Saying Goodbye to Leo!

While we were gone on our adventure to Uyuni, Leo met his adoptive parents for the first time! They are actually from Oruro, so it was neat that we could have visited the city where he was going to live. His parents are both in their fifties. His father is retired and his mother works in some department of the government there in Oruro. His parents are very stable, mature, and kind. They did not want Leo to be an only child, so they have also adopted a little girl who is three years old, from another orphanage here in Cochabamba. Her name is Luz. His parents are keeping their given names Luz and Leo! We have really grown to love his parents and are so happy for Leo to be with his forever family. He has been the hardest for me to see go, as he was our "first" baby with Casa de Amor and has been with us the longest! I am going to share some photos of his time with us and also of his new family....

Leo getting to know his parents!

 When his parents came for visits they always brought lots of toys and treats, as well as clothes...most of the clothes they brought were too small for Leo, because he is such a BIG boy!

Leo enjoying all the treats!

Leo with his new parents and big sister, Luz!

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MEMORIES WITH LEO 

Tiny Leo....but not for long!

When Leo first arrived we talked with Tia Rosa about changing his name. He did not fit Leonardo at all. By the time he left he couldn't have been anything else. Our little lion of a Leo that he was! I was so happy that his parents kept his name Leo. Most adoptive parents change their child's name when adopting them.

The whole Booher clan with our Leo!

Out for a hike at Paurumani Park.

The twins arrived soon after Leo making the children in our care number three! They were not the easiest of months. We were adjusting to a new country, climate, language, food, etc... They are crazy and happy days to remember.

Leo was a pretty demanding baby. He woke every three hours en punto for feedings around the clock until he was six months old. I even took a friends suggestion and added baby cereal to his night feedings, it didn't seem to help much! He had been born premature, so I guess he had some catching up to do.

Tia Carla with her real live baby doll, Leo!

The next to join our family was our happy go lucky, Abby! She and Leo were the best of chums sharing a room and playing perfectly together! They were both so chubby and cute!

Leo and Abby "Best of Chums"

Ready for church with Grandpa Johnson

When my parents came for their visit in April they were a great help with all the babies!

Tia Techy with her "boy" Leo!

Tia Techy will miss this boy as much as we will! She has put in her days with caring for all of our babies and we could not do it without her!

Chow time! Boy could that boy put away the chow!

Happy Leo

Tio Rudi with his three "Casa Babies"

By July of last year both the twins and Abby had been adopted. It was time to bring in more children. Brother sister pair S. and A. were brought home in July. They have been the perfect addition to the family and Leo's best buddies.

First Birthday! August 2012

I really want to post a blog called "Bolivians Can Sleep ANYWHERE". It truly is incredible all the places I have seen them sleeping. Unfortunately, I don't have a camera with me most of the time. Leo was a true Bolivian and could sleep just about anywhere also.

Nap time on the swing set! Leo with A.

Paula is a great "help" with the kids... most of the time she is the ringleader in some sort of trouble. One day I found that she had introduced S. and Leo to a big mud puddle...they had lots of fun! Too cute to pass up, I snapped some photos before they took their bath!

Paula introducing the boys to MUD! Good clean fun!

Sheer Bliss!

We're happy campers!

"See, Mama, they're having fun!"

I mentioned earlier that Leo ate a lot... well he did... Emily took the following pictures of a food fest that he had!

Food, Food, Glorious Food!

Good enough to lick the plate!

And when it is all gone, maybe EAT the plate!

Leo loved his baths. He had many opportunities for them!

Splish Splash, Lovin' the Bath

He and S. shared a room and a schedule. They only drink milk three times a day, but it seems that we have them well documented!

Outside bottle time!

Inside bottle time!

Looking outside at the great outdoors!

I didn't give Leo many haircuts. This picture is of the last haircut I gave him! I thought he turned out muy guapo!

Mi Guapo Leo

Yumm... Watermelon!

When we didn't have water in the house one day, Clara set up a wash station outside. Leo was a big help! Leo could crawl super fast and was into everything all the time!

Clara and Leo washing dishes together!

Snack Time with Friends

Our Adorable Little Leonardo!

The day Leo left I gave him a quick bath. I remembered that I had taken pictures of his "first" bath with us. I decided to have Lauren take a picture of me with him at his "last" bath with us also! You can see that he has grown quite a bit this last year!

Leo's "First" Bath (Nov, 2012)

Leo's "Last" Bath (Dec, 2013)

I forgot to mention that we brought home E. towards the middle of November. We knew that Leo would be leaving soon and wanted to ease the blow by having a buddy for S., as well as a distraction for all of us. E. has been a busy addition to the family and it has been a blessing to have him in our home. He and S. are best of friends now and it has helped to have the extra little boy to ease the "missing" of Leo!

E. our happy addition to the family!

Our First Four Casa Kids

Our Latest Four Casa Kids

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The week before Leo's parents came to take him home for good they threw a small going away party for him at our house. They brought a delicious cake and jello. They also gave our family the practical and useful gift of groceries! They brought lots of noodles, rice, and oats. The gift was very generous and kind of them and unexpected!

Felicidades, Leo

Leo enjoying jello with his Mama and Papa!

The guests enjoying their jello as well!

More of the good stuff!

The next Saturday it was time to say goodbye to Leo!

One last picture with Emily and her favorite little boy!

 When I went to hug Leo goodbye before he left he only wanted to be held by his Daddy. It did my heart good to see that he was totally bonded with his parents and did not need us anymore. It reminded me of at the end of "Mary Poppins" when the children skip off with their father to fly a kite, and the "talking umbrella" tells Mary that they are not even thinking about her anymore, or something like that, and she says, "That is as it should be!!" We were able to send a Bible home with Leo with a letter in it telling a bit about us and a bit about his babyhood with us. We also hope to see him before we leave for home next year.

Leo with his Old and New Families!

We will always remember this very special year we were able to have with this sweetest of little boys! To watch Leo grow from a tiny baby to an active crawling little boy is a privilege that none of us would have missed. Yes, it is hard to say goodbye, but very rewarding as well. We are so blessed that now all four of our original children have permanent homes to nurture and love them. We continue to pray for the children we are currently caring for to have permanent homes before we have to return to the States.
Que te vaya bien con tu nueva familia y que Dios te bendiga, nuestro Leonardo!