Our first week in Colombia

We finally got an "inside look"  into the confusion Mateo has been feeling regarding the move when a lady asked him where he was going to school. At first he said Berkeley. But then, as if he realized he was no longer in California, added, "Where is my house? My house is full of boxes!" I choked and got all teary eye when he asked her where his house was and Nico said he felt the pain when Mateo said his house was full of boxes. But the adjustment has been getting easier for him.

We found an arcade in a shopping mall and it has become one of Mateo's new interests. He likes to drive the cars and play basketball. He's really good at getting the ball in the hoop! While it's not a place where I would like him to be spending much time in, it has been a lifesaver these past few days when it's been raining. We've also been visiting country clubs and yesterday spent much of the day at one called El Rancho.  First, Nico and Mati visited and fed the horses. Mateo was in heaven! Then we took him to the park and finally the pool where the water was at 87F (31C) - perfect for both Mati and I! He played and played in the kiddies pool which was shallow enough for him to sit as if he was in the bathtub. By the time we took a shower and got dressed, Mati and I were both starving and Mati was really tired. So we had lunch and then headed back home.

A very concentrated Mateo "driving" his Formula One car (we didn't put money in the slot!)

Shifting gears

On Monday (June 30) we visited the colonial sector of Bogota. It's very picturesque with the majestic hills right there and the clouds sitting on top. Mateo ran around the Plaza Bolivar and tried to feed the pigeons. He pretends he's very tough and not afraid of them, but as soon as they start fluttering their wings or coming too close to him, he gets all nervous. We walked the cobbled stone streets for about 2 hours, Mateo switched between riding on daddy's shoulders and actually walking. We also briefly visited the Botero museum, which was really nice.

Feeding the pigeons.  The man in the middle is Jorge, one of our drivers.

One side of Plaza Bolivar

La Catedral

Iglesia de San Juan Bosco

Colonial Bogota

A student of Botero - "Daddy, the lady doesn't have any clothes on."

In non-Colombia news: Mati is finally getting one of his four missing molars!! It's coming out on the lower right hand side.  Yayyy!  Hopefully, this will mean that eating will become an easier affair, as his chewing capabilities increase!!

Accident #2

This past week has not been Mateo's best. Our poor little guy fell while talking on the phone and hit his eye against the leg of a high chair. Major drama and who can blame him: the eye area is so sensitive! Unfortunately, he refused to have it iced right after the accident happened and although Nico and I held him down (he's one strong little fellow, kicking and fighting the whole time!) and iced the eye for about 5 minutes once we got home, it's now swollen and blue. Good thing: he says it doesn't hurt him! We're hoping the accident streak will soon come to an end!

Welcome to Bogota

We've been in Bogota since Monday night and so far the adaptation process has been somewhat rocky. We had a decent flight - Mateo is a great traveller, although he did have his moments of toddler craziness. However, whoever said that little kids adapt fastest to changes didn't know what s/he was saying!! Mati constantly, everyday, asks for his tios, his friends, the parks in Berkeley, everything and anything related to his life in California. He is acting up: he's violent against Nico (biting, kicking) and sometimes against his baby brother in my belly and doesn't want to eat (except his dessert, of course!). To make matters worse, he fell at the park yesterday. The park had cordoned off a section for a birthday party with thick rope; Mateo had seen the rope but all of a sudden ran towards it, didn't dunk and the rope hit him right across the face, the nose and eyes to be exact. The impact made him bounce back and he fell on his back. Had he been 2 or 3 cm higher, the rope would have cut his eyes. Then, on that same outing, he was climbing a ladder and slipped on a step and nearly fell through the hole. He bruised his underarm from the impact. Clearly, it wasn't his day!!

We are trying to be as gentle as possible with him and have toddler activities so he starts easing into his life here. He'll be starting summer camp next week, so that will be an interesting experience. I'll be staying with him the first couple of days and hopefully his adaptation will go smoothly. Stay tuned for that chapter!!

Here are some pictures of Mati's face after his first (minor) accident in Bogota. We miss you guys!!!

Playdates

Recently, Mateo has been increasingly exhibiting his exuberant personality. He's outgoing, confident, charming, very sweet and overall funny (in fact, when people see me without him they'll ask me, "Where's the funny guy?").

The other day we went to the supermarket to buy fish and while I was placing my order, Mateo decided to go to the meat department, which was right next to the fish department, and engage the butcher in conversation:
Mateo: "Can I have a chicken please?"
Butcher: "You want a chicken? For your car?"
Mateo: "No, not for my car. Her name is Patty Patrole."
Butcher: "What's your name?"
Mateo (with his adorable accent): "Mateo."
Butcher: "And how old are you?"
Mateo: "Two. Coach Sean says no suck your thumb."

At this point I had to step in because the butcher clearly didn't understand that Mateo's soccer coach tells him all the time that he shouldn't suck his thumb. Their conversation ended shortly after but obviously everyone around was cracking up!!

On Sunday, we went to some French friends' house for dinner. We don't see them very often, but for some reason Mateo feels right at home with them. As soon as we got there, he went off with the girls, Luna and Salome, who are way older than him (I think they are 6 and 9, respectively) and played the whole time with them. Not once did he come to us asking to be held or carried or for us to play with him. At dinner time, he ate with the girls and had a great time. I was watching him from the "adult table" and saw how much he relishes being the center of attention or rather, being the funny guy and making others laugh at his actions.

This self-confidence is something I've been noticing a lot of lately, which is really reassuring since he will soon start preschool. While I'm sure that the separation will be tough, once we get over that initial obstacle, he will be a happy child and will make lots of friends.

So now here's the photo fest!


With Anya, "playing" catch

Snacking away with Ale

Mama and her 7-month belly


The boys telling each other which of the cars parked outside was his.

Bye Bye to the Patuga Mobile

On the eve before delivering the car to the new owner, Mateo and I posed with the Patuga mobile. We'll miss it!!


Mateo, Mama, and ? (I'm 6.5 months pregnant here.)

Biking

Mateo has been asking more and more to ride his bike. Here he is biking around our neighborhood ... and of course, Moose has to come along for the ride!