Bring on the pain...

Mother's Day weekend came & went, just about as fast as these kids are growing! We initially planned to do our own celebration with Mommy on Saturday, but had to change things up because of the little ones, mainly Isaiah. We recently took him to a GI specialist to help clear things up with his stomach issues, and while it seemed that Zay was on the downswing with one thing, another issue popped up, which kept us questioning what's going on in the little guy's insides?

Nevertheless, things finally started to pick up for Zay, and he's feeling much, much better now. What a relief! It's hard to sit back and watch helplessly as the kids sit there in pain. There's not much we can do but wait it out and hope things get better. Luckily they did, so far, and the little guy is back to his smiley self once again!

Kenna's been a handful as well, cutting new teeth almost daily. Her eating habits have changed as she tries to get through the pain of her molars & canines breaking through her gums. Watching her walk around, you'd think she was bulimic since her hands and fingers are always in her mouth! For now, it's almost as if she's on a liquid diet because water & milk are the only things she enjoys consuming. We know she's hungry, and we know she loves to eat, but it's as if the pain is overruling her hunger. She's also had her share of tantrums, probably because she's hungry, but it's a vicious cycle. She's grumpy because she's hungry, and she's hungry because she won't eat, and she won't eat because she's in pain-UGH! It's tough trying to remain patient and calm with her. But we know better, and we're hoping that her pain & irritation will subside soon... Aside from all that, she still runs around the house, without a care in the world!

Which brings us back to Mother's Day. We had a great time celebrating on our own with our little family on Saturday. On Sunday, we were able to split our time to accommodate both of our families, morning/brunch with the Camero's & afternoon/dinner with the Aveni's. It was time well spent with both Grandma & Nonna on their special day. The kids had a blast for both events, and were exhausted by the time we got them home!

Happy Friday and Happy Mother's Day!!!

The kids wanted to show everyone how happy and grateful they are for having such a wonderful Mommy. Even though they can really give her a hard time every now and then, they know that they can easily make her day by flashing their beautiful smiles! Happy Mother's Day Mommy, and a special Mother's Day wish to all the other moms out there! Have a great weekend!

Fun stuff...

Well, it seems that Isaiah is pretty much on the same track as Makenna, development-wise. He just hit the 3 month mark this week, so we decided to see if he was ready for the activity center. We did the same for Kenna at about the same timeframe, so we're using her milestones as guides for the little guy. At first he was a bit confused, but then again, so was Makenna. He just sat there and stared blankly at all the cool toys to play with. It took him a while, but eventually he was able to reach out for a couple of the toys, just to see what they do. We're slowly breaking him into his activity center, and he's doing well keeping his head balanced. His legs are fairly strong and he's able to hold himself up steadily. Once he gains more coordination in his arms and hands, he'll be reaching for all the toys. For now, it's just a work in progress!


When Kenna saw the activity center reappear out of nowhere, she went crazy! Her eyes lit up, almost as if she was getting reacquainted with a long lost friend! As she made her way around the activity center, she played with each toy the same way she did when it was her turn "way back when!" Of course, now it was all about being on the outside, while watching Isaiah struggle to make sense of what he was sitting in. It was fun watching Kenna play with Zay, as if she was "showing him the ropes."


If there's one thing Makenna loves, it's books. She'll probably be a nerd when she gets older, but like they say, a mind is a terrible thing to waste! I guess she's really picked up on the actions that go along with reading. Here's a short video clip I caught of Kenna as she attempts to read one of her books. Check out the intonation of her voice as she "reads" different things. She's also a wiz at turning the pages. Even the way she holds her book makes you wonder if she really knows what she's doing...

All knowing big sister

As I've said in previous posts, Makenna has really gotten into her role of big sister, and it shows. She'll always make sure Isaiah knows she's around by constantly getting in his face, but he doesn't mind it much. He's at that stage where he likes to observe everything, and it must be a trip for him to see this other baby "all up in his grill!" That being said, here's a short video of a typical scene in our home. Anytime we put Isaiah in his swing, big sister Makenna decides it's time for her to share some knowledge with her little bro. Enjoy!

Monday, Monday...

How quickly the weekend passes! We spent most of the time running errands, and doing stuff around the house, nothing exciting. The kids didn't seem to mind, although they probably don't know any better just yet.

For the most part, the weekend was good for Isaiah. It seems that he's gotten over the hump with his acid reflux, and we're still keeping our fingers crossed in hopes that he's seen the worst of it. His new meds have allowed him to eat & sleep more comfortably, which allows us to sleep more comfortably! The extra rest is most evident in Enz, who has managed to maintain her cool through Isaiah's restless week. Good job mommy! Now that he's a bit more agreeable, he's taken to his schedule rather easily, and we pride ourselves in being able to recognize his signs. Isaiah continues to grow aware of his surroundings, and will coo loudly when he's happy. He's really been into observing his active sister as she runs around the house looking for things to get into. Isaiah will even flash you a smile once he recognizes your face!

Makenna's been a little spitfire, then again, that's nothing new. She did, however, say DADDY as clear as day! Talk about a great feeling! She's already mastered saying Dada a long time ago, but yesterday, she surprised the both of us when she said it! She says something that sounds like Isaiah, but hey, half the adults we know can't even say Isaiah correctly anyway, so Makenna's version is just as good! She never really mastered saying mama because she went straight to calling Enz, "mom!"



This past weekend, we noticed just how much the two have bonded. Whenever we put Zay in his swing, or any place where Makenna can reach him, she'll always go over and "talk" to him. It doesn't sound like much, but whatever it is she's saying catches Zay's attention and he listens. He could be sleeping soundly, then she'll wake him up with her chatter, and he'll just stare at her, like he understands. He doesn't mind much, especially if it's his sister that wakes him. It looks as if they're forming the foundation of their brother/sister bond. That or they're plotting against us!

Happy Friday!!!

For most of us, this week went by pretty quickly, but for Enz this was not the case. Being at home with two kids is more than a job in itself, it's an adventure! A great majority of our friends and family know exactly what I'm talking about, and having two little rugrats to look after can really test a person's nerves. That's not to say that our kids are little hellraisers, at least not yet, but even a child with a calm disposition can prove to have a "dark side." Basically what I'm trying to say is that raising children is a full-time job!

This week has been a difficult one for Isaiah, which was a true test for Enza. We couldn't figure out why he was so fussy, or why he wasn't eating & sleeping like before. We didn't know if it was an ear infection, or if he was getting sick, or if he just didn't like sleeping in his crib. Whatever the case, he was not a happy little boy. And being extra fussy didn't allow for Enz to get any rest whatsoever. She took Zay to the doctor yesterday and he determined that Zay's acid reflux was possibly "flaring up" causing major discomfort. Poor guy =( The doctor prescribed yet another medication to help with this problem, and told us that if he doesn't get any better by next week, he should see a specialist. Needless to say, the meds worked wonders last night, and Zay made it through about 9 hours before waking up hungry! WHEW! Of course we're not expecting him to be 100% just yet, so we're keeping our fingers crossed in hopes that everything settles down over the next couple of nights.

That being said, everything else was fine with the "little" guy. Zay will be hitting the 3 month mark next Monday, and it's hard to believe how quickly he's growing. Yesterday he weighed 15 pounds & 6 ounces, so you know he's not going hungry! At this rate, he'll catch up to Makenna in no time. Makenna continues to be her outgoing little self. She's at that stage where she's really learning things quickly, and she's doing a lot of imitation. We don't know where she got this from, but she's learning how to whistle. She's also learning how to jump, or so she thinks she is. She'll do most of her "tricks" when she's asked, but like many other kids, she'll get shy if she's put on the spot. Watching her tend to her little brother is also entertaining, and at times, she'll sit there and "chat" with him while he's in his swing. Lately Isaiah has been paying more attention to his big sister, and will follow her with his eyes as she runs around the room. When she's up in his face, he stares intently as she talks away, almost as if he understands her. It's almost as if they're planning their strategy for the future, when they can both play together. That's when the fun will really begin! Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

Yet another Hump Day...

The last couple of nights haven't been good for the little guy. We started him off in his crib this past weekend and things were going well up until the beginning of the week. During the weekend, he had no problems sleeping through the night, but these last few nights have been a different story. It's almost as if he reverted back to being a 3 week old, needing to be fed every couple of hours. I don't think we jumped the gun at all, but I do think he needs a little more time to acclimate himself to his surroundings & schedule. I don't think it was this hard with Makenna, but nevertheless, we just need to deal with it. And as frustrated as we get, all he has to do is look up and smile, and then all the frustration goes right out the window. Kids, you gotta love 'em...

Makenna's been a handful as well, albeit on a different level. We've been waiting for the stage in her development where she becomes more curious and inquisitive, and I think it's here, in a big way. At this point in time, she's getting into everything! And just like her little brother, we can't get too angry when she gets into stuff. She just walks away and messes around with something else until that gets on our nerves! To her, everything is a game. So if we catch her doing something she's not supposed to be doing, she just takes off running in hopes that we'll chase her. She'll continue to do that until she finally realizes we're not playing around, and then she'll do something really cute which throws us off. Makes us wonder who's really running things in the house... Happy Wednesday!

Isaiah's angel face when he's fed and rested

Makenna attempting to stare us down

Here's an interesting comparison between the two kids. This picture of Makenna was taken when she was around 18 weeks old. It's been on the blog before, although it was about a year ago. The picture of Isaiah was taken at around 11 weeks. If we put them side by side, you'd think we had twins! What a scary thought!!!

Kenna @ ~18 weeks Zay @ ~11 weeks

The Joys of Parenting

We had a very relaxing weekend with the kids, not much planned which was a really nice change. Basically took the weekend and played it by ear. We did a lot of cleanup around the house, although with Makenna getting into everything, it's hard to tell that the place has been straightened up. I can only imagine what life will be like once Isaiah gets mobile.

Enz finally got Zay's room to the point where it was no longer an extra storage space, and moved all of his stuff into it. He made the transition to sleeping in his crib this weekend, and it was pretty seamless. We started him off by putting him down for his naps in his crib, just so he could get some familiarity with his new surroundings. By the time we put him down for the night, it was like home to him, and we both let out a huge sigh of relief! Ahhhhh, we have now reclaimed our bedroom, although Marino still calls our room home. Zay took to his crib much like Kenna did when we started her out in her room. And the fact that he sleeps for 8-9 hours at night is an added plus!

We had a few errands to run so we made it a family outing of sorts, which worked out well for Makenna, our little social butterfly. Since the weather was better than average, the kids were decked out in some of their springtime gear, obviously turning heads wherever we went! Although it was nice to get out and spend time together, I can totally see where it can get to be a bit overwhelming. Gone are the days of jumping in the car and taking off. Those have been replaced with better planning and preparation, as well as loading the stroller, diaper bags, portable high chair, then loading the kids. What used to take a couple of minutes to get out the door, now seems like a big production. It's like we almost need a checklist! Can't complain though, it's just another phase of parenthood, and it feels like we'll never stop learning! Happy Monday!

Isaiah's "most muscular" pose

Kenna's attempt at finding comfort in her old swing

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday from all of the Camero children! Have a great weekend!

Images for Hump Day

Isaiah has just started making this face, usually when he's about to start crying. We never really saw Makenna do this as a baby, but we just noticed that Zay picked up this cute little habit. Although we don't like hearing him cry, we thought it was one of those rare opportunities to catch this expression in the making.
Here's an interesting comparison of our little social butterfly. Apparently there's a Sesame Street character that goes by the name of Abby Cadabby. As of late, mommy has been putting Makenna's ever growing locks into makeshift pigtails, ponytails, devil horns, or whatever you call them. Those little tails, along with her happy-go-lucky face, make it hard not to see the similarities with the Sesame Street character. It's Kenna Cadabby for sure! Happy Wednesday!

Happy Earth Day

Yesterday was a good day for both of the kids. I won't say that it was perfect, but more closer to hassle-free than we've seen in a long time. According to mommy, little Zay didn't fuss much about being hungry, and even took more naps than usual, which actually gave mommy a bit of a breather! As fun as he is when he's awake, it's a relief for Enz when he does take quality naps. Not sure what it'll take to get this guy full, but there must've been something Enz did yesterday that did the trick!

Kenna, our chatty chatty spitfire, is really into testing her limits. She's already started to climb on top of her toys, mainly to reach up onto the couch to give her sleeping brother a smooch, or to dance along with the kids if Barney's on. Up until now, she's been afraid of the Baby Einstein caterpillar/rocker she got for Christmas. But since she's become our little daredevil, she figured that it would be fun to sit on it and learn to rock back and forth. She also enjoys tormenting the dog, because he's not too fond of the caterpillar. If you've been fortunate to hear her "talk" then you know that when she gets going, it's hard to make her stop. We're just anxious to hear how she sounds when actual words start coming out of her mouth!

Kids at play...

It was a nice and relaxing weekend for the most part at the E&J, just another couple of days off to chill and hang out as a family. Usually we find ourselves in a big hurry trying to get the kids out of the house on time to make it to a few family parties, but this weekend there was only one event to get to, and things seemed to just fall into place this time. It's almost as if we're getting the hang of what it takes to get things done with two little ones, but this might've just been an isolated incident. Who knows, the next time we think we're prepared might end up being total chaos...

We attended the First Communion celebration for Derick's daughter Skye, and that just made us all realize how quickly time is flying. The mass moved along smoothly and the following reception was fun. Little Isaiah was pretty much asleep through both the mass & brunch, so he was the easy one. And even though Zay was asleep for the most part, everyone still had their turn at holding the "little" guy, and sneaking a squeeze of his cheeks! I guess there's something about babies that makes people want to hold them?

Makenna was having a ball watching all the little kids at church and even danced along as they sang their Communion song. At the brunch, she had her share of kids to keep up with, and even though they're all a bit older than her, she was able to hold her own! It was nice to see her enjoying herself, without us having to follow her every footstep. It was a bit of a break for Enz & myself, as we allowed the other kids to keep an eye on her while we enjoyed eating together at the same time!

My shirt says it all

The goofy Camero family

Kenna dancing around with Cole

Kenna was wiped out after playing with the big kids!!!

Happy Friday!!

It seems that our kids tend to even each other out. When one of them acts up, the other is usually calm and mellow. Or when one of them isn't feeling well, the other is just fine and dandy. Earlier in the week, Isaiah wasn't himself - he wasn't eating normally, occasionally throwing up, and was extremely fussy whenever he decided to eat. And while he was driving us crazy with his inconsistency, Makenna was there to make us laugh with her care-free attitude. It's kind of a nice break to have the balance with the two kids. If one's bringing you down, the other is there to bring you back up again!

Now that we've reached the end of yet another week, the tables have been turned. Kenna's cutting some new teeth & she's become quite the fussy one. And with her unruliness comes Isaiah's "zen-like" disposition. Ahhhhh.... When Makenna's not 100%, she lets us know, and she let's us know loudly! The good thing about it is that Isaiah isn't affected by Makenna's crankiness, he just sits there and minds his business, which usually helps in keeping us sane.

We're getting to that point with Isaiah where we're starting to do different things with him. Using Kenna's upbringing as a guide, we've tweaked his schedule a bit to see if he's on point with Kenna's developmental milestones. Thus far, he's doing fine, and we're about to introduce him to naptime in his crib. He doesn't mind being in the crib, so that's a plus. Being a seasoned pro, Makenna took some time out of her busy schedule last night to show her little Bro the ropes...

"listen, it may seem scary at first, but the crib's really not that bad"

"you've got all the necessities within arms reach"

"and don't worry, I'll always be nearby to keep an eye on you"Isaiah breathes a sigh of relief knowing that his sister has his back...
Makenna loves being a big sister...

Hump Day...

While our little angel continues to wow us with his developing personality,

Our little devil's horns finally came out!!!

Hahaha, just kidding! Both of our kids are little angels, or so we think! Of course they both have their devilish sides, more so with Makenna since she is mobile and seriously getting into everything! While we still have the reins on Isaiah, little Miss Independent is the walking, talking definition of payback, at least for this stage in the game... Happy Hump Day!

More posing from the kids...

Our two little ones love to ham it up for the camera. We thought Makenna was the only one who could "turn it on" when the camera came out, but check out Isaiah's pose...

I'm too sexy for my shirt...

Makenna's learning to smile without making a silly face...

Interesting weekend

This past weekend was a warm one, so we took advantage of the great weather and took the kids out. We didn't do anything or go anywhere spectacular, just spent some time outdoors. Both kids love to be outside, although it's more apparent in Makenna. She's able to let us know that she's enjoying everything she sees, while Isaiah just lounges in the stroller. We know he's enjoying himself because he's usually quiet during our walks.

Isaiah was a bit on the uncomfortably fussy side over the weekend, but not more than normal, or so we thought. During one of his early morning feedings, he decided to "share" it with mommy, if you know what I mean. He's never done that before, at least not at that volume, so that worried us a bit. So much so that we took a trip to the clinic just to have him checked out. His eating habits have changed recently, and we thought that he might have some sort of bug. The doctor wasn't able to determine anything wrong with the little guy, so she made some suggestions until we could see Isaiah's doctor. After the visit, little Zay was ok for the most part, and didn't feel like showing us what he just ate for the remainder of the weekend. We'll see how this pans out, but for now, the kid just keeps on growing. BTW, he's gained half a pound in the last two weeks, just to put it into perspective for you...

Makenna, on the other hand, loves to be out and about. Little Miss Independent is having a ball being able to play out in the back yard, or at the park. Since we've given her the freedom to roam the house, she thinks it's an invitation to get into anything and everything! Basically, she's showing us just how child-proof our house is NOT! On the flip-side, it's great having a little shadow following us around!

Happy Friday

The Evolution of Isaiah. The little big man is well into his 9th week, and the changes are remarkable! There's not much to update at this point, just that he's become more alert, more smiley, and much more hungry! Here are a few pictures I put together just so you can see how he's changed throughout these past nine weeks.

Our little "fridge DJ" loves to run through the kitchen while the music plays on one of her favorite toys. Here's a picture of her as she starts up the music on her toy. Happy Friday!!!

Another day in Paradise...

As the days progress, it seems that Isaiah's going through another possible growth spurt. He's been pretty consistent with about 4 ounces each time he eats, but lately he's not completely satisfied until he gets another ounce or two. He's also been consistent with the length of sleep he gets at night, usually around 6.5 hours, which has been really helpful for Enz. We're almost, but not quite, at that point where he'll get up when I do for work, but we're getting there (hopefully more sooner than later)! Aside from that, he's a lot more smiley and tends to make new sounds, especially after he's eaten.

Makenna continues to be another great source of entertainment. We've eased up on her "restrictions" around the house, and have given her the opportunity to explore. Of course, the doors to the off-limit areas are still closed, but it's not like she understands that anyway. She just enjoys being able to cruise through the family room, kitchen and office without having a baby gate in her way. Being outside is another story, and from the beginning, this girl has loved the outdoors. Now that the weather's getting warmer, we're taking her out more. She's got her outdoor shoes that she's been breaking in lately, and loves to run around and chase the dog! It's fun to watch, but we still cringe every time she hits the ground! She's been a trooper though, and doesn't really cry unless she really gets hurt. We've been pretty fortunate thus far, but again, this is just the beginning...

Ahhhh Monday...

Isaiah had his 2 month appointment last Friday, and that came with a series of shots. UGH! The little guy wasn't too thrilled with the shots, but it's just another part of growing up. Judging by the way he handled the initial shock, we made sure we were prepared for the coming night. Sure enough, he was very uncomfortable, and woke up screaming in the wee hours of the morning. Poor guy =( He's ok now, we hope, and here are his numbers just so you can see how much he's grown these past two months.

Isaiah currently weighs 13 pounds, 2 ounces which puts him in the 95th percentile for weight. What? Hehehe, must be that healthy appetite of his! He's also 22 inches long, which puts him in the 25th percentile for height. Go figure, neither one of his parents are tall, so hopefully his height will eventually catch up to his weight. His head circumference was around 41 cm, placing him in the 75th percentile for head size. Much like his big sister, we're hoping that the big head means a big brain! Nevertheless, little Zay is little no more! We compared his numbers with that of Kenna's 2 month figures, and he's right up there where she was. He's taken her in weight by about half a pound, and came up an inch short (no pun intended) in height.

Aside from that, it seems that Isaiah is going through a bit of a change. He's able to sleep through a good portion of the night with an occasional outburst here and there as he searches for his pacifier. He's been eating more, as well as more frequently, obviously. He's also been taking more notice of Kenna as she scurries around the house. His eyes have been focusing intently on her, but he can't move them as fast as our little speed demon can walk! Zay's been making new noises as well, but will still make a meowing sound like a cat when he wants attention, and he'll also snort like a pig when he's hungry!

Who can resist that face? Zay's shirt says it all...

Kenna has been all personality lately, and spends most of her time up on her feet. She seems tireless as she explores beyond the confines of what we affectionately call her "gated community." Those who've seen it, know exactly what we're talking about! At times she gets overly excited with her "freedom" and we find that she's face planted into the couch, or tumbled over her toys. Unless it's something major, she usually just dusts herself off and continues on. She's had a couple of bad spills, but none that have required immediate medical attention (keeping fingers crossed). For now, she loves cruising around the house in search of things to get into. She loves to test our patience to see just how much she can get away with before one of us takes notice. And like any other mischievous child, she immediately runs away when she hears those parental footsteps! It's fun, but it's exhausting, and we both know this is only the beginning....

Kenna representin' the Phins

Kenna showing her support for JT on Dancing With The Stars...

Smiley

Isaiah is starting to gain a little more awareness of his surroundings. He's making a lot more facial expressions as he reacts to everyone being "all up in his grill." He's been cooing more as well, and he still sounds like a cat when he makes those noises! Since Makenna likes to get in his face and give him kisses, we've noticed that he's starting to make more eye contact with her, and will even follow her with his eyes. We're still trying to get Kenna to understand the meaning of "being gentle" when it comes to Zay, but she just loves him so much she gets clumsy around him. She always manages to fall on him whenever she tries to get near his face, and even though it looks like it's hurting Zay, he just shrugs it off. But whenever I pick him up wrong, he let's me know! It must be a sibling thing...

While he still enjoys sleeping throughout the day, he's getting much better at going for longer stretches at night. At this point, he's averaging around 6 hours before waking up hungry. He'll be getting through the night in no time, so we'll be introducing him to his crib once he makes that switch.

You're not going to believe this...

Not sure if it's a blessing, but it might be a curse. The last time we joked about it, we ended up laughing at ourselves. It's not a bad thing, don't get me wrong, but to have to go through it for yet another consecutive year is enough to drive anyone to the brink of insanity. I won't say what it is, but for many of you who read this, you probably already know what I'm hinting at. We'll keep you posted. The ironic thing about it is that right around this timeframe after we had Makenna, we were wondering about some changes, and that's all I've got to say about that. Hmmmm.....

On a lighter note, today little Isaiah hit the 8 week mark! Happy 8 weeks to our "little" boy! Here are a couple of pics to compare the two babies, although Makenna's was taken when she was right around the 10 week mark. It's always fun to compare pictures of the kids, especially when we find ones that are fairly similar.

Mommy and Isaiah @ 8 weeks

Mommy and Makenna @ 10 weeks

Oh and btw.... HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY! Get it? =) Cruel joke, I know, and I'm sure it'll bite me in the a$$ someday...