9 months!! Can you see my teeth?

Mateo turned 9 months yesterday - January 23. He is a little man now with two little teeth and more hair, curly hair - like Pat when he was little. He is also very happy most of the time. Just two weeks ago he started to crawl but now he would rather be standing up and practicing walking by cruising in the crib or holding our hands. I think he knows that walking is much more fun because he can see much more in that position. 

Oh, and he is loving books now. Specially picture books where he can see animals and us making the sounds of the animals. He has this way of communicating now that we can just tell what he wants or needs right away. When I leave for work, I do not sneak out, I say good bye and he watch me go. He used to attempt to cry but now he looks at my mom and says something in his language. He knows I will be back and he is happy staying home with my mom. 

rain and rainbows

It has been very rainy today and in the afternoon we went to see the birds at the Palo Alto Baylands. It was a blessing to get a little break in the heavy rain just as we got there. Mateo was so happy watching the ducks and the other birds. His face watching so many birds together was priceless. We also saw a beautiful rainbow-- his first rainbow!

New Developments

Several things have happened these few days in California:

Teething
Mateo is teething now and his two bottom front teeth are coming out! He is as happy as he can be (glad he is not fussy as I was told they get), however he has had some diarrhea since last Thursday, the day we came back. I was blaming at my mom's chicken soup for it but now I am convinced it has to do with the teething.

First Cousin
Yesterday January 12th at 10:00 pm, Isaid Samuel was born in Ecuador, he is Mateo's first cousin. I also became an aunt for the first time. Since Mateo and Isaid will grow fast and don't have that much age difference I can see them playing and spending a lot of time together when we live in Ecuador. Welcome to Earth little Isaid!


Off schedule
Going to Ecuador for 3 weeks and adjusting to a new sleep schedule was not difficult, Mateo was sleeping from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am in just a couple of days. Now, going back to that schedule here in California has been a bit difficult. My little bundle of joy is going to sleep between 5:00 and 5:30 pm and is waking up between 4:30 and 5:30 am. Yeah, and I have to wake up with him! Hope he adjust soon!

Friends and toys

Yesterday afternoon we went to visit his twin friends Oliver and Niko. Mateo had a good time enjoying their toy and just hanging out. Lucky him, he got to bring back this toy and now he is really liking it and spending time playing in it. 

Zizzer-Zazzer- Zuzz

Today it was the first time that Mateo listened and looked at a book for a long time while Pat was reading to him. It seemed to me like he was being entertained by it and he was ready to take in some info. Before he would just take the book away from us and put it in his mouth. So looks like he is ready to read more Dr. Seuss's books!!

Back in our California home

We are back in California!  Mateo did excellent on his first trip to Ecuador. He was fascinated to see so many family members and he let everyone who wanted hold him and play with him. He liked going around in the crowded streets of Quito as well as walking around our land in the forest. I think he found so many new things to entertain his senses everywhere. We were glad he did not get sick and even the mosquitos did not bother him when we were in the land. He was just a happy camper!

Two very special highlights of his development are: 

1. He started to say ma-ma-ma-ma and dah-dah-dah-dah  and when he wants to be chatty he is very loud! He is so much more alert and communicative. We love it and have fun with him.

2. His crawling skills have improved a lot. Today for the first time he started to crawl using his hands and knees. It was great! Soon I wont be able to keep him confined to the small soft area in our house. Crawling in the hard, cold concrete floor would be interesting to watch. 

In the meantime, we are glad to be back and looking forward to few more months here in California before we move to Ecuador for good.

Being silly with my aunt and grandma

Hanging out with Amel and Jose David

My grandpa