January 28, 2008

• Successful travels

  We had a great first big trip with Jack! It was a great time. We went to Covington, Louisiana (across the lake from New Orleans) to celebrate my mother-in-law's 60th birthday. It was also a family reunion of sorts, since Johnny's maternal grandparents live there, along with his Aunt Candie, the mayor of Covington. Johnny's other aunt lives in Baton Rouge, along with an aunt and cousin on his dad's side, so it was a natural place to hold the event.

  Bright and early Friday morning, we set out with all of our stuff and Jack's things in tow: the Pack N Play, the Bumbo and our rolling bag, not to mention his car seat and stroller. My diaper bag was stuffed to the brim with bottles, frozen baby food, spoons, bibs, diapers, toys ... you name it, that diaper bag had it! Making it through security was a hassle as always -- they even made me take off Jack's little booties! Oh, darn, I guess that razor blade I hid in his little shoe couldn't make it through after all!  But after that, we were home free. I gave Jack a pacifier during takeoff to prevent his ears from popping, and since it was his naptime anyway, he fell asleep for about 45 minutes. Throughout the rest of the 3.5-hour flight, he played, sat on our laps and smiled at other people. I think at first, other passengers were frightened to sit near a baby, but by the end of the flight, they were marveling at how well-behaved Jack was. He did squeal a bunch out of excitement, but it was cute. A flight attendant moved us up to the roomier Economy Plus section mid-flight, which was really nice!

  We're ready for takeoff!

  

  Jack was fascinated by the buttons on the arm rest

  

  Jack catches up on all the gossip of the pond-dwellers. Last I heard, the spotted salamander was sliding along the mossy green bank. That salamander!

  

  We got to the New Orleans airport earlier than planned, but had to wait a long time for our rental car, then drove in the blinding rain to Covington. By the time we got to Aunt Candie's, it was time for dinner, hellos and then bed! We were all pretty tired. The highlight of the evening was Jack (and us) meeting Maddy, Chris and Victoria's precious 10-week-old daughter. She's so little! Well, actually, she's in the 90th percentile for both height and weight, but compared to Jack, she felt so light. It made me want another baby! (Ha!)

  The next day was the day of the party. We had to buy some decorations and other party supplies, but first we stopped by Johnny's grandparents' place so they could meet their other great-grandchild (Chris, Victoria and Maddy were already staying with the grandparents). They fawned over Jack, then the two cousins had some playtime.

  Jack was fascinated by Maddy's bouncy seat. Perhaps he remembered his own!

  

  Look, they're holding hands!

  

  So this is what it feels like to have twins!

  

  After the visit, we headed out with Catie (Aunt Candie's daughter) for some party-supply and flower shopping. Then it was time to get dressed for the party. People soon started arriving. They hired a photographer for the event, but of course Johnny and I took pics!

  Jack and I with Catie (in purple) and Aunt Pam

  

  Chef Chris making appetizers -- these were yummy baguette rounds topped with roast beef, a squirt of horseradish and a sliver of roasted bell pepper

  

  Another one of Chris' creations -- an antipasti platter. Isn't it pretty?

  

  Victoria feeds Maddy before the festivities begin in full swing

  

  Jack plays with Catie

  

  Can you believe my mother-in-law is 60?!

  

  I thought this picture of Johnny's mom, her two sisters and her mom was really cute!

  

  Jack spends quality time with his great-grandpa

  

  Ana, the daughter of one of Johnny and Chris' cousins, loved the babies. Maddy seems more interested in her than Jack does in this pic, though!

  

  Jack and Johnny with Ana, her brother Nico and their grandma, Aunt Janice

  

  Aunt Candie wrote a hilarious mayor's proclamation in honor of Sandra O'Neal Birthday Celebration Day

  

  I love this pic of me and Jack!

  

  

  

  The in-laws after Johnny's mom opened gifts

  

  After the gifts and before the yummy Italian dinner was served, I got Jack ready for bed. Note his "I Love Chicks" PJs!

  Saying goodnight to Aunt Victoria

  

  

  The cake was a delicious tiramisu. Later that night, Catie and I split the giant slab of white chocolate resting on top of the cake. Delicious but baaaaad idea!

  

  After Jack went to bed, Ana (4 years old) and Nico (six years old) somehow found me fascinating, especially Ana. They wanted to play all sorts of games with me. Unfortunately they knew only the name of their "games," such as "Fast Pass Fast Tag," but assumed I knew the rules. I had to think fast! At one point, they pulled out a Yahtzee box and wanted to play. I do not know Yahtzee at all, but the kids found the instruction pamphlet and instructed me to teach them. It looked really complicated, so I quickly started thinking of alternate rules. Nico and Ana somehow got it in their heads that there needed to be a game board, and it must be red because the box is red. There was no board in the box. So I "read" the instructions to be: Play on the provided board or on any other red surface. Nico looks down and says, "Hey, this carpet is red! We can play on the carpet!" Hallelujah.

  Yahtzee in action. Ana has lost interest.

  

  At first, I said that the object of the game was to scatter dice on the ground and pick them all up as quickly as possible. Nico sat up and said, "No. I want to play the real way." Busted! The game became adding up all the numbers showing on the dice as quickly as possible. Sad, but true: Six-year-old Nico was faster at adding up all the numbers than I was!

  The next morning, Johnny's parents, grandparents, Chris, Victoria and Maddy came over to Aunt Candie's for a delicious breakfast casserole. We said our goodbyes then.

  Jack with his Nana

  

  Maddy does tummy time -- she took it pretty well!

  

  The two young families with our babies -- not the most flattering angle for the adults, but cute nonetheless

  

  Catie and I

  

  

  On our way back to the airport, we stopped at Cafe du Monde with Catie for some delectable beignets, which are basically square donuts covered in powdered sugar. They are so delicious. I've been craving them since my first trip to New Orleans with Johnny and some friends three years ago. They made me feel so sick afterward, since I've been eating really healthy lately, but they were worth the stomach pain and the calories. We washed them down with some chocolate milk. Mmm!

  Sugary goodness!

  

  Wow, this was long. Thanks for reading, everyone!

  p.s. Just for kicks, I think this last trip to the New Orleans area was much different from our 2005 trip there. Check out what we did during that trip! (This should look familiar to Zach! I think this was the night of the test tube shots!) Jack will be very embarrassed by this picture one day.

  

  • 11:19 pm
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