A Run, Some Sun and Lots of Fun

What a glorious, sun soaked day here in Bogotá. One of the things I like most about our apartment is the number of large windows it has. There are also no screens and surprisingly few insects. Our living room has two wall length windows that open like sliding glass doors and while they open only to a safety railing, no veranda or any sort of space to step out on, they extend our living space into the green grounds of La Fontana and the gentle breezes of Bogotá. Sunlight streams in all of the rooms in the morning and it makes me so happy.

After feeding Eli this morning, I decided to do a little yoga. I have an app on my iPhone which leads me through various routines with pictures, music and audio instructions. So I chose a half hour practice to "unwind the mind and unravel the body." Ever since our travel day (maybe even before), I've had lower back tension and just felt out of touch with my body. The adoption and travel affairs put a kink in my normal fitness schedule and as a result I haven't run or done much stretching in three weeks! It is hard for me to believe that I let that much time pass without exercise, but everything other than getting to Colombia and finally having Eli in my arms fell by the wayside once we knew our travel date!

The yoga was much needed and it felt fantastic to stretch out all those tight and achy muscles on Eli's baby quilt while he scooted around me and played happily with his toys nearby. It was a day for taking care of ourselves and we decided around 10:30am to pack up and head to the Parque El Country (the former polo fields I wrote about a few blogs back) for our first run here in Colombia.
We loaded Eli's stroller with all the necessities and walked down to the street, as a family. Jamie had found the park on Map My Run and we had mapped out the mileage of the trip there (.75 mile) and a lap around the perimeter (another .75 mile). He ran to the park and then did three laps to get a total of 3 miles in. Eli and I walked to the park and found a shady place to set up camp. He dozed in his stroller for a bit while I read a book and then daddy and I switched places so I could do 4 laps (3 miles), myself.

Daddy and Eli hanging out

Mama and Eli 

It felt so good to be physically active and to soak up some sun in that idyllic setting. The mountains serve as a backdrop to a wide green open space where families kick soccer balls and chase each other,  young adults lounge on the ground, sleeping alone or chatting together, and mamas watch their toddlers play in the sandboxes or on the swings at the edges of the fields.

Parque El Country

The air is much thinner here, as Bogotá is 8,600 feet (1.6 miles) above sea level. I definitely noticed a difference in my breathing, but I'm probably out of shape anyway after taking so much time off. Still, getting my heart rate elevated and feeling my cheeks flush was thrilling. There was a warm gentle breeze that kept the temperature very tolerable and plenty of shade sections on the path. Plus, I had the added incentive of seeing Jamie and Eli playing in the grass at the conclusion of every lap; it was truly one of the most enjoyable runs I have experienced.

Look, Dad- Grass!!!

After the park, we walked back home for lunch and put Eli and Daddy down for their naps. 

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I opted for a little more time outside and took a book out to a pretty little nook I can see from our windows. What a luxury it seemed to sit so quietly, reading and pausing to reflect on the beauty of the sun filtering through the greenery. 

My Reading Room

I returned just as Eli was waking and Jamie started changing his diaper while I prepared his medicines. Suddenly, Jamie called out, "I need help!!! He's peeing...NOW!" I ran into the room to find Eli, pants and diaper off, projecting a downward spout on the changing pad which was rapidly flooding. I grabbed the edges of the pad and created a little boat to keep the liquid from spilling on the bed. "What should I do?" Jamie looked frantic, but I couldn't stop laughing! Having spent much time around little ones, I had been waiting for Eli to do something like this, but the two of us awkwardly scrambling in the tiny make-shift changing area, on a bed, trying to balance a half naked, peeing 9 month old and a changing pad boat full of pee, had me in stitches. "Cover it with a wipe," I managed to spit out and somehow we got the situation under control. 

We stripped our boy down naked, threw his soaked onesie in the bathroom sink with the changing pad and wiped him down. Now, we really should have immediately diapered him at that point, but we were going to give him a bath, so he remained in his birthday suit on my lap while Jamie gave him his dreaded nasal saline spray. He managed to get the nozzle in one nostril and spray when suddenly I felt a warm sensation spread through my lap. "Oh, my God! He's peeing again!" I could feel the pee soaking my own underwear through my skirt and dripping down my legs. It was the most bizarre experience, as if I was the one who had wet myself! This time, Jamie and I both were laughing so hard we were crying and Eli just stared at us, mouth open, in utter confusion. Of course, this just made it funnier! Jamie grabbed him and headed straight for the bathroom to get him bathed and this time I was the one stripping down and cleaning up. What a riot! I haven't laughed that hard in a very long time!

The rest of our day has been uneventful, in comparison. We have spent the late afternoon and evening just playing and singing with our son. He started saying "ma-ma-ma" the day I was sick in bed. I like to believe it was because he noticed my absence and was calling for me. But, the truth is that the sound isn't attached to anyone or anything, he is just jabbering. Still, it was fun to hear him saying it again today. He is learning to make all sorts of sounds now and he studies our mouths when we sing to him, trying to figure out how we are making the sounds. It is amazing to watch his learning. 

Singing to Eli

Tonight, after putting Eli to bed, we've planned a little stay-at-home date night for ourselves. Jamie picked up beef ribs and a bottle of red wine and is planning on making us a special dinner. We also decided, after two weeks without television in English, to sign up for a trial membership with Netflix. So, after dinner, we can snuggle up in the bed with the laptop and watch a movie.

It really was a perfectly ordinary day. But, if this is my new ordinary, I'll take it! I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be than here with my sweet son and my loving husband. Life is good.