Tired

She never does this. Ever. She is teething hard core so sleeping has become unpredictable. I will take this moment and cherish it!

Tchau,
Sara
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Spirited

Reading another book about babies and what to expect through the toddler years. Yeah, I know what you are thinking, "didn't those other books make her crazy". Well this book is already calming me down for some reason.

The Happiest Toddler on the Block (name of the book) is supposed to teach me how to communicate with my little cave person. Speak toddler language, how to listen, and how to react to major NO NO's in the household fill the pages of the book.

Of course things go out the window in the heat of the moment but I feel that I need to be reading this or doing something to teach Belle now before we get really out of control. She has already started bitting when she doesn't like what you are doing....

There are three temperaments that toddlers fall under (according to this book):

Easy- She could be described as easy so we can't rule this out. As a first time parent who knows if she is easy or I am just overreacting about little things.

Shy- Not at all so leave that one for some other kid

Spirited: Described as in the book- "These super active kids range from cheery to moody, stubborn, and defiant. Fortunately, spirited children usually grow into happy, enthusiastic kids as long as they get lots of outside play, consistent but flexible limits, and a steady supply of patience and love."

More on Spirited: Fidgets a lot, unpredictable patterns (with eating and sleeping), either delight or complete rejection for strangers, moods have big ups and big downs, very persistent, sensitive to noise and distracts easily.

Oh how this describes Belle more than other way that I could describe her! She is so independent but needy at the same time... does that make any sense? No. It doesn't to me either but I love her all the same. When she gets in a really rough mood she doesn't want you to hold her, so she points down, and when you put her down she gets even more angry. So I work with distraction quite a bit and that works for a little while!

Another test that the book stated to figure out your babies temperament was to take them to the mall when it's not crowded and pretend to turn your back for 2 seconds- does she stand still=easy; does she cling to you and cry= shy; does she take off running= spirited. I had a hard time basing figuring it out based on these examples because I honestly could see her doing all three of them. Oh the joys of having a child! Unpredictable (rubik's cube).

Then we went to the park. Uncrowded. An she just took off walking toward what she wanted. THE BALL. BALL. BA. BA!

The whole time she was saying BA BA. 

Finally getting her BA and only then did she realize that she was
alone without me.

Right now I am delighted and relieved to say that I have a spirited child. She will continue to challenge me and I love it. I am impressed with everything she does and I have become the parent that LOVES anything that my baby does. 

Ahhh another day which I have no idea what will bring me. Bring it!

Tchau,

Sara

Rubik's Cube

They other day make the first day that Belle's bowel habits returned to normal. The diaper rash is cleared and I can stop giving her gatorade/pedialyte and make the switch back to water. For the time being I am going to stay clear of all milk products and then after a week slowly introduce them back one at a time.

First I will start with yogurt and then wait a few days to see if she tolerates it at all. Then I will know if milk is what is causing her problems once and for all.

So now that her general health seems to be back on track she has decided that sleep is no longer required. It takes her forever to fall asleep for her naps and then she will only sleep for like 30 min. Then last night, for the second time this week, she woke up at 4:30 am which in an awkward time to wake up since it is super close to her real wake up time in the morning. Really, I don't mind the waking up part if only I could fix why she is crying or upset.

Finally she went back to sleep at 6am which is 30 min to an hour before her real wake up time. Ugggh I had to set an alarm to wake myself back up to wake her up. Why? you ask. Well because I don't want to have to put her to bed for the evening at 10pm. I go to bed at 9pm and with her already going to bed at 8 that leaves very little time for me to even get ready for bed and decompress from the day.

Of course I couldn't drag myself out of bed and I ended up waking her up around 745am. Bleh. Another day ruined with her not wanting to sleep at all because I have to rearrange her nap times.

A little part of me wonders if she is trying to drop her morning nap. Really, I thought that the sleeping should be stable at this point for awhile. Like Nate said, "Belle is like a rubik's cube". Thanks for the pep talk and just when I thought I had figured things out.

Tchau,
Sara

Spaghetti dinner or finger painting?

Tchau,
Sara
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Time for the scraps and scars

Three days ago Belle had her first bloody lip :( she fell while walking and hit her mouth on the granite floor. A few hugs and kisses and she was off running again. 

Then yesterday is happened again.

The before picture... right after this she couldn't stop smiling and
 she was saying BA BA the whole way to the court.

Afterward. A skinned up nose. She was so excited to be playing ball
and trip over the ball and nose dived into the cement. 

Poor little girl. Things just are not going her way lately. Right after getting sick last week she started having a little stomach bug. I can't figure out if it's her allergy to milk or something else. Either way she is Pedialyting it up for the past three days. 

Today is the start of a new week and I am hoping that we really are on the mend for a awhile. I don't want to have to keep her in a bubble for the next year!

Off to start the week.

Tchau,

Sara

Favorite Pic

This is my fav pic ever!
Tchau,
Sara
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Belle in Phone Photos

Couldn't pick a better way to showcase what we have been up to lately than through phone photos!  

Everything has become a phone... this is the air conditioner remote. 

This is her fake tv remote that makes noises. She presses it so hard against her ear that the
 buttons are pressed and noise is made.

Getting used to shoes and walking. Yes, her onsie is rolled up because it's so hard to get her to
 lay still long enough to snap the three buttons. 

She loves to love everything soft. It's adorable to see her cuddle with soft
blankets and stuffed animals.

Most of the pictures I take now are action shots that are very blurred.
 I should start calling her flash!

Well there you go. Life is pretty much back to normal and she slept through the night again last night. Maybe I am jinxing myself but who cares cause I actually have sleep in me and I feel great.

Tomorrow Nate and I have a date night planned and Rosa is going to stay and watch Belle after I put her down for the night. I am looking forward to the evening and I know that she is in good hands. Belle loves Rosa and will even push me away to go to her. Breaks my heart sometimes but I am glad that she has found someone that she loves and that loves her back in Brazil. 

Tchau,

Sara

Neutral

Dare I say that we are back to neutral? Last night was the first night in over a week that Belle kinda slept throughout the night. She awoke around 3am fussing a little but then found her blanket and went back down without me having to help her out or sing to her.

This morning she was a little clingy but generally in a good mood. The weather is pretty crappy so her first day back in the saddle and we have to spend the day inside :(

I look forward to the days ahead of us and really enjoying all the new discoveries that Belle has made. I am also looking forward to actually having my partner in crime back on the scene. Nate shouldn't be traveling for a few weeks so that really really makes me smile.

I know that I am so far behind on the blog but I really have been trying. Having zero sleep really messes with me. This morning I feel awesome though.

Tchau,
Sara

Mending

Belle and I are both on the mend right now. Last night she was only up twice and unfortunately the only thing that would calm her down happened to be me singing... for 20 minutes. I lost my voice toward the end of the event.

Today she seemed to be back to normal with a great appetite and zero screaming spells. No fever so no Tylenol given just tons of hugs and kisses. Mainly I spent the day so thrilled to see her happy and my wishful thinking that we both might get some rest tonight.

I also don't think that I have mentioned that Nate is once again away from home. Which is why I have been so worn out and overwhelmed. He left on Tuesday night and was supposed to return in the morning but had to extend his stay until Sunday morning. I pray for his return.

Times like these really make it hard to be so far away from family. It's hard being alone. Really hard :(
I guess that's the life of an expat.


Tchau,
Sara

Smiling

Its nice to see her smiling again. Last night was traumatic with her waking six times so I wasn't expecting smiles! It washes away most of my exhaustion.

Tchau
Sara
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