Alek's New Best Buddy Rudolph

The day after Thanksgiving my parents took all of the grandkids to Build-A-Bear. Alek was so excited and picked out Rudolph. We put the Rudolph song in his paw and outfitted him with a jingle bell collar, hat, and scarf. Alek has not stopped holding Rudolph or let him out of his sight ever since. Anywhere Alek goes, Rudolph goes as well. He even comes into the bathroom and sits right by the bathtub while Alek takes a bath. Alek is usually holding him while I'm trying to get him dressed and has to bring him in the car or to any store we go to. He is so attached to Rudolph and loves him so much. He wraps his arm around Rudolph's neck while he plays with toys or watches TV. After 2 weeks, the batteries in Rudolph's nose and song are not working and Alek is devastated. It's kind of nice since he would bring Rudolph to church and without fail the song would go off during sacrament. We will be replacing the batteries at least so his nose will light up and then I think Alek will be happy. If Alek isn't being a good listener or cooperating, we just threaten to take Rudolph away and he changes his behavior pretty darn quick. I'm surprised at how quickly he forgot about Big Doggy, Baby Doggy, and Doggy with the Hat (he's very creative with his names) since he would carry all of them everywhere. Now they don't even get a spot in his bed most nights. As long as Alek has Rudolph with him he's content.

Gymnastics

Alek and Ryker have been going to a gymnastics class for the past 2 months and have really enjoyed it. Alek loves to climb, swing, run around and be crazy, none of which are allowed in the house. It's been a great way for the boys to get all of their energy out as well as listen and play with others. We have had so much fun and are sad that we only have one class left. I have to admit that it is pretty exhausting chasing the two of them around as they seem to go in opposite directions, but it has been a lot of fun for them.

Halloween

This year for Halloween Alek was a witch and Marek was a mad scientist. When we first received a catalog with costumes, Alek looked through it and immediately decided on the witch costume. Every time someone asked him what he wanted to be, he would say a witch. He didn't want to be just any witch, but a mean witch with a star wand. We borrowed his cousins witch outfit that my mom made and painted his face green and he was so happy with his costume. After I painted his face green he said he didn't need a plug anymore because he was worried his green make up would come off. He loved being a witch and was mistaken for a girl a few times while we were out trick-or-treating. I just laughed. He had a great time trick-or-treating and thankfully didn't come home with too much candy. I wonder what he'll come up with next year.

Marek was a mad scientist which was perfect since his hair is always crazy and sticking up no matter how hard I try to gel it down. When I came up with the idea, his hair was much longer, but I couldn't take it anymore and he had 2 haircuts before Halloween. His hair still looked great, but the best part of his costume were his glasses. I was shocked that he kept them on the whole time. He didn't even bother with them once. Finding a white lab coat proved to be very difficult, so Rafal sewed him one out of a shirt. Good thing he knows how to sew since I have no idea. Everyone got a kick out of Marek's costume and we had a great Halloween.

Alek the "Witch"

Marek the"Mad Scientist"

Alek was convinced that Rykman wanted to be a cupcake for Halloween. After seeing a cupcake costume at Old Navy that was too small, he came to terms with the fact that Rykman was going to be Buzz instead.

Our carved pumpkins. Alek did a great job cleaning out the insides and then poking holes all over them. He loved looking at them lit. We had to bring one in the house so he could look at it all night.

First Haircut and Riding Bikes

Before his haircut his hair almost covered his entire ear and we had to make a big curl in his mohawk so it wouldn't be so tall.

His hair was so long we couldn't even see his neck.

He looks like such a little man getting his hair cut.

Marek had his first haircut a few weeks ago and sat like a pro. He has needed a haircut since birth, but we decided to wait until he was a little bigger just to make things easier. He sat in his bumbo chair and Stacy was able to cut his hair with no problem. After his haircut he didn't look like my baby anymore. He looked so grown up. His hair grows so fast and he has so much of it that we will probably have to take him back for another trim in a few more weeks. I was happy that he sat so well, he must have watched his big brother who also sits so nicely for his haircut. Alek loves Stacy and will only let her or sometimes Aunt Desi cut his hair.



One of Alek's favorite things to do is ride his bike. He rides it so fast and has no fear. Almost everyone's driveway in our cul-de-sac is a hill and he's not afraid to speed down any of them. He starts at the top, lifts his feet and races to the bottom then moves his feet as fast as possible and keeps going. He is tall enough to pedal, but can't go nearly as fast. He reminds me of the Flintstones with as quick at his feet move.

What's New?

I know it's been over a month since my last post, but I just don't have any time to spend on the computer. Now that Marek sleeps through the night and I finally get more sleep, I want more sleep so I've been going to bed earlier instead of blogging. A lot has happened in the last month, so here are the highlights.

We went with my family to Fiesta Days in Spanish Fork and had a great time. Alek loved riding the rides this year, but the best part was getting his face painted. After seeing his cousins Addie and Sadie with their faces painted, he wanted his painted too. He chose the ladybug just like Addie. He kept looking in the mirror at his face and even had to sleep with it on. Luckily the next morning he decided that he didn't want to be a ladybug anymore and we washed it off.


Marek is getting so big and is now starting to play. He loves to lay on the floor or in his bouncer and kick. He's also sitting in his walker and will occasionally pick up a toy. His favorite toys are his fist and his bib. He loves to pull off his bib and he is always sucking on his fist. He is talking and smiling all the time. Although he had colic at the beginning and was a little unhappy, he is now a very happy baby. He loves when his daddy talks to him in Polish. He smiles and talks right back to him. He's had thrush for the past few weeks and we are having a hard time getting rid of it completely. Hopefully after this round of medicine it will be gone.


I've started watching my nephew Ryker again and he and Alek are the best of friends. Most of the time they get along great and play nicely. We have the occasional hitting sometimes, but they are quick to say sorry and love each other better. Their favorite things to do together are play with the remote control trains, play baseball, and swing. It's nice for Alek to have someone other than me to play with each day.


Marek had his CAT SCAN last Tuesday and was so good. He couldn't eat for 6 hours before the procedure and I thought that was going to be hell, but he was as happy as could be. I think that he knew he needed to be very good that day and he did great. I was going to wake him up to give him his last feeding, but he woke up on his own and he never wakes up at that time to eat. Then he went right back to sleep and I had to wake him up again to get him ready to go. Usually after his bath he's starving, but he didn't fuss at all. We went to the hospital and they prepped him with an IV to sedate him for the scan, but said they would try it first without sedation. He held still for that minute and they were able to get a clear picture without sedating him. We were in and out within an hour. I was so nervous about the whole thing and everything turned out just fine. Marek still has his cystic lung lesion and will need surgery, but the doctor wants to wait until he's a little older, so we'll recheck it in 3 months. The good news is that he won't have to have another CAT SCAN. I'm not looking forward to the surgery because he'll be in the hospital for 3 to 5 days, but at least he'll be a little bit bigger.


I turned 30 last week! I can't believe I'm out of my 20's. I don't really feel older or look too much older except for some new little lines around my eyes, but I'm 30. Rafal said that 30 is the new 60 and teases me saying he needs to trade me in for a newer model. My 20's were great years and hopefully my 30's will be even better. Alek's been saying "Mama today's your birthday" every day for the past couple of days and when I tell him my birthday is over, he looks sad and says "Why?" I think he just likes to help blow out birthday candles and eat cake.

2 Month Check Up

Marek had his 2 month check up on Monday and here are his stats:

Weight 11 lbs. 11 oz. (50th percentile)
Height 22 3/4 in. (50th percentile)

Head Circumference 39 cm. (25th percentile)

Marek is such a great baby and a wonderful sleeper. He is officially sleeping through the night. He usually goes to bed around 9:00 or 9:30 and sleeps until 4:30 or 6:00, then has a bottle and goes back to bed until 8:00 or 9:00. It is heaven. He is such a little piggy and drinks about 4 oz. with every feeding. He is smiling all of the time and starting to talk. He loves to lay in his bouncer and kick his feet while listening to the music play. He now likes his bath and usually doesn't start crying until I do his hair. With that full head of hair it takes some time to comb it all and get some gel on it. He is such a sweet baby and Alek loves holding him and helping take care of him. I can't believe how much he is growing and how fast the time is going by. Pretty soon he'll be a little boy just like Alek, but for now I love having a sweet little baby boy.

New Pictures

We had pictures of Marek taken when he was 2 weeks old and they turned out so cute. Here are some of our favorites.

2 Week Check Up

We went to the doctor for Marek's 2 week check up and here are his stats
Weight 7 lbs. 2 oz. (39th percentile)
Height 21 in. (93rd percentile)
Head Circumference 33 cm. (13th percentile)

Marek gained 9 ounces in 2 weeks and amazingly grew 3 1/2 inches. When he was born he measured 17 1/2 inches and now he's 21 inches. I think that they measured him wrong at the hospital because growing 3 1/2 inches is quite a lot in a 2 week period. If he keeps growing like this, he'll be taller than Alek soon. He's already passed up Alek by being in the 93rd percentile for height, so maybe the tall gene from my side will come through.
Marek is doing well and is always eating. If his eyes are open, he's rooting and thinks he needs to eat. He's sleeping well during the day and at night he sleeps between 2 and 3 1/2 hours at a time, which is much better than Alek ever slept. Also he sleeps in his crib. Occasionally I'll put him in the bouncer next to my bed so I can easily stick his plug in his mouth if he keeps fussing, but usually he sleeps in his crib. I think he's already slept in the crib more than Alek ever did. Alek is also finally sleeping better, only waking up a couple of times to request milk and then falling right back to sleep. Thank goodness Rafal is a great help and gets up with one or the other. This weekend, he got up and fed Marek every time and I actually got to sleep. It was wonderful. Thanks honey for being so helpful.

Our New Addition

Marek Newton HajdoBorn May 10, 2010 at 12:22 pm
6 lbs 12 oz
17.5 inches
Tons of dark brown hair
He definitely looks like a "Mini Rafal"

Marek is finally here and we are so excited to welcome him into our family. We are so happy that he is a healthy baby boy and doing well. My due date was May 19th, but they decided to induce me early because my amniotic fluid had become quite low from the previous week and since Marek has a lung leision that could require surgery right after birth, they decided to induce me early. We checked into the hospital and they started the platocin at 8:30, broke my water at 9:30, and he was born at 12:22. Luckily this time I only had to push for about 20 minutes as opposed to the hour and a half I had to push with Alek. There were so many doctors and nurses in my room because we had to have the NICU team there to check Marek out right after birth. I sat there watching as everyone gathered around whispering and checking him, praying that everything was okay. His crying was definitely a welcome sound to me since I couldn't see him. After about 15 minutes, they let me finally hold him. I only got to hold him for about 3 minutes and then they took him up to the NICU to monitor him. Rafal was able to go with him and they said they would keep me posted. He was in the NICU for an hour, then brought downstairs to the nursery for his bath. Finally 3 long hours after having him I got to hold him and inspect him. After 2 chest x-rays and check ups by his pediatrician, he was cleared to come home. He is doing so well and I am so thankful that he didn't need surgery and there were no complications. We will see the pediatric surgeon in 3 weeks and decide whether surgery will be necessary then or if we can wait until he's a little bit older. I love having a new baby in the house. He's such a content baby and does not have the set of lungs on him that Alek does. He's been sleeping (mostly during the day) and eating well. Alek loves his "baby Marek" and is very helpful in giving him a bath and feeding him his bottle, but he's not as interested in him as I thought he would be. Instead Alek has been taking care of his doggy and baby, copying everything that I do with Marek. It's so cute to watch him. Rafal loves having his 2 boys and is such a great dad.

Marek has so much hair that he will need a haircut very soon.

Thank goodness Marek doesn't have the cowlicks that
Alek does so he can wear his hair in a mohawk or combed to the side.

Rafal holding his boys.

Almost Done!

I am 38 weeks pregnant and ready to be done. I have my doctor's appointment tomorrow and hopefully they will set up my induction date for next week. This has been a long pregnancy filled with many doctor's appointments and anxiety. The good news is that I was not sick everyday for six and a half months like I was with Alek. The bad news is that this baby has a cystic lung lesion that will have to be surgically removed, but hopefully not until he is a few months old. They luckily found it on my 20 week ultrasound and they have been monitoring it closely with ultrasounds and non stress tests. I had to switch doctors when I was 36 weeks along because I need to deliver at Utah Valley Hospital instead of American Fork Hospital. I wasn't too sad about switching doctors since mine never even touches me or does anything other than come in for a few minutes and type on the computer. Now I am down to the last couple of weeks and I can't wait to have this baby. Alek is also very excited about his new baby brother. Over the weekend, he got his new bed which he absolutley loves and we moved all the nursery furniture to the downstairs bedroom. Alek goes into the nursery daily and rocks his doggy baby and plays in the bouncer. He has been taking such good care of his doggy by feeding him his bottle, changing his diaper, and putting him down for a nap that I know he is going to be very helpful with his baby brother. He told me that baby Marek will be coming out of his belly too. We are all excited and anxious for Marek to come and hope that everything goes well and he is a healthy baby boy.

Happy Birthday Alek!

I can't believe that Alek is already 2. He's such a big boy now. He loved his birthday this year because he actually understood what was going on. He's been waiting for his birthday and has been practicing blowing out his candles for a couple of months now. He was so excited about all of his presents, especially his bike and his trains. He has been playing with all of his birthday toys everyday and is in train heaven. Rafal was just as excited about Alek's trains and they love to change the train track around daily to make it even better. Happy Birthday Alek!

Alek's truck worked much better than a fork for eating his birthday cake.

The train track that Alek and Rafal built.

Alek blowing out his birthday candles. There are 3 candles because one has the number 2 on it and the other two are stars.

Whoopsie, Shoot, and Oh Man!

These are the 3 words that I hear Alek saying quite often. Last night as Rafal and I were going to bed, we heard Alek in his bed saying "Whoopsie, Whoopsie." Rafal went in to see what the problem was and Alek had dropped his plug and couldn't find it. Rafal gave Alek his plug and then he was right back to sleep. Anytime Alek drops something he says "Whoopsie." Every time I hear him say it, I just laugh.

"Shoot" is his other word, which isn't the worst word in the world, considering the alternative, but I guess I need to teach him a better word. If he's trying to do something and he can't, then he'll say "Shoot." He was trying to screw a penny to the wall with his drill and after several attempts, realizing it wouldn't stay on the wall, looked at me and said "Shoot Mama."

"Oh Man" is what he says when he's disappointed about something. He will usually put his head down and in a sad voice utter the words "Oh Man." The other day in nursery, he wanted to play with a train that someone else was playing with, so he tried to give that child another toy in exchange for the train. When the child refused his request, he walked over to me, put his head down and said "Oh man."

Alek is talking so well and I love to hear all the new words he learns. I just have to be careful because he loves to repeat whatever you say.

So BIG So Fast!

I can't believe that Alek will be 2 years old next month. The time has gone by so fast. He is no longer a baby, but a little boy who is learning new things all the time. He has really started talking a lot now. He has started to use three and four word sentences and understands English and Polish. He speaks mostly English because he's home with me all day, but there are a few words that he says only in Polish like "tak" (yes), "daj" pronounced die (give) and "Dziadziu" pronounced Jajew (Grandpa). He knows most of the color names, however when asked what color something is, he usually will say "red" first and if it's not red, than he'll say "blue." He knows all the names of the people in my family and can say most of them very well. When asked what his name is, he says "me." There are so many things he can do on his own as well. He puts his dirty laundry in the hamper, he can put on some of his shoes by himself and on the right feet, he cleans up most of the time, he gets things on his own when asked, he turns the TV and DVD player on and off, he opens and closes the doors and the freezer, and so many other things. Some things I wish he wouldn't do on his own, but he wants to be independent and thinks he knows how to do it all.

Alek's new favorite things to play with are cars and trains. He refers to trains as "choo choos." He went with his daddy to the train expo and was in heaven. He loves to be down on the floor driving his cars and trains all around.

My nephew Vance was born on January 28 and Alek is in love with him. The first time he saw Vance, he ran over with a big smile on his face and couldn't wait to hold him. He was giving him kisses and loves. He is going to make a great big brother. I'm going to have to watch him closely because I have a feeling he is going to try and hold the baby and carry him on his own. He loves to help out with Vance and I know that he is going to love his new baby brother.

Last year I had to follow Alek all over the playground and help him climb up the steps and go down the slides, but now he can do it all on his own. He kept putting his arms in the air and saying "I big" as he climbed on everything.

Alek's best friend is his cousin Ryker. They love to play together. Ryker is at our house 3 times a week and they've grown up together. It's like they're brothers. Even though Ryker is almost as big as Alek, he is still treated like the baby by Alek. Alek takes good care of Ryker and tries to show him and tell him what to do. He also tries to pick him up, but doesn't have much luck.

Every time I take out the camera, Alek says "cheese" and gives me a great big smile.

It's a Boy!

We found out that we are having a boy! We are so excited to add another boy to our family. I was so surprised when they told me it was a boy. I have felt so good during this pregnancy that I was sure it was because I was having a girl. Everyone in my family also thought it was a girl except for my dad and my brother Willy. It will be so much fun to have two boys close together so I can put them in cute little matching outfits. Alek is also very excited about his baby brother. I know that he is going to be so in love with him and very helpful. I am halfway through my pregnancy and I am starting to feel uncomfortable. I also feel so much bigger with this baby then with Alek. I can't wait to see this new baby and I wonder if he'll look like Alek or totally different. I know he'll be beautiful and we will love him to pieces.

Christmas

Christmas was so much fun this year because Alek understood a little more about what was going on and was really excited about his presents. Every Christmas Eve we get together with my family and the adults play a movie trivia game where we win money and then do a white elephant exchange. We always have so much fun trying to come up with the craziest and funniest presents each year. The grand kids get to open their pajamas and presents from grandma and grandpa. This year Alek got a cabbage patch doll and a wagon/bike. He absolutely loved both. His aunt Nanny gave him a drill and thank goodness he opened that first, otherwise he would not have been able to open anything else. He used that drill to open every present on Christmas Eve and Christmas. I didn't think he was ever going to get his presents opened Christmas morning. He also had to sleep with his drill. He got a little tired after opening a few presents, but he finally made it through them all. He got a desk, markers, crayons, books, shopping cart, microwave, and a car. After he opened each present, he had to play with it for a few minutes before moving onto the next. He was so excited with each present and would stick it in his shopping cart until later. Rafal and I had so much fun watching his face light up with a smile when he opened his presents. We definitely had a very Merry Christmas!

Alek making his first of many masterpieces at his desk.

All the cousins in their pajamas on Christmas Eve
Asher, Addie, Ryker, Sadie, and Alek