Rio - cidade maravilhosa!

This week we had a mini break from our sabbatical and went to Rio de Janeiro for 3 days. Kaio stayed with Oma in Porto Alegre.
Josefine behaved very well during the entire trip. She slept on both plane trips and in Rio she was very content with the full attention she got from us. We were able to see the main attractions in Rio and also enjoy some nice meals.
Josie continues to progress very well with her motor skills and is able to reach for toys and grab them. She is also very talkative and started having real giggles! She continues to be a happy and very smiley baby. She definitely does not like the dummy and is also not very keen on the bottle. She has started sucking her fingers and makes funny noises when she 'finds' them. Her sleeping patterns are still a bit irregular but she has been able to sleep for 8 hrs straight several times. Josie wears pink cloths, however we frequently get asked if she is a boy. In Brazil, ALL baby girls get their ears pierced when they are a couple of days old and since she does not have pierced ears, some people think she might just be a fasionable boy dressed in pink!
Kaio is doing really well and continues to love all the new experiences in Brazil. This week he went with titia to ride a horse and he absolutely adored it (I thought he would be affraid but he was very excited). Kaio is becoming much less shy and adores spending time with everyone in the family. He also has moments he just goes and sits outside in the grass to see the golf players go by or watch the ducks. Potty training is going really well, although we still have some accidents which are mainly due to him getting so excited playing and forgets to go to the potty.
Some pics:
1) Josie with her little hair bows
2) Kaio's new haircut
3) Kaio with Oma and titio
Rio de Janeiro:
1) Josie and mommy at the Christo Redentor
2) Josie (in her pretty dress) with daddy
3) Josie and daddy having fun
4) Family pic on top of the pao de acucar (Josie was not very happy with the bright sun!)
5) Josie and mommy in Ipanema beach!
6) Josie waiting to go to the Cristo Redentor

Kaio BERnard!

The kids are settling in nicely. Josie is getting so big so fast. I don't remember Kaio smiling so much so early; every time we look at her it seems like she's got big smiles and coo-ing.
And Kaio has been really cute in the last few days: he will point at himself and say "who's this one?". We respond: "Kaio Bernard", and then he'll respond back to us: "Daio BERnard, Daio BERnard, Daio BERnard". (or sometimes he sponteneously says - "this one Daio BERnard!")
He still can't say Kaio 100% correct (very close though!) but he can say Bernard perfectly. Sometimes we'll also say "Bernie", to which he'll respond, "No! Kaio BERnard! Not Bernie"
When we point at Josie he says - "Totetine MAIA". I am - "Anelie" and Jason is "Ason"
Josie is exploring with her arms and legs. She looks like a boxing kangeroo. She holds her fists closed and tries to reach to objects. A couple of times she has been successful in actually grabbing toys held in front of her.
On monday it will be 3 weeks since we arrived in Brazil and everything it going smoothly. We've found a nice apartment, started applying for Jason's permanent residency card, I am getting my driver license sorted, etc. Lot's of burocracy, but we are looking forward in living here!

Blue eyed girl...

First set of pics from Brazil:
1 & 2) Josie is a smiley baby! She continues to smile and steals everyone's heart with her happy personality!
3) Kaio and daddy having fun in the pool
4) Mommy with Kaio on the potty - he is doing so well with the potty training!!!!
5) Kaio very proud in his underwear
6) Kaio loves watching the birdies at Oma's house
7) Sleeping in his 'big boy's' bed. He transitioned really well to it. (having the bed next to Oma's bed is definitely helping)
8) Josefine
9) Blue eyes - they seem to be here to stay!

Brazil...

We arrived in Brazil a week ago. The trip went really well and both kids behaved well during the flight. It was great to see the family and enjoy some relax time.

It has been VERY hot and the kids are starting to cope better after a rough couple of first days. Josefine had never felt something like that and was really upset with the excessive heat (it has been around 38C). Kaio was so happy to be with Oma and everyone else, he also loves all the space and different activities here.

Kaio has also taken some big steps in the last two days. Yesterday we started the potty training and we have had some great results. Several pipi's and this morning a poopy on the potty. He seems to really get it and is now in underwear during the day. The second big step was moving from a crib to a children bed. So far, he has accepted it well and has been sleeping well in it.

Josefine is also enjoying being here. She spends the days only in her nappy since it is so hot. It is adorable to see her little legs and arms uncovered (which had been constantly covered with the cold weather in London).

It has been great to have all the help of my family and we are enjoying this first stage of our sabbatical!

7 week check up

Josefine had her 7 week check up (which is normally done at 8 weeks but we will be in Brazil by then). The Dr. said she is doing really well and was (pleasantly) surprised in seeing what a smilley baby we have!
She now weighs 4.6kg/10.2lbs (which is in the 50% for her age), she is also in the 50% for her head circumference and she is 57cm/1'10" which is the in the 75% for her age.
The Dr. prescibed some antifungal and eczema cream for a bad rash she had on her neck. It had been very itchy and with the creams it is much better already!
She also received her first set of shots. One in each leg. With the first injection she barely moved and the Dr. praised her in how brave she was. But when the second injection went into her leg - SHE SCREAMED!
Her sleeping is overall very good, although we do have some 'off' days. Twice she has now been able to sleep 6 hrs without a feed, which is a very close step away from sleeping through the night!

Big move ahead!

A couple of years ago, we came to the conclusion that the UK was not going to be the place we wanted to settle and raise our children. Having that in mind, we planned to take a sabbatical before settling in 'whatever place' we decide it to be. Both Jason and I have been moving (countries and homes) often in the last 10 years and now that we have 2 little once, we will soon have to 'settle down'. For various reasons we postponed our sabbatical twice (the last reason being our wonderful little girl Josie!) and now we are ready to go! We leave the UK on the 31st of January. We are planning to take 6 months off in Brazil. The main aim is to spend some quality time as a family, spend time with my family and our friends, Jason wants to learn Portuguese, we want to travel in south america and we want to decide what our next step in life is!
It is very exciting and are so happy we will be able to do this. I am so excited to spend so much time with my children, husband and family.
Today is Jason's last day at work and we have next week to finish up packing and say our 'goodbyes' to friends and the city we have lived in for the last 4 years! We take great memories from this place, including Kaio's and Josefine's birth (they do top the list!).

Both Kaio and Josie are doing well. This week they both received tuberculosis shots (a requirement in Brazil). We are adjusting nicely to a routine. Kaio has had a couple of 'melt downs' (I guess these are the infamous 'terrible twos') but he snaps out of them quiet quickly. We also have a 'time out' approach where we give him a warning and if he continues his bad behaviour he goes to his room for a couple of minutes and is only allowed out if he apologizes for what he did (tips we got from the programme 'Super Nanny'). But overall he is a very good toddler and I really can't complain! This week we had a catch up with his carer at nursery and she has found he has become much better since Josie's arrival and him being part time at nursery. She said he is much happier, is not aggressive and really enjoys playing with other kids.
This week we also had our leaving do with our NCT friends (who we met at our antenatal classes when I was pregnant with Kaio). There are 12 'mommies' with 12 toddlers and 5 babies under 1 year and 5 of them are pregnant with baby nbr 2. They have been such a great group of friends and we will definitely miss them!

Kaio is definitely ready for potty training. He is able to lower his pants and sit on the potty (without removing the nappy) and he has done 2 poops while sitting on it! He also was sitting on his potty when we had some friends come over with their little girl who is potty trained. We are waiting to go to Brasil to really focus on it and get him 'dry'

Josie is a very happy baby. Every time we talk to her from close by she opens a huge smile! We mentioned it a couple of posts ago and she continues having these huge smiles and with much less effort required form our side. It is very unusual for such a young baby to smile so much, but the pic below is the evidence! (I also have it taped and will ask Jason to post it!)

He is a charmer

Kaio, March 2008 - 6 months

Kaio, January 2010 - 2 years and 3 months

- Kaio said 'I love you' for the first time without just repeating me. We were in the bus and we were playing, he asked for a hug and then he said - 'I luve uuuu'! It just completely caught me by surprise and was so spontaneous I almost cried.
- The same day, I was breasfeeding Josie and Kaio was sitting next to us on the couch playing with his favourite toy - 'donkey'. When I looked over, he had pulled his shirt up, placed donkey's mouth on his chest and was 'feeding' donkey and making sucking noises. It was so funny!!!!!
- We have taught Kaio to bounce Josie's bouncy chair with only 'one finger' (to avoid her 'flying out' of it when he get's enthousiastic about it) So when I was soothing her and bouncing her chair with my hand he came running to me and said 'only one finger mommy!!!!'
- A couple of days ago, Josie started crying as I was playing with Kaio and went to sooth her and I said - "Don't cry, it's not that bad". Well, now, ever time she cries he goes running to her and says - "It's not that bad baby Josie" while he bounces and tries to shush her... very cute!
- Now that Josie can open her eyes for longer periods and is able to see and follow things, we tell her: "look at your big brother, look at how well he is eating/playing/dancing, etc". You can see Kaio's eye light up and be all proud of what he is doing.

Video of Kaio

Here's a bonus post today: a short video of Kaio on New Years Day.

1 month!

It's been a month since Josefine was born. It's one of the longest 'toys' Kaio has played with....
Normally Kaio gets tired of a new toy after a couple of days, however with Josie he still continues to show huge interest. He always asks after her, wants to give hugs and kisses, he wants to hold her, helps us 'sush' her and offers her dummies and his toys. It is adorable!
Kaio got his swine flu shot on tuesday. He was a bit feverish the following day but just need some additional attention (hugs and time on mommy's lap) and paracetamol.
The other day Kaio saw a whole movie from start to finish (2 1/2 hrs) - The Wizzard of Oz. A couple of weeks ago we tried Lord of the Rings, but he was a bit affraid after 1 hr and a lot of scary creatures...
Josie is doing really well and weighed 4.03kg on her 1 month check up (which is up from 3.29kg at birth). She feeds well however is still coping with the cold she got when she was 10 days old. She has started smiling daily (although we do have to put effort in it), she is also able to follow objects with her eyes and reacts to noise (mainly Kaio running around).
We've had 2 baths with Kaio and Josie in the big tub - which went really well but we definitely need a one adult per child ratio.
A couple of diferences and similarities between Kaio and Josie as newborns:
- Unlike Kaio, Josie shows no interest for the dummy.
- Both take the bottle well (for the night feed of expressed milk)
- Kaio had much more and darker hair then Josie.
- Everybody always commented in how Kaio had big eyes, Josie has smaller eyes. She also seems to have lighter eyes for now.
- Both react really well to the swaddle blanket and white noise to go to sleep (which we some times use to help them fall asleep when unsettled)
- Josie is a slow eater. Kaio used to feed in 10 mins, and Josie can sometimes take 30-45mins.
- Both of them sleep well at night (touch wood)
- Both grunt when they poop, although Josie grunts much more when she is feeding.
- Josie loves to sleep on her belly, although we only allow it during the day.
- It seems 'easier' with Josie, which is mainly due to her being the second baby and with Kaio everything was so new.
- Josie has 'the eagle scream' when she starts crying.
- Both of them have a "stork bite" mark in the middle of their eyes and on the back of their head, although Josie's frontal mark seems a bit smaller and the one on her back is bigger. (my mom told me I also was born with the same mark and it vanished after a couple of years. Kaio's is much lighter now and is only very visible when he cries or when he is really tired)
- They both are simply amazing and have enriched our lives to a whole diferent level.

Latest pics:
- Josie and her blue eyes! (and the adorable outfit Grandma sent)
- Kaio playing with Josie's hat
- Daddy and smiley Josefine
- Josie and her big brother, who still can't get enough of her!
- Family in the park on new year's day.
- Kaio and Josie's first bath together!
- Josie's favourite sleeping pose - her tummy

funny stories

A couple of funny stories and 'kidisms' from the last couple of weeks:
- When Josie needs to be comforted, we rock her and 'shush' her. Her big brother is very observant and now, every time she start crying, he starts bouncing (himself), where ever he is (he might be in the other room) and says 'shhhhhhs' (he doesn't quite get that we have to 'bounce' and rock her to have any effect)
- Josie does not cry much, but when she does, she has this loud 'squeak' and get's anyone's attention - hence we call her our little 'eagle'.
- Kaio is picking up everything we say and do. This morning he dropped a piece of his cookie on the floor and he looked at me and said - "wait mommy, Kaio will clean in 2 minutes!". I also ask him to 'wait' and mommy will help him/ be with him/play with him, etc "in 2 minutes"
- We were having a drink in a pub the other day and there was a couple sitting on the table next to us. Kaio was looking around and at one point he noticed that the man of the table was no longer there. He turned to us and said - "man gone poopies!". Also the other day we were at Starbucks with oma and a 'heavier' man came and sat on the table next to us and Kaio said (really loud!) - "Huuuuge man" and also turned to another table and said - "tiny (aka. normal) man"
- Kaio has always been fascinated by music and instruments. He associates us typing on a keyboard with playing piano. So he now says - 'mommy piano' (which is my laptop) and when he wants to 'play' with the computer he says - 'Kaio play piano'
- When I was pregnant with Josie I used the notice she had hiccups almost daily and sometimes several times a day. I even got a bit worried and asked the midwifes if this was normal. (which they said it was!) Now that Josie is 'outside' she continues to have many episodes of hiccups throughout the days! Which, luckily, does not seem to bother her that much.
- We had a really special moment with Josie on new years day. We were out shopping with her (Kaio was at nursery): she wanted to come out of her buggy, so Jason was holding her as we walked around. She was staring at Jason (as she loves to do), so he kept talking/coo-ing to her. Then I also started talking to her with my face next to Jason's - Josefine gave us a HUGE smile. She kept doing this for several minutes as we continues talking and smiling at her. it lasted so long that we don't think it was gas ;-)

We have been taking several pictures of Josie and Kaio but we are changing computers and I am unable to post them...

First cold!

AREN'T THEY ADORABLE!?

Josie had her first cold. She was only 10 days when we noticed she had a stuffy nose! Kaio had come home for nursery with a stuffy nose and filled her with kisses.... It's a bit frightening seeing them ill so young. Kaio had his first cold when he was 4 months! However she is handling it well and continues being a sweet and easy going baby.
Josefine already has her brazilian passport and we have requested the American one as well. She will soon be as international as her brother!
We had Josie's 2 week check up and she is gaining weight nicely. She was born with 3.29kg (25%) and is now up to 3.625kg (almost 50%). Which shows she is eating well! She continues to sleep well and is generally in a great mood and only 'complains' when there is something wrong.
Kaio continues to speak very well, he makes full sentences and says things like - "the book is up there", "Baby Josie is in there!", etc. It's just amazing and great that he can communicate so well, specially now that we are so busy with Josie. Sometimes we need to remind Kaio to "use his words" as he can get frustrated about certain things. He usually stops whining and tells us what he wants.
Today was my first day alone with both of the children They are doing great! I was able to feed them at the same time (it's all about multi tasking!) and put them down for a nap. They have been sleeping soundly for 1 1/2hrs!
Today is Christmas Eve and we are going to take it easy the next couple of days. We are planning to make some nice meals, have some friends over and, most importantly, enjoy our little ones!
1) Oma on her last day here
2) Happy family!
3) Josie, mommy and daddy
4) Smiley baby

Family of 4!

Josefine is almost 10 days old! She is a very sweet and easy going baby (knock on wood!).
Josie is a tranquil baby and seems to only cry when something bothers her (i.e. gas - on both sides - or when hungry). She feeds well, is sleeping well (she tends to eat every 2 hrs during the days and at night she goes to 3 - 4 hrs gaps between feeds, which is allowing me to get some decent sleep!), is very 'patient' with all the big hugs and kisses from Kaio and is a content baby overall!
Kaio is doing great with the new family 'layout', he wants to participate and help me with Josie - the other day he wanted to help me with changing Josefine's nappy so I told him to put some cream on Josie's 'behind'. When he went to put it on her buttocks she started 'piing' and it went all over his hands (it was very funny!). He also goes over to her when she is crying and asks - 'what's wrong Josie?' and when she stops he says 'all better now'.
We have received so many flowers, gifts, cards and messages from friends and family! It's so great to see how Josie is being welcomed in this world! Thank you!
My mom's help has been phenomenal and allowed me time to give attention to Kaio, post pics, answer emails, update the blog, etc. Once she is gone it will be another reality... luckily we will be heading to Brazil at the end of January!
1) Kaio and Josie! He is just fascinated by her! (just like we are with both of them)
2) Kaio and Oma (the day before Josie was born, Kaio and Oma were playing and he hit his head against her eye and Oma had to go to the emergency room and get 4 stitches - she has a beautiful blue/black/yellow/purple eye as a consequence!)
3) Baby Josefine!
4) Josie and mommy
5) Kaio showing the toys to Josie
6) Josie and daddy at Starbucks
7) Oma (and her black/yellow eye) at Starbucks

Josefine Maia

Our precious little girl was born on wednesday, December 9th at 4:17pm. She weighed in at 3.290kg and 54cms. She is absolutely beautiful and we are all adjusting well!
Birth story: I started having contractions at 4:30am on Wednesday (which is around the same time my water broke when I was pregnant with Kaio). We still went to Starbucks for a coffee and I took a nice long bath waiting for the contractions to become more regular and stronger before going to the hospital. Oma stayed home with Kaio as Jason and I went to the hospital by 2:45pm. She was born 1 1/2hrs later. I had asked for an epidural, but by the time they had me hooked up my contractions were pretty constant and the epidural did not have any effect. They rushed us to the operating theater because Josie's heartbeat dropped, but when we got there I was ready to push and she came out pretty immediately (just like with Kaio, it only took a couple of pushes to get her out!). Although painful, it was great to have a 'natural' birth. They announced we had a daughter and we were overjoyed and had a name ready - Josefine Maia. She is named after my grandmother, who recently turned 90 years.
Kaio (and Oma) came a couple of hours after she was born and his reaction to her was perfect: He filled her with kisses and hugs and kept saying - 'Kaio big brother'.
We spend 24 hrs in the hospital and were able to go home on Thursday afternoon.We have been home for 2 nights and Josie is very peaceful, eats and sleeps well and we are all loving this family time together!
Just like when Kaio was born, Oma has been very helpful: making nice meals, helping with Josie and Kaio and just being there for us. She also gave the first pink outfit for our little girl!
1) Just a couple of minutes old
2) Kaio and Josie!
3) Josie and mommy
4) Josie and daddy
5) First family picture
6) Kaio so happy in being a big brother
7) Less then 24hrs after birth

Oma and Opa in town

Oma and Opa came to visit! We had prepared Kaio a couple of days before hand and he was very excited. In the past, he would be a little bit shy the first couple of hours after they arrived (always very cautious) however, this time he was very happy to see them and went straight to their arms and eager for his 'presentes' (gifts). He was very polite and said 'thank you Oma', 'thank you Opa' every time he received one.
He has been enjoying all the extra attention and has been in a fantastic mood!
Kaio has been saying full sentence, such as - "This is not a cat, daddy" or "The hat is in the bag", etc. Which I find very impressive and amazing for him to be using all these pronouns and putting them in the right order. It seems he is now more proficient in English, however he will hopefully catch up on his Portuguese once we move their in a couple of months.
He is even correcting us now! This weekend, Oma was taking some pictures of Kaio, Jason and I and Jason said - "Look at grandma" (he was distracted and looking to the other side) Kaio then said - "that is not grandma, that is Oma!" Clever little boy!
1) Kaio, mommy and Opa (and baby 2 in the belly) - this was on my 'official' due date
2) Kaio and Oma
3) Kaio, mommy and daddy walking in London (I am 2 days over due!)
4) Kaio concentrating very hard on the Christmas tree decorating
5) Kaio and Oma at the Christmas fair