Because I Have So Much Extra Time...

I decided to start a second blog: See Abby Run

Running has always been a goal of mine, but now I am making it a priority. This blog is a way for me to stay focused on my training plans, goals, and keep myself honest on my progress. Feel free to come on over and cheer me on! I can could use it!

Pride calleth

So I don't post here anymore. I've left that task to my immensely capable wife, who takes care of our updates here. But an event took place last Sunday that has inspired me to take up the quill and scroll to record for posterity: Noah's first competitive sports event.

Now, I was no soccer boy. I was a baseball boy who took up basketball later in childhood. But I get soccer. Especially here and now, in Brazil. Literally everyone plays soccer here. At least all the kids. But the weekend warrior middle-aged (and older) men get out and play on the weekends too. It's a culture where it's inescapable. So there has never been any question about what sport Noah would take part in here. He's been taking soccer lessons for two years.

But Sunday was his first competitive game. His 6-and-under team of mostly Brazilians (and a couple of Argentines) against a 6-and-under team of Brazilians from just around the corner. And guess what? Noah's team won. Big deal, you're thinking. Somebody had to win. But get this. Our little gringo showed those big, bad futbol-playing Brasileiros how a gringo on a mission plays. Noah scored the first goal of the game and later added a second goal in his team's 4-2 win.

Photo Session Sneak Peek

We had a mini photo session with the kiddos on Sunday. I've been wanting have new photos taken since Stella was born, but wanted to do it closer to December so I could hopefully get a Christmas card out of it! Karin, our photographer, was late and Stella was not so happy half an hour after the original scheduled start, but the few pics I've seen turned out very cute. I love that I feel like these look like our kids...you know, without the stuffy outfits and fake background. These are our kiddos in their element and these are the moments I wanted to capture. I can't wait to do it again (when Stella's sitting up and has a larger "happy window" to work with)!

This Our (Littlest) Girl

She's sweet, right?
She's also a maniac
She rolls both ways
Scoots across her crib
Babbles at us
Smiles at Noah and Sophie like they hung the moon
Grabs at her toys (and Paul's glasses)
Starting to organize her naps during the day (at 9, 1, and a cat nap at 5)
However...She DOES. NOT. SLEEP. AT. NIGHT.

I love her. So very much. But not so very much at 11, 1, 3, 4, and 5. Seriously.
I clearly need some help in that department.
*sigh*
She is sweet though.

It's An Obsession

Some of you may know that soccer is pretty big in Brazil.
Pretty big in this house too.
Noah was obsessed with the World Cup.
He can recite most of the game scores. And teams. And players. Still.
Now he can't stop thinking about Brazil's soccer teams.
He spends Saturdays organizing his stickers, memorizing players, and generally making the rest of us realize how bad our memories are.
I wonder if his love will continue when we leave Brazil? I don't think we'll make it to the next world cup in 2014 in Brazil. It would be pretty cool if we did though!

Look at Me!

Hi Mama

What, you thought I was sleeping?
Why would I do that?
There's so much to see
So much to do
Who has time for sleeping?

Four Day Weekend

When we first arrived in Brazil we rarely spent a long weekend at home.

Guaruja. Campos do Jordao. Campineas.

They all called our name.

It was all about discovering a new country.

Not so much these days.

A sweet one named Stella changed that for us.

Our discoveries are a little more local these days.

This weekend I discovered Stella likes to play in her crib rather than sleep.

She can peek out above the crib bumper.

Where is my newborn?!

Found out Sophie is obsessed with all things Parisian. Especially the Eiffel Tower.

Noah can spend hours researching, drawing, and explaining different country's flags.

We hung out at home.

We had dinner with friends three out of the four nights.

We left Portal once for a really awesome book store, lunch, and the LEGO store.

I ran 2.5 miles for the first time since Miss Stella arrived.

Paul did lots of hard work and took afternoon naps.

Our friend cooked us a Thai dinner.

It was a great weekend!