my bathroom and my dog

Feeling better

We're all three feeling much better. Mateo's symptoms are seem to be calming down significantly. Mommy feels MUCH better, but her voice is gone. Daddy is getting better, but this seems to be the second time he's had this little virus so it's taking a bit longer to kick it!

Mateo is learning new things every day. Yesterday we went out of the house for the first time since going to the doctor. The Cogua family tradition is a cookout in one of the parks in Bogota. This year was right next to Great Grandparents apartment, so it was easy for Mateo to be both inside and outside for a little while. We took a cute picture of Mateo, Jose Fernando (Daddy), Jose Agapito (Grandpa), and Agapito (Great Grandpa) all dressed in NEBRASKA HUSKERS gear. :) The picture is on the video camera though and we can't figure out how to download those pictures/video. As soon as we do though...

And today we went to one of the many malls and walked around a bit while looking for some toys for Mateo to play with. Would you believe that everything here baby related (Carter's, Fisher Price, Graco, etc.) is 3-5 times more expensive? For example, we were hoping to pick up a sit and play time toy that in the U.S. would cost around $40. Here the price was 240,110 colombian pesos - more or less $110 USD. We're hoping our brother-in-law might bring a fun toy with him when he comes to Colombia in a couple of days - save a couple bucks!

Tomorrow should be another beautiful day in Bogota. Lots of sun, warm and bright.

Playing

Playing with Grandma Edelmira.

Playing with Grandpa Agapito. In the backgroung you can see the stroller (Jose's) Aunt Rosita gave Mateo for Christmas.

The other day Mateo was playing with Grandpa Jose Agapito and grandpa was dropping the ball over Mateo's head and catching as it fell. You can guess what happened next... poon! The little ball landed right between Mateo's eyes. We laughed and laughed and said it was good practice for when Mateo plays soccer and heads the ball. :) Don't worry. The ball is soft and spongy.

Have I told you I have FOUR teeth? Les he dicho que tengo CUATRO dientes?

From Mateo

Huggies size medium definitely do not work for me! I explode out them of every single time! I eat, and I poop. I have a bottle, and I poop. I play, and I poop. My mommy says that I poop more than any baby she has ever met. That might be true. All I know for sure is that I need a different kind of diaper! Urgente! Grandma Edelmira is getting tired of washing my clothes, too, because every time I change my diaper I also have to change my clothes. Goodness gracious! At least my mommy's friends gave her lots of comfy clothes and pijamas that work great for me. Grandpa Jose and Aunt Jasney are out buying me some different diapers. Hopefully these will work better!

Update

Mateo is a very smart little boy. He knows now when the medicine is coming and does all he can to keep it out of his mouth - boy is he strong! But once it's over, he calms quickly. He seems to be feeling better with each passing day, but it is really difficult in the moments when we give him all his medicines to see him so upset. It has been especially hard for Daddy since he is the one really "giving" the medicine. Mommy just has to hold him down.

If you would pray for both Jaimie and Jose - neither of us has been feeling well the past few days. Actually, Jaimie has been feeling terrible and hardly able to fulfill some of the basic responsibilities of being a mommy. Last night was especially hard. However, Jose is a wonderful father - full of love and responsibility - he adores Mateo.

One of the things that a has been most fulfilling is experiencing the reality of parenthood together and seeing how each other reacts to Mateo's needs. Both of us have been so proud of the other as we watch one another interact with Mateo and respond to him. It has been very rewarding.

Happy New Year to everyone! We love you all.
Jose, Jaimie & Mateo

Pictures from the day we received Mateo

Waiting for Mateo! Esperandole a Mateo!

Amparo bringing me to meet my family. Amparo llevandome a mi familia.

I love pulling on grandpa's mustache! Me encanta halar el bigote de mi abuelito!

Great Grandma Rosa holding Mateo with Great Grandpa Agapito

Bisabuela Rosa con Mateo y bisabuelo Agapito

Daddy and Mommy giving Mateo the first bottle alongside Grandma Edelmira, Grandpa Jose and Aunt Jasney

Papa y mama dandole el primer tetero a Mateo al lado de abuela Edelmira, abuelo Jose y tia Jasney

Jasney - both aunt and godmother to Mateo, Daddy, Mateo, Mommy and Hamilton - cousin and godfather to Mateo
Jasney - tia y madrina de Mateo, Papa, Mateo, Mama, y Hamilton - primo y padrino de Mateo

Aunt Jasney, Grandma Edelmira, Daddy, Mateo, Mommy and Grandpa Jose

One happy Mommy with her baby boy - alongside Amparo and Grandma Edelmira

Una mama muy feliz con su hijo - al lado de Aparo and la abuela Edelmira

Great Grandpa Agapito, Gladys, Mateo, Mommy and Amparo

Bisabuelo Agapito, tia Gladys, Mateo, la mama y Amparo

I am definitely ado(red)! Definitivamente soy adorado!

Mateo with Aunt Jasney and Great Grandma Carmen - see how Mateo has the same little nose as his Aunt Jasney?

Mateo con la tia Jasney y la bisabuelita Carmen - se dan cuenta que Mateo tiene la misma nariz pequena que tiene