My boys

After Joaquim was born, Antonio suddenly became nearly a 20-something old guy. I can't forget he is still 5... turning on 6. And that I'll still have my little (mummy's) boy for a few years to come.

And meanwhile.. Joaquim looks promising in this picture. Being 20 days old and already smiling, it seems the little cutie will be a show-stopper!


I'm in heaven!

House on fire

It couldn't be any different, so Madonna's concert yesterday night in Maracana was, as I heard, absolutely amazing. The combination of the most professional pop artist in the world and the best audience on the planet was simply explosive.

The blonde put the biggest stadium in the world on fire and the 70.000-people crowd had a memorable night.

I am soooooooooooooooo jealous!

Not yet landed on Planet Earth

I've heard there is some sort of important event coming up but since I am still orbiting the moon, I haven't taken part in any preparation for it at all.

I have no idea what is going on with me at the moment - too sleepy, too tired, maybe feeling as if I was still pregnant - but I haven't taken notice of Christmas or New Year's at all and nearly forgot that is 9 days to go until the big night.

No shopping done yet and a Christmas "pine tree" that died (!!!) a week after I bought it, are very much the picture of my Christmas spirit this year.

As it is unavoidable, I might as well breathe deep and dive in as my next proper break will be in March when Carnaval is over, Antonio is back in school and I can resume life as a mother of two more peacefully.

E tem tambem essa que e' linda

"E a docura e' tanta que faz insuportavel cocega na alma. Viver e' magico e inteiramente inexplicavel. Eu compreendo melhor a morte."

C Lispector

Achei!

"Amar os outros e' a unica salvacao individual que conheco: ninguem estara' perdido se der amor e `as vezes receber amor em troca."

C Lispector

Butt Countdown

4 KGS TO GOOOOOOOO!!!!

HURRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fast response

As I was writing the post below, Patrick called me from a toy shop in Joburg to consult me on buying Christmas presents for Antonio.

I told him how I felt blue and confused about being here and not there, etc, etc, etc.

He told me that I shouldn't feel that way as he had heard this morning that a woman was murdered in Parkhurst (my neighbourhood in Joburg) in a daytime robbery, while she was at home with her 4 month-old baby. The husband came home and found her dead next to her sleeping newborn son.

Such a sad reminder of why I decided to come back and have my baby in Rio. Surely did not expect to have such a fast answer to my doubts.

Confusion

This week, astrologically speaking, was the most challenging of the year. The sky was a mess and most people felt emotionally touched by these aspects.

Personally, I haven't heard in a long time of so many people falling ill, going through surgery, having challenges at work or feeling kind of down for some reason or another.

For me, apart from being hit by awful health-related news of close relatives, I felt some sort of confusion regarding Brazil, South Africa, Rio, Joburg... and if I made the right choice to have "moved" here and not stayed in Africa with Patrick.

There is no right answer to this dilemma. Only the future developments will say if I was right or wrong to take this step.

Luckily, by Tuesday the 16th December the sky will be much clearer and we'll be ready to enjoy - finally - the upcoming holidays.

Primeiro isso, primeiro aquilo.../ First this, first that..

Ha tempos venho querendo postar umas notas sobre meu bebe querido e umas fotinhos tambem. Pois bem, seus varios "primeiros": banho de sol, banho de banheira, o cordao que caiu, e mais teste do pezinho (naaaaaooo) aconteceram ja ha mais de uma semana. Tadinho do meu Quim!! Sou uma mae muito desnaturada..!

Entao ai' vai.. Primeiro banho de sol:
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I've been trying, for a while now, to post a few notes and pictures of my beloved baby. Well, his many "first ones": sunbathing, bath, the umbilical cord that fell, plus the "foot test" (not sure of how it is called in English) happened more than a week ago. Poor little Baby Kim!! I am such an air-headed mummy!!

So here it goes.. First sunbathing:


E primeiro banho: (a casa inteira assistiu)
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The first bath: (everybody in the house took part of it)


Sem esquecer da supersticao Brazuca de botar ouro na banheira no primeiro banho (pra trazer muito sucesso pro pequeno):
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And finally the Brazilian superstition of putting gold in the first bath water (to bring lots of success to the baby's life):


E um irmao mais velho muito orgulhoso:
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And a very proud big brother:

Dying to see Madge

Next week there will be a Madonna concert in Rio but - damn it! - I won't make it.

I adore her - even after seeing her in person in Israel and finding her odd - and would absolutely love to see a sample of the Sticky and Sweet Tour. But it doesn't make any sense going through with it after a recent surgery.

For those fortunate who will enjoy such a spectacle, enjoy it cause it may as well be the last chance.

Desperate seeking Clarice

Since I last wrote about Clarice Lispector, I've been dreaming of re-possessing a fabulous book of hers I had left in Joburg.

My move has arrived, I've searched for it, but I haven't managed to find it yet.

Yesterday night I tried a bit of "soul enhancing" with Desmond Tutu and one of his books I love.

But it won't do it. I demand Clarice.

Old friend

I can't deny I am feeling the hormonal changes that come after pregnancy. Mind you, much softer this time round but nonetheless I feel kind of "under the weather".

Too tired and with a sick kid in the house, I still haven't recovered well from the cesarian. And I don't have so much free time to cuddle my newborn baby - who is an angel, by the way.

I've been thinking about my old friend Lexapro but am not sure yet. It is too much of a hassle getting off it again. So I don't know.

The good news is that I am losing weight by the second and have only 5kgs left to shed. And after finding my old super-duper sexy Yoga costume this morning (and wondering if I will ever look hot in it again) I look pretty damn forward to feel like a woman again.

But then again, this is the hormones speaking... So I might as well change the subject.

A foto oficial/The official portrait

Home sweet home

I am so pleased to be living in a house in such a quiet neighbourhood. It is a real privilege to be so close to the biggest urban forest in the world and at the same time being close to the buzz of Rio's trendiest areas.

For the boys is simply priceless living surrounded by so much green.

I have no doubt I am recovering much faster in this place than I would do if I was living in a flat in Leblon or Ipanema.

Below, a preview of our view from the kitchen window.

Encontro de irmaos/Meeting of brothers

O que deve ter passado pela cabecinha do meu Antonio ao ver seu irmaozinho pela primeira vez?

Eu acho essa foto simplesmente fora de serie.
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What might have gone through Antonio's mind at the moment when he saw his little brother for the first time?

I find this picture simply extraordinary.

E ele chegou../ And he has arrived..

My baby boy, Joaquim de Azambuja Fehring, came to the world on November 24th, 2008.

After another scare, a bleeding in the morning and rushing to the hospital for an emergency cesarian delivery, our boy was born at 14:33hs of a rainy Monday very healthy and looking beautiful.

Thankful, relieved and extremely happy I welcomed my new angel to the world secretly wishing him all the best of happiness in this world for his life.

And that rush of love took over me once again.