Pat, Me and Mateo

The end

2010-05-24T22:14:00.000-07:00

Well, this will my last post in this blog. I have always wanted to keep this blog for one year only and it has been accomplished! Mateo is 13 months now and he is really growing and learning. There will be lots of exciting things to report but I will do it in a general way. Now I need to find a way to have this blog made into a book that I can give to Mateo as a gift but this is a project that will have to wait right now.

In the mean time, I have started a new blog called "Back in Ecuador". I know I am not in Ecuador yet but we are doing so many things to prepare that keeping this new blog will help. I plan to write often about the adventures we get into as a family in our new country.

We are very excited to move this summer!

Bye bye

Starting the second year sick

2010-05-04T21:14:00.000-07:00

It all started the day we went to get the vaccinations. Mateo got a shot in each limb, I wish we spread them a bit so the effect on his little body was not as cruel. The afternoon of the shots he did very well. I thought he will be just fine. The day after, he had pain in his legs and did not want to walk much. A day later he woke me up with vomit and cry. We went to the emergency room just in case. After few hours there we were sent home with some pills. The past 3 days my baby has had diarrhea and some vomit. I was told that it will pass in 7 to 10 days! Today he seemed to be better but his bugs are now attacking me and Pat. We are sick today with a stomach flu.

Finally tonight, Mateo wake up crying uncontrollably. It is scary when we do not have a clue what could it be. After some thinking and talking on the phone with the nurse, we conclude that his molars are coming out and that must hurt. I gave him some medicine for that and he finally went to sleep. I am ready to have my baby back! The healthy, silly baby who just turn one year old.

My FIRST birthday!

2010-04-24T19:50:00.000-07:00

Mateo's birthday came and went and he had so much fun, two days in a row. Yesterday, his actual birthday (4/23) we went out for lunch to an italian restaurant and to the Children's Discovery Museum afterwards. At the restaurant he was brought a little cake with a candle. He stared at the flame puzzled and this year, I blew it out for him and made a wish in his name. Then, a couple of hours at the discovery museum were well spent. He experienced flying balls, wet balls, rolling balls, noisy balls and lots of sand and music.

Your first cake and candle

Cool bubbles

agua

Today we had a little birthday party planned for him. Olivia and Isaac were the only friends who made it, all others did not come for several reasons. Over all, he had a great time, playing with water, sand, toys and bubbles!

Now he is fast sleep!

Cake and candle at home

A year ago...

2010-04-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

One year back, on a Thursday, at around this time, I was holding a just born baby. I was just falling in love with the little being placed in my arms. This first year of Mateo's life has passed so fast. I am glad I kept records of all the things that we did and happened in this blog, otherwise, I would not be able to remember all. I know one day I will spend time reading and looking at this blog's pictures and videos and bringing back great memories. Mateo's first year of life. Anita's first year as a mom and Pat's first year as a dad. It has been wonderful above all and we look forward to the second year. Most of the second year will take place in Ecuador!

after he was born

a year later

Walking!

2010-04-12T22:24:00.000-07:00

It finally came the day when Mateo walked on his own (4/11/2010). It took exactly one month since he took his first steps alone. I do believe they have a very precise clock regulating all their developmental milestones. It is so fun to watch him be independent.

Now his non-stop energy have us follow him all over the house many, many times exploring everything. A new life has began for him... and for us!

Having fun

2010-04-05T21:06:00.000-07:00

I love spending the afternoons at home with my baby. We get to walk around the house, read books, play with toys and go for walks around the farm and spots all kind of animals.

Soon, I will be home all day everyday and it will be great. Pat and I will have the chance to teach Mateo everything we know in spanish and in english!

Here are some cute photos:

Looking for eggs?

eating is fun and messy now!

In few years his feet will be bigger than mine

one of the Hidden Villa's cat

Bob Revolution

2010-04-02T22:49:00.000-07:00

We want to be able to take Mateo out on walks and not always carry him in our arms that is why we bought "bob revolution"! This great stroller will go with us to Ecuador when we move. It is great for city walks as well as rough roads like the roads we have in our farm in Ecuador.

Today it was rainy so we did not tested it outside, however Mateo really liked the ride around the house.

In other developments, Mateo is walking more and more and he adventures on his own a lot more everyday. His confidence is building up day after day. Still it is a bit stressful for us to let him go on his own because when he falls, he falls pretty hard on our concrete floor house.

In 3 weeks he will be 1 year old!

Spring is here!

2010-03-21T20:10:00.000-07:00

Days come and go and Mateo knows so much more about his world now. I was very surprised this morning when I told him "let's go see the bunny rabbit" (the rabbit we get to see in our backyard from our livingroom window) and he took me exactly where I had asked. I also asked him to lead me to see abuelita and he took me right there. I then realized that he understands much more than I thought. He continues to walk and sometimes run around the house and outside hanging on our hands. From time to time he dares to let go of the hand but he loses his balance quickly. Surely he is practicing and practicing.

Books are a great way to spend time with my boy. He turns the pages and makes the sound of the pig every time he see it.

Since the days are getting warmer and the sun is shining more, we got him a nice hat and crocs shoes in REI yesterday. He looks darn cute with them.

He also seems to be handling Spanish and English very well. He understands both. However, his first word I must say was AGUA that means water in English.

Finally, today he got a rash on his face right after eating rice and egg. We now know he is allergic to eggs. Maybe it was too soon to give them to him. Hope he grows out of it.

First steps

2010-03-12T21:33:00.000-08:00

At 10 1/2 months Mateo is taking his first steps alone. I LOVE to see his little face full of joy knowing that his is finally walking. I think he realizes that this is a "big step" in life!

He loves to practice walking all the time, of course holding on someone's hand and getting into everything. As soon as he starts walking without much help (which is very soon) we will be chasing him around the house. It is going to be fun!

Another change I just noticed this week is that he can fit the donuts in the stick. He used to try and give up very soon because he could not do it. Now he has finally done it and he is getting good at it. Boy! How fast he is growing!!

Bye Bye mommy

2010-03-01T20:13:00.000-08:00

This morning Mateo did not want me to go to work. Every time I said bye bye, he cried. So I tried nursing him and telling him that I will be gone to work for few hours and that we had just 4 more months here in California and after that we will be together all day, every day. He was looking at me and smiling as if he knew what I was talking about. When we finished, he went to my mom's arms and I kissed him good bye. He did not cried anymore and I left with a smile on my face.

Walking at the knoll

In Los Altos

Officially Ecuadorian

2010-02-23T21:55:00.000-08:00

Today Mateo was register as an Ecuadorian citizen in the ecuadorian consulate of San Francisco. It is a great day because this gives Mateo open doors to two countries, two cultures, two worlds. Now he is an American and Ecuadorian citizen and he will make the most out of it during his life. He probably won't remember much of these first months of live here in California but he will have the memories Pat and I share with him as he grows up. Ecuador will be his country for his first few years. We will of course come back to visit family in Florida hopefully once a year. Pat and I will speak English as much as possible but everyone else will speak to him in Spanish. I will make sure he learns both languages. Who know if he would choose to come back to United States for college. I would love for him to have that choice...

Walking soon!!

2010-02-18T21:33:00.000-08:00

I think this guy is going to walk very soon. As soon as he figured out that standing up was much nicer than crawling, this is all he does now. He crawls for a bit but as soon as he can pull himself up he will do it and practice his balance skills. Today while we were waiting to see his doctor, he started to walk holding our hand with much more confidence than ever before. Later in the evening we went to a party and he continued to walk and walk and enjoy it very much. Of course my back hurts now since I need to be bending to his height to hold his little hand. It is like there is no turning back, mommy here I come -- I WILL WALK SOON! He is not even 10 months!

Almost toddler!

self-weaning?

2010-02-09T21:16:00.000-08:00

It is sad but lately Mateo is not interested in nursing when I come back from work. We used to have that special time to reconnect after being gone for 5 hours. Now, it seems like he is not hungry and does not need that time. He is also skipping his afternoon nap... Would it be possible that there is so much to do, see and learn that there is not time to eat and sleep? Of course, he is so tired by 5:30 or 6:00 pm and off for the night. The good thing is that he continues to nurse at night so I know he is getting still some nutrition from my breast milk. I plan to nurse Mateo until he self wean. Looks like it might be soon!

Having fun on the ground

He will the that tall some day

Best picture

2010-02-07T21:02:00.000-08:00

This is the best picture of Mateo I have taken so far. He looks so happy and beautiful. I hope to make a big print of this and have it in a wall in our house in Ecuador. He is growing so fast and leaving us with good memories.

Yesterday we saw Charlah Robinson, the person who touched Mateo first when he was born. Charlah was my doctor and helped us tremendously through my pregnancy. Thanks to her and her good care Mateo stayed in my belly 39 weeks. We came to love Dr. Robinson. She is special.

9 months!! Can you see my teeth?

2010-01-24T20:46:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-18T21:31:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-13T19:40:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-09T20:04:00.000-08:00

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

THANKS 2009

2009-12-31T10:15:00.000-08:00

This is the last day of 2009. We have so much to be thankful for. Mateo has been the best gift that this year has brought us. Thanks for all the good times with him. He makes us be more patient, loving and better parents every day. Today we are happy to spend the last day of this year with our family in Ecuador. We really hope the new year brings us lots of good things. We look forward to our move from California to Ecuador and to the beginning of our lives here. Mateo will start walking and talking in 2010, I can't wait to see that!

Happy the three of us

Looking forward to the next year

Busy days

2009-12-15T21:36:00.000-08:00

Abuelita left for Ecuador yesterday so Pat and I have been taken care of Mateo full time. We have worked around our jobs to be with Mateo and still get most of our things done. It has actually been fun to be only the three of us. Since Mateo came, my mom has always been with us so we have never really got the chance to deal with ALL the demands of baby on our own. We really miss my mom! She does so much for us.

Tomorrow will be our last day of work and then we will be off to Ecuador for 3 weeks! I am sure going to love to be with my guy all the time and visit friends and family in my country. We will also go to our land in the rainforest. This place will be our primary home once we move to Ecuador next year so we hope to have a good time with Mateo.

Celebrating Quito from California

2009-12-06T19:10:00.000-08:00

Today my Ecuadorian-American friends Valeria, Mary, my mom, Jesse, Mateo and I had an excuse to get together and celebrate the Quito Foundation Anniversary only this time from California. We made a nice meal and had good conversations. We also enjoyed Mateo's squeaks and squawks and his new found crawling abilities. I have not celebrated Quito's foundation for almost 10 years and it is very possible that next year we will be in Ecuador so we will celebrate with friends and family in Quito. Viva Quito!!!

Dando Gracias (Thanksgiving)

2009-11-27T14:38:00.000-08:00

It is my favorite american holiday and yesterday we had a great time as usual with Andy's family. We had the pleasure to have the Duveneck House all for us. Mateo was very entertained by everyone and all their sounds. I took many photos and videos so we can remember this day, next year when we are in Ecuador. I can believe that last year I was pregnant and this year Mateo was interested in everything. Next year he will be running around.... We will miss everyone and this great tradition.

Food all over

2009-11-25T19:21:00.000-08:00

Mateo loves solid food now! All we are giving him to try seems to be of his taste. It is also very fun to watch him eat and enjoy the food in (and out) of his mouth.

These are some memorable pics of his meals trying to make it to his stomach.

7 months old!

2009-11-22T18:20:00.000-08:00

Seems like many new milestones are being met at this age. Mateo is now able to sit by himself on the ground and stay entertained with his toys for a long period of time. His crawling skills have also improved and now he reaches things placed within one or two feet of distance. I think he will be crawling in Ecuador next month.
He is eating more and more things... we have gone from apples and bananas to butternut squash, sweet potatoes, rice, potatoes, carrots, spinach and getting ready to keep tasting the world of food.

He also seems to have memory because when we ask "donde esta la muneca" (where is the doll) he looks at the wall, exactly where she is, and when we say "where is the dog" he looks right at where he is... as you can see he will be bilingual!
In the last week, I have take him out for a short walk in the afternoon just when the sun is heating up the green grass. There are lots of birds eating underneath the oak trees, and when I point at them and say "birds" he smiles and looks at them very intrigued. I tell him, he will help us preserve our Ecuadorian land so many birds can live in the trees, he looks at me and smiles.
Today, we moved things around the house and he seemed to have noticed that his crib was in a different place. He was very vocal the rest of the day and he would look at certain places of the bedroom and make the sound like he was telling us something. It was pretty cool to see him do that. Mateo keeps growing and growing and so our love for him. We are very happy with him!!

In memory of Mr. Filiks

2009-11-12T21:17:00.000-08:00

Mateo my son:

Today was a sad day at home, we had to put to sleep our dog and companion of 6 years- Mr. Filiks. We had not choice. He tried to bite you last week when you just place your little hand in his ear. He has never been too close to you in your 6 months of age, maybe because he has been always jealous of all the attention we give you now. He was our "baby" and companion before you and we did not know how your arrival might impact his behavior. Your father and I did not want to take the chance that he will hurt you. We will always hold the good memories with him.

I love my life!!!!!

2009-11-08T20:24:00.000-08:00

Time flies! I am so busy day after day but I love my life! I love being the mother of Mateo.

A typical day starts between 5:30 and 6:30 depending when Mateo decides to come back from dreamland. We cuddle, laugh, sing, change diaper while still in bed until around 7:00. Then Pat takes Mateo and hangs out with him while he makes coffee in the kitchen. I shower, make breakfast and hang out with Mateo until 8:00. Before I leave at 8:30, I feed him and put him down for a nap. I am gone to work from 8:30 to 1:30 so my mom takes care of our baby during this time. Pat is lucky to stop by the house at least once in the morning and he also sees Mateo and my mom walking around the farm. Since I am working part time I make the most of my time at work and get many things done, feeling very efficient and accomplished. When I am back from work, we have lunch and I spend time with Mateo. In the afternoons we go for a walk around the fields, go to the store, play in the ground or nap together. In the evening Mateo gets a bath and goes to sleep before 7:00 or 7:30 at the latest. Then is the time to listen to Pat's kitchen party while he makes dinner. After usually very yummy dinners, I spend time doing some more work. After that Pat and I enjoy music, a comedy show or just quiet time taking care of our own business. Around 10:30 it is bed time again.... and here we go again.....

Eczema

2009-11-08T19:56:00.000-08:00

"Oh, what a cutie, I love his rosy cheeks", people would comment on Mateo's face. It is not that he is rosy... he has baby eczema and it is driving him and us crazy! It started when he was 3 months old, exactly 2 days after I went back to work. His doctor does not seem to be too concerned because according to her, it is common in babies at this age and it will go away in a few months. Doctors, books, websites, blogs, message boards and I do not know what is causing it. It could be allergies to the dairy I eat, the pets, the weather, the clothing, the soap, anything! It is difficult to live with this baby condition because I see my baby get very rosy and uncomfortable when the flare ups happen. It becomes very itchy and he hurts himself when he scratches.

We are trying different things to see if we can figure out the root of the problem but no luck so far. I guess I just need to be patient and see the beauty beyond those rosy cheeks of my Mateo.

I do not care I have eczema, I am happy anyway!

Sleep-Sleep

2009-10-26T21:25:00.000-07:00

My beautiful baby is pretty good going to sleep and staying asleep. Since birth he has napped every 2-3 hours during the day, at first very short naps and now they can go for more than 1 hour. This week he took a 2 1/2 hour nap in the morning! Of course, after being awake from 3 to 4:30! Night time sleep is also easy. He still wakes up every 3-4 hours to nurse but goes right back to sleep, except this week that wake up twice to just hang out. Oh well, naps and night time sleep are easy for the most part.

What is challenging has been making him fall sleep. My mom rock him to sleep for naps and I nurse him to sleep for the night. However, lately he has been fighting sleep more and more. My little bundle of joy is not so little anymore. He is heavy (almost 18 lb) and putting him to sleep carrying him around was not working anymore. So this week my mom started to put him awake but sleepy in the crib and it has been working very well. I have been nursing to sleep and then have my mom do the final magic to get him in lala land. It is working! It might not be my 8-9 wonderful hours of uninterrupted sleep I used to get when I did not have Mateo but I am okay with what I get. After all, I have this little guy to cuddle with every night.

We are six months today!

2009-10-23T19:28:00.000-07:00

Look at how much Mateo has grown since birth to 6 months.

At birth: 8 lb 2 oz ( 3.685 Kg) -- 20 inches ( 0.51 m)

At 1 month: 9 lb 7 oz ( 4.281 Kg) -- 21 inches ( 0.54 m)

At 2 months: 12 lb 9 oz (5.698 Kg) -- 23 inches ( 0.58 m)

At 4 months: 15 lb 8.5 oz (7.045 Kg) -- 26 inches ( 0.66 m)

At 6 months: 17 lb 12.5 oz (8.066 Kg) -- 27 inches (0.69 m)

He is a little man now ready to continue to explore his world with all his senses. He is beginning to crawl and soon getting in trouble. He is beginning to eat solid food and soon sharing our meals. He is beginning to attempt to say ma-ma-ma and soon he will call me mama and Pat daddy. What a miracle! Just a few months ago I was pregnant and waiting, and now I can't stop time and get a hold of what is happening. It is happening so fast and it is filling our lives. In just a few months more, we will be leaving to Ecuador- for good! We are getting excited as time passes. There our lives will change and we will continue to grow with Mateo. Happy 6 months little one!!

Eating solid food

2009-10-18T21:49:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Sarah, our neighbor, Mateo ate apple sauce made with apples grown in her backyard (once our backyard). So far this little hungry guy has tested organic bananas from Ecuador, fresh organic strawberries picked in the lower field and Sarah's apple sauce. I will continue to let Mateo taste different fruits and veggies without taking away his breast milk as his primary source of nutrients until he is nine to one year old. He was a happy camper when it came to try the apple sauce!

Experiencing new things

2009-10-13T06:30:00.000-07:00

On Monday morning Mateo cried for the first time as I was walking out the door in my way to work. He has never done that and it made me happy and sad. Very happy because he now seems to really know who I am and he misses me! and sad because I did not like to leave holding in my mind the picture of him crying. So what I did was, I came back and entertained him for few minutes and when he did not expected I took off. My mom says he did not cry atfter that.

Yesterday, Mateo eat a whole strawberry for the first time! It was so fun to see his excitement eating the yummy fruit and the mess he made of everything around him, including himself. We are lucky to live on a farm where organic strawberries are grown. Mateo got to have one of them as his first meals.

And today, my boy experienced rain for the first time. Since it has been raining pretty hard all day, my mom and I could not take Mateo for a walk around the farm as usual. All we did is watch the rain and wind from the window and door. Once there was a little break in the rain, I took Mateo out of the house for a short walk. I could not believe his enthusiasm and happiness being outside and looking at everything. He is definitely going to be an OUTDOORS boy!

Plant a little garden, eat a lot of peaches ...

2009-10-11T20:58:00.000-07:00

This weekend Pat, Me and Mateo, and my mom had a good time working in our garden. The first year we really have a garden. So far we have planted and harvested tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans and zucchini. Now we have 6 beds ready to plant green veggies. We planted some broccoli and lettuce. Hope to plant lots more.

Mateo was very happy in our arms and when we got busy, just sitting in his stroller and watching us work was so much fun for him. Look at this darn cute hat! it is a Red Sox hat. Does it make him a fan of them? Who knows...

Helping dad to put compost in the beds

Love hanging out in the weel barrow

Well deserved rest after working outside

Baby Gear

2009-10-04T18:53:00.000-07:00

It really takes a lot of time and effort and gear to entertain a baby. Before Mateo our house did not have much stuff laying around everywhere, now we trip on it.

First we used the car seat and the stroller for going out of the house, then the swings to rock little Mateo and just have him down. We also have the crib and the mobile with the music. Once Mateo reached 4 months he did not want to stay down, he would rather be in our arms and looking forward, learning everything. Our arms and back got tired! we got the moby wrap, baby ergo carrier and the baby bjorn. Later we found the baby jumper, the umbrella stroller and the bumbo seat. The top 3 baby gear that helps us entertain this little guy are: the stroller for going out everyday, the baby bjorn for carrying him in the house and for walks and the baby jumper for his own little world of entertainment where he jumps like a monkey and laughs of happiness.

Did you pay the parking fee?

Can't be still!

It has been chilly

What the heck?

Sleeping without the Swaddle

2009-09-30T20:53:00.000-07:00

Remember Mateo like a burrito? Yes, he looked like a burrito to me since day one because that was the only way he could fall asleep and stay that way for a long stretch. In several occasions we tried unsuccessfully to encourage him to sleep without the swaddle and it was a waste of time. He would be a big threat to his pretty face because trying to go to sleep he will scratch his face to the point of hurting himself. Not anymore! Finally at 5 months of age, almost like a little miracle, he stopped needing to be swaddled. Now he is taking his naps and sleeping at night with a different look. He looks like a little man and not a burrito anymore. I love his little hands now touching my face or my hair at night. I love my baby!!

Mateo just born

Mateo at 5 months

5 month old!

2009-09-23T19:52:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how big and alert Mateo is now. His days are so much fun to live that his sleep hour in the evening has moved from 6 to 7 or 8 pm. His naps also went from 5 to 3 a day. There is so much to see and learn. Sadly, these past two days Mateo has been sick with a cold, his very first cold. The sudden changes from hot to cold made him vulnerable to get sick, I think. The doctor said he should be fine in couple of days and that he should be fussy as well. Yes, last night we were awake often comforting him and I had to sleep almost sitting so he can breath well. He also slept hugging me at night and during his day naps today, it was a nice cuddling time. By the end of the day today, it seemed like the worst had happened and tomorrow I hope it will be a better day. Let's see what night we have tonight.

We love our boy and every time we (I) feel so tired I remember the blessing he is in our lives.

Happy Birthday little one :)

Hidden Villa fun

2009-09-19T20:49:00.000-07:00

He is so active now

2009-09-18T20:44:00.000-07:00

Where did my little baby that once used to just eat, sleep, poop and be easily entertained when awake go? I have another baby now! He definitely has grown to be a lively, curious, always alert infant. He now wants to learn it all, reach everything and run it by his drooly mouth. We can't stop his learning, we need to be on the move thus we are always finding new ways to keep him entertained. This month he has learned to roll over very well and not just that but he is starting to attempt to crawl and reach objects in front of him. He has started to taste strawberries, watermelon and apples and loved their taste. He has smelled tons of flowers and gone for a stroll around the farm every morning. He has enjoyed Bob Dylan and Beatles' music. And to finish his busy days he has a bath every afternoon at 5.

We are all enjoying so much Mateo's changes, he is the light of our lives.

My dorky hat

A song for Mateo

2009-09-15T21:19:00.000-07:00

I used to play this song everyday for Mateo, when I was pregnant.

Pilgrim by Enya

Pilgrim, how you journey

On the road you chose

To find out why the winds die
And where the stories go.

All days come from one day
That much you must know,
You cannot change what's over
But only where you go.

One way leads to diamonds,
One way leads to gold,
Another leads you only
To everything you're told.

In your heart you wonder
Which of these is true;
The road that leads to nowhere,
The road that leads to you.

Will you find the answer
In all you say and do?
Will you find the answer
In you?

Each heart is a pilgrim,
Each one wants to know
The reason why the winds die
And where the stories go.

Pilgrim, in your journey
You may travel far,
For pilgrim it's a long way
To find out who you are...

Pilgrim, it's a long way
To find out who you are...

Pilgrim, it's a long way
To find out who you are...

Do we have a sleep problem?

2009-09-13T18:11:00.000-07:00

It all depends how you see it. If I think of the lack of restful sleep I have every night, yes, we have a problem. But if I consider all the changes Mateo is going through so fast, no, I think it is all normal and it will get better with time. Mateo has slept 12 hours a night (waking up 2 or 3 times) since birth. Taking care of him at night has been pretty easy. I never had a bad night because he wakes up, eats and goes right back to sleep, no fuss no mas. However, since I went back to work (6 weeks ago) his sleep schedule has changed very much. Now he is waking up every two or one hour! Based on what I have read, two things could be the cause of this change in night behavior; one, he is making up for the food he does not get when I am gone to work in the mornings (he is very lousy with the bottle) and two, he wants to nurse more because I am sleeping next to him. I feel more tired in the mornings now and hope he sleeps longer soon. Yesterday, I almost give up this situation and I had Mateo started the night in his crib alone. Two hours went by and I had him again in our bed. I could not let him cry to go back to sleep as some doctors recommend. I just can not do that to my little baby.

Looking at the big picture, he is sleeping very well at night and is a very happy and content baby during the day. After all, he is rolling over, chatting and so interested in everything and everybody that he can not keep up with all. He needs to eat more and feel safe and secure next to us. I think we are doing what resonates better with us as parents. He is happy and I am happy, just with a little less sleep than before he came to my life.

I like the doll

I love my daddy's beard

I am a drool factory

I love the train

The first thing my father bought when he knew I was a boy

I love him very much

Good times

2009-09-05T21:30:00.000-07:00

Today we enjoyed an Ecuadorian feast! We had lamb, fresh harvested corn, rice, plantain, aji and chocolate cake with fresh strawberries for desert. It was delicious!

In our way to harvest the strawberries and the corn, we had the pleasure to spot a hawk very close. I think the hawk had a big prey at sight, maybe a snake. He had his eyes fix on one spot that did not move when I got close to take the photo. What a beautiful creature!

The strawberries here at Hidden Villa are so good. I eat so many in such short time. I let Mateo try one for the first time. He seemed to like them. No funny face with this one.

Few days ago, Pat set up the hammock in our backyard under a tree. Mateo loved it! It is a nice place to hang out on the hot afternoons.

Great place to go after a long day of work. Have a beer and cuddle with baby.

Lorelei gave Mateo this hat as a gift. He looks so darn cute in it.

Bath time is so refreshing for Mateo, specially these days that are so hot. He tries to reach objects now.

Another week went by--fast!

2009-08-30T18:47:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-08-23T21:43:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-21T15:33:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-15T12:05:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-12T17:52:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-09T18:32:00.000-07:00

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

Can you go back to sleep? It is just 4 a.m....

2009-07-31T06:30:00.000-07:00

That is what I find myself thinking or saying to Mateo lately. He has been waking up at 4 a.m or earlier sometimes. What is up with that! Up to our trip to Florida he had a well established night routine. I was used to that and I felt rested in the morning. As much as I tried to keep Mateo's routine in Florida, his internal schedule changed and now he thinks it is 7 a.m when it is just 4 a.m. I hope he goes back to normal soon or even better he start sleeping through the night.

Once he sleeps through the night and does not need to feed every 3-4 hours, I would go to work a bit more awake, I think. So far, we have all done great with me returning to work. I overcame my anxiety of leaving Mateo by knowing that he was in good hands, at home and he was drinking my milk from the bottle. The past two days have gone fast. I have so much work to do that time flies in the office and when I come back at 1:30 Mateo and my mom are very happy. I am able to work couple of hours in the afternoon while Mateo naps, play in his chair or after he goes to sleep for the night at 6 p.m.

I am very happy with my new work schedule, no so much with Mateo's sleep one.

Going back to work this week

2009-07-27T10:24:00.000-07:00

I am a bit nervous to go back to work on Wednesday. My mom and I have been preparing for this for a while and I know everything will be fine after few days of adjusting for me and Mateo. I just know I will miss my baby so much and I will be so happy to come back home after work and have a beautiful child waiting for me with a big smile and some day calling me mommy.

It will feel estrange to go back to my desk and the office after 7 months of being absent. Starting in January I could not go to the office because I was put in modified bed rest due to placenta previa. I was able to work from home which was nice but I still missed the direct interactions with my co-workers. After 14 weeks of maternity leave I need to go back to work this week. I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand I would like to stay at home and care for Mateo and never miss his fast growth and on the other hand I do want to be intellectually stimulated and bring my income. We need my income if we want to move to Ecuador next year.

We are lucky because Mateo will be home and well cared by my mom. She knows how I have done things with Mateo and his routine. She also has all the love of a grandmother for him. Where else could he be better? Also, Pat comes home for a morning break and for lunch so he gets to check on things and see Mateo for a little bit.

I know Mateo and I will be fine we just need some time for this new stage in life...

We went to the beach today

2009-07-24T18:38:00.000-07:00

Mateo got to see the Atlantic ocean for the first time and we dared to let him get out of the car and touch the warm water of the ocean with his feet. It was a 5 minute adventure since we took him out of the aired conditioned car until we came back. We had an umbrella with us and the sun was not shining at that moment. I think he did very well and felt the good energy that the ocean has. Another year might go by before we come back to Florida and experience this.

Two weeks ago, we went to see the Pacific ocean in Santa Cruz California, then we did not take Mateo out of the car. We will have more opportunities to go to Santa Cruz in the near future.

Mateo is 3 months old!

2009-07-23T21:12:00.000-07:00

...and he is celebrating it in Florida!

Today was a great day. Mateo was such a happy boy all day long. It is so easy being a mom and dad for such an easy boy. He had his first pool party and got in the pool with daddy. The weather was perfect and the sun was not shining. Mateo was so happy to get in the water!

He is used to a lot of people around him now. Everyone loves him and comment on his looks... WHAT A CUTIE!

I have been keeping his California schedule so he does not get confused when we go back. He is still sleeping all night long (from 6 pm-6 am) waking up twice to eat.

Happy birthday little one... you are growing so fast!!!

In the pool with daddy

He is just a doll

Visiting Family in Florida

2009-07-22T20:45:00.000-07:00

Mateo had his first flight to Florida! We came to visit his father side of the family. In the planes he was a happy bird except for one of the take offs when we had the last row of seats. Boy, I never realized how noisy it is there, close to the bathrooms but still noisy. Mateo got a little scared and cried for some time.

We are staying at "The house of Mimi" as I called it ;)... Pat and Mimi (his sister) laugh a lot about this... well they laugh a lot about everything. They are two happy siblings. Mateo is a bit cranky after his naps. I think he thinks-- Where am I? Who are all these people? What are so many noises around? Where is my crib? Mr.Filiks? so he complains about it. I know he will get over it soon, just in time to go back home and go back to normal, ha ha.

Tomorrow is his 3 month old birthday and I am sure he will be happy.

In the plane

Hanging out with Alyssa

First laughs and giggles

2009-07-19T19:58:00.000-07:00

Oh how fun it is to see Mateo laugh and giggle! He is turning our world around with a smile...

It was hunger!

2009-07-17T19:20:00.000-07:00

Whenever I have an opportunity to leave the house for an hour or two, I sure take it. I find it refreshing to leave my full time mommy job and do something else. After all the world has not stopped because I had a baby and I DO ENJOY SOME TIME FOR MYSELF ONCE IN A WHILE!! It is also an opportunity for my mom to practice being with baby and take care of all his needs. Our worst fear always has been to have Mateo cry and cry and not be able to calm him. The few times he has cried "a lot", it has been for a reason, it just takes us some time to figure out why. Lucky me, those times had been when I was away.

So the first time I left Mateo home, it was with Pat. My mom and I went to a party. I had to come back right away because he would not stop crying. Later I figured out it was because of the heat. Then I did not know that babies can overheat really fast so we did not think of taking his clothes off. Our house is pretty cool and comfortable most days of the summer but if the heat is above 95 outside, the inside reaches 80 or more and that is too much for Mateo, thus a cranky baby.

The second time my mom and I were standing in line to get some well deserved gelato ice cream at Castro, when the phone rang. It was Pat telling us that Mateo woke up and he would not stop crying. This time he was coming down with a cold and we calmed him down with baby tylenol.

Today, I went to a picnic with my coworkers, it was lovely outside and I was enjoying myself by the pool. Again that !@y%*?$# phone rang and it was Mateo again crying and crying. I rushed home and figured out that he was hungry!. He nursed all the milk I had and started laughing like nothing had happened. It was just hunger! I WONDER WHAT IS NEXT...

Already 12 weeks!

2009-07-16T14:53:00.000-07:00

Yeah! Mateo reached 12 weeks of age today. Not quite 3 months, that will be next week when he completes 13 weeks. He weights 13 lb and 11 oz, almost 14 lb! No wonder why my arms and back get sore ;). He is overall a very happy boy, few spells of cry here and there but nothing that loving hands of mom, dad and granny can cure. He has spend most of these summer months naked because of the weather so not cute clothes for him.
Now he can grab things with his hands and today for the first time put something besides his fist in his mouth. He makes it seems like they are so tasty! So watch out Pat, from now on, baby is taking everything we give him to his mouth!
Next Tuesday, Mateo will have his first trip to Florida. We will visit Pat's sister and all his children. I am sure we will have so much fun and so Mateo. I can't wait! When we return I will have 3 more days off and then return to work at Environmental Volunteers. I have a pile of work waiting for me! I am sure things will settle into a nice routine and I will enjoy continuing to work as well as watching my precious baby grow.

I want to taste everything now...

How much fun is bath time with daddy!

Thanks Paul

2009-07-10T21:41:00.000-07:00

Paul the husband of my friend Suzanne has given Mateo a free photo session. This is one of the photos. Thanks Paul and Suzanne!
Mateo looks adorable.

Feeding from the bottle- he did it!

2009-07-09T10:46:00.000-07:00

Today Mateo took two ounces of milk from the bottle! Yeah!!! We have been trying for few days and he would not take much. This will allow me to go back to work and know that my mom or Pat can give him food and he will take it. We had to try different bottles and the best for him is the Avent naturally one. I am glad that he will have the bottle just once or twice a day, the rest of the feedings I will give him his food! I love doing that. It is such an special time.

The bottles we tried

Silly, content and happy boy

Baby schedule

2009-07-04T10:10:00.000-07:00

It is interesting to watch Mateo follow a very precise schedule/routine specially at night. Does he have a internal clock that works by the second? Almost everyday, he will fall sleep at 6:00 pm and wake up at 10:00 pm just to go back to sleep after a feed and change and wake up again at 2:00 pm., then he wakes up again at 5:30 or 6:00 am. During the day, he is ready for a nap no longer than 2 hours since the last wake up time. He end up taking 4-5 short naps during the day. I have read that as he gets older he will sleep few and longer naps during the day and maybe skip a feeding during the night. I look forward to that but in the mean time I really enjoy his predictable schedule at night.

I LOVE breast feeding Mateo. So, I have not push the bottle too much during these two months and Mateo does not like feeding from a bottle now. He would take some milk but not much. Of course he prefers mommy's fresh food. So, this month before I go back to work, my goal is to let my mom or Pat feed the baby with the bottle in the morning. We will see how that goes.

Sweet dreams little one

2009-06-30T21:25:00.000-07:00

Yeah!, finally Mateo has taken a nap without the need to be swaddled (45 minutes long) . This is a great milestone for us because he would not stay asleep more than 5 minutes without swaddling. Any little noise used to wake him up. With more hot days with us, this was going to be an issue because the swaddling makes him hot. He would rather be naked ;)
He is also spending more alone time in the crib enjoying his mobile and in the bouncing chair. He interacts a lot with us and continues to enjoy his peaceful morning stroll around the farm.

At the age of 2 months and almost 10 weeks, he is definitely a little man who knows his world better. I can not wait to watch him grow more and more.

Love to be naked on a hot day

Morning stroll, already a nature lover

How do I look in red?

My first day back to work---practice

2009-06-22T20:14:00.000-07:00

My mom and I wanted to see how our days would look like when I go back to work. I know it is still 5 weeks away but it did not hurt to practice, in fact it was a good experience and we got good information. I am not sure what my schedule would be like but I am hoping to go to the office for 4 hours in the morning and work from home 2 hours in the afternoons. In today test, my day started at 6:00 a.m. when Mateo woke up. I feed him, changed him and played with him a little bit (his favorite now is the mobil in his crib where he can watch things go around and around). At 7:30 he went down for a half and hour nap. Same thing when he woke up, feed him, changed him and off he went for a short stroll with my mom. At this point I went to work in theory. After 15 minutes of the walk my mom came back in a hurry because Mateo was screaming, I think it was a bit much stimulation from many summer camp children playing outside the Dana Center on their first day of camp. My mom had stopped to watch them play and Mateo probably got freaked out by the noise. His strolls are usually very peaceful in nature. I was able to calm Mateo only by breastfeeding him. He went down for another nap at 9:45 and again at 12:00. My mom had so much fun "being in charge" and I enjoyed keeping a close eye on everything without much intervention. Another challenge my mom had was that Mateo did not want to take the bottle with milk I had pumped in the morning. He just did not like it so I had to give him the fresher milk. After some tricks my mom played he eventually drank the milk I left. He slept until I came back at 1:30 pm. I was so glad to be back with my baby and feed him again!

In the afternoon, I gave him a massage. I watched a video on infant massage and how great they are for babies. Mateo and I LOVED his first massage and I hope to give him one every afternoon. After the massage and some play he went down for another nap and then woke up fussy. The heat is to blame again. Now we know that if the room temperature is 75 degrees or more Mateo needs to be naked and with the fan, then he is happy. At 6 p.m. he went down for the night, woke up at 10:00, 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. And here we go again!

My mom and I really enjoyed our practice back to work day but I am so glad I still have time to be with my boy all day long.

Dealing with separation anxiety

2009-06-20T20:56:00.000-07:00

I have left Mateo at home before while I do errands with my mom or Pat or meet a friend. It has been just fine because it was during nap time or bed time (he goes to bed at 6 p.m.). I miss him so much the minute I walk out the door but I am also happy to be "free" for sometime and find myself again. I always came back home happy to know that my baby is in good care and happy. Today it was different, I came back to a very unhappy baby. My mom and I went to a Sweet Sixteen party at 4 p.m., and Pat agreed to stay home with Mateo. It was going to be his first solo time with him, he assured me that he would do anything to keep him happy. So just before leaving for the party Mateo started to cry, like he knew that something was going on. I calmed down and I was good to go. I left the house with peace of mind and trusting that he will be just fine, a happy baby like always. After one hour in the party, Pat calls me to tell me that Mateo is doing great and he is sound sleep. Half and hour later, Pat calls again and tells me that after trying everything, Mateo can not stop crying and I need to come back home right away. Twenty minutes later, I see my baby's cheeks full of tears, I hold him, I nurse him and complete STOP! He is happy again. He is with mom. He did not really nurse for the first 5 minutes, he just needed to know that I was there, holding him, loving him. I felt bad for leaving him and I can not imagine the 30 minutes he cried very hard. Poor Pat, he had to deal with that and I can just imagine. I needed to write this to let it out. Mateo is sound sleep in his crib now and probably all this day is over in his mind but for me it is taking a little while to let it go. Nothing is more important than my baby now and I would do anything for not let him cry so much. He needs his mom now and I will be there. I will still leave him when he is sleeping or when he is older.

Sound sleep after a hard day.

Mateo our sweet love

2009-06-17T18:48:00.001-07:00

Days continue to go by really fast and Mateo is bigger and smarter. He is very chatty at times and breaks our hearths with his beautiful smiles. We all want to get a chance to hang out with him when he is awake and ready to play. His favorite activity is to go out for a stroll around the farm. With such a beautiful days he enjoys nature at most. He is awake most of the time. I tell him that our land in Ecuador is also full of trees, birds and peace like Hidden Villa. Today we took his clothes off and let him spend some time in our backyard and he loved it! Mateo my sweet love...

His beautiful blue eyes, my wish...

With daddy

With abuelita

Time for bed

Mateo has gone social

2009-06-12T19:01:00.000-07:00

In this past week Mateo has been busy being social for the first time. He has attended a bachelor-et party on a Sunday afternoon, a new mommies support group at El Camino Hospital and a lunch picnic with Lead Environmental Volunteers and coworkers. In all these days he did great, enjoyed himself, and presented his beautiful and calm self to the world. He continues to grow fast and show us new things that he is able to do. At the changing table (one of his favorite places to go- quite often!) he coo's and smiles a lot. He has also learned to lift his head up with more confidence, follows our voices and looks at everything around the house. He is sure learning about his world. Pat thinks he has a Buddha like demeanor.

silly parents do whatever they want with Mateo ;)

At the bachelor-et party

at the picnic lunch

showing off his strength

Mateo has his first guitar lesson!

2009-06-09T20:42:00.000-07:00

Mateo at 6 weeks

2009-06-03T19:51:00.000-07:00

Mateo is a BIG boy everyone says! Yesterday we went to a lactation support group and many people commented on Mateo's looks. His weight now that is 6 weeks old is 11 lb and 5 oz. He is really chubby and looks well fed. He is also cute too!

Now that he seems to be more interested in things I feel good about going out of the house. He is enjoying the outgoings. He likes the car and stroller rides once he is rested and fed.

Time has gone fast but I have enjoyed every moment of these past 6 weeks with Mateo. I am used to get up at 1 am and 5 am and I actually enjoy our time alone while breast-feeding. Soon he will sleep longer periods at the time. Couple days ago he sleep for 4 hours straight!

I love my boy!!!

One Month Birthday!!!

2009-05-23T19:15:00.000-07:00

Mateo is one month old today! Time has gone so fast and he has grown so much. In his 4 week doctor appointment last Wednesday he weighed 9lb 7oz which is very good, all the endless feedings are paying off ;) He is spending more hours awake in the mornings, our opportunity to take him out in his stroller to enjoy the morning sun and sounds of the birds. Yesterday, we tried the baby carrier and we love it. It will make much easier to take Mateo to town without worrying about the car seat and stroller much.

It is so fun to witness changes in his development everyday. Now we are letting him spend some time on his tummy and he does very well holding up and turning his head. He is also enjoying the mobil in the crib and pays brief attention to sounds and shapes presented to him. This afternoon after a diaper change he spend some time replying to my talking, it was great!

Tummy time

Telling me his secrets

In very good company

Mateo, the newest EV member

2009-05-19T07:53:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I work with Environmental Volunteers (EV), a large group of kind and hard working Volunteers that provide natural science education to more than 10,000 school children in the Bay Area. I help to facilitate the communication between teachers and volunteers. Check out the EV website www.evols.org

Well, Mateo is the newest EV member now! I hope to bring him to EV events so he gets to know all the great people I work with. Thanks to all the staff and Volunteers who have given Mateo precious gifts and have sent us congratulation cards and e-mails.

Mateo with Vandy

A challenging day

2009-05-15T17:56:00.000-07:00

Mateo is 3 weeks one day old today. He is getting bigger, stronger and cuter but also he is showing more his personality. The last couple of days he has not been able to fall sleep easily during the day and gets a bit more fussy, he expresses more when he is still hungry and when he is uncomfortable. Today, seems like the heat was to blame for it. He cried more than usual and just would not go to sleep, not even in the sweet arms of my mom. We managed to take a 2 hour nap in the afternoon together after some tearful (mom) crying. Later a bath made him feel like a million bucks and went to sleep right away. I enjoyed telling people that Mateo does not cry and he is just a little angel. After today, I will say that he does cry, some and still is a little angel.

He found the finger!

Beautiful eyes

Hanging out with daddy

Hanging out with la abuela

Refreshing bath, feels like a million bucks!

What a precious little boy

2009-05-12T11:17:00.000-07:00

It is so nice to be a mommy and have the time to be home and really get to know this little being, really get to understand his language and what he needs. I appreciate all the help that my mother is giving us so I can fully commit to care for Mateo. Most of the time (specially at night), my boy is very easy, he eats and sleeps like a charm. During the day, he likes to spend more time awake looking at things, listening to my songs and stories and listening to Mr. Filiks bark. Sometimes, I have giving everything he needs and he still is a bit fussy, then is when I do not know what to do and I am glad to be able to handle him to my mom. He immediately stops and becomes very entertained by her. I read that he knows my smell and voice and he associates me with food so maybe that is why he fuss more with me ;)

The best mother's day gift - my son

2009-05-10T08:15:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's day to everyone! Today I am joining the group! This year I have received the best gift for Mother's day and my birthday that happens to be today too. Mateo is here to light up our lives and like someone told me recently "to add value to this world". I am so happy today because I can love and care this little being and be there for him for the rest of my life.
My mom is also here with me and that is very special. I have been 7 years away from her and we are starting to make up for all this lost time. We are two moms now.
Off we go to celebrate with brunch at the country gourmet... and later with Ecuadorian food at home with Valeria, Jesse and Oliver.

Time flies, Mateo is growing fast!

2009-05-05T16:36:00.000-07:00

I can believe our little guy will be two weeks old on Thursday. Where did time go? It has been so much fun these 12 days with him. All our lives are committed to him now. I love being home and taking care of Mateo's few needs that are food, love and a clean diaper. He is just a very easy baby or I am just a very easy mom! I hope Mateo is back at 8 pounds or more on Thursday at our next check up. After that I will know for sure that he is getting all the food and love he needs.

Today we discover by chance that he actually enjoys his day time naps without being swaddle. He seems to love the freedom to move his arms and legs without constraint. At night the swaddling helps him sleep 3 hours at the time which is wonderful.

Finally, this week my mom, Pat and I are finally recovering from a nasty cold. Health is coming back to this house.

More cute pics of our sweet apple pie...

Already one week old!

2009-04-30T16:52:00.000-07:00

Mateo is one week old today. We can not believe how fast time has gone by. We are all doing great and Mateo has gained 1/2 of the pound he lost. We are also set into a nice baby routine. Almost perfect!

The transition from the hospital to home went very smoothly. Nothing to report really. I think he knew it was home and it was glad to be back. Pretty soon we set Mateo or maybe he set us into his nice routine. This baby sleeps for 2 hours or more after a full belly and does not complain much except for the cold baby wipes when we change his diaper. Pat and I wake up at 12:00 midnight, 3 in the morning and 6 in the morning to go through Mateo's need. We are also cloth diapering now and it is great to have my mom helping clean them with her Ecuadorian system - using the sun to take the stains. I wonder if we got lucky to have this angel baby that does not represent much work but joy or, Pat and I have learned to be "logical" and "efficient" like Tuvak and 7 of 9 of Star Trek Voyager

Now that we are settled at home we would love to have visitors. Just let us know when you would stop by.

Time to go back home!

2009-04-27T08:23:00.000-07:00

In a few hours we will be leaving the nice 3 1/2 day hospital stay. It has been a challenging yet amazing experience these past days. Pat and I have been able to bond with Mateo in a quiet and supported environment. Every time we needed some help we just called someone, and they came!
Mateo and I are getting better at breast feeding now. We are so glad because we really needed to have this figured out before we starved our baby. He actually lost 1 pound in the first two days and we had to give him formula which gave us some peace of mind. He is great now.
But, life continues and it is time to transition to outside the sterile hospital room and to our home environment. We need to see how he reacts to real life and things like our dogs Mazzie and Mr. Filiks ;). That is going to be interesting!
We hope to get settled at home soon and start having you visit. We will love that. You will be in for a treat!

A Whole New Life

2009-04-26T07:42:00.001-07:00

Thanks so much to all of you for all the best wishes sent in our way. I am sure we will come to a day when everything is just joy. We are not there yet! Specially yesterday night and last night we had great difficulty sleeping and getting Mateo to eat and sleep. We knew this was coming and we are not complaining in any way. We just want to let you know so you can keep sending good wishes our way ;)

and please hold on to the visits and calls for a little while. We need to set back into a routine and most important, I think, SLEEP!.

I will send nice photos later when I can remember to look for the camera :)

While I have a minute

2009-04-25T10:14:00.000-07:00

We are on day two of Mateo's life and although everybody is doing fine, the biggest challenge so far has been to learn to breast feed for me and Mateo. My respects to all mothers out there. This wonderful gift takes time and practice and many hours without sleep and a crying baby.

Well, we are positive that things will be better as the days go by. Pat and I are doing our best and Mateo too. I am doing very well that doctor said we can go home if we want to but we wont leave the hospital until we have Mateo and me more comfortable with breast feeding. Once at home we do not have the extra support we have here.

He is so beautiful and healthy

2009-04-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

Mateo was born at 4:18 p.m. yesterday weighing 8 pounds and 21 inches long. He is just so cute!

He has been sleeping most of the time and no much luck feeding him yet. I need to be helped but it will happen.

I am doing well. No complications at all and I have walked a bit. Starting to eat again after more than 24 hours of fasting ;)

Pat is just so happy and can not stop loving Mateo. We love him and welcome to our lives.

Today is the day!

2009-04-23T00:58:00.000-07:00

In just a few hours we will be heading to the hospital to help our little baby, Mateo, enter this world safely, and for me to have surgery. I know that a c-section carry many risks of possible complications and as Dr. Robinson says with placenta previa we could run into few other complications as well. But, who wants to put her mind on that? Even thought I want to be aware of all this, I want to put all my good energy and thoughts in the birthday of our baby. I picture Mateo coming out very healthy and beautiful and my surgery going very smooth and with a fast recovery.

We will probably be at the hospital 3-4 days till mommy and baby are doing fine and then come back home. There will be lots of new things to experience and I will take one thing at the time and one day at the time. I know I have a wonderful husband who is there for me always and now my mom willing to help in any way she can, not to mentions countless friends who would offer their help if we need it.

Thanks for all your prayers...

Staying in our path, on schedule

Pat, me, Mateo and my mom

Last pregnant pic

We have a date of birth for Mateo

2009-04-13T17:08:00.000-07:00

After today's ultrasound our doctor has decided that the safest way to go for me and Mateo is to schedule a c-section on Thursday April 23th at 1:30 pm! I will be 38 weeks and 3 days. It felt strange scheduling a date of birth but we just need to go with the flow because we do not have any control of this. We are happy now and have a few more days to get ready.

Everything is falling into place. We think we have all we need for the baby, my mom will be here tomorrow at this time, and I am finishing up with work stuff so I can enjoy my maternity leave time.

Most certainly we will spend a few days at the hospital so I wont be able to post photos or comments but Pat will send an e-mail to all our friends and family when Mateo is here. There will be some pics too. Stay tuned.....

We have completed 36 weeks!

2009-04-07T06:27:00.000-07:00

I can't believe we have made it this far! Now Mateo is considered full term and if he is to arrive early he will be just fine. Next Monday, we will see my doctor and make a final decision based on the ultrasound. If we are going to have a c-section it will likely be the last week in April or a little early. But if things look good, I will be allowed to complete 40 weeks and wait for Mother Nature to decide. I have read that babies could come 2 weeks early or 2 weeks late so imagine if I pass Mother's Day (my birthday this year) and I still do not have my gift! I will be surprised.

Here is a photo at 36 weeks

Now my body and mind are getting ready for the Big Birthday Day however it unfolds. We have interviewed a Doula just in case we will go natural. Even though I am a very positive person, I know I will need extra support to go through this experience.

On another note, I need to say THANK YOU!!! to Carolyn, Diny, Nicolette, Maya and Kathy (Hidden Villa friends) for working together on a beautiful hand made quilt for Mateo. I will treasure this gift forever and I am sure it will be used a lot!

Here is a photo of the quilt

I fit in Pat's T-shirts now!!

2009-04-02T07:57:00.000-07:00

I did not want to let go of my little T-shirts to be around the house or sleep with. I keep thinking, they are okay, they are a little tight and let half of my belly show and get cold, but I can live with that. But yesterday, after a bath I asked Pat to get me a T-shirt and he suggested I wear one of his. Instead of thinking he was being rude by the offer, I tried it on and it FITS PERFECT!!!! He wears X-Large! That is how big I am! I love the feeling of nothing tight pressing my belly, and when I see myself in the mirror I see a BIG glob with two legs, but I do not care. I feel so comfy! It is the best thing to do 4 weeks before my due date!

Thanks for a great Baby Shower!

2009-03-24T15:04:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Leticia my friend for organizing another baby shower last Saturday March 21st. We had a great time and 16 of my girlfriends came. Leticia cooked a tasty brunch and everyone seemed to enjoyed it.

As I promised to some of my girlfriends there wont be silly baby games and opening of presents in front of everyone (I think I actually promised it to myself first). The thing is that in Ecuador we do not have baby showers and we do not open presents in public like you do here in U.S. However, I LOVE the idea of a baby shower because friends give you gifts for the little one to come. Seems like everyone wants to pitch in!!

I was also glad to have many "hand me downs" items from many of my friends that have babies. As I said before, Pat and I believe that babies do not needs lot of fancy and expensive stuff. So, now we have more than we can ask for and I think we are almost ready with all we need! Yikes, did I say we are almost ready? I do not know....

Here are my girlfriends that came and that I am deeply thankful for their gift: Nilda, Julie, Yiman, Steph, Claire, Sarah, Carolyn, Lucy, Suzanne, Penny, Wendee, Patty, Kristina, Heidi, Valeria, Ellen and Leticia of course!

Anita, Ellen and Leticia

Mateo's Crib full of goodies

Environmentally Friendly

Toys and books

Celebrating the soon arrival of a new Hidden Villan

2009-03-17T08:17:00.000-07:00

Several Hidden Villa friends came to celebrate with us the soon arrival of Mateo, the soon to be littlest Hidden Villa's resident (if you do not count the baby sheep, goats and pigs). It is so great to be surrounded by friends who know Pat and I for several years now. We are truly thankful for all the gifts they brought. We had food, drinks and a good time!

Thanks everyone!

From left to right standing: Jesse, Bill, Elizabeth, Lucy, Jessica, Steve, Sarah, Valeria, Oliver, Me, Claire, Claire's friend and Maya.

Not in the photo but I thank their precious gifts: Nayna, Nicolette, Claire, and the Hidden Villa Board of Trustees.

My mom will be here in one month

2009-03-14T10:08:00.000-07:00

Yes, on April 14th my mother, Amadita (which means the loved one), will leave Ecuador to come here. It is the first time she leaves the country and does not speak ANY English. She will be with us until December time when we will all go back to introduce Mateo to my Ecuadorian family. My mom is very excited to be able to come and help me. It is kind of a tradition in Ecuador that moms help daughters when they have babies. I am fortunate that she is able to come!

Here is a photo of my mom

Here is a photo of my grandma, Anita (same as me) and the cute son of my cousin Wendy.

Mateo will come when it is time

2009-03-14T09:47:00.000-07:00

We saw Dr. Robinson yesterday and after evaluating the ultrasound, she has decided not to perform a c-section at 36 weeks (1st week in April). She will check me every two weeks and see how I do. She even thinks that I might be able to have a natural birth and get to term (May 4th) if all goes well. It made us very happy to know that we might have more time to prepare physically and mentally for the arrival of Mateo. I somehow thought 3 weeks from now was too soon.

So our task now is to prepare for either a c-section or a natural birth. I really want to be informed and know what will happen in either case. I am okay with either way. Pat and I know that everything will work out at the end. We just need to remain calm and present and enjoy this journey.

All possible names of a baby

2009-03-03T18:57:00.000-08:00

Several people have asked us if Mateo Patrick is the final name we have chosen for our baby. Our answer is that we really like Mateo (spanish for Matthew) because it fits well in both English and Spanish but it is not yet our final decision. We really wanted to pick a name from our list and make it more real by calling the baby something and start getting used to it. We think that we could still change our minds if when we see the baby in our hands he does not look like Mateo ( I wonder how that might be, maybe he comes with a name written in his forehead ;)). So we will wait and see but for now Mateo is what we call him.

Also, with this name there could be other short names we could call him like: Mat, Matty, Teo.

Here are some other way people call a baby boy in Ecuador: bebe, nene, guagua, chiquito, pequenito, angelito, bonito, tesorito, amorcito and anything you can add "ito" at the end!

All possible ways to call a baby!

31 week pick

OMG! Our baby might be with us sooner!!

2009-02-27T19:46:00.000-08:00

We saw doctor Robinson for a follow up appointment today and she gave us some news that we were not ready to hear ( at least I was not). She says that if after the next ultrasound (scheduled on March 13th), my placenta has not moved away from my cervix, we will be scheduling a c-section at 36 weeks! That is sometime during the first week of April! I though we will be having this child on my due date which is sometime during the first week of May.

So here we are wondering what will happen and hoping for the best. I have started to feel a bit worried because we do not have all we need for the baby yet! I have not been able to go out and do some shopping since I am in bed rest. However, I hear the rumors that a baby shower is in the way! I think after that I will give Pat a list of things buy that are missing. :)

For now, I am going to continue enjoying this pregnancy and the little one that keeps growing inside of me. He will be soon with us and we can not wait!

Mateo's pic

2009-02-20T08:41:00.000-08:00

In our last week ultrasound we were so happy to take another pic at Mateo's fast growing body. He is indeed growing very well and very much! At 29 weeks he measured 3lb and 5oz and that was ahead of average. It seems not so real to have a little person fully formed inside of me. All I see is a big belly and all I feel is movements all day long. I try to imagine him from head to toes and walk with my mind every little corner of his body, in an attempt to make it more real.

We got to take home this photo of his face and I though he is SO CUTE!. Do you agree with me?

We are SO Lucky

2009-02-18T06:48:00.001-08:00

Yes, we have a ton of friend around us who care for us very much. Their calls, visits, food, gifts, etc. have made us go through this difficult times faster. Pat and I are not very materialistic and we like to reuse things. So we always thought that when we have a baby we wont need to buy much stuff because the universe will provide and we can always find things to reuse. Here are the examples that it is true and the universe is providing.

My friend Ellen from school told me several months ago that she could lend me the crib and bassinet that her children used several years ago! I said THANK YOU! and now I have a great looking crib and a bassinet for my baby. Then, we knew we needed a car seat because we would not let out of the hospital with the baby if we did not have one, so we found in craigslist a great looking car seat and stroller combo in perfect condition for 1/3 of the price! Then, I knew I needed a pump and I was planning to search for one in craigslist, since I can not go out shopping, and oh surprise, I got a call from my friend Leticia yesterday telling me that she has a pump for us and several other practical and useful things that her friend gave her. I cannot wait to see it!

Also, my friend Suzanne gave me some good books to read and prepare me for the first weeks of feeding the baby, changing the diapers and try to figure out what could be going on when the baby cries. I have learned good things from the books now let's see what happens when reality hits...

What would live be without friends?

Thanks everyone!!!

The colorful crib no yet fully decorated

Waiting for Mateo Patrick

2009-02-16T00:51:00.000-08:00

Pat and I are waiting for the arrival of Mateo Patrick our first baby. He is scheduled to enter this world on May 4th, 2009, few days before my birthday. We are very excited to be given this opportunity to become parents after several years of marriage and after several attempts to conceive a child. Last summer we were successful using an IVF-ICSI treatment in my home country Ecuador. We are lucky to have made it to week 29th now in despite of few complications.

We know we will give all our best to this being that will be place in our hands and hearts to care. We hope to be good parents, guides, friends, companions, etc to Mateo.

29 weeks belly