Happy Days

Time has been slipping away from me, as we've grown busy again with appointments and paperwork. This past week has been exciting and exhausting. This morning, Jamie commented that all three of us look a little dazed and confused! It has been a whirlwind of activity. I'm going to try to be more succinct than usual and give you the highlights, so I can be caught up with the blog before we fly home!

Last Thursday evening, July 24th, 2014, we had the pleasure of spending the evening with Leigh Ann and Ken Pyc's three children: Luisa, Andres and Milena. Their mom and dad were able to enjoy dinner out and some quiet time as a couple, while the kids played UNO and Old Maid with us, around our kitchen table. Our friend, Maria Christina, from upstairs, also popped in for a few rounds and fun was had by all. The kids are just fantastic; they are great with Eli and so polite and friendly with us, despite the language barrier. Eli loved all the attention and just being a part of the group. He sat on my lap, quietly, while we played cards and took the whole scene in.

Playing Horsey with Luisa and Milena

What a great smile!

What are the rules, again?!!

Lovely Luisa

Andres is quite the card player! He won almost every game!

Maria Cristina and Luisa

Teamwork!

Action shot...

Eli and Luisa

Taking a break to just observe the game with Eli

What a crew!

Friday morning, 7/25/14, Maria Teresa took us to a notary where Eli's Colombian birth certificate was updated to reflect his new name. His biological mother named him Elí Lopez Ramirez (Lopez Ramirez matches her name and reflects her own mother and father's last names), his Colombian birth certificate has now been updated to read Elias James Holden Klein. It is the Colombian tradition to inherit both your father's and your mother's last name. Women here do not change their last names when they marry. Children have a first name and middle name and then two last names. Often times, they only use the first of the two last names (the father's), but all of their legal documents reflect both apellidos.

A Happy Holden!

Waiting for the birth certificate

These friendly women who worked at the notary office were so nice to us

Next, we took the updated birth certificate to the passport office, where Eli's picture was taken and we applied for his Colombian passport. He was very patient with all the time in the car and the sitting around and waiting. We've learned to pack a full bag for paperwork appointments, because we never know how long they will really take. We bring his food, bib, medicine, diapers, toys, and a change of clothes. The stroller and Baby Bjorn have also been invaluable. The little guy even managed to sneak in a nap in the car; he's a good little traveler!

Mama and Eli in the car

We had talked to Jorge, previously, about visiting Monserrate Friday evening, and he was waiting for our call. We returned to the apartment at 3pm, put Eli down in the crib to finish his nap, and called Jorge immediately. He said we could still make it to Monserrate before sunset if we left around 4:30pm. So, we grabbed a snack, restocked the backpack, bundled Eli up and headed out the door again. One of our FANA friends back home, Colleen, had recommended we try to watch the sunset from Monserrate. Both Jorge and Maria Teresa seemed a bit surprised at this request when we mentioned it, but I was completely taken with the idea and we had held out for a sunny, clear afternoon. Our timing couldn't have been better. We arrived at the foot of the hill around 5:30pm, a half hour before sunset. 

Monserrate is a 10,341 foot mountain that sits in the center of Bogotá. On its peak, a 17th century cathedral dedicated to El Señor Caído (fallen Lord) stands and can be seen from most places in the city. When you are at the top of Monserrate, you are nearly two miles above sea level. If the altitude doesn't leave you breathless, the view certainly will! I apologize for the abundance of pictures, but we couldn't help ourselves. Unfortunately, they do not do the experience justice. However, I do believe they come closer than my words could. 

The ticket office, at the foot of Monserrate

Jorge, Jamie and Eli

Waiting in line for the aerial cable car

Mama and Eli holding on tight

The sun was still up as we ascended 

Up, up, up we go!

At the top of the mountain, sunlight illuminated the lush foliage and the city sprawled out to the horizon line: towering skyscrapers, stadiums, the terra cotta tile roofs of La Candelaria, homes, green spaces, and a lake at the edge of the city could all be recognized from our bird's eye view. The pictures don't capture the these details, but the light was so lovely...

We stood for a long time on the top terrace surrounding the church and watched the sun set. Then, we walked through a cobble stoned corridor, next to the church, full of vendors and souvenirs. We picked up two more of Eli's 18 gifts: a hand made sweater and a little key chain with a leather hand crafted soccer shoe attached. 

We headed back to the terrace, after dark, to snap a few more pictures of the illuminated city view and then we walked over to the restaurant across from the church for a special meal in a cozy, beautiful setting.

The restaurant at Monserrate

The entrance feels like a cottage right out of a fairy tale...

Beautiful ambiance

There just happened to be a piano player at the restaurant that night and...he was playing the great American songbook! I immediately recognized some of the tunes as jazz standards and was having trouble not singing along! I asked Jorge if he thought it would be alright if I went over and asked if I could sing a song, and he jumped right up and went over to converse with the pianist in Spanish while I finished feeding Eli the food we had packed him. 

Soon, they motioned for me to join them at the piano and the pianist, who was a conservatory trained Cuban musician, welcomed me with a huge grin and started naming tunes he knew. We settled on "When I Fall In Love," and then "New York, New York." What a treat for me to get a chance to sing with a talented pianist, after being without a musical outlet for over a month! The restaurant crowd seemed to appreciate our collaboration; the performances were greeted with applause and many smiles and nods. 

Making music at Monserrate

We shared a delicious meal with Jorge and then made our way back down the mountain, ready to turn in after a full day.

A delicious dinner and great company, too!

Saturday morning, 7/26/14, Maria Teresa picked up Jamie and they headed back to the passport office to pick up Eli's finished passport. He looks very serious in the picture and so incredibly cute! (I'm not at all biased!)

I stayed home with Eli and then we walked over to Oma for lunch, after Jamie returned. The Pyc family called and invited us up to their apartment in the late afternoon for snacks and some social interaction. The Ensey family, from Tennessee, also joined us and we ended up ordering pizza and staying for dinner. It was really a pleasure to get together, exchange stories, laugh and let the kids play together. I'm so glad we were able to connect with these other American families and be a part of their adoption adventures, as well. 

Jamie and the kids at the Pyc's place

Andres spent some quality time with Eli

Angie Ensey and her new mama, Erica 

Justin Ensey, sharing songs on YouTube with Milena and Andres

Angie and mom performing "Los Pollitos" for us

We headed to bed early that night because the next day, Sunday, was Maria Angel's baptism in the town of Chiquinquirá. But, that special day warrants a blog of its own. So, my next entry will pick up our story there. 

For now, this tired mama is going to go kiss her boy goodnight and crawl under the covers, herself. 

“To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” – Bill Bryson