On Being Four

I had 38 weeks (to be exact!) to prepare for this moment and yet despite all the advice I've received from family, friends and books, I still find myself overwhelmed with different emotions. For starters, I love the feeling of holding and cuddling my newborn: his warmth, his smell, his coos, I love it all over again!!!  This time around, I'm trying to enjoy it more, knowing that he'll grow up fast and that we probably won't have another child.  But I also feel so much guilt at leaving Mateo in Nico's "custody".  I couldn't have done this first week without Nico's help - he's been taking great care of Mateo the whole time - but I miss my little boy terribly. We've been inseparable for the past two years and nine months.  It seems like a cruel trade off.

But then I remind myself that I wanted to have two children because I wanted them to share a love uniquely to them.  Soon enough, they'll be playing (and fighting) together and a new family dynamic will evolve.  Until then, we have to brave the sleepless nights, decipher the cries and the changes in behavior, but savor each moment.

What's This?

Mateo is officially out of the hunger strike but has started a new phase - the "What's this?" phase.

Morning, day and night, he questions what EVERYTHING is ... and by everything, I mean EVERYTHING, like what the different parts of a car are or what the speck of paint on the floor is!!  For sure, I prefer him asking what things are than him questioning why ...

He is also into playing the guitar now, the present his brother Santiago brought for him, and teaching us the guitar parts, something he learned from summer camp.

WELCOME SANTIAGO!

Welcome home to our little Santiago!  Born on August 22, 2008 at 10:01pm, weighing 2.915kg and measuring 51cm, we couldn't be happier with his arrival!

Hunger Strike

Mati has been on a selective hunger strike for the past two weeks.  He refuses to eat anything but sweet food, which is a clear no-no with me!   I was having a hard time grasping what could potentially be wrong (could it be the coughing virus he was battling or was it his teeth?), trying to analyze the situation to see what had changed.  Yesterday we went to see his pediatrician and thankfully I got some answers ...   

It seems our little Mati still suffers from the Berkeley Blues, otherwise known as "I left my heart in the Bay Area."  The doctor believes that this hunger strike (among other issues I brought up: poor sleeping habits, excessively clinging on to me, overall rebellion) is still related to the move and the insecurity he feels.  I had assumed that because he adapted to summer camp that he had gotten over the "trauma" of the move.  But I clearly underestimated my baby boy - I know how passionate, sensitive and observant Mateo is, I should have realized that he was going to need more time to grasp and absorb such a big transition.   I thought that the arrival of his brother was going to be a bigger life-changing event for him that I concentrated on preparing him for this and failed to prepare him for the move.  The pediatrician's prescription to "cure" Mati: lots of love, spoiling him (in a healthy way) and helping him be more vocal about was is bothering him (I can't imagine Mateo talking more than what he already does!!!!).

Since I started writing this entry, Mateo has resumed his proper eating habits (and he's certainly making up for lost meals!!!).  Nico and I have tried to spend more time as a family - playing, cooking, reading together - and while I'm not sure if this is what has caused Mati to bend the curve, I take this initial step as success.  

In other positive news, Mr. Bossut-Ugarte has grown.  His pediatrician was amazed to see that he now measures 96cm!!!  However, Mati lost about a kilo with this whole hunger strike and is at a low 12kg.   Hopefully, he'll make it up soon with all the food he's eating!

Baby brother is due any day now ... we're still waiting.  

At the Botanical Garden 

Inspector Mateo checking for corn

He must have spent half an hour playing in the fountain with his stick.

Mateo goes to Panaca

Mateo and Paty went to Panaca a couple of weeks ago. Panaca is like a big farm with lots of animals so Mateo was of course very happy..and scared as well....

Tourists in Bogota

Here are some pictures from our trips in and around Bogota.

A view of Bogota from Monserrate - a church built on top of the hills that surround the city, 3260 meters above sea level.

Mami at 35 weeks, Mati at 32 months

A view of the church of Monserrate

At the Parque de Salitre - a small, small version of Disneyland

Waving to his fans

Wearing his favorite T-shirt "B is for Bob"

I Like BOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

While still in Berkeley, Mateo sings to Bob Marley..

At gym class

Mateo - Salsa Dancer

In the four weeks that Mati attended summer camp, he learned how to dance salsa (well, sort of learned). Here he is, at the end of the summer camp party, showing off his moves!