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.

Party like a Pineapple

Any excuse to celebrate my best friend is a good one but her birthday is the best, obviously. I have very few pictures but we fixed up our backyard space with some lights and decor and all of our indoor furniture (we have since purchased some outdoor seating) and invited friends over for Rose and Sangria! 

Can I give you all some advice, live with your best friend as much as possible. Even when married with kids, it is so good to see Shan every day, to share meals, laundry folding, life with each other. Thank you for always letting me be me and for going to Wegmans with me even if you already grocery shopped that week. I love you! HBD STB (I mean half birthday!)

Bathtime

It probably seems ridiculous to dedicate an entire post just to a babies first bath... but this is the kind of crazy thing a mom does and I am embracing it. First, Edie really enjoys bath time and is very zen which is refreshing considering that Gemma hated baths from birth to 20 months. And when I say hated I mean was terrorized by them and screamed the whole time. Second, we have loved having baths on the kitchen table so everyone can help out. Finally, Gemma loves giving Edith a bath and it is the most heartwarming thing, my mom heart grows three sizes each time.

Williamsburg

My parents are true snow birds who travel from Florida to Michigan when the boys are out of school for the summer. This year, they went way out of their way so we could all enjoy a long weekend vacation to kick off summer. We all met in Williamsburg, Virginia at a resort with swimming pool and park to supplement our historical venturing. It was so fun to see Gemma really grow to love her uncles and to enjoy the pool for the very first time!