Katherine Ryan has welcomed her fourth child, Holland Juliette, but the comedian confirms this will be her final addition to the family.
Holland, born in October, is Katherine’s third child with husband Bobby Kootstra, whom she married in 2019. She joins their son, Fred, four, and daughter Fenna, three, along with Violet, 16, Katherine’s daughter from a previous relationship.
Speaking exclusively to HELLO!, the 42-year-old star explains her decision: “The chief reason is that there isn’t enough attention to go around any more. I think someone would be missing out along the way.”
Reconnecting with a Childhood Sweetheart
Katherine reconnected with Bobby, her childhood sweetheart, nearly eight years ago—20 years after first dating in high school in Canada. “I’d never been in a relationship where I wanted to help a man multiply, but I was like: ‘There should be more Bobby,’” she recalls. “We reconnected at 35, so we didn’t waste any time.”
The couple had a one-night encounter that quickly led to marriage nine months later. “We were always trying until we knew it was enough—and now I think it’s enough,” Katherine adds.
A Busy Five-Year Plan
Reflecting on her parenting journey, Katherine reveals a challenging period: “I embarked upon this plan to have as many children as I could in five years, which was too many. I was pregnant six times in five years [with three miscarriages], and I do think it takes its physical toll. I’m very blessed to have the children, but now I think I’m done and it would be nice to have some actual recovery.”
The Meaning Behind the Names
The names of Katherine and Bobby’s children reflect the family’s Dutch heritage. Fred was named after Bobby’s father, Fenna is an old Frisian Dutch name, and Holland was inspired by both Bobby’s ancestry and actress Holland Taylor. “Bobby lost his dad when he was ten, and it was really painful for him,” Katherine explains. “He doesn’t know as much as he would like about his dad, and we don’t have that link to Bobby’s ancestry.”
Holland’s middle name, Juliette, honors Katherine’s mother, Julie, giving her a “normal” option alongside her unique first name.
Embracing Cosmetic Surgery
Katherine recently made headlines after undergoing “serious” cosmetic surgery just eight weeks after giving birth. Though she has not disclosed the specifics, she is candid about her motivations. “It seems as though I’m very vain, but it’s not that at all. I love glamour. I believe in it. I’m from a toxic generation, so I still aspire to have my face and body look the way they did before I embarked upon this plan to have as many children as I could in five years. The only thing that’s going to take me back to 2019 is a facelift.”
