BATH TIME!!!

What a difference 6 months makes! Check out the video of me getting one of my first baths at 8 days old - Abuelita had to show Mom how to do it! THen check out the video of me in my bath last week at 6 months old - I can pretty much bath myself!

Morgan Bath Time - 8 days old

Morgan Bath Time - 6 months old

BATHING MORGAN - 6 months old

I love my bath time! I have a cool yellow ducky tub that quacks and I love to kick and splash Dad while he bathes me. I usually take my bath right before I put my pajamas on for bed, and usually it's Dad who does all the heavy lifting. Lately, though, I've started falling asleep before Dad comes home, so Mom's in charge of bed time maneuvers now.

I have no but!! Mom says it's the Gama-Lobo's fault.

MONSTER ON THE LOOSE

I love chewing up paper. Although, I've had multiple incidents of choking and Mom and Dad had to fish gobs of paper out of my mouth. I let them do it, though, cuz I really don't like it when the paper sticks in my throat. Dad says "we have to keep paper away from this guy." Mom says "we have to keep EVERYTHING away from this guy!!" Once I get ahold of what I want, it goes straight into my mouth, you know, to taste it out. That's what's so cool about the paper, I can chew it and tear it and do all kinds of things with it, until, of course, I swallow and then it comes out the other end, which makes Mom freak out. They've locked all the paper away now, which is a bummer. But I can reach the lower bookshelf now, so.........

I'm a "creeper" now which sounds cool - If I focus really hard I can manage to somehow launch myself across the living room carpet towards the object of my desire. Mom's friend Megan gave me a walker, and oh boy! let the good times roll! The cats are my favorite targets, I can chase after them, scream, giggle, and bump into the table for hours.

Mom calls me her little monster and I think she likes it. She can't even say no to me without smiling!

MORGAN CAYES IS 6 MONTHS OLD!!

As a baby, I have to say I’m mighty proud of my parents for managing to not mangle/soffocate/drop/or in any way kill me in my first half year of life! My six month birthday came and went, once again, in the doctor’s office getting vaccinations. My mom lied to me (and I’m sure it won’t be the last time) when she told me that I wouldn’t get yucky needles stuck in my bum. But all the doc had to say was “rotavirus, pneumencoccal” and the next thing I know I’m naked from the waste down and mom’s trying to fake like I’m NOT getting stabbed in my behind.

Latest stats:

19.5 lbs – 27.5 inches long

I HAVE A TOOTH!

Hi everybody, just want to let you know that I cut my first tooth on my bottom gum! I love clanking my tooth against my toys and hearing the sound (clank clank clank)

I think I've also got a tooth coming in on the top as well. I'm going to look like a beaver!

Morgan is 5 months old!

I hit the big 5 Month mark on April 25th - but I was sick and didn't enjoy it very much. I spent my birthday at the doctor's office coughing, sneezing, and grumpy because I had a little fever. All my baby buddies also have colds so I guess it was my turn to get sick now. Mommy was so worried about me so I woke her up every hour at night to let her know that I was still sick. Finally, she started putting yucky suppositories up my bum and I REALLY DON"T LIKE SUPPOSITORIES! So then she started to give me medicine through my mouth and nose (I made funny faces and everyone laughed. Medicine is so gross tasting!)

The day after I went to the doctor, I started to feel better. Now I'm back to my good natured self. And only waking up once a night.

Here are my latest stats: 8.5 kilos (18.7lbs) and 67cm (26.8in) I had a growth spurt!!!

Morgan Chuckling at 4 months

It took mommy a WHOLE WEEKEND to download this video (literally, it took 48 hours) and she's grumbling something about how everyone better appreciate it.............

Swimming in Lake Victoria!

I looooveeee swimming in any water I can splash and kick in, and Lake Victoria was a perfect and clean place to do that! Meanwhile, Dad and Olaf spent the day on the beach working with their computers. Losers.

Okay, I'm still getting used to the cold lake water........

Yes! Now I'm used to the water and I like it!

Weeeeee!

Mwanza Trip Part 2as

Well it took a little while for Mom to get her photos up, but here they are: the rest of the photos from our trip to the Lake Victoria Region of Tanzania (Mwanza and surrounding cities) Everything went really well. We visited several FINCA branches where Daddy is the big boss man. Since I'm the little boss man I made my rounds and shook everyone's hands, let them hold me, and drooled on them. (Mom wouldn't let me put their faces in my mouth which I don't get but she's sort of OCD like that I guess) We drove every day in a nice big car to each of the 7 FINCA branches. The driver that Dad hired gave me the nickname 'Captain' since he thought I was named after the rum bottle, and now everyone up in Mwanza calls me the Captain. It suits me, no?

I like the traveling! Mom and Dad packed my pack 'n play so I was comfy every night, and the driver always made sure that my car seat was really tight and snug. But I have to say, by the 7th day, I HAD ENOUGH! That night I was super cranky and made sure M&D understood that I am NOT traveling anymore! Luckily, that was our last day. Then we spent the weekend on the beach of Lake Victoria with our new FINCA friend, Olaf.

A Masai man on the shore of Lake Victoria in Mwanza. Masai are hired as security all throughout Tanzania. I think it's because they carry big sticks!

Dad and Olaf, working hard on the beach at Lake Victoria. I'm helping them!

View of Lake Victoria from the beach

My hotel room at the Mara Penninsula Hotel in Musoma Mara. Mom's favorite place! The hotel room was totally dilapidated but had a downstairs. Weird!

The Mwanza railroad station. It will take 2 days for the trains to go from Mwanza back to Dar es Salaam.

FINCA Musoma branch in the Region called "Mara" (in the Northwest of Tanzania)

I'm ready to go to work now!

Me, mom, and dad pose with FINCA Villagebanking clients in Sirari, on the Kenyan border. Each of these women wanted to hold me, and I loved it!

Me and Dad with the FINCA clients in Sirari

Bathroom pitstop - yes, that's my coach diaper bag on the dirt floor.

Mom standing in front of the bridge over the famous Mara river (where the wildebeest herds cross over into the Serengheti during the great migration each summer)

The road into the Serengeti - Mom and Dad said I'm too young to play with the animals yet, but it's only 1 hour outside of Mwanza, so we can go back when I'm older!

Mom and Me at the Tilapia Hotel in Mwanza. We liked this hotel a lot, even though it was cold and rainy.

Downtown Mwanza in the rain

So that was the big trip! I hope we'll go back next year to check up on all my branches and make sure my peeps are working hard! It's tough being the Captain of Mwanza!

Last Video from Mwanza

Okay, we're heading out of the hotel with the decent internet service, so this is the final video we could upload.

This is from March (I'm 3 months old) and it shows how good I am in the swimming pool with my Dadddy!

VIdeo - Oldies but goodies

These videos are from when I was only 1 month old!!!

At Christmas I was 1 month old and I was happy about it!

Mom and Dad loooooove my pouty face, but I wish I could get them to take me seriously!

Morgan in Mwanza

Although our trip to Lake Victoria and Mwanza hasn't finished yet, it's already been a real adventure. The airline forgot to tell us they were canceling our flight, so we made a big deal to get out to the airport with all our luggage only to end up returning home to watch movies. We made the flight into Mwanza the next morning. Daddy was all dressed in his work clothes, but I ended up puking all over him. Twice. Hehe.

We went to Mwanza to keep Daddy company while he was working in the region. FINCA has several branches around Lake Victoria. We are visiting Shinyanga, Tarime, Musoma, Kahama and Geita. The Musoma branch is in the province of Tanzania called Mara. Mom is excited to go there!

I spend most of my time in my car seat or in the hotel room with Mommy because it is raining too hard to go out sightseeing. Wherever I go, EVERYONE wants to hold me! I don't mind it. At the FINCA offices I get to meet all the staff and even some villagebanking clients. The FINCA clients always want to hold me and pass me around. I flirt and smile and love the attention. Everyone says I look like Daddy. When Mom has to eat, even the waitresses will come up and play with me so that she can finish her food. I'm lucky to be a baby in a place as baby-crazy as Tanzania!

On the plane, before I messed up Daddy's clothes

Lake Victoria

The road to Shinyanga (south of Mwanza)

Me contemplating my favorite toy, Balou

Our hotel room in Shinyanga, complete with yummy fake flowers I almost choked on

The quintessential African view - a Baobab tree along the road

Our hotel room in Mwanza, with a clear view of Lake Victoria (see my cool pack n play? I sleep in that at home, too. We brought it with us on the trip)

Posing for Mom's camera

Landing at the Mwanza Airport

Back in the day - Morgan at 3 months old

I'm a big boy now (4 month old!) but mom and dad took these videos of me when I was 3 months old -

Here's one of me watching mommy being silly

Here's me waking up on the couch (that's dad who put me in that position, btw!)

Videos VIdeos Videos!

Who would've thunk? The Tilapia Hotel in Mwanza has a better internet connection than we do in Dar es Salaam! Mom's been downloading photos and videos all day. Here's a taste!

Here I am playing in my new exersaucer (I got it from a couple of m&d's peace corps buddies who's kids are too big for it)

4 Months Old!

On March 25 I celebrated my 4 month old birthday with a yucky immunization shot. Mom said I took it like a real man this time, (but she was holding me, and I heard the doctor mention that the chub on my thighs makes the jabs hurt less). Doc said I'm fit as a fiddle and still BIG:

Latest stats:

17.6lbs (8 kilos) and 26.8 inches (67cm)

That holds me in the 95th percentile according to CDC charts - but who's checking? Doc said I was long and lean, not fat. Mom and Dad love the chub, though!

This week we are heading out to Mwanza and the Lake Victoria Region - my first trip outside Dar es Salaam! I get to visit all Daddy's branch offices and make the scene down lakeside.

Then, the day after we come home my Grandma Abuelita arrives to pamper me for a whole month! I'm sooooooooo taking her to the toy store!

Baby Group Photos

Every wednesday, mom and I meet up with other babies living in Dar es Salaam. We go to each others' houses and play together - there are only 2 girls in the group so I have to beat out the other boys for their attention! About 5 of the babies were born the same week I was (Nov 24-28) When I play next to those guys, I'm the biggest of the bunch!

The baby group meets around my naptime, so I usually sleep through the first few minutes.

Hanging out on my playmat

Here's the baby group in my living room, when we hosted a playdate with everyone. Mom made cookies!

Here's the most recent photos of my and my pals (I'm in the striped suit on the right)

Don't we look cool??

MORGAN TURNS 4 MONTHS OLD

Mommy and Me - Snugglin' on the Boppy

Hey! I just scared the cat! That was fun!

If I keep working at it I'm sure I can fit this entire Whoozit in my mouth

Yo Dad, ur upside down!

4 months old and I've already got man-boobs

Mom and Dad's 4th Anniversary on the Beach

For Mom and Dad's 4th wedding anniversary they took me to the beach south of Dar es Salaam. We stayed at the Amani Beach Hotel (www.amanibeach.com) Amani means "Peace" in Swahili, which is what I think M&D were searching for during the weekend. The hotel was beautiful, but I'm thinking of putting in a complaint of ageism, since I wasn't allowed at dinner and had to stay in with a babysitter. I guess it didn't matter too much, though, since I always poop out around 7pm anyways. Mom said the dinner was open air under the stars and beautiful. I think I smelled champagne on their her breath when she kissed me goodnight............

At the end of the weekend we made friends with the partners invested in the hotel. They come from the DR Congo, where M&D used to live. We visited their home (straight from the 1960's) and everyone had a drink on the porch talking about Congolese politics in some weird language that I couldn't understand. I think it was french, which isn't fair, since I'm still trying to get a handle on English.

hanging w/Mom on the beach - hey, these hands look really interesting........

Dad's favorite place to nap is by the pool. My favorite place to nap is on dad. Check out my cool wetsuit!

The pool in front of a cool baobab tree

Watching the dhows sail by

Beach combing with Dad

Swimming with Mom - we saw several leafy scorpion fish and had to come out of the water!

There was no shade so Mom put me down in this nifty tent bed my cousin Carrie gave me. Comfy!

Yo, check out my digs

Living the posh life at Amani beach

The view from our cottage