I'm only me when I'm with you

I'm Do you know the Taylor Swift song of this title?

I should hope so...

It's a gloriously catchy Taylor song that I used to hate, hate, hate on principal.  See when I heard lyrics like "It's like no matter what I do, I'm only me when I'm with you" I would go up in a feminine roar. (Which is hilarious coming from me as Tim would joke that he's more of a feminist than I am... Truth.) But truly I was so frustrated by the idea that a woman needed a man to feel comfortable being herself, that she would only allow herself to shine if he was also shining. Now, there is some part of this I still stand to but 10 months of marriage later and it looks like once again Taylor speaks the words of my heart!

Last weekend was a really good weekend. I went to a bachelorette party (more on that later) and then enjoyed a lazy Sunday morning with Tim. While we were in bed watching something on Netflix (likely the Office) I was able to easily convince him to indulge me in an IKEA trip. I love Ikea so much it's ridiculous and perhaps unhealthy. The organization, design, price, and food make my heart sing... Tim thinks I'm nuts when I start to explain how I love this megacheap furniture store. You be the judge. We were looking for some nursery organization and were able to furnish our back deck too! 

(A little bump date while we're at it)

These things combined to form my original reflection of this post. I love this man. I am a strong and independent woman and I survived 4 years of long distance in my own city at my own school without needing him in a sense. But 10 months later and I realize that it's true that I am who I want to be when I am with him. I know, I know, cheese and corn, BUT I am more confident being Rylee when I know that Tim is my counterpart. This is not to say that I change when he is around or I am different when he is not nearby to be the extroverted one of our duo, but I take comfort in new social situations when he is with me and I with him. Do I need Tim to make friends? No. But I do think I need Tim to achieve utmost joyfulness for me. And that's what marriage is right? After all, I changed my name and I changed my vocation. I am only me when I'm with Tim or I guess I would tweak that just a bit to be I am my best me when I'm with Tim and I am living my role of wife, mother, and woman most fully because of his presence. 

And while I dedicated this post entirely to sharing my love of my husband I should tell you where it really all stems from... He put in our AC window unit and this pregnant lady has slept through the night 3 times this past week! No one deserves more love than the person who installs an AC unit for a pregnant woman.

Parental Survival Guide

We have found some great friends here in Boston, we're truly blessed.

They threw me an impromptu baby shower of sorts before heading to various locations for the summer. It included my favorite meal, on the grill to boot, and the greatest of conversation.

They then brought Tim out of hiding to present us with our parental survival guide. His and hers companions.

Mine included everything from dry shampoo to bags of chocolates. And of course the cutest little leggings for the already most spoiled little girl. 

Tims toolkit was cleverly in a toolbox. The bottom was filled with masks for stinky diapers, duct tape for when diapers and clothing were not cooperating and mom wasn't around, his very own prenatal vitamins (!), chocolates to force feed me because "happy wife, happy life," and diet coke because diet coke saves lives.

The top included pajamas with zippers because no one should need to be bothered with buttons, hats with ears because Tim thinks that those are the sweetest things ever, "I love daddy" pacifiers, and pitch perfect just because.

So what do you think? Sweetest and most thoughtful gift right? What would you add to a survival guide for first time parents? Right around 22 weeks along I'm feeling wine would be perhaps the best thing to add!

Mothers Day

Just a little tale of my first Mothers Day. Tim spoiled me rotten, truly. And while I am so excited for years to come and being spoiled by my children, my mom reminded me that this will be Tim's job for a few more years now. His gifts were so thoughtful and sweet that I just have to share. 

First, because I have been talking about how we need to save for this since before we got married, Tim bought me/ us a grill. A lovely little charcoal grill for our back deck. He laughed when I saw it because I freaked out and was so excited but to anyone else this might be the equivalent of getting your wife tires for her birthday or a tool set for Christmas. But not me! Remember my favorite food? Remember how good hot dogs on the grill are? Plus this means so many meals this summer that Tim is cooking and not me.

Second, because nesting is real, he got me/ baby girl the cutest little laundry hamper for her nursery. We have a nursery theme in mind and this should fit perfectly (more on that when it's finished). Though less of a focus on the nursery right now and more of a focus on everything else. I'm pretty sure he is more than frustrated with me because I decide to do a project and then it has to be done right then and there. We cannot do anything else until it is finished and I'm too stubborn to be persuaded otherwise. Like today after mass when I decided that the flower boxes needed to be done and instructed him to drive me to Home Depot. Or yesterday when I woke up early on a Saturday just so I could gut his office. So as I said, nesting is real.

And back to the point of this post. Tim spoiled me today with a home cooked breakfast, a lazy morning, an adventurous afternoon in the city at the Aquarium, and a quiet evening at home after mass. I am so lucky to be a mom when Tim Kenney is the dad.

Are you sick of Aquarium pictures yet? Hopefully not because we never tire of an afternoon watching the penguins.

And a bump picture for the two of you who asked. Twenty weeks with this little girl.

I really like this city. I really hate drivers in this city.

My first Sunday mass being honored as a Mother on this day. I'm so excited to meet this baby Kenney and I'm getting anxious to wait alllllll summer but I am trying to cherish this special time now. This time as a mom spending every moment with this little girl. Being reminded frequently of her presence by both her little flutters and her angry kicks. So much quality time loving this child of mine. And of course every time I share these sorts of things with Tim he bends over and kisses my belly and reminds me that even if I get to feel her every move, he has one thing I don't have.

House Reunion

It's a good life when friends become family. I cannot even begin to express what these people mean to me and the joy that was shared by their descent upon our city. We loved hosting them and exploring different parts of the city but perhaps even more we loved the hours spent just enjoying each others company. It is always great to go into Boston, but it was even better to play 4 on a couch or share meals that stretch out for hours. At the end of the day, the best of friends are the ones you don't need to entertain, the ones that help themselves to whatever in the kitchen, the ones who at the end of the day would be perfectly happy never leaving the house if it meant sharing stories and sharing life. And really these people are the best of friends. They constantly bring me joy in life and they lead me closer to Christ daily. This trip, it was so good to be really able to share Tim with them and them with Tim. 

(And judge me because they visited us for MLK weekend... before the snow.......)

Maybe some day I'll come through and caption this post a bit. But then again maybe not, it's fun to let the pictures tell the story. And it becomes like an inside post as in a "you had to be there" kind of thing...