Capturing the Kerrys: March 2013

I'm beginning to realize that beginning a blog with saying we've been busy really carries no weight from month-to-month since this is just the new normal with two kids, a dog and two working parents. So I won't start with that. I cold start with our health since that's been seriously in question the past month. We're a stew pot of every bug that has hit west Michigan and had we been smarter, we'd have bought stock in Lysol cleaning wipes. Anyhow, as of this very moment, everyone appears to be healthy. Last week alone, even the dog was sick. I've never cleaned so much carpet and done so much laundry in my life! (At one point, Elise projectile vomited in my face AS I was talking on a conference call to clients. It was a low point.)

Elise is hitting every milestone at once. With Ry it seemed to be a bit more spread out, but so far over the past month she's:
- gotten her first two teeth on the bottom
- learned to crawl backwards, or rather scooch
- said "hi" we think. regardless if we grunt she follows and has conversations with us
- pulls to standing and sits on her knees

We're having a hard time with sleeping through the night and I think it's a reflection of being sick so often as well as the teeth. She's also developed into a screamer. Any sign of discontent results in a shrill cry, even sometimes when she's happy. Let's pray she develops patience as her next milestone.

Ryan is wowing us once again with his mind. His observations just floor us. Recently friends of ours went through an adoption drama that I couldn't even make up if I tried. Ryan was close to it since he knows the family from church. Out of no where he says, "Mom, X's [the adopted baby] birth mommy will always have X in her heart. Just like even though Nami and Papa are far away, they're here with me in my heart." I swear this was not something we've specifically scripted. He's also talking a lot about Heaven, God and Jesus lately. We realize how close we are born to the divine (and how far we stray as we age) when we hear Ryan's observations, thoughts and explainations of the unseen. They're dead on. He's also so very observant of us adults too:

- copying my language "Mom, that's pixelated"
- "Uncle E, why didn't you use your turn signal?"
- "Little girl, we're almost home. It's ok..." He's like a third parent caring for Elise.

Max recently headed to Louisville for a conference of the top strength / elite trainers in the country. He got so many good ideas for both the football program as well as his classes in general. He also won a grant for Xbox fitness systems and is have a blast implementing that into the curriculum. He's about 2 weeks away from wrapping his grad class as well.

I'm still struggling to find my rhythm with my post-maternity leave work schedule and the kids. It will get easier once everyone is healthy and we're not needing to pull kids out of school and work around sickies. I've also taken more time to try and be artistic through different projects at the house. And I finally got my haircut for the first time in 6+ months. There's finally time for other things...in moderation.

We're looking forward to spring and a break that will take us to Chicago for a few days. That will be an advanture! We'll post more then. Love to all of you,

Court, Max, Ryan + Elise