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: