We're all about artistic expression at our house these day due to ArtPrize. Let Ryan's night time apparel below act as an interpretive articulation of what Monday was like for our family.

Tough day yesterday.

It's easier to let everyone know via the blog these day....We did not get the foreclosure we had been waiting 2 weeks to hear back on. They took a cash offer way under ours that was made months ago. I am on my way to meet our Realtor to preview houses since Max's schedule with football is insane. Pray for us! We have about 5 weeks until we need to leave 109 Mayfield...perhaps to my sister's home 224 Mayfield! Probably better this way. The house we had wanted was way out of our league (We would have been impostors in our own home. We do not NEED 4100 sq feet!)


How did this oufit occur you ask? Mom of the Year, aka Court, has been trying to use plant based disposile diapers at night thinking that the chemicals in Pampers next to his man parts is a bad idea (maybe that's why infertility is at an all time high? Just a question to ponder). Our cloth diapers at night cannot hold Ryan's flood.

So at 2 am, Ryan "asked" to be changed out of his soaked PJs and corn-based leaky diaper. Being that all the other pjs are in the washer, I resorted to sweat pants and a long sleeve shirt. Once on, I realized Ryan had grown too large for these items and was now wearing a belly shirt and capris to bed. After changing sheets, soothing wet baby and re-evaluating his temperature, I found his outfit much too chilly, thus the layering of the socks, baby legs (leg warmers) and sweater vest. Ryan was not amused. Nor was I. At 4 am he finaly reconciled the outfit and went to bed.

9.5 Months

Hi all,
Great weekend. Despite a runny nose, Ryan was a champ today, checking out ArtPrize with me. For all our out-of-state followers, ArtPrize is the largest EVER art competition (in the world) with a purse of over $449,000 (Thank you DeVos's of Amway notoriety.) Over 1,200 artists from around the world are competing with installations all across our city. It's amazing. And it's right outside my doorway from work. Yesterday I was able to sneak away for a few hours to check out some work and today Ryan joined me for an event: 100,000 paper airplanes we're deployed from skyscrapers over our heads. Very cool. It's nice to see GR's streets filled, to see parents explaining art to their kids, and to just feel the enthusiasm. I actually teared up driving home as I looked down from the overpass and saw thousands of people clogging our streets...for ART! Since Wed. 25,000 people have registered to vote (You have to actually be in GR to do so) and over 100,000 votes have been cast. The public decides the winner. Thursday ddm is hosting an art walk as the second round of voting begins when the field is narrowed to 10 entries. Can't wait. Maybe the next time I'll enter. My last painting was completed before Ryan was born, but who knows, maybe he and I will do an entry together!

Ryan is doing well..getting over a cold, but handling all this transition like a pro. Our house is a maize of boxes and our walls are bare. We're formulating plan A's and plan B's and even plan C's since we still have not heard on the foreclosure we really want. Regardless, it looks like we'll close in the next week or two, then have 30 days...In that time we'll either need to fix up the foreclosure or find another house. Either way, the timing will not work out for a smooth move, so we're going to shack up in my sister's house (also on Mayfield) since she has yet to put it on the market since getting married (thank you Kir). We know it could be way worse. But we're just a bit anxious not knowing where we're going now that we have a baby (we did the exact same thing when we moved from Cali, sans kiddo)!

Speaking of the man, he's becoming very funny these days. Among our amusements:
- The bouncer has now become a swing. He maneuvers it just right, than picks up his feet and rides "around the world" style in the doorway. I mean, he gets AIR!

- He loves to pass things to his hands from his feet. Today I caught him getting his dog stuffed animal and passing it up to his hands (like his mom often does with her toes...) Normally this is while on his back. But yesterday he was holding a block between his feet while doing around the world swinging in the bouncer!

- We're still working on getting him down while awake at night. His newest trick is that when you lay him down on his side, he quickly rolls over and hugs your entire forearm with his arms and legs so you cannot leave. Last night as I was camped out beside the crib soothing him, I see this tiny hand come out from between the slats of the crib, only to pull the entire Moses basket of toys toward him so he could pet his polar bear....all while giggling. The basket is heavy and was really far away!

- He went from sitting to pulling himself up on the ottoman Friday night. He's got determination. He'll pull himself up on any part of your body, all while grunting and turning red until he accomplishes his goal. I am seriously bruised from all the pinches as he tries to pull up. Friday he stood up by HANGING on my hair...but he got up. Ouch!

- He is now screaming like a raptor all the time. No rhyme or reason. Today it was at the paper airplane event and the crowd was laughing. He's not mad, it more like he's bored.
- He loves to hang out upside down.

Below is some of the art I've seen, as well as some of the art we've made (Ryan). Enjoy our prize and we hope each of you have great weeks!

Love Court, Max & Ryan

PS. Note that we did not even mention football this week...they played East Grand Rapids. Nationally ranked. We'll leave it at that and look to this coming Friday as a new opportunity as we face the grass-fed boys of Greenville. Big boys!

This building has been vacant for a decade and now is covered in reclaimed silk flowers from cemeteries... Everyday more are added through the 18-day competition.

Ryan reading the event program and deciding who to vote for. In the end he gave a thumbs up for this piece.

9 foot portrait of a soldier from Iraq. Based on photos taken by the artist while he traveled as a civilian during the war. He is in the process of painting more during the competition.

This is balloon art! Anatomically correct balloon art by the record setting ballooner from Guinness book. He likes to recreate famous pieces. Here's Botocelli's "Venus on a Half Shell" (I think...though I admit it's a guess.)
This is a piece by a graphic designer in town. I love that it shows that graphic design can be fine art. And it's 2-D and 3-D. Nice work Rob Jackson and crew!


Looks like WWF smackdown. Maybe Ryan will be a wrestler like his Papa. He started by grabbing the puppy's ear with his feet and eventually got it into his arms.

Was he a seal in a former life? Maybe...





"I love art! Go out and vote...I did and I'm only a baby!" - Ryan Kerry

Good looking fella!

We're keeping it short this week,but I know a few anxious relatives in New York were excited to see Ryan in his Tux for Kirstyn and Eric's wedding. Check him out!

In other news:
- No word on our offer on the foreclosure. We were told this was a good sign...but we're feeling a bit freaked out. 6 weeks until we have to be out of 109 Mayfield. We'll be hitting up our friends soon for packing / moving help, so prepare your exuses now! (Paybacks are hell for all you all that benefited from Max's blue truck! J/K)

- Cheryle (my mom) broke her foot...She's off to OAM on Tuesday for a better idea of what her next 6 weeks will look like.

- Max's team suffered a heart breaking loss Friday. Many injuries. Everyone is ok, but one kid was even back-boarded in the first quarter! We'll be shy at some key positions...Next week is East Grand Rapids. Did I mention they are NATIONALLY ranked?

- We think Ryan has an ear infection. His well baby is tomorrow, so we'll know for sure...may explain his love for waking up and staying awake all week (from say, 2:30 - 5:00 everyday!)

Enjoy the pics of your suave little fellow below. Almost as handsome as his daddy in a tux!

Love Court, Max & Ryan







Look close and you can glimpse his two tiny teeth on the bottom.

9 Months!

Hi all,

It's hard to believe that Ryan has now been out in the world as long as he was inside of me! We've had so many highlights with him in the last two weeks it's hard to capture in just a blog post. Among our favorite highlights:

- Holding him in my arms, asleep, as his daddy's team claimed victory for the second week in a row on the football field. The team is 2-1. We'll see what this week holds.

- He was a gem in Kirstyn & Eric's wedding. He wore his little tux down the aisle and even danced the wedding party dance with us (he was a "Mini Groomsman" in the program), though he fell asleep in our arms mid-song. My friend Deb was his date for the evening....we could not have done it without her!

- Ryan got his first two teeth sometime between the rehearsal dinner and the brunch Sunday morning. And we wondered why he was so "hot" in his tux. Little guy had a fever from teething! Even with teeth and all, he did wonderfully.

- He's also fully army crawling EVERYWHERE and starting to really get how to wave at the appropriate times.

Now for the other side of the coin. We could have titled this post "Joy and Pain" (yes that was a shout out to Rob Base and DJ Easy Rock). With all these leaps forward have come a few challenges. Sleeping for one. The last 5 days he's been awake for 2.5-3 hours in the middle of the night, most of the time inconsolable. He's also taken to screaming when he does not get his way. He's got a red-headed temper! Yesterday he discovered the fun of throwing everything on the floor. He's still stinking cute though. And all in all, the good moments far out weight these challenges.

As for the grown ups here, we're doing well. Still house hunting...made an offer on a foreclosure (another one) so we'll see how we fair. Our current house is awaiting appraisal. Once completed, the closing will get scheduled and we'll have 30 days after close until we have to move, so there's time. We really just tried to back burner the house stuff and focus on Eric & Kir's big day. And it was a perfect day at that. More pictures to come once they return from their honeymoon.

On one more note, we'd like to ask our friends of faith to pray for our good friends the Moore's. Nathan and Kelly are dear friends from California...Nathan baptized me and also gave the prayer at our wedding reception. Last Thursday they welcomed their 3rd child, Selah Jo, into the world. She's had heart issues and it was very scary for a while. Today she had a heart catheterization procedure and it seemed to go well. Please pray that this miracle girl makes a full recovery and she can leave the NICU and get home to her big brothers soon.

We're thankful for each of you and hope you're all have great weeks. Love to you all,

Court, Max & Ryan

Ryan in his button down at Kirstyn's rehearsal dinner...a barbeque at my parents home.

Ryan thinks his Aunt is pretty great!

The bridal party (minus me...the MATRON of honor...I hate that title).

Kir & Eric opening presents at the brunch the day after. Nice hats!

Ryan's little suit...in stark contrast to the next picture.

Ryan in his Birthday suit.

Ryan's first taste of legit mashed up banana. He could not stand it. You'd think I fed him lemons.

All grown up in his jeans.

8.5 Months

Hey all,
The past two week have been pretty crazy for our little family. Here's a snapshot of the high points:
- Max's team just played their second game of the season (no, school has not started in Michigan. weird, we know.) and they won! Unfortunately me and the little line backer missed it since the game was an hour away.
- I am settling into my revised role at ddm and have been busier than I have ever been in my professional career. Between navigating the new role, we're also trying yo figure out what our life looks like with me working full time, juggling child care and just trying to be a family. We were saddened to learn this week that our in-home sitter, Jenny, will be moving to Orlando this fall, so we're again on the hunt to find someone to help supplement the days when he is not with my friend Deb and her son Levi.
- We sold our house! Inspection is tomorrow at 4pm. (Biding war between two groups. The ones we wanted won. A young, about to be married couple. Love passing 109 Mayfield to people I know will cherish it as we have.)
- Tomorrow is my sister's rehearsal dinner. At 5pm.
- We lost a bid on a house that we really wanted. Foreclosure. We're on the hunt and have 30 days past close (most likely September 30th) to find a home. We spend nights trolling the internet trying to find the perfect place. Two homes to tour tomorrow afternoon.
- Ryan is becoming a boy. His features are starting to move from soft-baby-translucent to peachy and defined. His red hair is staying and his eyes are pretty much milk chocolate brown. He's curious and moving constantly. He's got a great sense of humor and is much smarter than I had ever dreamed. He already knows "no" and generally does as he's asked. He's starting to sleep through the night too. Praise GOD!
- Saturday all three of us are in Kirstyn and Eric's wedding. Ryan has a tux and all. Can't wait to share the photos.
- Make sure to check out our YouTube channel. Lots more video now. I have an iPhone now and it lets me upload directly from my phone as I take video. Loving it!

We'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking. Love to each to you.
Court, Max & Ryan

Ryan likes to play super hero in his bib...I mean cape.

"Oh no! Run away ball."

"Phew....I caught it." Ryan constantly passes the ball between his feet and his hands. Amazing!

This is Ryan's "oh, I see you have a camera" face. My mom calls it the "moonie smile" (though he has not lost his teeth due to drinking moonshine in the hills of West Virginia.)

Here's Ryan and some of his favorite people, Colin and Mary. Note that Colin is 14 months old sitting in a chair Ryan nearly does not fit into due to the girth of his legs.



Ryan loves to suck on pears from his teething net. (For those of you that had kids before last year, it's this cool apparatus that lets you put cut up fruits and veggies into a net that the kids can suck on. Great for teething, which we think Ryan has begin.)