We know how to take advantage

Mom and dad don't like the King Barbar at the Planet of the Curly Eared Elephants book as much as Antonia and I do. They think the author must have munched on something inappropriate before writing it. Grandma didn't have those kind of prejudices when she arrived. Thus, the story has been read to us several times in the past couple of days. Now I can sense Grandma's growing increasingly hesitant to the outer space Barbar book, but it's ok. When Grandma and Grandpa from Helsingborg arrive next week, we'll start fresh again.

Double functions, double the fun

Not only do I have hands that are my very own and a colorful gym, full of exotic animals. I also know how to combine the two!Look! I can consciously touch the crocodile and hold on to its plastic rings. It takes a lot of concentration, but it's well worth-while. Keeps me busy for minutes to end!

Thursday bliss

I'm happy! Happy happy happy! I'm sure you can tell why from the picture. Grandma is here and we're seriously bonding. Actually there are another two, less obvious, reasons for my high spirit:
a) They're letting me use the pretty summer dress again. (Ha! I laugh in the face of winter!) and
b) I'm being served absolutely delicious milk today! Mom should have well-marmorated sirloin steak and home whipped béarnaise sauce more often!

Visitors from many countries far far away

This weekend, Georgie and Daichi are here. Georgie and mom know each other from Korea, but Georgie's Australian and her fiancé Daichi Japanese. At the moment they live in the UK, although Georgie has been working mainly from Switzerland. They came here from Austria, though, and next week, they're moving back East. Georgie to Japan and Daichi to Australia. And you ask me why I look confused?

Anyway, Adam and I are both happy about them being here. I, for example, laughed out loud - twice - when Georgie spoke with me in the car. Mom and dad got very jelaous, as they've never heard me do that before. They should know that it's only good form to offer guests the very best! And Adam likes it that they didn't mind going squirrel-hunting with him today.

With picnicing in the park and all those other things that come with squirrel-hunting.

Adam in the future?

Mom just couldn't get Adam's and Gustav's names right last weekend. She would get them mixed up every single time. She defended herself by saying that as a child, Gustav looked just like Adam. Seeing this pic of Gustav, I feel slightly worried. Adam is already a lot bigger than I am, but what if he grows to Gustav's size? I won't have a chance to defend my personal space in this family! Mom and dad reassures me that I will grow too and I sure hope they're right!

I looove my baby sister!

I'm sure you do! And I love you too. Especially at a distance. Half a meter of physical personal space is all I'm asking for.

My very own Molgan

A week or so ago, dad had had enough. He wanted to sleep through the night and he wanted me to do the same. Good luck, Pal, I thought. But I didn't say anything as I was curious about how he was going to attac the situation. Ok, this is what happened. He lined up a few of my stuffed toys and asked me to chose one. He said it was going to become my very own, very special companion. Someone to whom I could turn if the night was getting too long or too dark or too boring. Hmm hmm! My very own, very special companion, huh! That's a big decision to make! I carefully studied the toys on offer. The long-eared bunny, the white winter teddy, the lill-Adam doll and Alf-o-BAJ - they all seemed somehow different when presented like that. Finally I picked out Alf-o-BAJ. I mean, I love his movies and he seems like a nice person.
We've been a team ever since, Alf-o-BAJ and I. Day and night. The only time we're apart is when I'm at school. He's not enrolled there. And you know what the cool thing is? Now I have someone to wake up dad together with during the night! By the way, Antonia has taken on the long-eared bunny, but they don't seem to be quite as tight as Alf-o-BAJ and I.

When everything is new

Nobody seems to get quite as surprised by what they see as I do. Too bad for them, 'cos it really makes life exciting!

Alfons Åberg in the shape of a doll! A doll!!!

Mom with a camera! A camera!!!

Barbapapa's New House! New house!!!

(In case you didn't know, Barbapapa's New House is a highly fascinating story about the Barba family looking for a house that suits them.)

Adam's crocodile patterned pajama! Pajama!!!

And there she is again! With a camera! Camera!!!

My Danish identity

There are different ways of embracing the Danish roots that come with being half Skånish. Many do it the standard way, by dressing in Danish brands. Me, however, I'm choosing the narrow path instead and emphasize my relation with Danish priests.

After a long day at school...

... it's nice to settle down for a nap in front of the fireplace.

Sensitivity in action

Evening conversation in the kitchen:- Do you think it's ok to say it now?
- It should be. I think the jeans were the only restriction, and she's back in the pre pregnancy ones now... (A bit off topic, it's a lot of fun to watch her struggle with them every morning!)
- Ok, referring to an earlier blog post, I just have to say that mom doesn't look even remotely 23.
- Agree! And dad doesn't either. As a matter of fact, I couldn't even recognize them in a three year old picture the other day. When asked to pick mom out, I pointed at Grandma, and instead of dad, I pointed at late Grandpa!
- Ha ha!- Ok, enough of you two! We're just old and wise and trying hard to look the part!

First time on the tram

Dad takes the tram to work every day, but mom and I (as well as Antonia, Gustav and Anja) had our Warsaw tram premiere today. Very exciting! And as great a place as any for yet another reminder that I'm a great and funny and beautiful and intriguing little person who makes mom very very happy by my sheer existence. Little person? What does she mean by little person?

Morning mathematics

Some say we look alike. Adam and I both have dad's eyes. I guess that means dad has six eyes? Or minus two?

Different places, different places

Now, when we're at restaurants, I get to sit on someone's lap rather than lay on the table. It's ok.But at home, I still get to lay on the table. And I like that even better.

But we still have the advantage of being fairly new to them

Actually, it's better yet. We're not guineapigs. But we definitely still have some appeal of novelty. I mean, look at this! They bring us gifts (nice Duplo, huh?)... ...and play with us...Mom and dad always (almost) say that they don't want to carry me. That I'm too heavy. Gustav doesn't say that. He even asks me if I want to ride on his shoulders. Ok, maybe I ask him first and then he asks as a clarification. He doesn't always get my articulation... But still.And there's no hesitation about feeding me chocolate when I ask for it.
Or thoughts about that it might not be the greatest thing if I chew on the camera. (Plus, I'm only kissing it. Mom and dad are so quick to move their electronic things out of my reach that they don't get to see that my handling of it is not at all detrimental. Usually.) I would go so far as to say that they're the optimal visitors. Yup! Optimal!

It's nice not to be a guineapig

It's obvious that Gustav has nieces (ok, niece) and nephews that are older than me. He's got that natural way of moving about with me (it's something about the wagging in his walk, something about the rocking) that people get only from experience. It makes me sleep very well. Great visitor!

It's gotta be the money...

Oh, wait... He doesn't have any... Ok, I don't have a plausible explanation for this relationship.But then again, if he's as good a boyfriend as he is uncle, Anja's choice of Gustav is not so hard to understand after all. Plus, he looks like mom, and her looks apparently awards her roses.

It's a hard job, but someone's gotta do it

Dad thinks mom's great for getting Adam to school on time in the morning, pick out outfits for me that are more or less appropriate for the weather, clear the breakfast table, do the laundary, make friends with the other trailing spouses and... yeah, I think that's about it. You have to keep in mind that this whole thing of having kids AND a household to care for is brand new to both of them, so dad's super impressed. He usually conveys his admiration by vocalizing it, but the other day he complemented the words with flowers. Mom chooses to interpret this as a sign of admiration for her great looks and wit.

Morning Q&A

Q: How happy am I that Gustav and Anja are coming to visit today?A1: So happy that I squeel in delight!A2: So happy, in fact, that I would have fallen off the chair, had it not been so deep and so steeply leant back. Good thing it is.

Amen

October is declared the pink month.

Memorabilia

What on earth is this, you may ask. I don't blame you. Fact is that I've had my first ever hair-cut and those are the hairs that are no longer on my head. This is me now. A lot less tempting as a target for those who like hair-pulling.

Girls' night out

Last night, mom and I were at a chichi restauant with our new (grown-up, female) Warsaw pals. I know Adam has a vast experience of laying at starched white linnen, as part of fancy table settings. For me, however, the experience was brand new. It wasn't all that comfortable, really, but I will nonetheless cherish the memory. It doesn't seem to be equally comme il faut with babies on the dinner table here as it were in Manila (not even if the babies are super cute, sound asleep and dressy from tip to toes) so it just might not happen all that often again.Oh well. It as ok on mom's lap as well. She had somehow mysteriously managed to fit into one of her pre-preggo skirts, and it was soft and nice against my cheek.

The virtue of variation

Imagine that the sun were out every single day... Then what would I do with my rainwear and rubber boots? The weather of Warsaw is thoughtful enough to take that problem off my back.

Outdoor playing

There is an unlimited number of things to do outside. Feed the ducks, run along the ponds, play in the sand box, slide down the slide, you name it. But best of all is to swing on the high big-kiddie swing.(Alright, I agree, it's the second best thing to do outside. Best is to play with the other kids. Regardless of what we do, really.)

Indoor playing

I like being outdoors. But in terms of playing, the house is way better for me than the park. Now, you may think these are pictures of me playing on the floor...

...All happy about seeing the world from a different perspective...Well, think again! I like to be on my back or in the Baby Björn rocker. I would never - NEVER - voluntarily choose to lay like this. They think the belly position will strengthen my back muscles. Perhaps it will. I surely hope so, because my biggest problem in these pics is that those muscles aren't strong enough for me to roll over yet!

Adam, on the other hand, gets to play fun indoor games and fool the parents that he's nowhere to be found.And then, just as they are about to give up, he jumps out of his hiding place and ease their worries. That's a game I'd want to be able to play as well!