Tour of Rio on a Clear Day!

The day started off with the driver picking us all up at 730 am. We loaded the car seat into the car and took off to see Cristo Redentor before the crowd invaded the area. The ride there went perfect while Belle ate breakfast and my mom and I kept her busy.

Enjoying the view

Belle taking Nate everywhere. 

The morning haze hanging over the sleeping city at 9am.

Sugar Loaf in the distance along with the city of Niteroi.

Finally a clear view!! I didn't know that there is a stone heart
emblem on his chest.

Family photo

What really happens when a family takes photos.

Belle enjoying the wind.

Look at her hair! We had to practically teat her away from the
place when we were leaving.

View from Ingreja Nossa Senhora da Gloria (Gloria Church)

Belle running around some more to make up for all the time in the
car seat! 

Entry way or the narthex.

Ceiling in the narthex. 

It was built to be a fortress too so check out the thickness of the wall...

Beautiful

They were preparing for a wedding and we got lucky enough
to see it when they were setting up the flowers.

Plaque on the outside.

Steps of Lapa made of tile. A guy from Argentina, Soreno, started
decorating the steps with tiles and it's now a popular
site to visit in Rio.

Family photo on the steps

With grandma too.

Belle walking the steps.

The view looking down isn't that great.

Cute kitties chillin on the steps. Sorry dad I know you hate them!

At the top.

After the steps we took a mini lunch break in hopes that Belle would take a nap. We went to Amarelinho in Cinlandia and got some grilled meats, rice, fries and a few beers. Belle had already eaten all her snacks (tons of grapes, goldfishes, mango smoothie, a banana, crackers and cheese bread.) so she stuck with a bottle. Our driver did give her a her first french fry but thank god she didn't like it! Despite being up for about 6 hours and pushing her around in the stroller she failed to fall asleep. Deciding we should head home to avert disaster we went back to the car. Within 5 min of riding in the car she was out like a light so we decided to continue touring around.

The next stop we made was at a church but I am not sure the name because we were being quite in the car so she would stay asleep. I guess I could have asked once we parked and got out to look around and take pictures but I failed. Don't worry. Belle stayed in the car with the AC going and Nate and the driver looking after her. 

The church

Just breath taking. 

The ceiling above the altar.

Side altar. Check out all the detail. The entire church was like this.
I couldn't use the flash so I had to rely on the sunlight coming through a
few of the windows.

The bells :)

Just a neat picture I think.

Because I had no flash I ended up leaving the shutter
open for 1 second to allow more natural light to enter.... I didn't have a
tripod so that's why it's a little shaky. 

View looking down to the altar. I just wish I had my good camera!

After we left the church we drove by the Sambadrome (where they hold Carnival) and another unimpressive church. Both places we declined to get out. Belle slept the entire time, 2 hours, and woke up as we were pulling into the neighborhood.

After we all fell into the house exhausted from a long day my mom watched Belle and I took a mini catnap. Thanks mom!

Later that evening we had a little party for Belle where she smash her very own cake and ran around in a pink tutu. I will have to post those photos on the actual date of her birthday so you have to what to see and see it :)

Hope you enjoyed a real post for once!

Tchau,

Sara

Belle Walking Around at Cristo

Here I took a video of Nate following Belle as she walks around the base of Cristo Redentor. I can't believe how much she has grown!!

Enjoy while I compile all the photos for a bigger post tomorrow :)

Tchau,

Sara

Mom's Visiting!

This morning my mom flew into town and Nate picked her up at the airport. Meanwhile I took care of Belle and then went to pick up her birthday 'smash' cake for tomorrow plus a bunch of cupcakes. Guess what I had for breakfast.... a cupcake. It was amazing.

The lady who is baking these cakes and cupcakes brings all the stuff from the US and it really was a treat. I think I might have to purchase stuff from her all the time just to keep a stock in our refrigerator!

Anyway tonight we plan on laying low and possibly trying to get Belle into her birthday outfit to take some photos. Tomorrow we have a driver coming to pick us up at 730am to take a sightseeing around Rio. Yes, we have a car but parking is very difficult and I would rather spend time with my family and not worrying about where our car is or where we have to walk... blah blah blah.

Hopefully the sun will shine and Christ the Redeemer will be free of clouds! The two times that I have been have all been cloudy. Not to mention this will be the first time that Belle sees him. Technically she visited the sight when I was 5 months prego but we will just count this time.

5 months prego with Belle.

First time seeing Cristos with Nate and his lil sis Amy.
This is about 5 months pre- prego.

Hope everyone has a great weekend and wish us luck for a clear day.

Tchau,
Sara

One gets sick....we all do

Since the post last week Belle managed to get better but I managed to get worse and so did Nate. Unfortunately the weekend was spent coughing and sneezing with a little nyquil :(

Belle did great even though Nate and I took an F for parenting. She ran around and played well by herself with the occasional meltdown.

Now I am preparing for my mom to be here! She should arrive tomorrow if everything goes right and I cannot wait.

I am having a cake made for Belle and cupcakes for the rest of us to celebrate her birthday. My mom is bringing down the cutest little outfit for her and hopefully we will get some good photos!

Tchau,
Sara

Not so Hot

Belle is still fighting the gripe. She is sleeping restlessly at night with a few coughs but not at all during the day. As you can tell from the pics she just doesn't feel good.

This morning since she didn't have a fever I took her out an she likes the leaves now. It was so beautiful and she enjoyed being out of the house. Once we got back home she pretty much fell asleep walking around the house. The minute she hits the bed the coughing fits begin.

At this point she just wants to roll around her bed is a semi comatose state while coughing. If I pick her up she gets upset.

Poor girl! It actually hurts me to see her like this! I wish there was something I could do.

What I am doing so far: no milk to reduce mucous, warm air in room and the natural humidity, honey with a little lime, and tons of fluids. We are also resting and watching Elmo quite a bit.

Any suggestions on what I am missing?

Tchau,
Sara

Gripe

Belle has the Gripe... well that's what a cold is called in Brazil. I think it seems appropriate for what she has in English too. Sneezing, coughing, and a little fever will make anyone grippy. Anyway, this time around she isn't too fussy just a little clingy and sad.

She is also letting me hold and cuddle her which I am loving despite the not sleeping well once again. I actually feel like a mother instead of her being so mad at me and the world when she has hand, foot and mouth disease.

Staying strong and in good spirits. Off to catch nap while she is napping because who knows how the rest of the day will turn out. Yesterday she didn't nap at all except for maybe 20 min here or there. But despite no naps she was in a great happy mood which I couldn't have asked for better with her being sick!

I also think that her molars are trying to come through. She is drooling a ton and gnawing on everything she can get her grubby little fingers one :)

Tchau,
Sara

Lunch at the Beach

Banana. Coconut water. Beach. Awesome.

Tchau,
Sara
Enviado pelo meu aparelho BlackBerry® da Vivo

11 Month

So here is the post you have been waiting for and I have been waiting to write, Belle's 11 month photos and update. 

Since the post is so far off I thought I would write about several things she does now and is up too. 

Waking up for the day. Happy girl! Loves her bed.

Playing with the huge bunny and reading books. Two of her
favorite things to do.

Bath time in the sink. Since our house doesn't have any bathtubs
we are still bathing her in the sink every night. Nate's turn for bathing and he is giving
 Belle a nice little hair do.

She loves water!

Carrying Pooh to her room. I love how she throws him over
her back and walks around the house with him!

She puts everything into her stroller.... Pooh is no different.

She loves watching Elmo and Seasame Street on Youtube.
She actually goes to my laptop or iPad and sings "lalalalalala" like
Elmo does until we turn it on for her.

Rock and Roll. We bought her some new jeans and she looked too cute!

Still loves anything that resembles a ball or is a ball. 

Carrying around balloons we found in the the
elevator one day after a quick trip to the grocery store. She thinks they are balls and was too
happy for us to take them away.

Carrying the balloons and helping us unpack the groceries.

Ready for her late photo shoot.

She hates wearing bows now and anytime you touch her hair she thinks
there is a bow somewhere up there!

I love this face. 

She looks like Nate here I think....

So pretty. 

The best shot I got with her showing the number 11 and looking at the camera.

Before I know it she will be ONE! I am so thankful that my mom will be making a trip down here and the day after she leaves then Amy, the sis-in-law (really just sis), will be coming down to visit for a week. Belle will have family around to celebrate her birthday! Not that she will remember but I will and so will the camera. 

Then in September Nate's parents are making the trip back to Brazil for a visit! So freaking excited! 

Tchau,

Sara