The Veldmans: Christmas

We hope that this message finds you recovering from a wonderful Christmas weekend filled with lots of family, food, fun, and laughter. We had a good Christmas even though I spent Christmas day working a 12 hour shift at the hospital.

Thursday evening our friends Lisa and Craig came to visit. They are like another aunt and uncle to Ava and we were so glad that they were able to visit us while visiting from Kansas City. It was great to catch up with them, and watch them play and love on Ava. We only wish that they lived closer.

Friday morning we found that Santa had stopped by. We had our own family Christmas here that morning. Ava loved eating the wrapping paper, but also enjoyed some of her new toys. We went to Christmas Eve service at 3:00 and then headed over to Grandma & Grandpa Veldman's to celebrate Christmas with them and Uncle Wes. Ava was quite tired, but was still a champ. She is still not feeling well. She's had this nagging cough for about three months now, and it's gotten worse over the past week. It at times sounds like croup, but she also has a snotty/congested nose. So maybe it's just another bad cold. I feel like she just can't totally kick it. She's up "barking" in the middle of the night. I just want her to feel better and get some good quality rest.

Saturday morning I headed off to work. Daddy and Ava hung out until after her morning nap and then they ventured down to the hospital so that I could at least see my baby girl awake on her first Christmas. They only stayed for about 20 minutes, but it was the highlight of my day. It was so nice of Nate to bring her down. Everybody at work enjoyed her smiling face as well! After that they were off to spend the day with Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Wes. They had a wonderful dinner and were nice enough to send some home for me for when I got home that night...thanks Grandma!!!

Sunday Daddy and Ava went to church and then over to Grandma & Grandpa's again for a short time. They spent the rest of the day at home playing with all of Ava's new toys. Daddy said it was "a great day". Today was pretty low key. We did our usual run to Target to grab a few things and that's about it. I think that tomorrow we're going to take the leap and get Ava's first haircut. Her "wings" are kind of out of control and her bangs are now getting into her eyes so I suppose it's time. I just hope that they don't make it look bad. I'm planning on taking her to a place that only does kids' hair so I'm thinking it will be ok. We'll find out soon enough.

So, Ava had some cradle cap so I used this special shampoo to get rid of it. Well it made her hair into a giant grease ball. It was disgusting. So I did a little styling with it during snack time (before I washed it with normal shampoo three times during her second bath of the day). Nate loves these pictures!