Louisiana

A few weeks ago we crossed the 40th state off our list... Louisiana.  Matt had a few days off so we drove the 6 hours to New Orleans.  It's a great city.  We spent four days riding trolleys, exploring neighborhoods, eating, and soaking up the culture.

We arrived Friday afternoon.  We spent the evening riding the ferry across the Mississippi River at sunset, walking along the riverfront, and eating shrimp po'boys - which started our quest to sample all of the famous New Orleans food.

on the ferry

 

Willa had a great time running around the ferry.  She met some little friends and they played hide and seek.   

The ferry was basic, but it offered great views of the city and it was free.

Here's the ferry.

We spent the second day exploring the French Quarter.  This was my favorite part of the city...

We started our day with beignets COVERED in powdered sugar at Cafe Du Monde.

Then we wandered around the beautiful streets in the French Quarter to admire the architecture and balconies and watch street performers.

We sat in the shade of a gigantic oak tree in Jackson Square and ate a muffaletta from Central Grocery for lunch.  These sandwiches are huge and famous and live up to their reputation.

We had to cut our time wandering around the French Quarter short because of our kids and naps.  Four hours was all they could handle.  I could have spent 4 days there.  After naps we went out to dinner for Creole food - we had seafood gumbo, blackened alligator tale, chicken jambalaya, and red beans and rice.

We spent Sunday in the Garden District.  We rode the street car along St. Charles Ave.  It's a beautiful street lined with huge oak trees and mansions. I loved the street cars and trolleys.  I love public transportation (But maybe that's because I've never lived in a city with public transportation)

We got off the street car twice... once for a residential neighborhood of historic New Orleans mansions and a cemetery

and a second time to see Audubon Park.

We stopped so Willa could play on a playground.  It was fun to get out of the touristy parts of the city and just sit in the sun and watch Willa play.

Our plan was to see a little more of the city on our 4th day before we drove home, but the kids were done.  So we packed up, charged the DVD player, and headed back to Memphis.

eye surgery

Clark's surgery went really well.  Now we just have to wait and see what his brain will do with his newly positioned eyes.  His eyes could cross again, get even straighter, stay the way they are now, or spread apart.  Time will tell.  Thank you for all of your comments on here and emails and support and prayers!  It made the experience a little easier.

Here is a before shot and a few after shots...

Before:
(taken a couple weeks ago)

And after...

Clark is doing great. He doesn't seem to be in any pain or be uncomfortable.  There is some redness, but the stitches and real yucky parts aren't visible because they are farther back on his eyes.

A little about his surgery:

Clark was given general anesthesia so he was completely out and intubated (i.e. tube down his throat to help him breathe). Then the ophthalmologist pulled open one of his eyelids very wide, detached the medial muscle, and then reattached it a few millimeters farther back on his eye. Then she did the same thing to the other eye. OUCH!

5 months and 2 1/2 years old

Clark has hit the 5 month mark.  He still reminds me of a pendulum.  He can be the sweetest, happiest, giggliest little fellow on earth with a grin bigger than any baby I've ever seen, but then he'll swing to the other extreme and be super fussy.  He still rarely relaxes and just chills.  It has been one thing after another with him.  Our current obstacle -  eye surgery.  He has crossed eyes and his eye surgery is scheduled for September 22. 

Here's one where you can see his eyes better.  haha.  What a cute, silly little man face.

Willa has grown up so much in the past couple of months.  She just talks and talks and talks and sings all the time.  She is full of energy and keeps us laughing.

We went tubing last month and Willa LOVED it.  And we loved watching her.

I was told by a good friend that all you have to do for the first 3 months of an infant's life is survive.  I've been looking forward to feeling like life was "normal" again.  But I still feel like I am in survival mode most of the time.  So I am starting to think that life will never be "normal" again. 

Blogging and picture taking have dropped down on my list of priorities. I took most of the pictures in this post in our backyard today.  We were out jumping on the trampoline and it was gorgeous out so I ran in and grabbed my camera to take some pictures for those of you who have been asking for more pictures.

member's night at the zoo

Every summer the zoo has a member's party.  It's open late and they have music and games, but the best part is that all of the rides are FREE.  It's always a good time.

We started out with the train... which is calm and family friendly.  But by the end of the night, Willa and Matt were on the fast and zippy fair-like rides and they loved it.  Matt definitely passed on his adventurous gene to Willa.

We ran into some friends so we hopped back on the train and rode again.

The next two pictures were taken a year apart.  The carousel this year and last year.  My sweet Willa has grown so much. 

last year...

I thought Willa would get scared or dizzy on some of the rides, but I was wrong.  She loved them.  My mom always says that Willa looks so dainty and girly and acts all sweet, but then you get her on a playground or wherever, and this little brave and strong girl emerges.  And it is so true.  When she falls off something, she cries a little (or a lot) and then shakes it off and tries again until she masters whatever she is trying to do.

Her favorite ride was the boats. 

Oh, Willa, we love you!

Clark is almost four months old, and I still find myself saying all the time that I am having a hard time adjusting to 2 kids.  Matt keeps assuring me that Clark is a hard baby.  Some days I ask myself why I wanted to be a mom so bad.  But then Clark will smile or giggle or Willa will give me a smush kiss or Matt will have some time off and we'll do something as a family, and I'll remember that so much good comes from being a mother as well.

His colic is getting better and better, but he is still a squirmy little guy.  He HATES to be held when I am sitting down or standing still so I feel like I go through life swaying and dancing.  Church has sort of become a joke.  We go, but I spend the whole time in the hall with Clark.  He doesn't take a pacifier, but he loves to chew on his hands or my hands.  He loves to coo and "talk" to us and smile and laugh.  Oh, Clarky, we love you too.

Happy 4th

We took the kids to see fireworks on the 2nd of July.  We weren't going to go because they didn't start until 9:30.  But, as I was giving both of the kids a bath, Matt came upstairs to help me and said we should go.  So instead of PJ's we dressed the kids in red,white, and blue and jumped in the car.

And of course, I am glad we went. Clark was asleep when we got there, but he woke up and seemed to love it.  He didn't mind the loud noises and just sat in Matt's arms content and happy and watched the fireworks.

Willa covered her ears at first and then she wanted to be held.  So she watched most of the show in my arms, but she also enjoyed it... in the security of her mamma's arms.