La Bella Vita: St. Louis Visit for Christmas

We arrived in St. Louis a week before Christmas. First, we had to finish our Christmas shopping, then Ben and I were both having surgery. Ben had a checkup the day after we got there, then surgery the day after that, Thursday and Friday. Mine was the following Monday, then Christmas was Wednesday.

Ben had to go back on Monday, so Tim went with him, and my mom came with me for my surgery. Ben's appointment was quick, so Tim was with me by the time I woke up. He was disappointed that I didn't do or say anything goofy when I woke up. Tim's parents were up to watch Federica while all of this was going on, and they took Ben home with them for two days so I could recover. I had a post-partum umbilical hernia repaired, so I wouldn't be able to lift him for over a month, and I couldn't even lift Fede for two weeks. Ben just had a cyst removed, so he recovered pretty quickly. It was my first time being away from Ben for more than a day. He did really well. He was so sweet and gentle when he came back, saying he missed me, and they had warned him that I had a owie.

The rest of the trip was more relaxing than normal, because I couldn't do much. Nonna doing one of her favorite things, reading to Ben. Twas the Night before Christmas.

Being silly with Fede's Santa hat.

We had the first part of Christmas Day with Tim's mom's family in Fenton. Aunt Judi and Uncle John.

Reading the Freight Train book from Uncle Barry.

We were back at my parents' house later in the afternoon to spend time with them, and Brandon and Missy. This giant fire truck was a hit, from my parents.

Christmas mess. Love it. And me in yoga pants (still recovering).

Reading the St. Louis book from Brandon and Missy.

Brandon and Missy asked Ben to be their ring bearer, aka bling security.

Being silly again, Nonna's fish slippers, and Ben's fish face.

Another much enjoyed Christmas present from my parents.

Aholt Family Christmas. Playing with cousins.

We spent some time in Cape and had another round of Christmas so we could celebrate with Danny and Britton. Ben really understood the whole present concept this year and wanted to help everyone else.

Tim' parents got Ben a toy tool set with a drill/screwdriver. This was probably his favorite present. He insisted on sleeping with the drill the night after he got it.

Ben also had fun in this car made of "pipe works" that Tim and Danny had when they were kids.

This year we only got a little snow in Cape (St. Louis actually got quite a bit), but Ben still wanted to play in it.

While we were in Cape, we had Federica baptized at St. Mary's church (the same church Tim and Danny were baptized in). Uncle Danny and Aunt Britton are her godparents.

Federica wore the same gown that great grandma Robert had worn over 100 years ago (Danny and Ben also wore it).

Uncle John and Uncle Barry made the trip to Cape for the big event.

It also gave us a good chance to take some nice family photos.

We spent some time with our friends Nathan and Steph and their son Liam. Liam and Ben are pretty good buddies even though they only see each other a few times every year. Liam got Ben a "flippy hat" for Christmas and they both loved that.

Steph was expected to have her baby while we were still in the USA, but I guess the baby wanted to wait a little bit. We were disappointed that we missed the birth but can't wait to meet baby Lyla next time we are in the States.