Whenever Robert seems to be tired or cranky, especially when it's the afternoon, we tell him that he needs to go take a nap. But somehow he has learned to associate this with the fact that he needs to cheer up and he won't be "punished" to go take a nap. So when we tell him that he soon will go to sleep, he says: "I'm happy" and automatically puts on a happy face, with the cutest smile you could imagine. Even sometimes he says "I'm happy" through his crying tantrum. It's really really really cute!

Last week, Jakub invited us to his school to show off his "portfolio". Wow, what an event. He had to dress up in his official clothes (tie and blazer and all) and show us all the work he's done all year. We sat at tiny tables in tiny chairs and listened to Kuba telling us what each thing was in his portfolio.

Since I talk to my son and come to get him everyday from pre-school, I know what he does, so none of it was news to me. But it was very important to him. In fact, we had to play "Portfolio Day" just yesterday where we pretended we were kids showing our portfolios to our parents (Jakub chose a few books to represent the portfolios). Very cute.

Sunday March 15th: "You better get all your work done Alex, he's coming. I can feel it!"
Seven days later the prophecy remains unfullfilled.
Sunday March 22nd, the due date: If he doesn't come today then we have to see the doctor to schedule an induction.
Monday March 23rd: At the doctor`s. Everything is as fine as it could be so no induction needed. The doctor schedules one for a week later just in case.
Tuesday: Nothing
Wednesday: Nada
Thursday: Boring. Until about 8pm, when Bogusia starts to get some really good contractions. It`s not nearly enough to go to the hospital yet, but he`s coming for sure. Bogusia tries to put it off until morning so the kids can go to school, but by midnight it is apparent that we have to drop them with the neighbours. 2am and we`re at the hospital. At 4:30am Konrad is born without much difficulty at all.

The doctors keep Bogusia in the hospital for the requisite 24 hrs and we`re home just after lunch on Saturday. The existing kids, the dogs, the grandparents, and the uncles get their introductions and are natually impressed by the handsome new baby.

By the way, Konrad means `Brave Counsel`, but we chose the name mainly by sound and suggestion from our friends and family. One of my superiors, named after the god of wine, was shocked that we hadn't researched the meaning of the name just in case it meant "fig tree" or something more ridiculous. Luckily it turned out well but thanks for the good advice!

The middle name, Mariusz, simple means "Male". It was chosen as the closest thing to Bogusia's recently-passed grandmother's name Maria.

Have a look at some pictures of Konrad:

Guapa stole some vermicelli from the table, and she doesn't feel that guilty about it.

Finally the weather is nice. Spring is here. We decide to go to the library by walking, about 4K round trip. Jakub wants to take his bike. If he succeeds, this will be by far the furthest distance he will have crossed by bike.

We start off with Robert on the bike, because he insisted. His feet scarcely touch the pedals and he doesn't quite get the steering, but he has a good time being pull by his balloon string.

Then comes Jakub. He still remembers how to ride, but not at 100% efficiency. He especially doesn't remember how to stop and there was one scare when he kept on rolling almost into the street. Luckily he bailed into someone's lawn.

Jakub proved that he had the stamina, if not pride enough to keep a short spell of whining inside.

Have a look at Uncle Mark impressing the kids with his skills of disgusting behaviour.

This last Friday, in the early morning (Jan. 23, 2009), my favorite Grandma (Babcia Marysia) passed away in her home in Warsaw. I am full of sadness, but also I am happy that she is finally at peace. Everybody dies eventually, and she had a most wonderful and fullfilling life, full of joy, sadness, and full of LOVE.

Babcia was the most loving person I know. I can't imagine her angry, or impatient with anyone. She was always joking around, always happy, laughing. She was humble in the way she lived, she never really needed anything more than to chat with her daughter, her son, her grandchildren and of course her neighbours (for the most up to date gossip).

My first memory of my Grandma was when she came over to see me when I was sick as a little child (probably 3 or 4 years old). She made the best ham sandwiches, which obviously made me 100% better.

Then I remember staying with her and Grandpa when my Mother went for a month to Canada to visit my Father. I remember their little appartment, with the huge round table, in the living room, sitting around it, eating either the best food or some sweats my Grandma served. This was the tradition - come over, sit around the table, eat, chat, chat some more. Once in a while, she would read cards to me, predicting my very exciting future.

I always watched Dynasty with my Grandma. We would make fun of all the extravagant cloths, the jewelery, and she would always catch me up if I ever missed an episode. Then she would pull out a chocolate bar, or some candy or cookies out of her big cabinet, and she would say... "I saved this just for you, but don't tell anyone." She would always have secrets with me. For instance, she would pull out some major money out of some secret hiding place (usually a jar or an empty wine glass) and give me the money saying... "Go buy yourself a present, but don't tell your grandpa, or your uncle where you got the money from..." I'm sure she did this with all her grandkids, but she just made me feel so special.

I remember her hair... her curling iron (still warming it up on the gas of her stove), her lipstick, all her creams (favorite being NIVEA), and her awesome skin which was the softest you can imagine. She always had to make herself up for pictures (put on her red lipstick and some colour in her cheeks); she never smiled for pictures, but when I think of her, that is the only way I can remember her... smiling, or laughing.

She was so excited for me when I met Alex. She really wanted to see a picture of him, and as soon as she did, she told me how handsom he was. Her words ment so much to me, so when she saw Alex, and approved, I was all the more in love with him, saw another side of him... So when we came to see her, Alex in person with our brand new baby Jakub, she was in love, with Alex and Jakub. As always, she made the best food, the best conversation, and the best "secrets".

My grandma was the perfect grandma... I will miss you!

This last weekend, Karen came over with her two children (Zoe and Ryland). Zoe is 11, and Ryland is 8. Jakub really gets along with Ryland, but Zoe was also having fun with the "intellectual" Jakub. Robert was just loving it... After dinner Alex invited everyone to participate in an exercise video he just borrowed from a friend... P90X. Earlier that day, he tried it out and had lots of trouble keeping up with all the seemingly easy exercises. (This is a first for Alex, as he is in excellent shape). Anyway, since I'm pregnant, I had an easy excuse, but everyone else had to go on the floor and exercise. It was too funny!

After the exercise, Zoe suggested we play Settlers of Catan - one of our favorite games. But before we could finish, it got too late for Ryland (and Karen) and they started falling asleep. Zoe really wanted to finish the game, and Karen thought of a great idea... "Let's take a picture of exactly how the game was set up right now, and then we can finish at another time." I thought that was a very creative solution on Karen's part. Here is the photo, so when we're ready to play again, we can just look online to find out the exact setup.

Once again, the Hexa-Trex puzzles got published in the Games Magazine - the the February 2009 issue (out now in your local magazine store). They're on page 40 of the magazine in the pencil-wise section. Have fun!

If you want to try some online, I post a Hexa-Trex puzzle everyday. Also you can purchase a book full of these puzzles from the Nucleus Learning Store or on Amazon.com.