Early Thanksgiving!

Since Rafa and I will be in Brasil for Thanksgiving, we decided to have Thanksgiving Day on Saturday.  We cooked all the regular stuff, and just had a quiet relaxing day together as a little family : )  But now I am ready for Christmas music and decorations and it's only the 14th!

Bella had a turkey dinner too!

Baby Figueira 20 Weeks Video

Here is the video where we learn that we are having a baby girl!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTTY9nSow_8

Earthlings

I admit, I didn't watch this documentary on the World's treatment of animals.  I cannot.  Watching the preview alone brought me to my knees like I have only felt when my grandparents passed away.  How can humans cause this much pain and suffering to animals?  I have this overly sensitive nature about the weak, the helpless, the ones that cannot defend themselves.  But in this moment, I feel completely helpless myself.  What on earth am I doing to protect and help the animals?  I felt depleted, without hope. And then after talking with Rafa I realized that I am doing something.  I am a vegetarian out of principle.  That I voice my principle.  And people sometimes ask why?  Some out of curiosity and learning, and some out of pure judgement.  That's ok.  I am still speaking, paving the road for a future where the World will one day see animals as a part of a bigger connection to us.  And while my voice is out there, it is merely temporary, for I will leave this Earth one day.  But Rafa and agree that the single most important thing we can do in our little lives, is to raise our daughter with kindness and compassion for all living things.  This will be the connection that we make with the World, to hopefully one day to end the pain and suffering for all living things.

But for today, I will keep speaking.  And I will hug my Bella a little tighter.

Be kind.

Sonja

It's a Girl!

Rafa and I went in yesterday morning for the much anticipated "find out the sex" ultrasound.  I have felt since day one that it was a girl, and I guess I secretly wanted her to be a girl too.  And much to our excitement, she was!  I feel like our life is good, we are generally happy, we have so much to be thankful for.  But yesterday, seeing the little one so developed and learning that she was a girl, sent me through the moon.  I don't think I have felt that much pure joy since I married Rafa.  The grin on my face was from ear to ear, I wanted to jump up and down (sorry peanut!) and yell from the roof tops of every building.  And now the race feels on.  We can think of names, serious names, we can design the room, buy the stroller, etc., etc., etc.but first in line.....buy an outfit.  A little teeny tiny outfit, that's pink of course.  I have been waiting for months for this moment!  So last night Rafa and I went to dinner to celebrate and then afterwards, went to Babies R Us to buy one pink outfit.  It's a cute little cozy set, perhaps she can wear it home from the hospital.

Here are a two pics from the Ultrasound, not the best quality.  The first one shows the top half of her, it looks like she is sucking her thumb?

Baby Figueira Heartbeat - turn up the volume!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLaNjrOMQ78

Orlando

This past weekend, Rafa and I went to Orlando to meet up with his brother Gustavo, Gustavo's girlfriend Larissa, his sister Raquel and their cousins Camilla and Matheus.  The weekend was certainly quick, but it was a lot of fun visiting the parks and the weather was pretty much near perfect.  The flights went smooth for me, and although being completely wiped up from exhaustion, I held up pretty well.  Oh and my belly seemed to really pop this weekend too (check out the last pic!)

Hospital Tour and Thankfulness

Rafa and I went on the Legacy Good Samaritan Maternity tour on Sunday.  The tour was amazing.  Rafa and I both left there feeling so comfortable and excited to deliver at this hospital.  The environment was relaxed and calm, the rooms were spacious and comfortable, and the staff seemed so nice.  There was a moment when I was standing in the room, recalling that the tour guide has volunteered as a partner for teen moms who had no one to be there for them, and standing in awe of how luxurious this place was.  I thought about the fact that I am so lucky to have a partner who loves me, had his arm around me, and will no doubt support me during this process.  And the fact that we have such an amazing facility to deliver at to ensure that baby and I are safe and healthy.  I quickly realized that there are so many woman around the world who are not as lucky as I am.  Every woman deserves to have the support, and every woman deserves a safe place to bring a child into the World.  I am especially thankful for my life and I have the best situation to deliver our little one.  I wish every woman had the same.