NOLA

We took a mini vacation this weekend and headed to New Orleans.  This was our first trip as a family of four, and let's just say that one more addition makes a huge difference.  I had to pack so much for them.  Just think of the diapers, wipes, bottles, formula, bottled water, sippy cups, outfits, etc.  And strollers were a must.

We just took it easy Friday night, with plans to be up early Saturday for a good breakfast and then head to the zoo.  Well, Lily Kate decided to have a reaction to the medicine she was on and so she was up for almost 4 hours during the night.  We finally got her settled down and back to sleep, but there went our plans for being up early.  We finally made it to the zoo, and here are a few pics...

Ninnie got Lily Kate a little happy for her trip, a new pair of sunglasses.  Are these not oh so cute!

The flamingos were the very first attraction.  I had to take a pic of them for Ninnie, as she looooves them.

 Lily Kate was amazed at them.

 Lucy Cullen never knew they were there, but she was happy anyway....

Here Lily Kate is getting a lesson on alligators.  She did not understand or remember a word the lady said, but she loved getting to pet it.  

Again, Lucy didn't even know what was going on...

 The elephants were too cute, and huge.  Their names were Panya and Jean.  When we first walked up, they were getting a bath.  They were so cute, because they would pick their leg up, or their trunk up so the trainer could spray them.  I think they love bath time, just like Lily Kate and Lucy do!

For some strange reason Lily Kate thought they were taking a nap...

Then a show started, so we got to see some of their tricks!  

All Lily Kate needs to hear is someone clapping, and she gets so excited herself.  I don't think she really knew what was going on, but she clapped and squealed and had a great time at the elephant show...

 Bye bye elephants!


Poor Lucy, she was asleep so she missed out on the family pic...

Two cute bears...

Taylor, Lily Kate, and Wee Wee...

Yay, all four of us!

But Lucy wouldn't take her hand out of her mouth... 

 
Lily Kate is Miss Independent these days.  Look at this pic.  She has Wee Wee and Kay Kay doing just what she was telling them to do...

Lily Kate loved the play area in the zoo... She got to slide!  and slide.  and slide.  (Yes, that is a "leash" that she is wearing.  You might think I am crazy or mean or weird, but I wanted my baby close while we were in a city with tooooo many crazy people)

Here they are going through the spray area that cools ya off.  Lily Kate didn't know what to think of it!

Ok look at this pic.  Notice anything (also in the above pic).  Lily Kate has a blanket.  She really loves her big blankets the best, but they were too big and too hot to bring to the zoo.   So we brought a small one that would work until we got back to the car where her big one was.

But Lily Kate decided at the SWAMP to throw her blanket in the water.  Yep.  She cried and cried.  She wanted her blanket back, but I wasn't going to get it even if I could.  It would have never gotten clean from being in the gator and stinky-other-animal infested water.

Wee Wee saved the day with ice cream and Kay Kay gave extra sugar to our sad baby. 

It did break my heart because, even though I have 3 more little blankets at home and her favorites are the big blankets, I  had kept up with this little blanket since she was born.

But we moved on.  For the rest of the day she kept saying "my blanket gone gone" and "bye bye blanket".

 Guess what, Lucy Cullen slept through that also.

The giraffes were too cute!

I was disappointed in the zebras.  They were far off and looked so tiny.  Oh well...

This was the end of the zoo trip, and can't you tell that she is one tired little girl!

Here is the whole group of us.  Poor Lucy, she was still asleep...

Saturday was Kay Kay's birthday.  After the zoo we went back for baths and naps.  The girls napped in the car, but of course they woke up when we got to the room.  So no nap for Mama and Daddy.  Boo hoo.  We got ready and both girls fell asleep in the car while we drove to dinner.  Lucy woke up once we got there, but not Lily Kate.  She slept while we were driving, even while we got her out of the car, while we were walking down the street, and for the first 30 minutes of being at the restaurant.  That was another sign that Lily Kate was worn out and exhausted!

 My girls...

Happy Birthday Kay Kay!

Lily Kate finally woke up, so here are a few more pics.  I love the expression on Lily Kate's face in this pic.  What was she thinking!!!???  And please notice the big blanket.  We brought it with us, even to the restaurant.  I couldn't tell her no after the traumatic experience at the zoo.

  Kasey got some cheesecake for dessert and shared with Lily Kate, and Lily Kate loved it!

Back in the room to go night night.  We had a great trip, and look.  I even brought home 2 cute zebras!!!

Oh yeah, I forgot...

I forgot some of my details for the past few blogs.  So I will catch up here...

Lily Kate...
* sometimes says Mommy and Daddy and sometimes it's Mama and Dada.  I wonder how she decides which to call us...  no telling!

* now says Kasey instead of Kay Kay or Day Day.  Cute but sad!

* eats "oatmilk" for breakfast.

* loves that Lucy sleeps in the same room, and every night when we are putting her in bed she reminds us "Don't forget Wucy".  I hope they are close sisters forever!

* is in the "What's that Mama" stage.  Oh my.  If I hear that question once a day, I hear it 452 million times.  She wants to know what everything is, even while we are riding down the road.  And she doesn't forget where she saw something.  On the way to Mrs. Ann's house, she knows where the 3 sets of horses are and they are "night night" when we can't see them.  She knows where the tractors are, and a lawnmower.  It's sad on days that the lawnmower is not in its usual spot.  Sometimes she still says choo choo for 18 wheelers even when I tell her they are big trucks and sometimes she knows they are big trucks.  She asks me if I see the (big truck, tractor, dog, etc.) while we are riding and I better have seen it or she goes crazy. 

* wants to know who everybody is.  We will be in Walmart and she asks "Who's that Mama" about everybody we pass.  She asks who everybody on tv is.  She asks who the people in the car next to us are.  I try to tell her who it is if I know, but obviously I don't know who everybody is!

* Let me apologize now for this next Lily Kate topic.  Some will think it's funny and some will not, but it's a memory.  Lily Kate knows when she, Lucy, or somebody else passes gas.  She will (loudly) say to everybody that (insert name here) pooted.  And then she oh so loudly says "yuck".  Well you better not even let your shoe squeak or she will tell on you.  While we were at Dr. Shann's for their check up, out of the blue she tells him "My Dada pooted."  Oh my, I turned red.  Taylor had not done such, but she told that he had.  Thank goodness doc has two sons and just laughed at her.


 Lucy Cullen...

* always twirls her foot.  At all times she has one foot twirling and moving constantly.  It's just one of her idiosyncrasies.  Taylor says that is from his side.  Taylor says our girls get everything from, his side except for their sensitive skin and allergies. I say he is crazy.

* is always smiling.  She is super sweet and has the most infectious smile.  I just love it!  While shopping in Jackson last week, a lady stopped us and told us that Lucy was exquisite.  I must agree!

* is wearing a size 3 diaper and a 12 month in clothes.  She is growing so much faster than Big Sis.

* loves her tongue.  I guess she is just finding it, because she has it out playing with it quite often. 

* loves the Johnny Jump Up.  This makes me so happy because it has been through Gage (who looooved it), Ella (kinda liked it), and Lily Kate ( who looooved it too).

A few more pics.  Ella came home with us yesterday, so she got to do a photo shoot too!  Lily Kate loves E' Boo, and her smile in these pics proves it.  It was a weird weather day.  It had not started raining yet, but was so hazy outside.  No sun but not dark, and there was this strange feel to the air.  Weird.

Bye bye for now!