They are gone

Those wispy long hairs that made Ava look like an old man with a comb over in the back of her head...they are gone. Ava had her 1st unofficial haircut last night. I wanted her first haircut to be at the little kid salon, so this doesn't really count. Those long hairs just distracted from her beauty so I thought they should probably go. Now I feel like the back of her hair looks funny...it's all one length.

It's been a pretty low key week in our household. Ava spent all day Monday and Tuesday at daycare. Wednesday we hung out and went to the gym. I picked up a shift on Thursday since Daddy had the day off, so they hung out and went to the gym as well. Daddy spent the rest of Thursday "smoking" a brisket for dinner. Grandma and Grandpa came over to enjoy dinner with us (we know they really just came to see Ava, but dinner was a good excuse). Ava showed Grandma how much she loves to play in the bathtub, splashing and chewing on rubber ducky.

The temperature has dropped here so it was time to pull out the "footie jammies". Ava looks so darn cute in them. She was a little confused as to why she couldn't get her "socks" off. She spends most of her day pulling her socks off and playing with them. So when she had on her pjs, she just kept pulling and pulling.

Daddy and Ava get quality time again this weekend, as I work my 12 hour shifts. Ava will see her first snow fall tomorrow. We are currently under a winter storm warning...Not looking forward to driving tomorrow!!! Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Ava sporting her new hairdo

She's a little unsure about her footie pjs

Grandma, Ava, & Grandpa before dinner

I still love when she looks over Daddy's shoulder going up to bed every night. What a sweet girl God has blessed us with!

Mommy's 1st night away

Saturday morning Nate and I left for Decorah to celebrate our 3 year wedding anniversary. It would be my first night away from Miss Ava. Daddy dropped her off at Grandma & Grandpa's with a bag full of toys, bottles, clothes, and a short list of instructions. She was so excited to go to Grandma & Grandpa's that she woke up at 6:00 and talked about it for an hour in her crib until we went and got her.

Nate and I met up with our friend Tommy for lunch, and then went to Luther's campus. We were both super disappointed to find that the bookstore had closed 2 hour prior to our arrival. We had big plans to expand Ava's wardrobe with Luther gear. So watched the rest of the Luther football game and then headed to the Bed & Breakfast that we were staying at for the night. We then had a wonderful dinner at a place that we had not been to before (it's a place that was opened by a Luther grad that Nate knows 3 years ago) We finished the evening by going to see a movie. We haven't seen a movie since the week before Ava was born.

I was a good girl, and only called once the whole evening to see how Ava was doing. I of course missed her, but knew that she was in good hands. It was so nice for Nate and I to get away and have some time to ourselves. We really enjoyed the quiet time for just the two of us, but also loved seeing Ava's smiles when we walked into Grandma & Grandpa's. Thank you so so much Grandma & Grandpa. Nate and I thoroughly enjoyed our weekend, and I have no doubt that Ava did as well!

We were in need of a hat as we ran to the mailbox, and Daddy's hat was on the top of the pile in the closet. I think she liked it.

Modeling her leg warmers and a random shirt Saturday morning for b-fast, before it was bath time

This is what a weekend at Grandma & Grandpa's will do to a little girl!

I think Uncle Wes enjoyed the snuggle time. She was pretty comfortable in his arms.

Friends

Last night we got to spend a wonderful evening with friends. Ava's friend Cora came over to play, and brought our friends Mike & Kristi with her. Cora amazed us with her mobility. She's rolling everywhere, and was even up on all fours rocking back and forth. Ava was impressed as she looked on, sitting and sucking her thumb. :) Ava seems to have no motivation or interest to crawl, or even roll across the room. I guess it makes it easier to watch her for the time being. She'll get there on her own time, I know! It was so nice to catch up with Mike & Kristi, and Ava is already looking forward to our next play date.

Ava and I ran a couple of errands today, and don't have much on the schedule for tomorrow. Friday afternoon she'll go to day care while I work an evening shift, and then it's off to Grandma & Grandpa V's on Saturday morning. Nate and I are going to Decorah on Saturday and will return home on Sunday. We're going down for a late celebration of our anniversary. It will be my first night away from Ava. I'm feeling ok about it. It's been 8 1/2 months and I know that she's in good hands. It will be good for Nate and I to get away for a night. I'm hoping for good weather in Decorah so that we can spend some time outside enjoying the beautiful town. and visiting Luther's campus.

She's been sucking her thumb more (it used to just be when she was going to sleep). She now has a little sore on her thumb from sucking it so much.

Look at those cuties! They are so funny together, looking at each other and "playing toys"

So much to celebrate

We had a fun filled weekend starting with Friday afternoon. Daddy took a half day of work since he had to work on Saturday morning. He & Ava got to carve Ava's first pumpkin. I am quite impressed with their creation. After that we got to meet up with Great Grandma, Aunt Darlene, Aunt Marilyn, Aunt Lisa, and cousins Zackery & Reece. They came up to celebrate Aunt Darlene's 50th birthday. Grandma, Aunt Darlene, & Aunt Marilyn stayed at the hotel near our house. We got to go over to the hotel and go swimming when they arrived Friday afternoon. That evening they came over for dinner, we played cards, and just hung out.

Saturday morning was play time with Zacky & Reece before we left for the Mall of America. We were there for about 7 hours, and the kids were so good. We were all exhausted by the time that we got home so we just got pizza for dinner. Everybody went back to the hotel while Mommy stayed up until Daddy got home from the gopher football game (which the game did not go well).

Sunday morning we said good-bye to everybody. The time that we got to spend with everybody went by too quickly. We wish that they could have stayed longer, and that we got to see them more often. We hope that they had fun while they were here, and hope that Aunt Darlene had a fabulous birthday. After everybody left Miss Ava took a nap, we had lunch, and then went to visit our new friend Nora; our friends Josh and Jenny's new baby. It was so good to see the three of them. Nora is beautiful, and is so lucky to have Josh and Jenny as parents! We thank them for letting us visit, as we're sure that they've had lots of visitors and are running short on sleep.

After we left Josh & Jenny's we went over to Grandma & Grandpa V's. Uncle Wes was there too. Ava put on her costume and made her one and only trick-or-treating stop at Terri & Eric's (she was asleep for the night before most kids started trick-or-treating). She looked so darn cute in her little pumpkin outfit. We then had a fabulous dinner prepared by Grandma & Grandpa. Ava fell asleep on the way home and is now out for the night. I'm sure that she's exhausted after all the attention that she got this weekend.


Ava "helping" clean out the pumpkin

Ava's pumpkin created by DaddyMommy, Aunt Marilyn, Ava, Aunt Darlene, Zacky, Aunt Lisa, & Reece swimming at the hotel (Great Grandma was in the room & daddy was taking the picture). Please note Ava trying to pull Aunt Darlene's teeth out. Pajama time Saturday morning with Zacky, Reece, & Aunt Lisa

Happy Birthday Aunt Darlene!!!

Ava eating her animal crackers at the restaurant Saturday. She's so cute trying to pick up the little pieces with those tiny little fingers.

The whole group before they left Sunday morning

Meeting Baby Nora...Ava looks a little unsure but I'm sure they'll be friends

Our little pumpkin

The Big 8

Ava turned 8 months old today. She was very excited about it. After not getting to see her awake since Friday (I worked this past weekend) I picked her up from daycare this afternoon. She was so happy to see me, and full of smiles all evening. We took pictures with her pumpkin, took a bath in mommy & daddy's bath tub (since she has a crack in her tub, not sure how that happened), and then settled in for the night with some carrots, peas, and milk before bed. What a way to celebrate huh? Happy 8 months old my little pumpkin, we love you!

Bath time with rubber ducky

Happy Anniversary

What a difference three years makes....

Three years ago yesterday Nate and I had the second most amazing day our lives. It's hard to believe that it's been three years since our wedding day, as we remember every detail so well. The weather was beautiful, we were surrounded by so many of our friends and family, and it was a truly perfect and carefree day. Now, I sit here today and pray that some day our daughter will be able to find a man who will make her happy, and experience the joys that I have...plus some. Life has changed so much in these three years; it keeps getting better. What did we do to celebrate you ask...well, we didn't really see each other. Nate was out the door at 6:30 am for the gym and then to work, and I worked an evening shift. We made a nice dinner tonight, and plan to go to Decorah for a little get away in a couple of weeks.

Now for Ava, not too much to report on her. Grandma watched her on Monday and Tuesday afternoon while I went to work, and then she went to daycare yesterday. She unfortunately continues to think that taking naps really isn't important. She's been taking 2 naps that last a whole 30 minutes. This gives me just enough time to shower in the morning, and eat lunch in the afternoon. I try to remind myself that I should just be grateful that she sleeps so well at night. But some days I just want to lay down for 15 minutes myself, or it might be nice to fold some laundry or get something done around the house. If she weren't so darn cute I'd have to be upset with her.

As for this weekend, I'll be working my 12 hour shifts, and Daddy is going to the Gopher game. Cheryl has once again offered to watch Ava while Daddy tailgates and watches the game. I don't know what we would do without her!!! We hope that you all have a wonderful weekend.

PS-We just want to welcome a couple of Ava's "to be friends" into the world. Miles was born Oct. 9th (4 weeks early) and got to come home from the hospital today. Nora was born last weekend and is doing good as well. We can't wait to meet both of you!!!

She hasn't quite grasped the concept of putting the ball in the basket rather than her mouth

Game over, time for a nap

Exhausted!

That's one word to describe Ava after our busy week. We left for Des Moines (DeSoto) Wednesday afternoon to go to Aunt Lisa and Uncle Brent's new house. Ava and I made our first trip alone. Ava did a great job, except for about 15 minutes on the way down when she was tired and wanted her crib and not the carseat. She was very excited to see her aunt, uncle, and cousins down there. We helped them unpack, went shopping (not for fun stuff), and got a few things organized in their new house. They have a beautiful place out in the country. An added bonus is that Erin, Kevin, Porter, & Magoo came to visit. We only got to see them for a very short time, but really apprecaited them coming over to visit. We miss them a lot! The time went by very quickly, and we were on our way home Saturday morning. Ava was a wonderful passenger. She slept for awhile (she was exhausted from playing with Reece on Thursday, and being hauled around shopping on Friday). She was even good when I had to pull over on the side of the interstate to try to dislodge a hard plastic planting pot that got stuck under my car and melted to the bottom of my car after it flew off a pick-up in front of us (Not cool!). Gone are the days when people stop for nice girls on the side of the interstate. So, under my car I climbed...a few scrapes later I finally pryed the stupid thing out and we were on our way again. Ava did a great job on the way down and home, but I can't say that traveling alone with a 7 month old is my favorite thing to do. It makes restroom stops a little interesting.

We got home around 1:30 on Saturday. We quickly unpacked and then off to the pumpkin patch we went. Grandma Veldman came over and joined us. We got to see animals, went on a hayride, and picked out the perfect pumpkins. Ava was tired, but was a trooper and enjoyed being outside. She was asleep very quickly after getting in the car for the ride home.

This morning we went to church and then over to Grandma & Grandpa's. Ava hung out with Daddy & Grandpa while Grandma and I went shopping for a couple of hours. Uncle Wes came over to join the guys for the Vikings game and for dinner. Ava loved all the attention she got, but was extremely over tired. I have no doubt that she'll sleep well tonight, and will be happy to spend the whole day at home tomorrow. Grandma will be coming over to watch her while I work an evening shift.

One more picture of Ava driving the firetruck at Grandma & Grandpa Becker's

Ava's first time swinging at the park

Reece pulling Ava around in his mega blocks wagon

Cousins Reece & Zack

Ava & Cousin Zack playing

Porter, Erin, Ava, Kevin, & Magoo

Ava getting ready to go into the pumpkin patch

Our little pumpkin

Grandma & Ava

Daddy, Mommy, & Ava