Early X-mas Presents...

On Tuesday, December 22, Kevin, Gabriella, and I woke up so early in the morning like 4 or 5 am. We all couldn't sleep so we decided to open our presents. We all got wonderful gifts! Gabriella was so excited and loved to open the gifts from us and the Watts Family. She loved them! Afterwards, we packed and got everything ready before heading down to Peoria to visit families for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Our House Hosting...

On Friday, December 18th, Kevin and I invited Uncle Tim and his family, (Great)-Grandma Ruth, and Morge Parents to our house for dinner and an early Christmas presents opening. The dinner went great. We all enjoyed chatting while Gabriella, Lucy, and Sean were playing and were running everywhere. Afterwards, some family had presents to open for early Christmas because they thought they wouldn't see each other before going on vacation for Christmas. We all had a fantastic time!

The next day, Grandma Trish and Grandpa Mike had a gift for Gabriella to open: drawing desk. What a wonderful gift! I put it together, and Gabriella sat on it for a while. She was sitting on small stool and checking the desk out. Also, Morge parents gave us a recliner chair! What a surprise! They knew we didn't have one and knew we need it especially me, pregnant, to relax in it. We love it!

After Grandparents Morge left, Kevin and Gabriella went outside to shovel the snow out of the driveway. Gabriella enjoyed it and loved playing with snow. She also helped dad shoveling the snow for awhile. I was inside the house cleaning a little and putting stuff away from the kitchen/family room. After Kevin & Gabriella came inside, Gabriella sat on drawing desk and used crayon to draw on the paper. She enjoyed it.

Some Adjustments...

On Monday, December 7th, Kevin and I (especially me) decided to give Gabriella more independence without me picking her up. At that time, Gabriella was too heavy for me to lift her up whenever I needed to take her. My back was hurting with my belly growing big. I couldn't take it anymore. Kevin and I bought a new gate to install at the top of the stairs. After we finished installing the gate, I changed Gabby's crib into a daybed. I was a little nervous and wondered how she would do on her first time sleeping on the daybed on her early age of 19 months old. I put two nightlights in the hallway and left the door open a little. At night, I was trying to think positive and knew Gabriella would do fine overnight. That first time, she was successful!!! She slept through the night and never came out of the daybed. During the night, she often cried or called for daddy or mommy, and we came up to her. She never came out of the daybed: she waited for one of us to go to her room to check her out. Kevin and I were so proud of Gabriella and were amazed how she had learned things quickly for the first time! What a relief!

In addition, I often lifted her into her booster seat in the kitchen to eat. I wasn't sure if she was able to climb into booster to sit on her own. I told her to try it on her own, and she did it successfully! Whew.. I was again so proud of her. She was getting to be such a big girl! I was excited and didn't have to worry about my back aching from lifting her throughout the day. YAY!

Celebrated 39th Birthday...

On Friday, December 4th, It was Kevin's 39th Birthday! We all went out to the nice restaurant Sullivan's Steakhouse with Uncle Tim, Aunt Jeanne, Sean, Lucy, (Great)-Grandma Ruth, and brother-in-law Don to celebrate. All the foods we ordered such as steak, vegetables, variety of potatoes, etc. were so good! Yummy. Afterwards, Kevin got a huge dessert, berry souffle. Of course, it was too huge for Kevin to eat so he shared it with others. It was a wonderful night and we didn't get home until around 9 pm. We stayed in the restaurant for three or four hours!




The next day on the 5th, my parents-in-law Morge drove up to visit us in the morning to celebrate Kevin's birthday. While they stayed at our house, Dad Mike and Don helped Kevin install the garage-door opener for our third garage door. Thanks to Dad and Don for all of your wonderful help!! We all left for the Navy Pier for lunch at Bubba Gump's to celebrate Kevin's birthday. We had a wonderful time especially Kevin, celebrating a wonderful birthday with all families!

Comfortable, huh??

Thanksgiving Week 2009

On Saturday, November 21, The Morge family from California came to Illinois to visit for Thanksgiving week. They stayed at our place for two days before heading down to Peoria. While they stayed at our place, all of the kids enjoyed playing together. Also, we all went to (Great-)Grandma Ruth's to visit with other families, and then went out for lunch at Olive Garden. We had a wonderful time!

On Monday the 23rd, The CA Morge Family went to visit other relatives while we headed down to Peoria to visit our family for Thanksgiving week. While we stayed in Peoria for a few days, we all were busy driving from place to place visiting family. Also, my friend, Stephanie, stopped by with her daughter, Skye, to visit. Gabriella enjoyed playing with all of her cousins and friend all day everyday! She was worn out!

On Thanksgiving Day, we went to meet with other Morge/Wilson Families at Ryan & Meghan Morge's new house in Clinton, IL at around late lunchtime. In the late afternoon, we headed back to Peoria to have Thanksgiving Dinner at my parents'. I couldn't believe how much we had with the two wonderful delicious Thanksgiving foods on that same day! Other than that, we all had a fantastic times with families, but it was very busy and exhausting!!

Put up Christmas Tree....

On Sunday, November 15th, I was in mood to put up the Christmas Tree, so Kevin brought all of Christmas stuff from the basement into our Family Room. I know it was so early to put it up before Thanksgiving, but you never know how I would feel in later weeks with my big belly. However, it was Gabriella's first official time having a Christmas Tree in our home since she was born. Gabriella enjoyed helping mom spread out the Christmas Tree branches, playing around with it in our pajamas.

VOILA!!!!

We didn't put up any ornaments or Christmas decorations on it until the next few days later. Sorry...no pictures of that.

NU VS Illin

On Saturday, November 14th, we invited Kevin's friend Richard and his family to our house to watch the bi rivalry football game: Northwestern University VS Illinois. Every year, Rich and his family and me (Kevin) and mine try to get together and go to the game. This season, with the two daughters (Rich and Stephanie's Hayden is 9 months older than Gabby), we were unable to go to the game, this year at Illinois. So, we invited the Martins over to our house, their first visit, for football and fun time.

The girls enjoyed playing with Gabby's toys, clad in the respective team's colors, while the adults watched the game. It started early, at 11:00 am, and soon after, we ate lunch: Ela baked some yummy chicken wings with various sauces which we ate with vegetables.

As for the game, it was close, as usual, but Northwestern pulled away in the second half. Unfortunately, due to the start time, both Hayden and Gabby needing a nap before the end of the game, so the Martins left before it finished. And wouldn't you know it: Illinois made a big comeback and almost won. Luckily for us Wildcat fans, Northwestern pulled it out in the end. The win was especially sweet for NU, since it assured that they would go to a bowl game; also, the loss was especially bitter to Illinois, who failed to become bowl-eligible.

Hopefully, we can continue the tradition next year and for many years to come!

The future heart breakers dressed up for their teams!

Kevin and Rich clowning for the camera

Who says Wildcat and Illini fans can't play nice together?!

"Wow, this football thing can wear you out.... Please pass the veggies!"

By the way, Illinois did exact some measure of revenge: at the start of the men's basketball conference season, Illinois beat then-ranked Northwestern in overtime in their first meeting this year.