Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

My sweet Le Le...this year we had our first Christmas with just Mommy, Daddy and Leah. On the 24th Tia Emi, Thiago and Caetano came over for dinner. Caetano gave you a big book about farm animals. The two of you had fun going up and down the slide. Dadda cooked the turkey and we ate yummy food. You decided that you didn't want to go to bed until 11pm which will allowed. You laid with Dadda on the coach hoping you would get tired, but you didnt. Santa came the next morning and he brought a beach bucket and wagon, pool, tube, and other toys from Nonnie. We had a light breakfast and then later friends came for lunch. It was a very peaceful and calm Christmas, I enjoyed it very much. I missed the traditions of my childhood, but I am focusing on making yours just as memorable & special as you are my baby!
The next day we went to the beach Cassino. YOu lOOOOVED the beach. It was so sweet to see how happy you were playing in the sand and watching the waves. Not one ounce of fear you had...that a girl!
Unfortunately NYE you had a fever and the next day too..as I write this you are sleeping but the fever has gone down. Dadda is working but keeps calling because he is worried about his little girl. Dadda loves you so much. He tells me all the time.
You are talking more, making animal sounds. You call me "Ma MAaaa" and I respond "BeBeeee" its cute. You have beautiful curly golden hair and honey skin...love you!

You are my joy

I am having so much fun with you Leah. You are such a sweet joy. Everyday at 6:15 we watch a novela called "A Vida da Gente" and there is the theme song with a part that goes "tempo tempo tempo"..you have learned this and refer to this show as "tempo tempo tempo" and you sing a long at the right time. You love to bark when you see a dog and you laugh really loud when we pass them! They make you happy :) You also love to dance and any time ANY music (good or bad) comes on you stand up and do a few spins or bend down to the floor or throw your arms around. So funny! When you get nervous you lift up your shirt and play with your belly button. It has gotten a little irritated because of that.

Today Dada was home for most of the day. We went on a walk downtown. You had a little fit on the way home and we had to carry you all the way...Miss Leah.

Your words

Dada

Momma

Cae Cae (for Caetano your friend)

Tchau

Dog

Cracker

Night Night

Ball

You are into shutting all the doors now. You like to push the water jug around the house and any other stools. You LOVE your music in your room and always point to it for us to put on for you.

Your friends are

Sophia (8)

Caetano (2 months older)

Antonia (1)

I love you Leah with all of my heart :)

The first 15 months

Leah Mary Santos

July 30, 2010

8 lbs 10 oz

22 1/5 inches

9:10 am

Mount Laurel Virtua Memorial Hospital

I went into the hospial at 5 pm with contractions. At around 9 they gave me an epidural. At 8:30am I felt the need to push. The contractions were big and you were ready to come out! In 6 pushes you were out! Daddy cut your cord. You nursed easily and often. I remember seeing you in the gladd bassinet in the hospital and you big bright eyes staring and Daddy and me. You didn't sleep very much and had a good cry.

You were born on Friday and we came home to Nonnie and Pappy's house on Sunday morning. Nonnie made a nice brunch for us in the dining room. Then Aunt Jana and Uncle Mike came to see you on the 3rd floor. Our first night didn't have much sleep and neither did the next 4 months. You had what they say is colic but I think just a big personality. Very bright and alert from the beginning. You didn't like the stroller, car seat, bassinet or crib. You only slept well in daddy or my arms. Daddy would hold you from 7-12 so I could sleep and then I would hold you from 12 to 5 and then Daddy again. Then Aunt Liz gave me a swing and you immediately loved it. Still not sleeping more than 2-3 hours at a time but a little better.

Vovo and Tio Marcelo came to visit for three weeks. Vovo helped a lot to get you to sleep. We went walking almost everyday with you along the Delaware river.

Your first trip was to the Poconoes when you were 5 weeks old. It was a nice peaceful trip. We put you in a bjorn and walked around the entire property.

Next we went to Stone Harbor with the Hagans. Your first trip to the beach.

On October 11 your cousin Jake was born. The two of you were almost the same size!

You were a lady bug for Halloween and so cute! We went trick or treating to the Papenbergs and the Lucasis.

Thanksgiving you had your first cold and was a little sick. I dressed you in a red velvet dress and a "I'm thankful for Mommy" bib. You slept through all of dinner so I could eat :)

Nonnie bought you nice Christmas presents.

On December 15 you and I left for Brazil alone. Daddy had already gone. I was nervous to travel alone with you, afraid if something would happen or if you would cry a lot. However, you traveled so well. Slept most of the time/nursed/slept. It was almost easy. Daddy and Uncle Marcelo picked us up at the airport and Daddy was so happy to see you. It had been two months. We spent the next month at Vovo 's house in Joao Pessoa. You liked to play on the bed and read books. Deborah, Pedro, Samuel and Rebecca liked to come in and play with you. ....

First letter

Dear Leah,

Today you are about 15 1/2 months. Still have such bright eyes that seem to shine when I catch your eyes. Today we were out in the morning. First I had some blood drawn. You were there with me on my lap. I tried to distract you with a juice box so that you wouldn't see the needle and scream. It was successful. After that we went to Barronesa (a park here in Pelotas) You love to climb up the slide and go down holding my hand, again and again. You like to chase after the "ball" that you are able to say. You also like to sit on in the dirt and pick up sand, dirt, rocks etc. You light up feeling the different textures in your hands. Almost like you think I don't see you being naughty :) We sat on a tree trunk and ate cookies and lemon gatorade. Then we went to the store (Krauss) to buy Dada pants for his birthday next week. You weren't interested in keeping still and just wanted to climb up the big stairs. We quickly bought the pants and went home. Once home Emi called to come play with Cae-Cae. You love to play with him and give eachother "huggie/kissy." You two play nicely. We went home and had lasagna and rice..you ate it up as always. Then we went to pick up Dada at the hospital. Later you napped from 1-3pm.

You are such a sweet little girl Leah. I love to come get you in your crib and the first thing you do is either point to the cd player for music or point to a toy. I pick you up and snuggle you close.

Milestones:

Walking

Says - Ball, Dada, Momma, duck, yes, no, night night, tchau, cracker, cae cae

stacks rings

kicks ball

climbs on car

climbs up slide/slides down alone

runs

eats alone

knows belly, toes, nose, knees

understands most of what I say and follows directions