Edith Margaret: Two Months

Is it even worth the apology for how late this post is? Will anyone know but me? The good news is that the pictures were taken on time just uploaded late. 

Here she is, our Edith Margaret at 2 months old!

 This is the look on her face most of the time. Just a constant, 'what the heck?'

 She loves her hands, always has them in her mouth and screams with anger when she pulls them out.

 (look at that double chin!)

 Such a cute little puffed out belly button for now and the best bug eyes!

 She is seriously the happiest baby, smiling occasionally already  and always following you with her eyes.

Our little 2 year old

Terrible twos. So much fun and so much fear. So many things you hear and as someone who babysat all my life, I thought I got it, toddlers are hard. But, MAN, her mood changes instantly when you wish it wouldn't and when you wish it would (read: tantrum in public) there is nothing you can do. That said, Gemma is at such a fun age. We are so loving the way she sings, and talks, and questions. She is the sweetest and most inquisitive. She has become a wonderful big sister who always wants to surround herself with the people she loves.

A few little Gemmaisms for you:

*Sorry 'bout that

*Oh, I'm coming too

*Be right back

*You alright?

*Grab my hand

*(after knocking on the door) it's a me

*(while looking in the mirror or at pictures of herself) oh Gemma, you look cute

*(everyday when we come home) how's work dada?

Gemma, life with you is so much fun. We love you our timid little adventurer. 

Edith Margaret: One Month

We are getting to the time that I need to take E's 2 month photos so I need to hurry up and share this post. She already looks so different, babies are crazy how quickly they grow and how their face can seem to mature overnight. Edith is no exception, in fact she is gaining weight and strength at a much faster rate than Gem, I think it's because she took to eating so much better. 

At one month I was just starting to try being a stay at home mom of two before returning to work. My mom, Tim's parents, and Aunt To all visited for a period of time to help with the adjustment for which I am so grateful. Maybe I will plan a separate post just for my few weeks as a stay at home mom and then a real lengthy one about being a working mom of two... a week and a half in and my head is still reeling. 

Enough about me, and on to the main attraction. Edie is such a sweet and happy baby. She is not really cooing (or squeeking like her sister) or smiling yet but she is just very chill. She is happy to just lay on her back and look around or be held for hours will no real attention necessary. She fits right into our little family as she is happy to tag along and doesn't cry at the adventures her sister plans for her. 

A her one month appointment she weighed in at 11 lbs. 5 oz. and a healthy little chunk. She loves baths and eating... go figure. 

The greatest thing is that we know she will pass out within seconds of Tim holding her. I don't know if she just knows I am the one who can feed her or that her dad just provides a protective level of comfort but he puts her into a dead sleep almost instantly.

She takes the BaBa just like G but if it can't be found at night I'll see that she stuck her fingers in her mouth. She always has her hands pulled up to her face like this and so she hates a swaddle. 

And just like Gemma Brigid, Edith Margaret hates this headband and the fact that her mother makes her wear it.

Day Trip to Harpers Ferry

We spent yesterday in Harpers Ferry, WV with the girls for the perfect blend of National Parks, the beginnings of fall foliage, museums, day trips from the city, and historical reenactors. It's a quick trip from DC but we still treated it like a Kenney family road trip and stopped for McDonald's Diet Cokes first thing. I happily and embarrassingly report that Gemma knows the McDonald's arches from blocks away and excitedly proclaims, "FRENCH FRIES" every time she sees one. 

 Documenting the suburban mom look in the parking lot like a classic suburban mom.

I have actually been to Harpers Ferry before for tubing down the river but this was Tim's first time. I love sharing these sorts of memories with him but especially like this, where he will appreciate it way more than I ever will... classic history major. Should I admit that I didn't know who John Brown was before yesterday? Oops!

Can you believe how big Gemma is? She is full on toddler and alternates between making us laugh in amazement at some of the adorable things she says and driving us mad with her irrational tantrums. Two, am I right?

90s inspired outfits brought to you by Target, brought to me by STB. Gemma's good behavior brought to everyone by ice cream.

 Thank you Harpers Ferry for being so dang cute, for quenching my need to adventure beyond the city, and for giving Tim another stamp for his NPS passport. 

Edith Margaret: Just Arrived

We pulled out the massive hair bow to count out the second #ladykenney's growth this year. I hope to be more diligent and timely in both taking the pictures and in posting them this time around but I'm already behind. In order to share the 1 month pictures before she hits the two month mark in 2 weeks, I should start from the beginning.

Edith Margaret Kenney, our little bundle. I fought long and reasoned well for your name and it suits you oh so well. Tim and I were married on the feast day of Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) and I have since fallen in love with her fierce piety. My name is Rylee Grace which means I am not named for any obvious patron saints. My middle name is a nod to my paternal grandmothers family and especially her mother as it is her last name and I am so glad for that. But ever since we did saints projects in fourth grade and were instructed to use the saint we were named for unless we didn't have one and then we could pick any, I have vowed to make sure my children would have one of their names nod to a saint. Anyway, we knew Gemma was a Gemma before we had kids, before we knew she was a girl, we have always had a patronage to Saint Gemma, it wasn't a big decision or a fight for us. I started thinking about Edith for a girl about the time we decided on Gemma's middle name. We would debate, Gemma Grace or Gemma Ruth or Gemma Elizabeth or Gemma Brigid or what? I would start ending the discussion with, 'and the next daughter will be Edie.' I knew with the old fashioned and STRONG name Tim might not be on board so I warmed him to it by introducing it early and often. This way, by the time we decided to get pregnant with baby number two, he was with me and didn't even really pose any other possibilities. Margaret is Tim's paternal grandmother and we are thrilled to have some strong, charitable, empowering, selfless, and Christ-seeking women to look up to. 

Oh, Edie, we love you so. This is you, in your first week of life.