- it will be nice not to have to maintain anything!

Game room 

Sorry for the crooked picture but Nate was excited- In Brazil these machines are very rare and
 I have never seen one in real life :)

 On to the apartment itself! I believe that it's roughly 1800sq ft. with 3 bedrooms/4 bath with a maid's quarters including a room and sink area. The apartment comes completely bare but we have asked that they put in light fixtures for us and we will provide the rest.

The kitchen... I am downgrading from what I am used to here!

The living room. Nate took measurements and it will fit all of our
 furniture which we had shipped from the US 2 years ago.

View from the living room and onto our deck.

Entry way

Belles room. Notice the air conditioner unit!  Yeah for brand new :)
This room also goes out to the deck.

Her view.

Bathroom... small shower here I come.

Guest bedroom. Come and visit!

Our bedroom. The built in cabinets are a huge plus! This is a very rare find in Brazil.

Add caption

Our bathroom. Thank goodness for some drawers and shelves!

I am so excited to move into the new place. Right now I am trying to go through the house and pick up so random things and get rid of other stuff. Ya know the old magazines that you collect and other knicknacks! Nate will do all the moving in and facilitating our movers. 

The company covers our move so guys will come to our house and pack everything. I mean everything... all Nate will have to do is watch carefully and cross his fingers things go well. Then they move everything to Rio and unpack- we unpacked the first time around so I am not sure if we will decided to do it again or not. 

When we did this the first time around our whole place was packed and ready to move in less than 8 hrs... I was absolutely amazed and shocked. I really believe that here in Brazil, the same amount of furniture, will take 2 full days. I hope that I am pleasantly surprised. Also, I am thankful for insurance! All of our furniture was stuff we both had from college and first year out of college. The sea air has ruined most of it so if it breaks in the move I will gladly take cash for it!!

Not sure when the move will take place but we guesstimate around mid December before Nate returns to the US. This means that I only have to live in Macae for another 3 days- omg. I just realized how little time I have left! Crap. I have to tell Claudia tomorrow what is going on. 

Ok. Off to make lists of things to get done in the next 3 days!

Tchau,

Sara

Update

The past few days I really just have not wanted to write. A mini break I guess. Really there are a ton of new things going on in our lives.

1. I am going home to the states next week! Tickets are bought and everything is ready to go. I will be staying until January 7th!! It's a long trip home but it will be great for Belle to spend some good time meeting everyone!

2. We have signed on an apartment in Rio. Which means that when I return to Brazil I will be moving into a new place! Good thing is that I don't have to help move and the new place is really quite :)

3. I have a new breast pump that a co-worker of Nate's brought back down with him... kinda funny to have a guy bring it down. I wonder what security was thinking. This means some free time for mommy!!

4. I have no idea how I am going to tell Claudia all the new stuff going on. Ugghhhh dreading this conversation!

5. I need to find a pediatrician in the US. I am actually nervous about this part because I get so much time with our pedi here that I fear I will be just a number in the US. Plus I don't want Belle to have to wait around and get so-so care.

6. Since I am going to be traveling to the US so much we are going to purchase a car to save on renting one and to make things really easy with Belle.

7. I am really nervous about flying with Belle. Thankfully Nate is escorting us to the US so I am not flying solo with a baby. The company bought a seat for her which will hold her car seat and then we have the bulkhead seats. The bulkhead seats are the seats that usually are sold for extra leg room but when you have a baby they place a bassinet on the wall. I wonder if she will even fit??

8. I am really nervous about spending the winter in the US. Brazil has warmed my blood so much I don't know if I can handle it!!

9. I am in desperate need of new clothes.... my yoga pants don't fit anymore because my prego belly stretched them out way too much. Belle also needs new clothes so it looks like I will be shopping quite a bit when I get home.

10. Oh, something random. Nate is starting to get grey hair!! I love it :) I bet that it's coming faster now that he has a sweet baby girl to look after!

That's all I got for now. I promise to keep up with the news this week and post pictures of our new place!

Off to get some sun before I head back to the US and get some alone time! Nate has Belle duty so he is going to do the feeding- wish him luck!

Tchau,
Sara

Photo Shoot of the Week

Then and Now

Where did all the time go?

Isabelle then:

And now:

Crazy Hair

I want her to grow but I don't at the same time!! I feel like I have blinked and now she is so grown up :( love her all the same though!!

Tchau,

Sara