On May 16, Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Baskett welcomed their daughter, Alijah Mary, into the world. Big brother Henry Randall “Hank” Baskett IV, age 4, was pretty excited when his baby sister came home but, as often happens with a new baby in the house, little Hank’s joy gave way to a touch of jealousy that was soon overcome by a day spent with daddy.
Wilkinson, 29, and Baskett, 31, were married after a much-publicized whirlwind romance that was played out on television and in headlines everywhere.Wilkinson was one of three Playboy Playmates starring in a TV reality show, Girls Next Door, when she met then-Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Baskett in early 2008. Wilkinson’s mother had once been a cheerleader for the Eagles and Wilkinson herself had enjoyed a stint as regular contributor to the team’s website blog.
Six months after meeting, Baskett proposed to Wilkinson atop the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington, and the couple married at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles on June 27, 2009. The bride officially took the groom’s last name as her own but she is more widely known by her maiden name.
Wilkinson’s career has encompassed reality TV, glamour modeling, music videos, business entrepreneurship, and writing. She was born in San Diego, California, and has one younger brother, Colin, who walked her down the aisle at her wedding. Wilkinson’s parents divorced when she was 8 years old.
Baskett is the perfect combo of brawn and brains. The 6’4” tall football player was born in Clovis, New Mexico, into an Air Force family. After leaving the Air Force, Baskett’s father became director of a social services program but his mother is still involved with the military, working as a financial officer at Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis.
Sports kept Baskett busy in high school; he lettered in basketball, football, and track. He set the state record for high jump in 2000 but athletics didn’t distract from academics. He graduated from Clovis High School with a 4.0 GPA in 2001. He played football for the University of New Mexico and, again, maintained high academic standards. He earned academic honors every year in college and earned a degree in general management.
Their first child, Hank, was born on December 11, 2009. He was a big baby — 9 pounds, 5 ounces — and a C-section delivery was required. Postpartum depression soon followed, prompted, according to Wilkinson, by the family’s move from California to Indianapolis, where Baskett had just signed on to play for the Indianapolis Colts.
Now that Baskett has retired from professional football and the couple is involved with the TV and entertainment industries, Los Angeles is their home.
Source: Takeda, Allison. “Exclusive: Kendra Wilkinson, Hank Baskett Introduce Baby Girl Alijah Mary: See Their First Family Picture.” Us Weekly. Us Weekly. Jun 4, 2014. Web. Jun 18, 2014.