Almost 2009

Can you believe we are almost in 2009. I remember being a kid and thinking how the world would look like in 2010, and I must tell you it was a lot more futuristic then it is now. But I am so glad I was wrong ... the world looks just fine the way it is. If we can just conserve it and make sure it is around for our children to enjoy, great!
Let me give you an update about Isabela, she had a great sleeping run... she was going to bed at 7:30pm and waking up at 6am! GREAT! finally.. that went on for about 2 weeks, I thought for sure we were finally at the easier stage. Oh well.. today she decided to wake up at 4am, ready to go! That is no fun! I can not function before 5am, so hard. Hopefully it was just a fluke and she'll go back to sleeping better again, that way I can convince her daddy to think about baby #2 :-)
She also has been transitioning to whole milk, and doing very well! She loves it! Drinks it from her sippy cup, and seems to be adapting to the transition (not easy to stop nursing.. for me or her actually). She has been very talkative lately, she can say daddy, but no Mommy yet! She loves the intro to playhouse disney show, with Ohh and Ahh, the two funny monkeys. She can sing the song along... well, its all just oohhh and ahh... Too bad she has already watched her dvd's a million times... starting to memorize them by now, I need to ask someone in the US to record some more for me. Before I came I recorded about 20 dvds of the Disney channel, I would set up the dvd to record from 6am on.. and they saved my life! Here in Brazil for some reason cartoons don't start until 9am!!! As if kids woke up that late!
Not that I leave her in front of the tv, don't get me wrong. Her attention span only lasts 15-20min anyways, but it is long enough for me to go to the bathroom and change in the morning. I have need too!
We are heading to Campinas tomorrow to spend a couple of days at my aunt Virginia's house. She has a pool, so we are hoping the weather will be nice so Isabela can get in the pool for the first time ever.. can you believe it! She still hasn't made it into the pool...
we are spending New Years there as well. I am very anxious about all the fireworks and noise... it will not be a fun night for Isabela, but we'll make it.
I have to also comment how much I love facebook lately! I have been able to connect with some very very dear friends of mine that I had lost touch about 7-8 years ago! And it was so nice to see them married, with their adorable children. I really hope we get to see each other again once I get back to the US.
I better go try to get some zzzz... before Isabela wakes up from her nap... after all waking up at 4am, I won't last until 7pm either!
Have a happy NEW YEAR 2009!

Wrap up!

Okay, its Christmas already?! Amazing how as we get older Christmas just seems to come so fast every year. I remember as a kid waiting so long for the next one..., now I blink and its here again. I took Isabela to see Santa at the mall, and although she loves xmas trees and decorations, she wasn't a big fan of Santa. She stood there for two seconds for the picture and then cried... I wasn't surprised since she rarely goes with strangers anyways... now this large old man in a red suit wasn't going to be easy.
She had a great time at her birthday party a couple of weeks ago, her favorite part was unwrapping gifts. Didn't matter what was inside, she just wanted to unwrap. So under the xmas tree she will have lots of empty boxes wrapped this year! Seems to be her favorite anyways... why spend tons of money on toys when all she really wants are empty card board boxes, tapeware, pan lids, paper... Anything that is mine and I tell her she can't have it, she wants it. I am looking foward to Christmas, although last year was her official first xmas, I feel like this one will be more like it since last year she was only 2 weeks old.
Here in Brazil, Christmas is huge! Since most of the population here is Catholic the holiday starts with a mass celebration on the 24th, usually around midnight, and then a feast follows. Then on the 25th, another feast!
well, it is the 23rd, so I have lots of cookies to bake, better run.

Proud to be a Gator, proud to be São Paulina and Proud Mommy

Wow, what a weekend this was. My dear gators did it! They beat Alabama in the SEC championship game, and are now on the BCS Championship game. We woke up and dressed our gator gear! All three of us, orange and blue. Waited all day long for the game, finally at 7pm our time we connected with our friend Dylan, who broadcasted the game to us via a webcame turned to the TV. It wasn´t easy to watch.. we couldn´t really hear what was going on, and the image was foggy. But it was better than nothing! And we loved every minute of it!
Now its BCS time! and we are already trying to search for a better way to watch the game... we´ll see what we can get.
Then came Sunday, and our soccer team São Paulo took the field to try to win their 6th title of best team in Brazil. My family here are huge fans, and I grew up watching this team. So it was time to bite nails again and watch closely... and again! Party! They won the game and got the title! They are the most successful soccer team in Brazil, with the most wins ever. My father was so happy!
And now for the biggest party of the week, my little baby girl turns one tomorrow!!! Oh my.. I can´t believe it, but yes, she will be a toddler. She is almost walking, takes a couple of steps towards me on her own already. Although I´m not sure who´s more scared, her of letting go, or me of her falling. If I could I would make her wear a helmet, knee and elbow pads. But my mom tells me that a little bump and bruises are part of growing up.
We will have a little cake for her tomorrow and then her party will be on Saturday. Picture to follow for sure.