On Monday, we visited Los Pisingos to receive the grand tour of the orphanage. We took more video than pictures, but it was really neat to be able to see all of the home where Mateo spent his first few months of life. While we were there, they read from Mateo's profile the official investigation and let us ask any questions we had. Then they asked us to write a note to Pisingos in a book they have full of pictures of little ones that have been adopted accompanied with notes from the parents thanking Pisingos.
One of the most surprising things was seeing how autonomous the little ones were. We happened to visit the 1-2 year olds during lunch hour and so many of them were feeding themselves chicken soup, rice, salad all alone without spilling! We also got to visit with Edelmira's "babies" while they waited for their lunch to be served.
The most outstanding memory for me, however, was visiting the third floor where the infants are. There were at least 2 dozen babies upstairs - mostly napping. As we looked into the room, my eyes filled up with tears realizing these little ones were also waiting for their forever families. At the same time, I thought of Mateo and the most curious thought/feeling came over me:
Mateo is our son! He is our baby - he always has been ours and meant for us.
It was as if my mind could not comprehend Mateo ever being anywhere else except with our family - as if he had never been at Pisingos even, just always with us. It was a beautiful moment.
Mateo with the nurses in the infant area. They didn't recognize him at first because he has changed so much, but when he smiled at them, that's when they knew!
See the little pin on Omaha? That's Mateo! He is the first baby adopted from Pisingos to a family in Omaha!
Mateo with Daddy next to the map that shows the places where Pisingos babies live.
One and two year olds having their lunch.
Mateo swinging in one of the Pisingos play areas
Mateo with Beatriz, one of the founders of Pisingos. We met in her office to hear the story of Mateo and took the pictures next to the maps.
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