Life in Ecuador is good!

Life is good and busy! I have not made time to write on this blog because we did not have internet for quite sometime and now that we do, I have been spending my time on other projects. I want to continue this blog, and I hope to do it at least once a month.

Mateo is growing so fast! I think he just went through a growth spurt because he went from a lousy eater to an eager eater which was pleasing to see. I can't keep up with his hair and I need to cut it quite often. Seems like we have settled into a nice routine lately. Sure is nice to sleep in and then have a slow morning while we eat breakfast, shower and clean the house. Before midday we go out for a walk around the busy streets of Quito. Mateo enjoys it so much that almost always falls sleep in the Bob (the stroller).


My mom moved in with us for a month, it was a nice month because we got lots of help watching Mateo. Pat and I took advantage of this and went out more often. There is always business to do in the city.

We have not gone to the land yet because we need to have the car checked and maybe change the tires. We got a used Chevrolet Rodeo that is very roomy.

Mateo enjoys very much the company of Anita, my girlfriend's children. They are older than him but that is what makes them very interesting. There are lots of things to learn from them. I am very glad I can keep in contact with an old friend.

Bath time is very special for Mateo, he has graduated from playing with rubber ducky and moved to more interesting creatures. He has his entire zoo accompanying him while he soaks in the water. Trying to get him out is a battle I have won with the animals but not with Mateo ha ha.

Lately, he enjoys sitting by the stove (we stand by him, don't worry, we won't burn him) and watches us cooking. He knows what he wants and does not hesitate to communicate it to us in any way he can. Also, he is sleeping in his own room and he is also sleeping through the night! I am so happy for that because it means I am also sleeping through the night :)

Back AGAIN in Ecuador ---LOL

It is not a joke, it is for real! We are back again in Ecuador and this time for good.

I will continue to write about our lives here. I think this short trip to California was necessary for us so we can say GOOD BYE to everything one more time. It was necessary to value what we have here in Ecuador and realize that all the dreams we had for so many years are possible. It has not been easy to settle down here but after this California trip, things have been much better.

Mateo is so happy to have "tita" abuelita near by. I am so happy to have my family around.

Life takes you places and you need to make the most of it!

In the airport in our way back

He loves brocoli

Mateo's cousin Isaid on his first birthday

Happy! Happy! Happy!

We are moving back to California!!! ha Life takes you where you need to be and sometimes you do not expect some things. We are very happy with this new move, it will be great.
Pat has a nice job and we will have a nice house in the redwoods. I will stay home with Mateo until I feel ready to put him in child care or until I found a great job, which ever comes first...
I guess, I need to start a new blog named: Back in California again! who knows. I will wait and see how my life unfolds. I won't have family help this time and Pat will be working so I am on my own taking care of Mateo but I think it will be really fun. I have several friends to have play dates with and the community of people where we will live sounds very nice.
Life is good and full. Thanks for reading...

Maybe someday I write a book about our 5 month experience in Ecuador. ha ha

Added 12/30/2010

My new blog: Loma Mar Chapter

Up in the air

Well, life in Ecuador did not turned out the way we thought. We are waiting to see what happens in the next few days. Since we move homes and I have not had a good internet service, I lost interest in posting in this blog. I will take a break.
In the mean time, we are so happy as a family and close to family. We are positive and trying to learn from what it is now. We will be fine, just don't know if in Ecuador or EEUU.

Going everywhere

On the past 10 days we have been really busy. After returning from Yanapana, Pat and I had a date and went to watch Karate Kid the movie. It was a nice escape for us. Thanks to my mom who took care of Mateo. Then, Mateo was a bit sick for few days, later I discovered that he was teething. We also spent few days in my home town Puellaro. We really enjoyed spending time with my grandma and aunt. After that we had Nikki from Hidden Villa visiting us and we took her to Yanapana for couple days. We enjoyed nature a hike in the forest and a refreshing soak in the river. Finally today we went to Papallacta, to some hot springs one and a half hours from here. It was great to soak in hot water with Mateo. As usual he is so happy in the water.
Now I look forward to some weeks at home and get Mateo in some sort of routine.

Mateo and my grandma Anita

Hiking in the forest with Nikki

Happy with dada

Back in Quito/Snakes

It is nice to go to Yanapana for few days and recharge in nature, it is also nice to come back to Quito and have a hot shower, do laundry that actually dries with the sun, and be away from mosquitos! Both of our homes have their good and not so good, we try to enjoy them well when we are in each place.
Last Monday after 3 1/2 hours of driving through green and beautiful scenery we arrived at Yanapana. We usually unload the truck and set up the kitchen and bedroom before it gets dark. It gets dark by 6:30 pm sharp! We also like to have early dinners and head to our cabin to read books to Mateo before he goes to sleep. Remember we do not have electricity yet so everything is lighted by candles. We like this cozy life. I especially enjoy sheltering inside our mosquito net that hangs above our bed. After Mateo goes to sleep I love to write in my journal and read, my bedtime is around 8:00 pm or so since there is not much more to do. It seems like we sync with nature and go early to bed and early to rise.

Snakes:
I have seen 4 snakes on my way to the out house so I do not enjoy these trips anymore since I am very alert and think I will see another one hiding. The last one I saw this week fell from a tree above the pathway and when I looked back to see what it was, there she goes sliding in my direction at a fast speed. I scream! She stayed quiet and I do the same. After realizing I wont do anything to her, she leaves in the other direction and disappears in the green bush. It was a bright green, thin and long snake. Our caretakers told me that this one is not poisonous. The one they found the day after, as they were making a new trail in the forest, was a poisonous snake and Lucho was glad to not have been attacked by it. After this snake theme of the week I realize that I respect snakes very much and I hope they live in our property but never harm us or any of our visitors. It is good to be aware of their presence and very careful always. They could be anywhere!!

Snake "X". This is poisonous

This was near the out house and likes to climb trees. It is harmless.

Things falling into place

Seems like life is getting easier and we are loving it! The first thing we have been focusing our attention on these past three days is in allowing Mateo to have a nurturing environment here at home. I have been cooking for him good meals and making sure he snacks often so he can recuperate from last weeks dehydration. Pat has spent time reading and playing with him. Yesterday, my mom stayed home with Mateo for few hours while we went to get him toys and new books. He is so happy and entertained with the new things we got for him. Also, we notice that this boy is changing and able to hang out around the house while we do things. Before he would not let me do much in the house because he wanted to be held or he wanted me to be near by him at all times. Maybe he was getting used to his new environment and since we went out of the house pretty often on the first weeks here, he was not sure what was going on. It is all in the past and I feel like he is ready to continue to thrive in this his new home. He is even making new sounds and trying to say new words. He sure understands everything I say to him in both languages. We are so grateful that Pat and I can be home and watch this kid grow.

This afternoon as we were looking at the window, we noticed that our neighbors dog, cat and white rabbit were playing on the tile roof of their house. Mateo was very entertained for few minutes.