At what point do you switch from weeks to months? Regardless this week we're still marveling at our little man. He constantly is trying something new and keeps us laughing most nights.

Max returned home Sunday from Charlotte, NC where he witness our dear friends Jesse and Shawna tie the knot. I was bummed to miss an Ithaca wedding since they are about the most fun events on the planet, but when we booked Max's ticket, Ryan was not in traveling shape. In hindsight we probably could have pulled it off, but would have heard the classic "You've got a BABY in a BAR" line from Sweet Home Alabama. Plus it's probably best to limit Ryan's exposure to Uncle Wrighty until he's able to make his own responsible decisions (though Wrighty did miss the opportunity to hit on the ladies with his carbon copy mini me twin, Ryan.)

Work for me has been super busy and I have been racking up the overtime. I am reminded how much I love what I do when I work Tues-Thurs...but when I walk through the door and see Ryan smile at the end of the day, I am so excited to have the next four days with him!

Today's Earth day and now that I have a child I feel an even bigger commitment to making our environment safe for him. I have always been passionate about environmentalism, but now that I have a kid whom I'm leaving this planet to, it's all the more important. I encourage each of you to look at your impact on the tangible world. I hope our little family can move beyond what we currently do (recycling, reusing, buying local, looking at what we need versus what we want, etc.) and start composting this Spring. OK, I'm off my tree-stump now.

So onto the REAL reason you all read the blog: Ryan. Here's his achievements this week:

- Ryan is adjusting well to the removal of dairy and eggs from my diet. He's a lot less grumpy and is sleeping a ton better. Still congested though so we are looking at possible secondary reflux being an issue. I'm reading a great book that is putting things into perspective.

- He sucked on his toe today for the first time ever.

- He's almost rolling over.

- His eyes are changing colors (see below). The color is indescribable, but certainly not the blue they started out as.

- Now that he's beyond just standing, he pulls up to a stand with just his fingers being held.

- When I come home, he tracks me all around the house very quickly.

- He loves laying under his fish & whale mobile.

- And he's got the cutest belly laugh ever.

Love to you all,
Court, Max & Ryan



Blue-green-brown eyes? Is that even a a color?


Cloth diapers are another way we are hoping to lessen our impact on the Earth. We're not in them full time since we do not own enough of them just yet, but they can lessen a child's environmental footprint by 40% when laundered correctly in an HE machine and used for multiple kids. Ryan wears Bum Genius 3.0, all in one, one size fits all organics.

Ryan's happiest when he's naked!




We call this look the Dali Ryan....When his swaddle sack is not wrapped around his arms (since he has a way of squirming free) he looks like a little monk.


Here's Ryan after pulling himself up to standing.

4 Months Old

Hey all,
We can hardly believe it but our little man is 4 months old. We are spending our time catching up after a big week. Max was in Florida and returned home after an awesome trip at 4:30am Saturday morning. Other than a treacherous drive North, the trip was lots of fun though he missed Ryan like crazy. Next year we hope to join him.

While Max was away, Ryan and I were super busy. My parents, sister and fiancee Eric were around a lot to help in Max's absence. We celebrated my 32nd birthday together on Wed., only to come home from work and hear the news that Ryan had blood in his diaper. We've been to the doctor twice since then (once the day after the blood and then Monday for his 4 month shots and exam) and we are experimenting at finding the cause. Right now I am cutting out all eggs and diary in the hopes that something more serious is not at play. Ryan is experiencing a lot of gas pain at night but is generally pretty happy these days. He's 16lbs 8 oz and 25.5 inches long (80% for weight, 75% for length).

Later in the week we were party animals, spending Good Friday dinner with Carrie, Dan and Henri, Saturday morning with the Geurink/Holohans clan in celebration of Lucky, Cian, and Amy's arrival home from Ireland, Saturday afternoon with the Alguires for Connor's 1st b-day and Sunday with my family for Easter!

Ryan is up to big things these days:
- He likes to hold two toys now in each hand, but forgets how to let go and sometimes thinks he's getting attacked!

- He pulls his binkie out of his mouth and get frustrated when he can't get it back in. Somehow he cannot get the binkie in, but everything else goes in his mouth these days. He's a real drooler.

- He talks A LOT! Most days he sounds like a Terradactial. It's so funny. He's right on the verge of a laugh. His smile lights up a room.

- He watches Cali and tracks her around the room. He also turns his head to find daddy when I ask where he's at.

- He mimics Max when he puts his hands up or down. I did not believe it until I saw it myself.

- He stand up on my lap with barely any more support than a hand at the waist. He also crawls up my body. I think we have a mover on our hands.

Below are some of the higlights of the week. Enjoy!
Love Court, Max and Ryan

Mindy & Colin, Amy & Cian, Court & Ryan. We're posed oldest to youngest...Cian is a peanut!

Ryan and his best friend Bee. Bee is his favorite toy.

Ryan trying desperately to work the angles to get this thing in his mouth.

Ryan's just started reaching up to grab toys on the gym.

Our sweet little guy on Easter Sunday.

Grandma Stevens and Ryan.
No Easter would be complete without an Easter basket and new outfit. Luckily Papa Stevens did not make Ryan search for his basket like he has made all of us for years.


Court & Ryan and Staci & Birthday boy Connor. Staci is expectig her third child in September and we couldn't be more thrilled!

A Note to Daddy

Ryan has hijacked the camera....Apparently he needed to send a message to daddy. It is as follows:

15 Weeks: Our Little Spartan

Just a quick post to show off our little Spartan. Ryan and I celebrated with Aunt Kirstyn as the Spartans won the National Semifinals! (I am a MSU grad for those unaware). Anyhow, Max is now in Florida with his baseball team, so I wanted to fill him in on how cute his little guys is! Thanks to Kurt and Janet for the shirt, booties and hat. And thanks to the Denton's for the MSU hoodie. Without your contributions to our Spartan's wardrobe our son would have been reduced to being half naked in his green diaper. Max returns from Florida a week from today and we are holding our own. Weather was great today and we got a nice long walk in too, but we're suppose to get 6 inches of snow tomorrow. That's it for tonight...I have a peanut to tuck in.

PS. There are more photos that normal since Daddy is missing Ryan A LOT!

PPS. If everyone could continue to pray for my dad's mom. She has taken a turn for the worse after a double bypass Monday and now my Grandpa is hospitalized as well. Thankfully they are in the same hospital. My parents are back down in Toledo tonight. It's kind of a wait-and-see scenario.

Outfit number one for Ryan. He sported three different ensembles for the game.
Here's Ryan wearing his "Someone at MSU Loves Me" tshirt, spartan booties and his green diaper.
And what day would not be complete without our MSU hat and my "Sparty on" t-shirt?

A morning swing,
Here's Ryan with "Aunt Staci". Ryan and I headed to Spring Lake yesterday to hang with Staci and the kids for the day. Ryan made his second-ever restaurant appearance with dinner at the Cottage Bar. He did great!
Staci's cutie Allison, also known as Princess Cupcake. (Sorry to Mike in Pensacola....your nickname has been reassigned.)
Staci's other cutie, Connor who just turned 1!
Aunt Kirstyn and Uncle Eric...NOTE: Eric was actually holding Ryan. Proof: the burp cloth on his shoulder.