Happy Friday!

Finally the weekend is upon us. Kenna had a great "breaking-in" week at Nonna's Day Care, actually only three days, with the remaining two days at home with Mommy. We took Kenna over to visit Grandma yesterday and they both had a blast with one another. Grandma loves to see Kenna's face light up, and Kenna loves to entertain Grandma! Its fun to see the both of them interact with one another!

Lately, we've been bombarded with the next question for this stage in our lives- "So when are you guys having another one?" While its a fun thought to indulge, we're too busy enjoying Kenna and giving her 100% of our attention!

Taking it in stride

Kenna's second day at Nonna's Day Care proved to be more successful than the first, for obvious reasons. According to Nonna, little Kenna had a much more pleasant day, getting in good time with her morning nap, and chatting loudly to herself when playing in the activity center. Even when I picked her up after work, she was much more alert and had her super happy face on! Hopefully this is a sign of things to come! Happy Hump Day!

Happy Monday!

Today marked Enza's first day back into the working world. Also, this was Makenna's first day at "Nonna's Day Care!" When I went to pick little Kenna up this afternoon, I found out that her schedule had been thrown off a bit, possibly due to the change in surroundings. Nonna did her best to keep Kenna on her routine, but since things were different, Kenna found it a little difficult. Nonna did a great job though, and we're very thankful!

Makenna was tired when I got to her, and she didn't flash me her signature smile until we arrived home. I guess she felt much better when she got back into her comfort zone. I'm sure all that will change soon enough, once she realizes that these daily trips to Nonna's will become her new routine. Shortly afterwards, she'll have to go through yet another change when she starts splitting her time between Nonna's house & Grandma's house.

It was good to see Enz when she got home, and it was even better to see that she was in great spirits! We thought the first day back might be a little tough, but in all honesty, I think she missed the daily interaction with her co-workers as well as her patients. As much as she loves spending every waking moment with little Kenna, it's good for her to get away, even if it is for work! While Enz added dropping off the baby to her morning routine, I've added picking her up. Its not a big deal, its just another step into making the both of us feel like parents....

Happy 3rd Birthday Cousin Elliott!

Last Friday, Elliott turned 3, and his birthday party was at the park on Saturday. It was fun to see everyone enjoying themselves during the celebration. Little Kenna had a great time visiting with the family and was able to hang out for the entire fiesta. She did take a couple of power naps, and we were surprised that she was able to do so in such foreign surroundings with tons of commotion all around.

We've noticed that Elliott has a certain charm around his baby cousin, and that he's able to make her chat and laugh just by looking at her! He's always been so gentle when he sees her, and knows to give her kisses whenever they see each other. She's so fortunate to have such a caring cousin and role model, and we're glad they've become so close at such a young age! Once Wesley is able to walk and talk, we're sure he'll be the same way with little Kenna.

On a roll.....

Enz called me from home this morning to let me know that Kenna hit one of her milestones this morning. Today, during her daily "tummy-time" session, Kenna rolled over on her own, from her belly to her back! She's been working and working on this for some time now, and just when it seemed like she'd follow through, she'd just plop right back into place.

Actually, she would start off on her back and would turn over onto her side, just past 50% of the way with her body, and about 75% of the way with her head. She would do this to see what was on tv, or to find a toy, or just to see where we were if we weren't close to her. We figured that it was only a matter of time, and sure enough, she finally did it! I wasn't home to see it, so I'm hoping she'll do it again so I can rule it out as a fluke!

About 2 months ago, while laying on the couch, she rolled over on her own, and that was exciting to witness. While we thought she'd be able to do it again, she didn't, so we pretty much ruled that one out as coincidence. Let's see if she can follow through again!

An Evening with Daddy

I had the privilege to spend some one-on-one, quality time with Kenna while Enz went out with her sisters & dad to celebrate a belated Father's Day. Now, I do spend as much time with my little girl as possible, but Enz is usually around since she's still off of work. Even though Kenna was only up for a few hours before retiring for the evening, we still had a blast! That's not to say that we downed some beers and tossed the old football around. But we did enjoy watching the same episode of Barney over and over again, which in fact, has become one of her favorite shows. What is it about that purple dinosaur?? Is that what he's supposed to be???

This is a plastic cup that Uncle Ricky & Auntie Merr got for Kenna when they recently took the boys to the aquarium. As you can see, it's still a bit big for Kenna, but we gave it to her anyway so she can get some practice on how to hold the thing. Of course had it been full, she'd definitely have milk all over her face given the position she's in. Duh!

Kenna & I decided to ham it up for the cam, well, more so her than me. Don't quite know what it is about the camera, but whenever it's out, Kenna let's the world know that's she's capable of working it! Such a ham!

Eventful weekend

Our little ham had an eventful weekend. In fact, we all did. On Saturday evening, we went out sans child, leaving her at home with Grandma Lou & Aunt B. What a learning experience it was for the three of them. It was Grandma & Aunt B's first time watching the little one, with the added responsibility of putting her down for the night, and it was Makenna's first real babysitting experience. Apparently things went well for the most part, and even though Grandma & Auntie were able to follow our guidelines, little Kenna knew that it wasn't her Mommy or Daddy putting her down. According to Aunt B, Kenna showed them that she really has discovered her voice before finally exhausting herself and retiring for the evening. Whew! I'm sure once Kenna gets used to having others put her down, she won't be as fussy, but for now, we'll just keep on keepin' on....

Just a family shot prior to leaving the little munchkin for the first time. Enz & I had a great time at the Greek-Hawaiian party. Thanks Donna & Ron for inviting us and always thinking of us!

Sunday, we enjoyed an outing in Santa Cruz with the Arbolante family. The weather was no less than perfect, and the little kids enjoyed themselves. The big kids even had a blast, aside from the traffic and parking situation. As always, Kenna enjoyed being out in the open and looking at all the cool things to see on the beach & boardwalk. Its always fun to watch how she interacts with her cousins, and its a great feeling to know that she's growing up so closely with them. Both Elliott & Wesley are so gentle with her, and we can't wait to see them all playing together, especially when Wesley & Kenna are up and running!

In her four months, she's been to beach three times! How lucky is that? I don't think I went to the beach that many times as a kid, let alone in the first four months of life! Then again, things were a lot different soooooo long ago.

Happy Friday!

Yet another end to another week and it's really starting to hit us just how big the "little one" is getting. Not only are we noticing the physical aspect of it, her 3-6 month clothes are fitting just a little snug, but her development is throwing us for a loop as well! It may not seem like much, especially for those who already have kids, but just watching her go through such simple changes is amazing!

The one thing that had us in stitches is the way she sleeps. Normally she'd be swaddled in her blanket through a good portion of the night, and when it comes time to get up, she would mysteriously break free (think Harry Houdini). This morning we found Kenna sleeping soundly, out of her blanket of course, only this time she was asleep on her side. What a grown up! She can't completely turn over on her own just yet, but this little side sleeper has just shown us that she'll probably be able to do so pretty soon! Slow down little one, there's no rush to grow older!

The kids enjoying one another

Kenna has always been pretty observant of her surroundings, and as of late, she's really been into Marino. The pup is always trying to sneak in a kiss every now and again, especially when we aren't looking, and that's ok. We know that he'll be really good with her as she continues to grow.

Last night while Marino was frolicking in the back yard, I decided to bring Makenna outside so she could watch the pup as he played around. When I called Marino over and spoke commands to him, Makenna was beside herself and laughed so hard she lost her breath! This went on for a good 15 minutes, and the laughs were non-stop. No matter what I asked of Marino, sit, speak, jump, Makenna would burst out into laughter! Its an awesome sound to hear such an adult laugh coming from such a "small" child. It seems like she's really getting into this furry creature who roams around the house! She even had an opportunity to gently pet Marino on the head without the pup trying to lick her hands off!

Kenna's 4 month appointment

Yesterday was Makenna's 4 month appointment, and much like her previous doctor visits, she continues to grow and grow.

The doctor was surprised to see just how big Kenna has gotten in the last two months since he's last seen her. And even though he suggested that we wait until Kenna reached 6 months of age before we pierce her ears, he noticed her bling right away and pointed them out. Sorry doc, our call! We understand his concern with the whole infection thing, but since we pierced her ears so early, we're pretty adamant about making sure her ears stay clean. Plus she looks like a doll!

We discussed a few concerns with the doctor and he reassured us that Kenna is on the right track. One concern was that we didn't think Makenna was getting full enough after each feeding, and that maybe we'd have to supplement her milk with some rice cereal. The doctor just told us to hold off until she hits the 6 month mark, just to help in avoiding any unforeseen allergic reactions. Sorry Kenna, for the next two months you can only read the menu. You can't order from it just yet!

As far as her measurements, here's the breakdown at 4 months:

She currently weighs 16 pounds, 7.5 ounces. This puts her in the 95th percentile for her weight.

She is 24 inches long, putting her in the 50th percentile for her height.

Her head circumference measures 41.5 cm, placing her in the 70th percentile for head size. Big brain? I hope so!

And of course, with each two month appointment come more shots-OUCH! She took them like a champ and only cried for a brief moment afterwards. Once we left the office though, Kenna gave us the gas face, and had one of the most pissed-off looks we've ever seen on her face. She got over it quickly though as we put her down for a long nap after her visit with the doctor...

Long Holiday Weekend

This holiday weekend was a fun one in that I was able to take a few days off to spend with my family. Since I was home, we took this opportunity to put some of Makenna's things away, because the little one is not so little anymore! We're not quite sure of her exact weight, but we do know that she's getting up there, and getting there fast! So fast that her weight was making her swings "inoperable" so to speak. It would take them a little longer to gain enough momentum to even get started! From that, we decided it was time to retire both her large papa-san swing, as well as the portable folding swing. They've both served their purpose, but they've finally ran their course. Besides, neither one of them were holding her interest, let alone her weight!

And with that, we introduced Makenna to her new high chair. She actually has her 4 month appointment this Monday, and we're expecting the doctor to tell us that she's ready to begin with some solid foods or rice cereal. It seems that she's not getting quite as full as we'd like her to get after each feeding. If we start with the rice cereal, the high chair will come in handy. As you can see, she's quite fond of it already!


Marino is still taking the over-protective role when it comes to being with Makenna. He seems more aware of anything or anyone that's around the perimeter of the house, and even barks at squirrels as they make their way across the street. He loves to kiss Makenna's feet, hands, and even her face whenever we're not looking, although we try not to let him do so much. In this pic, they've got a little staredown going.


Apparently, I wasn't fast enough to catch him, but immediately after this picture was taken, Marino decided to wash Makenna's face, much to little Kenna's dismay. Oh well, nothing but brotherly love right?

Fun on the Fourth

Although the temperature was on the high side, we all had a blast with the family on Makenna's first Fourth of July. The traditional fireworks weren't present this year, and even if they were, they would've been on past her bedtime anyway! This first picture is of her patriotic outfit. The section that reads America's Sweetheart is near her left hand, and she was so intrigued by it, she wouldn't let me take a picture of it!



Because it was a little on the warm side, Enz opted to put little Kenna is this "ladybutt" outfit. We're pretty sure she remained on the cool side...



And finally, here are a couple of pics of the kids messing around. While its tough to get them all to look at the same spot, its still fun to take these shots. It won't be too long before we can get them to concentrate for a second or two and take better shots! Nevertheless, we love what we can get out of them!

First Fourth

This Wednesday, little Makenna will be celebrating her first 4th of July, and although Great America won't be doing their traditional fireworks display, I'm sure we'll still have a great time with the little one.

Kenna's personality continues to form, and as always, we enjoy watching how she changes on a daily basis. Enz is starting to prepare herself for her upcoming return to the working world, and in the process, she's making moves to get Kenna prepared as well. It'll be a big change for the entire family, but I'm sure it'll be fun to watch her develop outside the home as well...

This picture was Makenna's gift to me for Father's Day, and what a surprise it was! Beautiful idea Mommy!!

Great News!!

Just a short note to congratulate The Cunanan Family on the recent news regarding their next child. They informed us today that little Kevan will be expecting a little sister shortly. What great news for them! Little Kenna can't wait to meet her new shopping buddy =)

Happy Friday!

Yet another week has passed, and little Makenna keeps on growing. She's doing well on her belly, showing us just how high she can hold her head up. Grandma was impressed at how strong her neck has become at this point. She's becoming well aware of her surroundings, and has even developed a bit of shyness when we take her out. It takes her a short while before she completely warms up when we're someplace other than home, but once she does open up, her personality shines! She's also becoming quite the little master at holding her bottle, proving to us once again, that she wants to do things on her own. Quite the over-achiever we have on our hands...

Independent little one?

Ok, so maybe Kenna isn't standing up on her own just yet, but in this picture, she sure is trying! I couldn't get a better shot of her for fear that she'd come crashing down, but this one works. Enjoy!

Smiley

Our little Makenna is becoming quite the social butterfly. She's grown quite accustomed to being around a lot of people, and doesn't seem to mind all the commotion. That's a good thing to a certain extent because then we can be assured that she won't be one of "those" kids, at least that's how she is for the time being! No matter how many visitors she has throughout the week, she always does her best to flash them her cute little toothless smile =)

This weekend we attended the baptism of our Godson (nephew) Wesley Joseph. Amidst all the chaos at the church and restaurant afterwards, Kenna was able to take the occasion in stride. The heat didn't seem to bother her much, and even though both of her grandmothers insisted that she stay up and play, she was able to go down for a nap during the service. By the time we got her home though, she was exhausted, and had no problems going down for the night...

Happy Friday!!!

Happy Friday! Another end to a fun week with the little one. Sure, every parent can rant and rave about things their kids do, or how advanced they feel their children are, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't one of those parents. But day by day, Makenna just does things that amaze us or make us laugh. She's developed quite a unique personality for being only a week or two shy of 4 months.

We've pretty much figured out her quirks for this stage in her development, and have gotten pretty comfortable with her. We're just waiting for things to change abruptly, as they always do, and when that happens, we'll adjust right along with her. For now, it's all about enjoying every minute with her, just to see what new tricks she'll pull out of her hat!

Flowery Aloha wishes

Just wanted to share this pic of the little one to help everyone get through hump day. Last night she was chatting up a storm! I guess its a sign of things to come in the not so distant future? Payback for all the times people wanted me to shut up.... Enjoy!

Another fun-filled weekend

We celebrated Father's Day much like we did Mother's Day; by going to the beach on Saturday! Little Kenna had the opporutunity to feel sand between her chubby little toes, and was in awe while watching the waves break near the shore. She even got to work on her tan a little bit!



Here's a pic of Makenna sitting in her bebe pod. I guess this thing is supposed to help infants learn to hold themselves up. She's still a bit shaky, and if left alone while leaning up against something, she'll usually start to slowly tip over. She enjoyed her first time in the pod, and it looks like we'll get a lot of use out of it in the months to come, at least until she's fully capable of sitting up on her own.

Little Speedster

The little Makalicious one has proven to be quite the quick learner. It wasn't until recently that we decided she was ready for her activity center. It took her some time, but she was able to figure out how to activate all the toys. Soon after, she learned to make her way around the whole activity center. Her first time took her about 30 minutes, but she did it. This afternoon we watched as she immediately started moving when Enz placed her in the activity center. It took her less than 5 minutes to go around a full 360 degrees, and then the little show off proceeded to go around again, and again. Soon she figured it was easy, and got a little more daring by rotating in the other direction. By then she was spent, so she ended her play session with a smile...

First cold

Another first for little Kenna this weekend-she got her first cold... Add to that the fact that she has just started teething, and we've got one irritable baby! We've gotten used to her while she's teething; she's constantly searching for something to chew on, and she appears to drool more than Marino!

Watching little Kenna as she tries to go about her business makes us feel so bad for her. She's having a hard time breathing as she's really congested. Her nose gets runny every now and then, and she's not her normal happy-go-lucky self. While we try to keep her entertained, we know she's not 100%. It's most apparent when we try to put her down for a nap, or even to bed for the night. She has a hard time staying asleep, and it seems no matter what we do for her, she's just uncomfortable.

Hopefully what she's got will just run its course and taper off quickly, so we can have our happy little Kenna back to normal!

Exciting week for the little one

This week, I had the pleasure of introducing little Kenna to some of my co-workers & friends who haven't had the chance to meet her. I was a little apprehensive for Enz to bring her to visit me at lunchtime, since she's usually napping at that particular hour, but it all turned out for the best. Kenna had her happy face on, and was able to meet & greet the people that drive her Daddy crazy on a daily basis! Everyone was impressed with her alertness, and complimented us on how well socialized she was. She didn't cry or get fussy around all the new faces, in fact, she took it all in stride and had plenty of smiles for everyone!

On that note, Happy Friday!!!

Changes...

We've been pretty fortunate with Makenna in that she's an easy to read baby. Sure she has her "off" days where we can't figure out what the deal is, but then again, what baby doesn't? As of late, she's been sleeping soundly through the night and we've been extemely grateful! These past couple of nights have been a little different though. For some unknown reason, Kenna thinks that 2am is the perfect time to wake up, cry & then play. Huh? Did we skip a chapter in the parenting handbook? Everyone says not to get too accustomed to the baby's changes, because before you know it, she'll change again! Were they ever right!!!

Coming full circle

Kenna never ceases to amaze us, and even though she does a lot of the same stuff on a daily basis, I had the pleasure of witnessing the little one do something new. We've only had her activity center out for a week or so, and she just started to pick up some new coordination in her arms, allowing her to reach out and make contact with the individual toys.

This evening after placing her in the center, I noticed that she started to turn a little. That's not really anything new since Enz has seen her turn from toy to toy-although her movement was limited because the toys were beside one another. Today, she started from one end, and made a full 360 degree circle around the entire activity center, all on her own! What a trip to watch! She's still a little on the short side so her toes barely reach the surface. We folded a towel to help with the reach issue, and this time took her socks off. I think she was able to grip with her toes and that allowed her to make more progress as she journeyed within her little circle....

Of course, once her tour was over, she was a bit on the cranky side. It must've taken a lot out of the little one!

Art & Wine

We took the little one to the Sunnyvale Art & Wine Festival this weekend, and what a blast she had! The first part of the afternoon consisted of a long nap in the stroller as we walked through the streets with beer in hand! Once she woke up from her nap and got re-adjusted to her surroundings, we placed her in the baby carrier and she was extremely excited as she saw all these new faces in the crowd. One idiot thought she was a little boy, but I think we decided to look past him anyway! The rest of the crowd was fascinated with her alertness as she gave out free smiles to all passers-by...