Saying good-bye in 2012

It's been over a year since I started writing this blog.  It's been 11 months since I'm officially a mommy to our beautiful Sebastian.  And boy-oh-boy.... it's been quite a ride since we decided we wanted to adopt.   Most of our story is really good and we are really really blessed.   As many other adoption stories ours is full of fear,  documents, government issues, translation issues, etc etc... but is also full of hope, expectation and happiness.  I am not an expert but I guess that's what life is supposed to be.  Just a mix of ingredients... sweet and sour.  

And you have to take decisions in life.  Leaps of faith. We took ours, and it's been the greatest ride ever.  

Yeah sure, it hasn't been easy, but like my dad said sometime ago... if something is really easy it might not even be worth it.  

Life really do happens while you're making plans... and if you think about it... what percentage of all of your "plans" actually happen the way you had initially thought of?  My guess is not a very high one.  But the amazing thing is that sometimes life prepares surprises that are even better that anything you had imagined.   

So be prepared to be surprised.   :)  I for sure was!  In a really, really good way.  

I wanted to go through a round of thank you (s).  I know... it's the most boring part of the "book" when you get to the end and the author insists in thanking everyone on earth, so skip to the video if you want.  You won't hurt my feelings.  :)  

First of all thank you to Sebastian's bio-mommy.  You gave my family the greatest gift anyone could ask for.  I hope you somehow know that he's a happy baby and we'll do our best to help him grow up to be a happy guy. 

Thank you to our moms, my dad, and the rest of our families in Colombia and Canada. Thank you for embracing Sebastian the way you have.  For loving him so much, because by loving him you are loving us even more.  As if that is possible.  You've been supporters,  adoption "agents", organizers,  dog sitters, painters,  party planners and a bunch of other things.  This would have been much more difficult without you.  

Thank you to our friends also in Colombia and Canada. Thank you to the girls that planned the baby shower,  for all the visits, the laughs, the company in Gimboree,  the mommy advise.  Seriously,  there are not enough words. 

So here it goes. 

Our Journey

Luz.  

Little Lion's Mommy is Going Back to Work

Halloween has never been one of my favorite holidays... even though chocolate is one of my favorite things.  It might be the fact that the ratio of chocolate vs. other cheap candy is always low... or the fact that although I enjoy watching people in costumes, I don't particularly enjoy getting in a costume myself... I don't know... it just hasn't been my thing.

That's until this year.  Halloween definitely got to a much better spot in the ranking of holidays this time.

What could be cutter than dressing up my already cute little boy to into a lion  AND ask him to roar AAAArrrgggg!!!???  This of course followed by a 8 teeth and a molar super smile (plus another molar coming out)?  Nothing.  And if you think something else is cutter, it's because you haven't actually seen him roar... or you have your own little kids dressed up as something else, in which case you are forgiven.

So here comes the King of the Jungle!!!!

Oh by the way... in this particular jungle there is a train named Thomas which the king made his mommy buy on a trip to Walmart.  The king also got the Thomas ball and two books for that matter.  Anyway... digressing from the cuteness of it all.

But being this cute takes a lot of work.  Just yesterday morning the whole family took a vote on the applicability of the lion's black nose and the whiskers for the purpose of achieving the maximum level of cuteness.  Mommy lost by one vote given that daddy (traitor!) sided with Sebas - which did not, under any circumstance, wanted to have either a black nose or the whiskers painted on his face. However, when we were alone in the mall in the morning, mommy decided on tyranny against democracy and went for the face paint.

After a few screams and tears of disagreement,  the deal was done... and maximum cuteness was achieved.  (Ha!!)

 
 Besides, it was totally worth it because I think we were one of the jungle's inhabitants which got the most candy.  Above the king enjoying a lolly. 

Also,  I think I was in my full right to draw the whiskers as a good bye to maternity leave gift from Sebastian to me.  Yes... I am now a working mother and today was my first day.

The good news is Sebastian will stay with daddy for a month.  In other words, Tavo gets to be the primary care giver and I will bring home the bacon.  Isn't the 20th century awesome?

To be honest, it was a bittersweet day.   I do like and miss working, and I did get a new role that promises to be challenging and interesting; but at the same time I am really afraid I will miss a lot of Sebastian's growth.  I understand how a lot of  very qualified in their fields mommies want to stay home, even if it represents less income for the family.  I don't think it would be my choice to be a stay home mom, but I definitely understand why so many women choose this path. 

Today at work, I was fine.  I knew Sebastian was in good hands... after all Tavo is Sebas' favorite person (ever!) but I know leaving him at daycare will be a completely different story.  That will be in about a month and I am dreading the day he starts crying when we leave.  Seriously, stay at home mommies of the world... I get it.  

On another hand, I am really happy that Tavo gets to have this time with the baby, and Sebas with daddy.  I love that we as parents can split this time (even if is not in equal half)... which goes back to my earlier point about the 20th century.  Dads can stay at home and guess what? it's okay! They are not judged or less man because of that... it's so... liberating!.

So my little king of the jungle gets to share his candy with daddy while mommy is at the office.  Love it!

Until my next post, 

Luz J.



 

Sebastian's First B-day and some more

Busy is too small of a word to describe the summer of 2011. I am sorry I haven't written much but between Sebastian's first B-day and the visit from "los abuelitos", there was hardly any off time... let alone time to write. On top of that blogger hasn't been very good lately.   But here I am, and I gotta say, this has probably been the best summer ever! ever, ever, ever, ever!  (Is it just me or do I sound like a teenager?)


Anyway,  I don't really know who reads this things any more but I do notice that people still  peak at the blog now and then and to those guys and gals... my sincere apologies.  I am supposed to be writing weekly but definitely not achieving anything close to that.
I did manage to find some time to put pieces of this post together during the last few weeks and today I decided to finish and publish it. 

To start,  abuelitos were here for a month and a half.... yay!  They arrived just before Sebas' B-day and stayed with us until mid-august.  Abue Felix was beyond excited that this time around he could actually go out of the house in "normal" clothes instead of the regular canadian "eskimo" outfit he has had to wear in the winter time.  He could not believe how green Calgary looks in the summer.  Abue Martha is taking in all of abue Felix's happiness and planning to strike some time soon with the hope that he'll agree to consider moving to Canada at some point.  We'll see how that goes.... stay tuned for the next 5 years...   ; )

Sebastian's B-day was on July 1st. I planned for a small party and the theme was The Jungle.  It was a lot of fun... we had everybody at our deck and there were kids, cake, hot dogs,  balloons, friends, presents and everything a party is supposed to have.

 

And of course, Sebastian had to have his very own first piece of cake.  He looooove it (geez, the kid can eat!). 

 
I was surprised to find the old game of putting the tail to the donkey at the store where I bought all of the party stuff.  I always thought that game was some sort of Colombian tradition specially designed by parents who wanted to embarrass their kids in front of their friends,  but I guess that is a world wide problem.  The kids were great thought, they all played and we all laugh.  We'll show the pictures to their boyfriends and girlfriends when they're older (and want to take revenge for some sleepless night).

After the birthday,  we spend all the time with Abuelitos in a a big Calgary vacation. We went to the Stampede, to the river, the zoo, etc etc.  I think abuelitos went back to Colombia more in love with Sebas that never before.  Abuelito Felix even learned how to change a pooped diaper... which he didn't even do for my brother or me!.   

  

This is a pic of us at the Stampede Grounds for the Superdogs show.  Sebas had his very own "Santandereano" cowboy hat. I also made him wear a tie for the occasion.  Some of you might find this a bit excessive, but in my defense, he looked super cute AND I got to take advantage of the fact that he still doesn't have a problem with me selecting his wardrobe... I can't even begin to think what will be "in fashion" when he grows up but I sincerely hope is not as bad as the half ass hanging pants boys wear today. 

This is a pic of us playing at the zoo.  He REALLY likes lions, tigers and all felines (Including Milu) and he has learned to roar.  Very scary might I add.  (And cute!).  I think a new teeth was coming out, therefore the drool heading straight into my face; but you know what? I have developed a weird immunity to all kinds of gross stuff coming out of babies.  :)  But let's not talk about that. 

Besides roaring, Sebas has changed a lot since my last blog.  And since I looove lists,  I decided to make my favorite top 5 things Sebas has learned/changed since then.

1. He's now the proud owner of 8 teeth AND a molar.
2. He is also now at full penguin speed in two feet (no really... imagine a penguin running... that's exactly what he looks like).  One day he just stood up and ran... after ice cream! - Fortunately, he did it in front of abuelitos and cousin Ana... other ways nobody would have believed me.  
3. Besides his favorite words: mama, papa and agua (water); he also says "abra puata!" or in better spanish, abra la puerta... which means, open the door.  We're now working on the - "please" part.  I know what you are thinking; interesting choice of words.  But, he has issues with daddy closing the door to go to the bathroom.
4. He also has developed a new set of noises being my favorites "woof, woof" whenever he sees a dog and "choo chooo", at the sight of a train, LRT,  bus, truck or any other thing on wheels of some meaningful size.
5. He screams "gol!" at the sight of any ball he sees.  This is something he learned from Abuelito Felix who watched soccer all the time while he was here.  

And since the summer ended and the fall its pretty much gone too,  my final pics are from Seba's first thanksgiving.  He was looking very sharp in his little plane blue vest. Might I add he eat everything he could get his hands on!?

So much to be thankful for... there is just no words. 

Until next post,

LuzM.

A little bit more about my life in Canada

I'm baaacckkk! My mommy said she's too freak'n tired to write this week, so it's up to me again.  I thought about it and decided to write a bit about what I've been up to these days.
 
Like a good canadian, I'll start with the weather.  (Don't want to talk about hockey because the Canucks lost and to make it worst, Vancouver got wrecked by angry "fans"- which by the way, I hear is not very canadian). 

But back to the weather... the brochure to Canada said a lot about a nice country, but nobody... nobody talked about the weather. Now I know why! First,  it snowed and it snowed like crazy.  Unthinkable temperatures let me tell you. Nothing like Bucaramanga with it's forever summer! It was mid-april and there was still snow on the grown.  May went by and I didn't even notice any major change, except that instead of snow we got rain now and then.  And now, mid-June and it hasn't stopped raining! Ok, I'm exaggerating...  we've had a couple sunny, really sunny days but mostly it's just been a lot of rain.   

Mommy said that at least she's finished with the flower planting, which she frantically did when the weather was nice.  She's really happy about that.  And me too because I get to pull one by one each of her new planted flowers.  That's so much fun! But for whatever reason she doesn't think is fun like I do.  Hummm...

Shine or rain, Thursdays are my favorite days. I go to Gymboree on Thursdays.  It's a place where mommys and daddys go to make their kids really tired.  : )
I have friends there and I get to climb and slide, and sing and dance and do all that fun stuff.  Did I mention I'm famous for my dancing skills?  Every time I hear a song that I like, I dance. 

 Hey there! Estudias o trabajas? You know... I have two cars.  I can take you for a ride one of this days. 

  My favorite car is my blue wagon.  Daddy says it has one horse power and that the horse has a name.

 
Anyway... Gymboree is lots of fun.

Another thing my mommy and I do a lot lately is going to Heritage Park (when the weather allows).  A couple of weekends ago we even went with daddy and this other guy that kept following us with a camera.  So Annoying! But mommy looooved the pictures he took.  I'll show you one.  Cool family uh?

That day,  after a couple hours of playing, taking pictures and crawling around; I was really really tired.  We went back home and I didn't want to eat, I kept crying and screaming.  I didn't like it when mommy held me but I didn't like it when I was put on my play pen either.  I just wasn't feeling too well and consequently mommy and daddy were getting desperate. 

Suddenly, out of nowhere I looked at my mommy and I said: "Ma-ma".  I really don't know what the big deal is but mommy got watery eyes and a huge smile.  Then she wouldn't stop kissing me and hugging me!
Since then, every time I want kisses, or food, or toys.. I just say the magic word... ha ha. I have her under my control!

And talking about mommy; it was her birthday the other day.  I missed the whole cake thing because I was napping but I heard all about it after.  My cousins came over to celebrate. 

She was really excited because she got a Kinddle from my daddy.  It's a reading thingie and lately she doesn't stop carrying it around and talking about all the cool books that she's reading.  What a nerd! I much rather go to Gymboree.  Besides, she doesn't even let me touch it or taste it.  I wonder why would that be.  Whatever! I have cars and trains with lights and stuff.  Who needs a stupid thingie.  My toys are waaay cooler.  

The last piece of gossip is that in two weeks it's my very own first B-day! (drums in the back!) And yes, it's on Canada Day!.  Mommy is been very secretive about it because it's supposed to be a surprise.  But I know that abuelito Felix and abuelita Martha are coming all the way from Colombia to celebrate with me and spend the summer together. That'll be awesome! I'll tell you all about it in a future post. 

See you later!

Sebastian D.

This Happiness Thing.

The other day I was driving around with Sebastian doing some errands.  I have to add that he's been doing a lot better in the car seat.  I think he finally figured out that he's stuck there for as long as the car is moving and that there is no negotiating about it.  So he was quiet, looking out the window with his bright, curious, brown eyes.


It was a sunny afternoon; "Calgary sunny" which hasn't been very frequent lately.  However,  I have to add that "Calgary sunny"  is also, no cloud, blue skies sunny.  Pretty awesome.  Anyway,  the radio was playing some nice tune and a thought suddenly hit me. I haven't felt this happy for a loooong time.  I actually don't remember feeling this happy! Wow. Sometimes, happiness can be not only the path but also the destination.

It is actually kind of scary being this happy, and for whatever reason it is not an everyday feeling.  Not even a frequent feeling on many people's life.  Ok stop.  I am not saying my life sucked or anything like that.  I am very grateful for my life which is normally a pretty good,  nice life. But it seems that for many of us (humans), there is always something or somebody missing... something needs to get done,  or we are waiting for something to happen.  Not now thought.  Not for me.  I can honestly say, that at thirty something (guys, you seriously don't need more detail) I am truly happy.  The Now... it's pretty cool!

Did I mention is my B-day this upcoming sunday? Well, it is (feel free to send me nice messages! :)  )
Whats amazing is that for the first time ever, I  don't really want anything (I totally would like an ipad but I can live without it thought!).  So what I mean is that I have a husband who I love, the cutest kid ever, healthy, great family in Calgary and Colombia, wonderful friends, a nice home...so  "el que quiera mas que le piquen cana"...  which in English would read something like...get serious, you have everything. 

Tip: I've learned to enjoy the little simplest things! I think that's why I'm happy!
Teacher: Sebastian. 
Some examples of little simple things:

• Swiming (in the company of handsome latin men).

•   My baby's huge smile, which by the way displays 6 teeth and 2 upcoming.  

•  Somebody's firsts attempts at getting food in their mouth (btw,  it didn't work)

Of course, the fact that Sebastian said "ma-ma" for the first time last Sunday just makes life even better.  I think he figured out that I had been looking for that wagon for a looong time in Kijiji. 

On a different subject, we just had two major appointments this past week.  The first one was the second pediatrician appointment at the International Adoption Clinic.  I am very happy to report that Sebas is doing great.  He's not only healthy but he is also reaching all his developmental stages as he should. There ya go! another reason to be happy!. 


The second major appointment was with our social worker who is writing the first of four post placement reports that the ICBF requires.  She was very nice and I think we got good marks on everything.

So Feliz, really Feliz Cumpleanos to me! eeee!!

Until the next post,

Luz M.   

Procedure to Change a Diaper (with some drama included). by Sebastian Cristancho

1.  Eat the banana (two teeth at least are a requirement). Go, ummm...., yummiiiii!!!. It doesn't matter if the subject has previously had a bottle and some baby cereal, on the contrary... that helps.  

2. Act casual... smile around. Give the subject's body some time to finish it's internal process.  Optional: Follow up the quick snack with some cardiovascular activity like crawling around at full speed. 

3.  People will notice a "funny" scent around the subject after some time.  The subject's daddy pulls pants down and checks for evidence. (Yeap! there it is!).

 4.  Leave the scene before daddy (it never works... but it's still worth the try).  Subject's daddy will try to play nice and places subject's pants on subject's head.  What?  Yes. He's trying the "good cop" routine.

5.  Try to fled the scene again.  Try hiding under the crib.

 6. Busted!

7. Subject is dragged again to the bed.  Subject resists ones again.

8. Try negotiation.  (i.e. Subject cries). Subject is not happy.  Daddy's subject insists in changing smelly diaper.

9. Subject is raised against his will. Washed with a wet (may I add, cold) disposable cloth (or something like that) and layed on top of a clean diaper.  Note: what a lack of privacy!!

10.  Subject tries to leave the scene (again) but is stopped by subject's daddy (again).

  11. Subject's pants go back to subject's legs.

12.  Avoid eye contact... avoid daddy's successful remarks of Mission accomplished.

13. Try again... maybe it'll work better next time. 

Until next post,

Sebastian.

Ps. Blogger hasn't been very good lately; therefore the lack of posts.  We had a great first mother's day.  Sebas and Tavo cooked breakfast for me and bought a "I love my mommy frame".  We also finished our swimming lessons and will start Gymboree this week. 
Sebas got his first swimming "report card" and I am happy to announce that he passed with stars! ha ha..

More next week (blogger allowing).

April 14: Double Celebration

Since mommy seems to be so tired these days (I really don't get why... I'm full of energy!) I decided I would take over again and just keep you updated of the latest developments. 

First: Daddy's B-day.  The "old man" is getting older.
Second: Our new family's second month anniversary.

1. Daddy's B-day.
Yes, daddy is a year older, or like he said very seriously... "not a year older but a year more experienced". Yeah whatever! I don't get the whole b-day celebration yet... but after having front row seats to daddy's, I have to say that it definitely seems like fun. I don't know what the fuss is with the years you have... when you're still counting just months that doesn't really matter.  

Anyway... mommy decided to have what was intended to be a small "gathering" at the house.  What she didn't remember was the amount of kids that are now part of the circle of friends! Wow... I have only one word to describe our Sunday afternoon: Zoo.   Mommy made a mental note:  Next party we'll have it at a park!

We did have fun though... we played,  we went up and down the stairs (well... the bigger kids did, I am not allowed...), we eat cake, daddy and Maria Jose (my cousin who's B-day is April 17) blew off candles and  they both opened presents! I am definitely liking this whole B-day deal.

Besides, I also got to spend some time with my "fiancee", Nathalie, who's looking cuter and cuter! ; )
But don't tell her I said that.  

I am of course, very smooth and try to pay no attention to her yet.  The other day she even send me kisses... which I totally ignored.  That's why I am a chick magnet. 

This is a pic of daddy and Maria Jose, each one with their cake, blowing off the candles.  Maria Jose is a little precocious and ended up blowing everybody's candles! Let me tell ya something dude... when I have a cake... I'll take care of it... okay? Nah! she's pretty cool...

  

2. Our family's Second Month Anniversary: 

So it's been two months since we were formally introduced and I have to say that I've learned a lot about my parents and about being a family since then. And I won't even go into what I've learned about Canada and the fact that is mid-april and the white stuff is still there!.  Everybody said is supposed to be gone by now but we're still going to the malls in the afternoon instead of the park...oh well!  I've also "shared" with mommy and daddy more and more about lovely me! 

Things mommy and daddy know about me now that they didn't a month ago:  

1. I do like pajamas in Canada.  Not in Colombia because is hot... but here... they're worth a try.  Besides, I look sexy.  (Maybe I should show Nathy my fav with the ears).  What do ya think? 

2.  I do enjoy some time by myself in the play pin.  I didn't at the beginning and I would start crying when mommy left me there... but I now know that she's looking at my while she cooks and I no longer get so anxious.  Mommy also sings and dances while I'm there to keep me "entertained"... I think she's hilarious when she does the frog dance, so now I dance as well! 

 3. I can enjoy a good laugh after a bath.  See... I love the bathing experience but don't like it when I have to dress up again, so I usually cry and make a fuss! However, mommy and daddy are so funny sometimes when they're dressing me that I just can't hold a good laugh.
 

 

4.  Duna and I are becoming best buddies.  We share toys and mommy found me the other day biting on Duna's favorite bone.  Mommy was not happy about that... but Duna didn't care. Milu on the other hand does not love me at all! That's ok... my charm will eventually win her over. 

5. After much consideration I think daddy is the coolest daddy ever!  I even chose to say "papa" instead of "mama" the other week.  Mommy was a little upset 'cause she's home with me every day an all... she also said that because of me she had to change the whole house decor and "that's the way I pay her back" but, I think the old man is just great!. - I'll say mommy eventually... I just like to give the ladies a hard time at first.  :)   

So happy B-day daddy!  You are the BEST-EST ever!

Sebastian