Another week went by--fast!

Time flies! I can see it and feel it now that I have a baby. It has been already four months of him being with us with all his cute little self and it is already one month since I went back to work. This week, Mateo had his four month doctor check up and another set of immunizations. He is 16 lb and 26 inches long. He did very well after the shots, no big deal this time. 

The doctor told us that we can start introducing food to him but we would rather wait until he is 6 months old. He is definitely enjoying my milk and I am very much enjoying breast feeding.

As I said before, we moved Mateo to our bed to make night time feedings easier and allow me to be more rested every day. I also enjoy extra cuddling with my little guy and make up the time I am gone to work. The doctor again told us that Mateo should start sleeping through the night, meaning he should not wake up at all in at least 5 -6 hours. I do not see that happening any time soon because he seems to be wanting to eat more now that I am close to him and now that he gets fed with the bottle when I am at work. I really do not mind now waking up often (say every 2-3 hours) to feed him. I am happy and he is happy.

Big Boy

Starting on solids?

Pat, sis Lexie and Mateo

With Jason 

Enjoying his new swing 

I am 4 months now!

And to celebrate it I was taken to the Marine Fitzerald Reserve by Half Moon Bay with mommy, daddy, granny and sis Lexie. It was fun to see the ocean and feel the breeze. We got to see sea lions laying at the beach. I got to wear a cute yellow hat that Carolyn made for me when I was in mommy's belly and a fancy sweater that Sue gave me. It is usually so hot at home so I do not get to wear any of the clothes I received as gifts and since I am growing so fast, looks like I wont wear many of those studly outfits. Oh well! 

I look cute, cozy and happy in the pics

Busy week

On this week lots of things have happened. 

On Saturday, we had a party at Jill and Michael's home and Mateo had the opportunity to enjoy some fresh evening air and a salsa band. He was enjoying the music very much.  He is really interested in people and activity these days. 

at the party with friends

To contrast this party, on Sunday, we took a nice nature hike here at Hidden Villa. Mateo just loves to be outdoors. We hope he gets used to being around trees, flowers, birds, creeks as this is what he will grow up with when we move to Ecuador. Our Nature Preserve in Ecuador has it all.

On Wednesday, Lexie came to to visit with George her dog. I have to say that Mr. Filiks my dog has never been very close to Mateo as George did yesterday. Mateo petted George and was very interested in what he was doing.

On Thursday, Yiman, Hans and Olivia came to visit us. It was great to see Olivia for the first time. She is so adorable and looks a lot like mommy. Yiman and I can not wait to start play dates with our babies. She will be Mateo's first girlfriend ;)

Yesterday, Mateo turned 17 weeks of age, almost 4 months! We can really tell now that he is a different child. We love the child he is turning into. He is just so fun to be around. He is able to stay on his tummy for a long time and actually enjoys it. Soon he will be rolling over by himself, he is almost there. 

He is very chatty too. He has these little sounds that I am sure mean something in babyland but for us just make us laugh. I will call him now my giggly wiggly guy. 

From Co-sleeping to Bedsharing

We co-slept (sleep in the same room) with Mateo since he was born until 3 1/2 months. Now we have moved to bedsharing (sleep in the same bed) and we love it! As a first time mom I never know what is good and what is bad according to what I read, hear or see. There is a lot to read and hear about how to be a good parent, I just trust in my own instinct and so far we are all happy. So, I was a bit afraid to sleep with the baby when he was so little, I worried that I would roll over him or cover him with our covers. I did miss him a lot and wish he was closer to me. Anyway, I let him sleep in the bassinet for the first two months and then his crib for the past 1 1/2 month. We all did well until he started to break out his swaddle and move a lot in his crib before I hear him and wake up. One day, I found him in a whole new position to what I left him few hours ago. Besides, I used to get up to take him, feed him and so on and it will take me a long time to go back to sleep. Thus, I was a more tired momma. 

Now, I have him next to me in our bed. I just LOVE it! I feel like he is with me again, I do not miss him anymore. After all he sleeps 12 hours at night (of course waking up to eat every 2-3 hours) and I get to cuddle, see him and hear his breathing. He gets to have my love and warmth and nurse as soon as he is hungry. I do sleep even when I am nursing. 

So, so far, so good and I hope to keep doing this for a while. After all they are little just once. One day he will be a teenager and wont want to be too close to me ;). I enjoy it while I can. 

Happy baby sleeping with mommy

The works of the Universe

From two cells, to a billon cells. From a wish to a miracle. A gift from God - Mateo.

A year ago Mateo was 2 cells in the laboratory going along with the works of the Universe. He had a purpose he had to become and he did. He is the BEST thing that has happened to Pat and me. We have so many good things to be thankful for but Mateo is the biggest!

I look back at the time we spent in our apartment in Ecuador last year. I look back at all the injections, tests, check ups we had. I look back at all the prayers and hopes and dreams while we went to the treatment. My ICSI PIXIE is real now and we love him.

Fun day at the park

Today was the first time that we took Mateo out to a whole day of fun at a park. He did EXCELLENT!! I have always been worried to have him overstimulated by laud music and lots of people. I used to fear that he would cry and I wont be able to calm him and we would have to go back home. Well the bigger he gets, the more he enjoys outgoings and I do too -- with him. So today we had the chance to get together with other ecuadorian people who live in the bay area to celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of the first cry for independence of Ecuador from Spain. There was good ecuadorian food, music, games and a nice weather. Mateo loved the busy park full of people and the music. Pat carried him around and people would comment on how cute and chubby  Mateo looked, he just had a diaper on because it was a bit warm. My mom, Valeria (my ecuadorian friend) and I enjoyed eating our very well missed ecuadorian food. We had "mote con fritada" (corn and fried pork dish), "ceviche" (shrimp cocktail), and "empanadas de verde" (fried plantain).  Pat and Jesse (Valeria's husband) enjoyed their beer. I LOVED today because Mateo did so well. I feel ready to take this baby out more often and enjoy ourselves.

Pat, Me and Mateo

Valeria and Mateo

Mommy and Mateo

Abuelita