"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...crap....it is almost Christmas." - Courtney & Max Kerry
This is the sentiment that is ruling our week this week. Somehow we thought that when Ryan's birthday was over, we'd have all the time in the world to prepare for Christmas. I suppose that's because last year's span between festivities did feel like time feel like time standing still. (Leave hospital with new baby, no sleep, new hospital stay, numerous doctor's visits, Xmas). Anyhow, after today we'll have it under control...we hope.
Ryan is fully a toddler now. It's as if he knew after his birthday he would be "grown up." He has a sudden disposition to not sleep in the middle of the night. He has not crawled once since his party. His curiosity has expanded to understanding things that can go "inside, under, and around." Plus his vocabulary and willingness to repeat after us is surprising, even startling. Today he mocked back to Max "what does the teacher see?" when reading brown bear. No joke. He's eating lots of big boy foods and actually sat in a restaurant last night for an entire meal in a booster chair. And he's testing the boundaries of "non" constantly. (That goes on for about another 17 years, right?) All in all, Christmas with him this year is fun.
So on to the birthday pics for all our non-attenders. Lots of out of towners and friends that had other holiday commitments. We hope each of you can carve out sometime in the hustle and bustle to savor to moments with family and friends, remember the wonder of snow (since all us in Michigan spend half our time dreading it), and reflect on the actual reason we celebrate Christmas at all!
Love to each of you,
Courtney, Max, + Ryan
Last night we took a horse and carriage ride around Rockford with Ryan.
Bundled up and ready for a ride. We shared the carriage with a Paws for a Cause dog and trainer. Ryan paid more attention to the dog that the horses!
Though Ryan and Cali bumped into each other around the house before, Ryan and Cali now seek each other out.
Our new tradition is to decorate the "Birthday Tree" up until Ryan's birthday and then convert it to the Christmas tree the next day.
Ryan wathcing the neighborhood lighting spectacle!
Ryan's party pal, Mary and him play with his new glitter ball.
Ryan during his birthday meal Friday night. He loves Pizza!
And he loves his new Pooh! Thank you Grandma & Grandpa Kerry. He immediately started cuddling it.
Yes, there was actually a box as big as he is! Ryan got a new sled from my Parents and we cannot wait to use it.
I baked my first from-scratch cake for the occasion. Banana, Ryan's favorite flavor.
Clearly he liked it. He dug right in, spatula and all.
Ryan has 4 teeth on top now and two on the bottom, as the drool on his chin might indicate.
Ryan was shocked when his new Elmo phone really worked....his other three post-mom / dad cell phones are not so interactive without the batteries in them.
Our Christmas angel.
I think this is our first picture of just the two of us since Ryan was born.
About 2 hours of Christmas day were spent pushing, pulling, and dragging Ryan's new pimped out red wagon from Uncle Eric and Aunt Kirstyn. It even has seat belts, cup holders and in seat storage.
Christmas day we hosted my family and Max's mom, Nora, for our first "Kerry Family Christmas." Not as chaotic as Chevy Chase's and no exploding turkeys. Everything went just great and was edible.
Ryan in his Christmas duds.
Ryan also loved his new fire truck from Grandpa and Grandma Patti. It went great with the fireman book Max got him.
He finally figured out how to open a package...Here he revealed a new trike from Papa and Grandma Cheryle.
Grandma Cheryle could not resist the slippers. Hilarious.
It is official. Ryan is my child. Here he is DEVOURING Grandma Nora's homemade chicken parmigiana.
