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.

No time to write

Three weeks have passed since my last post. On the few days we have been in Quito and had access to internet, I have been so busy during the day that when the night comes and Mateo goes to bed, I barely keep up with the house chores!

Since my last report, we went back to Yanapana with a truck full of stuff, food and people (my brother's family and my mom) to spend the holidays. We had a great time, specially when we went to the river. Mateo could live in the water easily.

We also saw interesting insects on this trip and Mateo got to play fearless with a firefly.

In our way back to the city, we started the process of getting Pat's residence. Now we know what papers we need and where to go. Looks like once we submit the required documents he might be getting the ecuadorian ID in less than two months.

I also found a good pediatrician for Mateo. On his first visit, he was healthy and no so happy to be touched and look around by an stranger. Later we came home and after a nap, Mateo wake up sick with high fever that lasted a whole day. He had some diarrhea but went away quick, so since we had a planned trip to the beach with my brother's family, we went on our adventure hopping that we would all have a great time. We did not! Mateo was sick the whole time with vomit and diarrhea and after trying very hard to keep him hydrated, he lost enough fluids to bring us back to Quito to the hospital. We spent this past weekend in the hospital letting my child recover from what it seems to be sensitivity to the ecuadorian food. Pat and I have learned a big lesson and have decided to let us all settle well in this new ecuadorian environment before we embark on any other trip.

Look at the sky

This week we went to Yanapana once more. This time we had a truck full of stuff needed for us to set a comfortable camp, specially at the kitchen, the place where goodies happen. Pat had fun cooking and made a new list of things needed to prepare the best meals. One night, I was reading in the cabin and preparing for bed when Pat says: " you should come out and look at the sky". I went out and I saw the most beautiful night sky ever! I don't think I can describe with words my feeling but it was amazing. The sky was full of stars, so many of them and so clear. I did not know this view was possible in our farm since it is usually cloudy or rainy at night. This day was special and I felt like driving to a higher point to have a better view or stay up all night or do something to not let this moment end. Hope to see the sky like that again soon...

Back in town, Mateo and I attended to my high school friend's birthday party. She is my best high school friend and since we both have children around the same age, we should see often. I am so happy! Today, we spend the day at my brother's cooking green banana soup with my sister in law. It was a good week again. 

Little town we go by in our way to Yanapana

Road to Yanapana 

Birthday Party

Mateo growing up fast and running 

Home sweet home

Our apartment is looking more like home now. Last Friday, we finally received the boxes with our stuff and little by little we are unpacking and finding a place for each thing. No much time to get things done during the day when Mateo needs our time and attention but since we do not have a deadline or jobs to go to, we are enjoying the process. Here are some photos of our place as it looks now. Soon we will have things on the walls. 

The office

A little bit of this and that

Last weekend we went to visit my brother's family. We had a nice meal and afterwards we went to let the cousins hang out and spend some time at a nearby mall. We found a cute toy car for $1.50 rent after no more than 15 minutes Mateo was done with the ride! Isaid was happy in his stroller. 

Mateo and Isaid 

Every Monday at 11 am there is an event in front of the presidents house (few blocks from our house). We were there on time and got to see a nice parade and we even saw Rafael Correa our president! Mateo was very interested on the huge horses that were part of the parade and ofcourse the band. 

Later that day, we went to pick up our pick up! We really like this truck and we hope it will take us safely to our property many times. We also hope to discover more of the beauty of Ecuador on it. I'll like to call it voyager. 

On Tuesday, we made our first trip on voyager to my home town Puellaro. My grandma still lives there and I wanted to spend a special day together. To celebrate we eat cuy, which is a traditional ecuadorian dish. Pat and Mateo preffer not to share that particular tradition with me :). 

To my surprise, my baby started to use the spoon on that day. Most of the food did not make it to his mouth but I was so excited to see him try. This kid is growing so fast!!

That is it for now. The rest of the week we hope to receive some office furniture we order, finally get our boxes and get ready for a family reunion on the weekend.