On to Medellin

Picking up where I left off with our Colombian Adoption Blog Reality Series :)

Friday evening we took the children out for ice cream.  Amazingly, the ice cream shops are not that expensive.  Which is crazy considering a 1/2 gallon of ice cream in the grocery store is $10!!!  I am not sure if Little One had eaten much ice cream before.  She looked at it uncertainly but gobbled it up as soon as she tasted it.  Then we headed over to the Plaza since we heard live music coming from that direction.  The plaza was PACKED.  There were vendors selling balloons, amazing pan de queso, sweets and anything else you can think of while the music played loudly.  Dancers in traditional dress practiced their upcoming performances and families danced freely to the music while their children ran about.  I am so glad we took the time to stop by.  We saw our favorite Colombian police officer, Davie again and quickly realized how much our Spanish has improved just in two weeks.  We could speak much more than the last time we met Davie!!

Jude and Davie.  Anyone seeing a pattern in Jude's pictures??

Friday evening when we returned to the hotel, we received a phone call from our guide.  She told us that the minor defender had changed his mind and we could ALL leave Valledupar for Medellin on Saturday night.  This was such an answer to prayer! We were beyond excited and in a bit of panic mode trying to get flights lined up for Brant and Reese.  We spent all day Saturday packing and tying up loose ends in Valledupar.  It was a crazy day.  The staff of our hotel went above and beyond during our stay to make us comfortable.  They purchased a massive stuffed animal for Little One to receive when we brought her back from our Encuentro.  They also provided blocks, games and books to entertain the kids.  We tried to return all the items while we were packing up, but the manager Gladys and one of our other favorite staff members, Luz, insisted we take them with us to Medellin.  Gifts they said!

Playing with the blocks on our last day in Valledupar

 Our flight from Valledupar to Medellin left at 7:30 pm.  We arrived about an hour early and stood in the un-airconditioned tiny airport terminal attempting to get our bags checked while keeping three very sleepy Littles occupied and calm.  Brant and I had sweat dripping from our elbows, faces and backs by the time we arrived at the gate.  Little One struggled a bit with the flights.  I am sure it was overwhelming.  As much as I tried to explain what was happening, it just looked like more change to her.  The forcing of the seatbelt on the airplane was more than she could take.  I imagine she never had to be buckled into anything before and did not understand why.  She slept off and on during the first leg from Valledupar to Bogota where we had to disembark and ride a bus to the terminal where we waited to board the next flight which would take us to Medellin.  Another tough flight.  She was just sad.  We arrived in Medellin around 10:30 pm.  My sister, Crystal, was waiting for us since her flight had arrived earlier that evening.  We also had my friend Diana's parents and aunt who live in Medelling waiting to welcome us to their city along with our driver and lawyer.  It was quite the entourage :)

Brant and I, the Little and the luggage rode in a van while the Bigs and Crystal rode with our driver.  After a very curvy 45 minute ride from the airport into Medellin, we finally arrived at our apartment.  The leasing agent and his wife/girlfriend were there to let us in.  Between them and our entourage we had 16 people at the apartment at midnight!  Diana's family were so crazy-good to us.  They brought us a playpen for Jude and stocked our kitchen so we would have breakfast and much, much more without having to get to the grocery store so soon.  It was so kind.  Their generosity has continued as they brought us lunch several times, invited Brant to a private Tejo game and made their pool and playground available to our children. 

While all the bustling was taking place in the apartment, Little One threw up.  It was just all too much for her.  The plane rides, the anxiety, the massive change in elevation and temperature.  It was sad.  She went on to sleep for the night and shortly after the rest of us did as well.

Our apartment lobby.  We are on the 6th floor which is the top floor for this building.
 

In the morning, we were amazed at the view from the apartment.  The trade-off for that view is the walk.  Uphill is an understatement.  That coupled with the higher elevation has taken some adjustment!  It is so beautiful and lush here. There is no air conditioning or heat here so we just have the enormous windows open in the apartment most of the time to get a good breeze going.  There is usually a nice rain in the afternoon or evening that cools things off.  The apartment has 4 bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths.  It is nice to finally have a little elbow room and the opportunity to unpack our suitcases.  Since we arrived, we have ventured out for a couple of grocery shopping trips, a very long walk to one of the malls and a couple of trips to the park across from our  apartment.  Other than that, we have laid low trying to just spend time with Little One and get acclimated to our new location and routine.  We have a washing machine (hooray!!!!) and built in clotheslines.  That makes a huge difference in the time it takes me to do laundry every day.  No dishwasher unless you count Crystal who has helped me tremendously in that and so many other areas!  Monday we received our first home delivery of groceries.  We just order online and they bring them up for a fee of about $1.75.  Best thing ever.  We started back to light homeschool days yesterday and it makes the days go by even faster. 

This picture does not do the view justice. It feels like we are above a canopy of trees.  And at night the lights are gorgeous.

On  our road heading out for a trip to the mall.

Looking out from the Sante Fe mall to the open air entrance.  I think the mall was like 5 or 6 stories tall.
It had some great stores and was a nice break with the kids.  Little One had what I think was her first escalator ride :)
We also located her a pair of pink shoes that fit. 

The kids are filling their time up with blocks, books, playdoh (a fan favorite), bubbles, cars, card games, iPods and jumping around like very loud monkeys. We even introduced Little One to What Does the Fox Say.  She was enthralled :)  Crystal has been everything I cannot be in each moment.  She has done diapers, baths, vomit clean-up, laundry, dishes, kitchen cleanup, toy cleanup, games, songs, books, everything.  I may not let her leave. 

Book time with Daddy

The spiral staircase leading to Dakota and Gavin's bedroom (loft) also serves as entertainment.

Monkey bars

Playdoh elephant mask

Everyone is happy when the PlayDoh packs come out!

Wearing Mami's glasses and playing with my hair while sporting her new shoes from the mall. 
I can only convince her to take them off right before bed. 

Little One is progressing.  The first couple of days presented challenges at every turn.  She is not a morning person and wants to sit alone for a long time waking up.  Bathing has continued to be an issue as she screams through the entire event.  She throws up when she gets upset and we have struggled to get her to eat or drink much.  She hates the stroller and cries in it.  A lot.  She has a trembling, crying sort of fear of thunder.  I mentioned it rains here almost daily, right?

But here is the upswing.  Today was a really good day.  Little One spent a very small amount of time warming up today.  She laid down for nap and bed well, cried a lot less for her bath, tolerated a stroller ride to the grocery store this morning and to the park this afternoon and actually ate some today!  We found some go-to foods: eggs (over-medium only), arepas with butter and salt, rice with butter and salt, pork, yogurt, jello, hot chocolate, coffee with milk and Avena.  We will just rotate these forever :)  She also played well with the kids and adults today.  It was just a good day.

Today's trip to the park

Jude's first non-crying moment in a while

Little One

My sweet girl and my lifesaver sister

Oh Reese.

Gavin is infatuated with the bamboo and his quest for "tropical bird feathers"

Random other things about Little One that don't make good paragraphs:
1. Loves having her hair brushed and ponytailed or hair-bowed up.
2. Love of shoes and clothes <3. 
3. Does this amazing crinkle nose thing when she smiles.  So cute.
4. Is completely potty-trained and tells us every single time.  Hallelujah!
5. Loves her siblings already.  She calls them Cola, Gah-in, Ree and Chu. 
6. Says the word "milla" about 100 times a day.  She means "mira" which means look. 
7. Shakes her finger at Reese when he does something she doesn't like.
8. Is quick to stick her tongue out at someone if she thinks Brant and I aren't looking.
9. Sassy. 
10. Amazing curly hair that I'm learning (slowly) to tame.
11. Neatest eater ever.
12. Loves music and dancing.
13. Will bust out a pose for the camera.  All you have to say is "poser". 
14. Looks at pictures of herself and says "linda" or "hermosa" which means pretty.  Sigh.
15. So smart.  Understands so much English already and will repeat any words we ask her to.
16. Tiny.  Almost as tall as Reese but today's skirt was a 12-18 month size and she will be 3 in January. 
17. Has all of our hearts wrapped around her little finger.

I cannot wait to share more with you all.  The days are busy but I will update when I can.  Keep praying for us!!