6 Months Old

Gabriella just turned 6 months last week. She is awesome and did do something new every month. Kevin and I are looking forward to see what she will do for other 6 months until she is one year old.

Last Tuesday, Gabby had doctor appointment for her 6-month check-up. She is 16 lbs, 1 oz and 26.5 inches long, and they both are 75% percentile! That is excellent!! Before her doctor appointment, she had a little fever. Poor baby. Due to her fever, we thought it would be from her teeth, but nothing happening there yet. Gabby was supposed to take shots for 6 months old; unfortunately, the doctor couldn't give her a shot due to her fever. Her temperature needed to go down to normal before she gave her a shot. We had to go back to doctor appointment today to take a shot.

So today, we returned to the doctor's office: no more fever! Dr. Sheridan said she probably had a virus, especially since she has a little rash on her head and chest, but since the fever is gone, the virus is going away. Also, she was cleared for traveling to Peoria tomorrow!

Note: Elzbieta and Gabriella are going to Peoria on Saturday, November 15th for Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I am not sure when I will be able to update our blog. Soon, Kevin will come for Thanksgiving, so I can use his laptop to make some updates. :)

Musical Table

Gabriella received a wonderful Musical Table as an early Christmas gift from the Canada Watts Family. The reason Gabby received early is because Marta is going to have a baby anytime soon and will be busy with her newborn son and family at Christmas time. It will be easy for her to get it over with so that she can relax and have time to be with her son and family. Also, Gabriella and I will be in Peoria in a week for Thanksgiving and Christmas. That way, the Watts Family won't have to send it to us in Peoria and we will not need to bring it with us to Seattle, taking up space in suitcases for other gifts from family in Peoria.

At first, Gabriella was not sure what the Musical Table was and explored all of these musics from the piano, computer, telephone, and book. It has songs about ABC's, numbers, colors, and reading a book full of animals.

Kevin and I didn't put the four poles to attach the musical table because Gabriella is not able to hold and balance herself during standing just yet. For now, Gabby is able to play with it easily on the floor until whenever she is ready to stand and balance and hold herself. Furthermore, Kevin and I were playing with it while Gabriella watched. After in a while, Gabriella joined and played with it. Most of the time, she loves to play with the computer and telephone! One great thing about musical table on the floor is giving Gabby a great opportunity to climb up on musical table with knee on the floor. She didn't do that before. That is other great physical activity for Gabriella to do. THANK YOU TO AUNT MARTA, UNCLE CHARLIE, ANIELA, AND SOON BABY CHARLIE FOR THE WONDERFUL MUSICAL TABLE AS EARLY CHRISTMAS GIFT!!!

Yesterday, I took pictures of Gabriella for fun and realized how much she enjoys crawling around, playing with her musical table and other toys, climbing up on anything with knees on the floor. Oh man.. Gabriella now loves to climb up while kneeling on the floor and hand off from anything on her own. She smiles and does it frequently! In addition, Gabby recently started to climb up on knee and then stand while hold on to musical table and daddy/mommy's legs often.

Gabby, who are you calling?

Here is the video to show that Gabriella is able to kneel with hand off my legs:

Gabriella's 1st Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO EVERYBODY!! Today is Gabriella's first Halloween, and she is wearing a pumpkin costume. Gabriella's Cousin Aniela used to wear it when she was a baby, so Aniela gave it to Gabriella. Thank you, Aniela! Of course, Gabriella doesn't understand what Halloween is or even realizing that she is wearing a Halloween costume. However, she is having fun crawling around in that costume. Kevin and I are not doing anything for Halloween, and it is rainy and gloomy outside today. Of course, we are not going out for Trick-n-Treat to gather candies for Gabriella. As you know, Gabriella is not able to eat candy yet, and Kevin and I don't want to eat candy ourselves for Gabriella. We are staying home relaxing and enjoying our time with Gabriella on her first Halloween.

Crawling

As I mentioned, Gabriella struggled with how to move forward by using her arms. Last week, Gabriella figured it out and finally was able to crawl forward a few steps slowly. Unbelievable!! Here is the video:

Updated: Recently, Gabriella likes to chase and play with Daddy and Mommy's toe and bite them. Tsk tsk tsk..we stopped her from biting our toes. What a silly girl! In addition, Gabriella tried to climp up from crawling but couldn't do it. We assume her next project is to work on to climbing up to stand from crawl. That is another excitment to look forward to!!

Happy 90th Birthday, (Great)-Grandma Ruth!!

On the weekend of October 17t, our family flew to Chicago to celebrate Great-Grandma Ruth's 90th Birthday. We were looking forward to seeing everybody that we hadn't seen for a while, and especially meet family members who hadn't attended Gabriella's Baptism last August or family from afar. Once we arrived at the hotel with grandparents Morge who picked us up at the airport, we settled and got things ready for the weekend. Grandparents Morge were happy to see how much Gabriella has been grown since August. At first, Gabriella cried when Grandma held her. Gabby wanted Mommy or Daddy. Grandma walked around with Gabby without seeing Mommy or Daddy, and she was fine for awhile. Gabriella needed more time to get used to the new faces and got familiar with them. Afterward, she was okay for awhile. Before the night out with some of the family, we stopped by Great-Grandma's to see her and few other family. Aunt Kathy, Second Cousin Kimberly, and Daddy were playing with Gabriella with toys before some family and we went out for the night to the restaurant to enjoy and chat and catch up. Gabriella was such a good girl and loved to look around all that was new to her.

On Sunday, October 19th, we family went out to the nice restaurant, Hugo's Frog Bar and Fish House, for (Great)-Grandma Ruth's 90th Birthday party. It was wonderful to see all uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents, nieces, nephews, etc., and had a lot of chat to catch up. The food was delicious. After we ate, we celebrated and sang "Happy Birthday" to (Great)-Grandma Ruth who is 90 years old. She is such an amazing and strong lady! She stills go to work and is doing great! It was very special for us to be there for Grandma's 90th birthday. At the end of the party, the whole family (most of the Morges) got together to take picture before leaving for the day. Daddy, Mommy, and Gabriella had a wonderful time over the weekend even though it was very busy and short for us. Furthmore, we are looking forward to seeing them again for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Look....

Here is the video of Gabriella sitting on her own:

Gabriella has been pushing up with her tummy off the floor a lot lately as I mentioned before. She has strong arms to work on and get it easily. Right now, Gabriella is figuring out how to move her arms and legs to crawl. Kevin and I love to watch how cute she is when she is pushing up with her tummy off the floor. When she does that, she always smiles. Now, we are waiting for her next step: crawling. It looks like she is going to crawl anytime soon. How exciting!

Gabriella likes to eat rice cereal and does eat it well. Recently, Kevin and I introduced her to next new solid food, and it was apples. For the first time, she didn't like it. We have been feeding her apples for the last few days, she still doesn't really like it. She is able to eat about one tablespoon of apple, and that is it. It takes time for her to get use to that taste of apple.

5 Months Old

Gabriella just turned 5 months old. As you know, I mentioned in other blogs about what Gabriella had done in the last few weeks. Lately, we noticed that during Gabby's tummy time, she pushed up with tummy off the floor several times. Wow...how strong she is! Wonder what her next plan will be when she gets her tummy off the floor. Hmmmm ... could it be crawling? Oh boy... we parents will be in trouble for that since if that happens, we have to chase her around. About Gabriella's bath, she loves it, and absolutely loves to use her legs to splash the water. The water was all over on the floor, mirror, walls, and counter. What a wet mess!

Mommy & Gabriella

Last Friday, I was excited to put the booster seat on a chair to be ready for the next day for her first introduction to solid food. For the first time, I put Gabriella into it and she got used to it. The booster seat has a special toy that go with it on the tray for Gabby to play. At first, she was like what am I sitting on? She explored all around the new booster seat.

Last Saturday morning, Kevin and I were eager to introduce Gabriella to her first solid food. We started feeding her a rice cereal. At first, we fed her a little of rice cereal, and she ate it. I tried again for the next few feedings, and all the sudden she spitted it out. I tried again, and she refused eating another bite of it. We stopped and were going to try it again in the early evening. Finally, she ate half of them. YAY! Afterward, she ate it very well. Kevin and I are very proud of her! Next week, we are looking forward to introduce her to the new food which it will be either fruit or vegetable.

Here is the video belowing of Gabriella's first introduction to solid food:

BIG Girl!

Wherever Kevin and I go out with Gabriella in her stroller, we mostly put her in the infant carseat that latches onto the stroller. Lately, I decided to put Gabby in the stroller without the infant carseat while Kevin, Gabby, and I go out for walking. Kevin and I were watching her and wondered how she handled sitting in the stroller without using the carseat. Guess what.. she absolutely loves it and enjoys looking at the people and views in front of her! A few times, we noticed that Gabby liked to put her feet up on the stroller tray in front of her and relax. Of course, she then falls asleep.




Here is another great update from Gabby. Recently, I decided to put Gabriella on the couch to sit with back cushion to support her back. I was curious if she was able to balance herself to sit without my help. Surprisingly, she was able to sit on her own with back cushion support. How exciting to see her! Of course, she fell down on the couch on her belly a couple of times. She laughed. What a silly girl! However, it is good start! She sure did show Daddy what she did today after he came home from work. Daddy and I are excited and are looking forward to having her sit on her own to balance herself. What a big girl she is!! Here is the video (below):

Hanging around...

Here are the pictures of Gabriella (4 1/2 months old) hanging around with me at home. She watched me wash dishes and clean the kitchen.

Lately, Gabriella has been playing with her feet and putting one of her feet in her mouth just like me when I was baby.

A few weeks ago, Kevin and I started to wean her from having pacifier. Gabriella used pacifier for about four months since her birth. The pacifier helped her calming from fussiness or crying during daytime and nighttime. She insisted on having the pacifier before she fell asleep at night. Often, she would spit it out and cried. We would put it back, and then she spit it out again. It went back and forth. We were frustrated and decided to wean her from having the pacifier. Gabriella did wonderful without pacifier during the daytime. At night, we took it slowly. Now, she is doing wonderful without the pacifier and sleeping through the night without interruption. Unfortunately, a few times during the middle of night, she cries. It was hard to soothe her during the middle of night without the pacifier. So, we are working on how to soothe her during the night without pacifier. Most of the time, she doesn't need the pacifier at all. Of course, we will still give her the pacificer when we fly in the airplane or at Church or other public places to soothe her. Kevin and I are very happy and know that Gabriella can do it without a pacifier. She is now a big girl!

What are you looking at, mommy?

Seeing me doing pilates.

Gabriella's Exersaucer & Reading With Daddy

Since Gabriella loves to stand or even climb over our shoulders while holding her, and Kevin and I are tired of holding her with our arms the whole time. We decided to buy her a new exersaucer. Kevin and I were excited and assembled them all together. From the first time we put Gabriella in exersaucer, her eyes were open and stared at all of these new toys. At the beginning, she stayed for a few minutes to get use to it. Afterwards, she loves it and played with all of these toys with music of ABCs and numbers for about half hour to one hour. One toy she loves to chew on is the shapes. She is so cute when she is in with all of her smiles and happiness!! Thank God for exersaucer that Gabriella enjoys standing on her own with support without us holding her the whole time!

Recently, Gabriella started to have a runny nose. It could be from the shots she had a few days ago, or possibly her teeth coming up. Poor baby! She often cries and is fussy lately. We don't know and will find out what it will be and see if her teeth are coming up or not. Who knows? However, Gabriella enjoyed being with Daddy, reading her book, which helps calm her down.

Ft. McMurray, AB

Gabriella and I left on the way to Ft. McMurray, Alberta, Canada to visit my sister, Marta, and her family on September 6th for a week. Kevin came up to be with us on Friday, September 12 for the weekend before we all went home together on Sunday. However, Gabby was a good baby on the airplane with me alone. We made it through and were excited to see Marta and Aniela who picked us up at the airport. They showed us what Ft. McMurray was like, and the town is very small unlike Peoria. Once we got to Watts's house, I unpacked and relaxed for the day with Gabby. We ladies with two girls went to the park to the playground where Aniela plays with other kids.

During the weekdays, Aniela was kissable and huggable with her cousin Gabriella constantly. Aniela and Gabriella enjoyed playing together on gymnastic floor mat. When Gabriella cried or was fussy, Aniela sang a song or cheered her up with a funny face. How cute! Aniela will be a great big sister for her new baby brother that will come in November. Anyway, Marta took us to Aniela's activities: to the library for children storytelling, Gymnastics, Hub Center for children to play, and Aniela's first swimming lesson. Gabby enjoyed listening to the woman who sang the song and read one book. At the gymnastic, it was so much fun to watch Aniela, and she did good at it. Marta introduced us to her wonderful neighbors and one of her friends at the library.

On Friday, Kevin flew in to be with us in Canada for the weekend. Kevin and Charlie went out for golf in the afternoon. On Saturday, we went to Aniela's first swimming lesson. Aniela did excellent in the water with her daddy (Charlie) and did paddle her legs very well. Kevin, Gabriella, and I were at the top floor to look over where the swimming pool where the Watts family were swimming. In the afternoon, Marta watched Aniela and Gabriella while Charlie took Kevin and me to the Oil Sand Mine area. It was first time for us to leave Gabriella with Marta for about two hours since birth. We were not able to bring Gabriella to this place because of dangerous place that won't allow for babies and children to be in. Anyway, we saw an enormous Caterpillar tractor called 797. Unbelievable to see how huge it is to use for oil sand mine. Also, there were several places afar where we could see the various sections of the oil sand mine. Also, there was a small equipment museum where workers used to dig up the oil sand underground a long time ago.

When we came back home, Charlie and Kevin tried out Charlie's new home-brewed beer: it was quite refreshing! Both the Oktoberfest and Wheat flavors were perfect for the changing season! Unfortunately, we could not try the cider or wine from the "Watts Home Brewery", since those were not ready yet.

On Sunday morning, we walked the tree-filled trail behind Watts's house. We enjoyed walking. Marta mentioned that there could be bears out there somewhere, unfortunately we didn't see any. Good thing we didn't or else we would have been in trouble. Marta has a special bell attached to their stroller to alert bears that we were in that area. Afterward, Kevin and I packed and got everything ready before we flew back home to Seattle in the afternoon. We had a wonderful time in Ft. McMurray visiting the Watts family and thanked them for that. We miss you, Watts Family, and will until we see you again.

Gabriella's 4 Months Old

Sorry that I was not able to post a new blog on the day Gabriella turned 4 months old on September 6th because we were leaving on the way to Canada to visit my sister, Marta, and her family for a week. However, Kevin and I can't believe that Gabby is already 4 months old! She has grown and changed a lot since a month ago! Here is the list what Gabriella has accomplished:

* Rolled Over 3-4 times in a row.
* Continue vocal talking.
* Grasp toys in front of her.
* Push up a lot (did once push up with leg knee to lift her tummy
off the floor).
* On her tummy on the gymnastic floor mat, able to reach toys
above in front of her.
* Look everywhere around her and enjoy looking at hands with sign language.
* Able to push up her legs while holding her hands from sitting.



Today was the day Kevin and I took Gabriella to her Pediatric appointment for the 4-month check up. Gabriella is now 13 lbs. 12 oz. and 25 inches of length. She had to take shots again. Poor baby. She cried for a few minutes after the shots, and then was happy. Our Pediatrician wanted us to start feeding Gabriella with solid food when she turns 5 months old. How exciting!

Sleepy Gabriella

A few days ago in the morning, I woke up and found how Gabriella slept with her cute butt up with her knees bent under her stomach. How cute to see her like this! I woke up Kevin to see our adorable daughter sleeping like this. We were laughing and loved to see her like this.

Visiting Peoria/Gabriella's Baptism

On the long weekend of August 14, we Morge Family went to Peoria for Gabriella's Baptism so we had a chance to visit friends and families who hadn't yet met Gabriella. On our arrival in Peoria in the morning, we were exhausted from flying overnight but were thrilled to see Dzia Dzia (Polish word for Grandpa) Walter who Gabriella met for the first time at the Peoria Airport. Gabriella did great in the airplane and slept the whole way from Seattle to Chicago and Chicago to Peoria. What a relief! However, Dzia Dzia Walter enjoyed holding his granddaughter, Gabriella!

Once we settled at Grandparents Dynda's house, I had errands to do. Marta (my sister)'s sister-in-law, Suzanna, stopped by to show me and Marta how to do baby massage on Gabriella and doll for Marta. I enjoyed learning from it, and it was wonderful! Gabriella seemed to enjoy it, but she was very active and locked her arms and legs. She didn't relax while getting her massage. Later in the afternoon, my friend, Stephanie, with her daughter Skye and son Cole (not in picture) stopped by to visit us. Gabriella made a new friend with Skye, and they are one month apart. See the picture below:


Over the weekend, we all had plans going on especially having quite the family reunion with everybody to meet Gabriella for the first time. Kevin had been out to play golf with men daily. Gabriella and I were relaxed at home with Dyndas/Watts families and discussed arrangements for the Baptism party. My mother, sisters, and I went out for lunch and had pedicure/manicure while fathers watched kids. Also, the Morge/Wilson Families had appointment to take pictures of whole Morge/Wilson Families together. Here is the video showing below:

On Sunday, we had a special day for Gabriella: her Baptism. During the Baptism, Gabriella did well and was little fussy at the end. After the baptism, we and other families had a Baptism party at my parents Dynda's house. We all had wonderful time and ate all delicious foods. It was a long day for Gabriella, and she was fussy and cried. Kevin and I noticed that she had her first cold and cough lately. Our poor baby. She was a strong girl! Other than that, Gabriella received many wonderful gifts. Showing below video of baptism:

As you see the picture above of Gabriella with beautiful traditional Baptism Gown, Kevin and I want to thank Grandma Trish and Grandpa Mike for lending us this traditional gown. This traditional gown was handmaked by Kevin's Great Great Grandmother from mother's side and is 100 years old. Kevin wore this gown when he was baptized, and several other family members wore it too.

By the way, I tried to get in as many pictures as possible. Unfortunately, I did not get pictures of everyone or everything we did. Thanks to everybody for fun times: we had a blast! We are looking forward to seeing you all again for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

3 Months Old

Here comes another month: August! Daddy and Mommy cannot believe that Gabby is already 3 months old. Times flies fast. Gabby has been growing and is doing great so far! In the last few weeks, Gabby has accomplished rolling over from back to front. Now, she can roll over from front to back and back to front. Oh boy.... Daddy and Mommy have to watch over her when she rolls over. Recently, Gabriella started releasing her fist to grasp toys to play with. Usually, she kicks and "punches" the toys from the gymnastic floor mat. Gabby enjoys having Daddy and Mommy reading the books to her. Most of the time, Gabby sits and listens while reading. Sometimes, she will not sit still but depends on her mood. Now, daddy and mommy are curious what Gabby's next step will be....crawl?......sit up?......or anything surprising that pops up? That will be exciting for both of us to find out what Gabriella's next step will be!!

Here are the pictures and videos of Gabriella in the last few weeks to current of her three months old:

Rolling Over

Finally, Mommy had a chance to videotape Gabriella rolling over, which she has been doing since June 20th. Here is the video below....

Once Gabriella rolled over to her back from front, she wanted to roll back from back to front. She was SO CLOSE to roll from back to front! Mommy didn't videotape that time because didn't think Gabriella would do that at this time. Mommy will videotape when Gabriella finally rolls over from back to front.

2 Months Old

Daddy and Mommy cannot beleive that Gabriella is already two months old! She's grown up so much already. Gabriella did roll over from tummy to back a several time in the last few weeks. Also, she continues to "talk", smile, and laugh. In the last week or two, Gabriella started to stand like stretching out with daddy/mommy holding on lap. Unbelieveable that she is able to stand! Wonder what will happen next. Since her birth, she usually slept on the back flat, but she started to turn on the side to sleep on her own since a few weeks ago, and likes it.

Last Friday, Daddy and Mommy took Gabriella to her pediatric appointment for her two-month check up. Gabriella was not very happy on that day, and she cried and cried the whole time in office for no reason. Dr. Sheridan was very pleased with Gabriella's progress. Gabriella is now 10 lbs. 13 oz. and 23 inches long. She had been gained a lot since a month ago. She had to take her shots, and of course she continued to cry. After her shots, she slept quickly. Later the day, she was in a good mood again.

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July to you all, families and friends! Hope you all had a great 4th of July yesterday. Mommy and Gabriella were excited that Daddy had a day off on the 4th of July so he would be with us to celebrate. On that day, we all had no plans but had errands to do. Also, we were relaxing and chilling at home.

Relaxing at home, Daddy and Gabriella were talking to each other. For you all who are Mommy's hearing impaired friends that cannot hear or understand what they said, we are showing below what they said to each other:

Gabriella: Ha ha... uhhh

Kevin: Yeah, are you talking?! Hi, everybody! This is Gabriella talking!!

Gabriella: Ohhhh, Oooh

Kevin: Yea, "goo goo". I said "Hi, Happy 4th of July!"

Gabriella: Uhhh! Cooo! (gurgle)

Kevin: Hi Grandma Ana, and Grandma Trish...

Gabriella: (sounds like Yeah!!)

Kevin: Yea, and soon you will see your Grandpas, too, and all of your Uncles and Aunts and Cousins from Illinois... Bye (as she lifts her right hand) Bye for now! We love you!

Gabriella: (sounds like Bye!)

Kevin: Bye, yea, Good Girl! (Gabriella moving here right hand): Use your signs!

Gabriella: Coo, as see lifts both hands

Kevin: Bye, Bye!

After a long day, Daddy and Gabriella took a nap time while Mommy cleaned and organized things around the apartment. While they were sleeping, Mommy sneaked in the bedroom to take pictures of them. Hehee

Refreshed, we all went up to the roof to see the fireworks after dark. Unfortunately, the view of the fireworks was blocked by several buildings, and although we could see some, the pictures did not turn out well. :(

But, we did get some photos of us:

Gabriella & Mommy: Where are these fireworks, anyway?!

Gabriella & Daddy with our patriotic clothes