Venturing Out

Hola from Colombia! We're sorry we didn't post yesterday. We had a great day out on our sightseeing trip, but when we got back to the hotel we couldn't get online due to internet issues. So, please bear with us with the sporadic posts. Similarly, if you have emailed us and we have not written you back, please know we will do that as soon as we can.

As we mentioned in our last post, we said we were going to go sightseeing yesterday. We did, and we had the best time! It was so good for all of us to get out of the hotel and the city. We drove out to the country and saw the Salt Cathedral and then walked around the area for a little bit. Then after that, our driver took us to a nice restaurant for lunch. It was in the next town over from the cathedral and it was a nice change from eating at our hotel all the time. The tour of the Cathedral was about an hour and we both really enjoyed it. We also think Sean liked it too. It was underground and dark and we really interesting. Sean was in the stroller about half the time and then he wanted to walk. So, he definitely got his exercise yesterday. On the other hand, Isabella slept the entire time. I held her in the Baby Bjorn and she was asleep from the time we got there until the time we got back to the hotel. I guess she must have liked the Bjorn. haha But overall, yesterday was a great day and did us all a world of good to get of here for a little bit. We also think one of the most exciting things for Sean was sitting in the backseat of the car without having to sit in a carseat. Yes, you heard that right. The kids don't sit in carseats here. So, Sean felt free.... :) Since we had such a good time, I'm sure we will try to do another tour or something before Gary leaves next weekend.

Today we stayed at the hotel most of the day. We went out to the grocery store for a little bit to pick up something we needed. Then we played here at the hotel for a little bit. However, Sean and Mommy had some special time outside of the hotel together. We went for a walk to an ice-cream shop with another Mom and her eldest son. It was "Mommy and big brother" time. We thought both Sean and his friend needed some time alone with Mommy so it was nice to bring them out. They had a good time and were able to play on a little jungle gym and have some fun without their baby sister or brother. After all of that fun, Sean was exhausted (since he didn't get a nap today) and he just fell fast asleep on my lap at dinner. So, as I type this, he is asleep in his bed in his clothes that he wore today. haha Hey, it was worth it to have him finally get some sleep.

So, on that note, I will sign off and enjoy the quiet. It is time to feed Isabella and then she will be asleep too. Tomorrow we have some adoption things we will be doing. We have our "integration meeting" or it is also called our bonding meeting with the Colombian adoption officials. We have a meeting with them and they check in with us to see how the bonding is going and if our family is doing well. Once we have that meeting, then our paperwork goes into the court system and our wait officially begins. Also, after our integration meeting, we will be going back to Isabella's orphanage (casa privada), also the same one as Sean's, and we will get a tour there. We did the same thing with Sean's adoption, but it will be nice to hear how things have changed in the last two years. Hopefully when we get back, we will be able to get online and give you all an update.

As always, thank you so much for all of your comments. They mean a lot to us.

Buenas noches from Colombia.