So much news!

Where to begin?

Well, first of all, my apologies that it's been a week since I posted. It's been a busy week, here with Esteban by myself. I have a new regard for single parents! And, as I write, I am waiting for my brothers Peter and Patrick to arrive from the airport, so I won't be alone for long.

Some of the high points of the past week:

We got mail!
A package arrived from Julien! Only two weeks after he sent it - and after the Colombian government collected duty on it! Bigger clothes for Esteban mostly. Including this very cute outfit from his Abuela Ana (who is starting him early on Mickey Mouse):


The box also included a couple of new toys from Daddy. Good choice on the Taggie! It's his new favorite thing to gnaw/suck on. The wood rattle is a little more dangerous: he's got a big bruise on his forehead from his vigorous and not very controlled playing with it.

6 Months!
Yes, Esteban turned 6 months old on Friday. We found a scale (hopefully more accurate than the luggage scale at the hotel) and weighed him--6.25 kilos (~14 lbs). He continues to be happy and curious. He's getting stronger sitting muscles, and can actually sit by himself for about 30 seconds before he topples over. He also looks less like a wet noodle in the highchair. He now complains when I take away something he's enjoying, including when I hand him over to someone he doesn't know. He loves walks outdoors and seems very happy to come 'home' to the familiar people and surrounds of the Halifax.

We tried out a different kind of tub this week, because Mommy doesn't have six hands to hold the baby, soap him, and make sure he stays upright in the tub. Jody lent us her duck tub, which was a huge hit the first night. He had a grand time kicking and splashing. Good thing the waves from his kicking hide any embarrassing views!

New Friends
Our friend Daniel from Boston was here in Bogota on business this past week, and we had a great time visiting with him and meeting his stepmom Patricia. Daniel and his wife Terri adopted their daughter Ruby last year at this time from CRAN (the agency we're working with in Bogota). Esteban had a great time with Daniel:

And more new friends. My uncle David, who lives in Australia, connected us with some of his friends here in Bogota. Martha (standing in the photo below) graciously welcomed us, and took us to visit a beautiful tennis club she belongs to. And then her brothers and their families and her parents all showed up to meet us as well! Very warm and welcoming people! The photo is with Martha, her brother Javier, and her parents (and a sleeping Esteban).

Just today we met another family from the US who are here adopting a baby through CRAN. Ruth Ann and her husband Steven have added 5-month-old Anna to their family. Can you believe the hair on her? That's Jody and Sara in the middle, and, yes, we are at Baskin Robbins.

Peter and Patrick arrive!

In the time it has taken me to write this, my brothers did indeed arrive from the airport. They will be here for a week to help with things and get to know their nephew.

Sentencia--yes, Sentencia

That's right. I got a call this afternoon from Helena (our advocate) that our final adoption decree is ready, and I will go to court tomorrow and sign it. This means we can get Esteban's Colombian passport and US visa and make our plans to come home. So exciting. I still can't believe it. As though the whole adoption scenario isn't a little surreal--this just adds to it.

Pics at Snapfish