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I cannot believe a month has passed since we last posted, but November flew by. Though the end of football has brought new freedom to Max, work at ddm has ramped up. I make my second trip to NYC / NJ on Thursday in the last two weeks. It all just means work is steady and we're doing well.

Ryan is stellar. He's become a boy. Last Christmas he'd stand at the front window and watch the neighbor's moving Christmas extravaganza and his head only reached the first pane of glass. This year he reaches the top of the second pane and the dazzling displays only hold his attention for a short time before he's off to something new. Max and I still find ourselves watching him play every evening amazed and in love with this little guy.

We're excited about Christmas and tomorrow marks the first day of gifting Ryan with our Advent calendar. We'll share some more details below. Hope everyone is happy, safe and excited for the holiday's too.

Love,
Court, Max + Ryan

PS. There are new videos up at www.YouTube.com/MaxandCourt Most shocking is that I think we went viral...we have 88 views of "Ryan's Wild Ride"...we normally average around 18!

This picture is as sweet as Ryan is. He now tells us he loves us and says thank you on his own, unsolicited. Two days ago he hit Cali with his truck so he lost it for the night. The next day when we gave it back, he immediately apologized AGAIN to Cali. We were surprised he even remembered.

Strangely enough, our annual Christmas tree hunt happened with no snow. It was weird and easy, and Ryan had a great time.

Ryan tried to help Max chop down the Kerry Family Christmas Tree.


We have gotten Ryan a doctor's kit to help ease his newly developed phobia. His eye condition is not getting better and it looks as though Ryan will have to have a procedure done to clear his eye ducts sometime in January. Between the drops and the 2 hour long eye exams, he wants no part in doctor's offices. (I left with bruises he fought so hard.) So far so good. I walked into the family room this week and caught him doing his own exam on Puppy (which is a bear). And as long as he's not playing doctor with Tessa, the neighbor girl, we're happy. We busted them kissing last month in his playhouse.

Thanksgiving was spent at my parents house, eating and watching football. Ryan chose lucky Uncle Eric for his sole 10-minute-a-day-cuddle session. They are best buds since Uncle E watched him all on his own while we went to a charity auction. Eric changed his very first diaper and handled bedtime like a champ.

Apparently there is a Great Turkey that gives little boys trucks on Thanksgiving. I'm a girl, so I know nothing of it. Ryan discovered a huge nest on top of my childhood little people table and in the nest was a Wow truck...and clearly, it deserved a "WOW!"

Thinking this could be an ad for the Air Car Seat. ddm can pitch them once we come up for air.

Ryan helped me make Sweet Potato Casserole on Thanksgiving in his new tower that helps him get closer to the action. He did great and loves helping...almost too much. He cries when things go in the oven.

Thanksgiving brought Amy home from Colorado so we could take our annual "Girls with Boys" photo. Amy and Cian also brought us their new baby sister, Elshan, as well as the rest of the Holohan clan. As the photos have progressed, they get funnier and funnier since we can't get the boys to sit still and smile!

Cian is 3 months older than Ryan. Granted, though Cian is a peanut, this does help those out of state understand just how big Ryan is. At 32 pounds he out weighs his buddy by 10 pounds and is the same height as Colin who is 6 months older!

Drinking from big cups is the most exciting part of dinner these days.

Wearing daddy's hat....so Ryan's head is not that big...just above average!

The plow that Grandpa (PeePaw) gave Ryan was the cause of many crying session since it was a bit too fragile for him to play with for a while. It returned this weekend and made Ryan's top 10 list for the "Best Day Ever."

Maybe you've forgotten what we look like without Ryan attached to us in a photo. Meet Max.

Ryan would not wear his hat to save his life....until he thought that Conner (NaNew) gave him the hat. Now he won't take it off. Amazing that Conner has also given us mittens, boots and a new jacket. And Conner eats all his vegetables and [insert action here].

He's also taken to dressing himself out of our basket of too small baby clothes. Here he's sporting a 12 month old sweatshirt. He wore Manpris (capris for boys) and a cropped belly shirt the previous day—They we're 6 month old clothes!