Long Live Louisiana

August 29th was a big day in south Louisiana.  Seven years ago we watched our city being overtaken by flood waters.  Charlie and I were newlyweds and expecting our first child.  We were both enrolled in doctoral programs. Our neighborhood and home sat in seven feet of water for a very long time before the pumps were able to dry things out. 

The baby wasn't meant to be and neither was my PhD, apparently (although I do ponder getting back to it).  I thought Charlie was going to want to jump ship and start anew on higher ground.  We did move to higher ground, just off Magazine Street, and started our family and continued our lives in New Orleans.  And that was without a doubt the very best decision for our family.  

Waiting for another hurricane to arrive at our city, again on August 29th, made for a very long day here in New York City. We weren't sitting inside our boarded up home with the genrator gased up and at the ready, but I still felt overwhelemed with anxiety.  

I got teary when Freddie's teacher and our doorman asked about our family and friends.  There cannot be any fretting with two young boys so I channeled that energy and dressed the boys in Saints and LSU Tigers garb and we practiced our "Who Dat" and "Tiger Bait" chants.  We listened to the blues, read southern stories (The Cajun Night Before Christmas gets read year round around here), and there were shrimp poboys for supper. 

South Louisiana suffered with flooding.  I'm thankful those we love were spared any major damage.  I am hopeful the next news out of New Orleans will be of the few, very few, days of fall weather that arrive each October. 

Lake Life

Fleece and lunch (with cheetos!) outside.

Driving the boat...

 Even Mama gets in on the action...

Buckets providing hours on entertainment...

Lake pedicures...

Sunning buns...

Waiting for the chipmunks...

Digging...

Lounging..

Boating...

Bug hunting...

Fooling around...

And yes, Mama got in the lake.  Twice.

Camp Out

Just when you thought things couldn't get any better at Pelican Lake, the boys set up the tent.

Freddie's been reading a few books about camping and sleepovers, so he had a a list of expectations...spooky stories, trading cards (whatever that is!), games, and staying up late.

Charlie packed up a bag, and the boys headed out to the tent at bedtime.

They spent two nights in the tent.  Freddie was beside himself with excitement each evening on the way out.

I got invited out to spend the night on the third night.  We eventually came in at Freddie's request (I think he was too hot), so I missed out on sleeping on the ground but I did get to enjoy telling spooky stories, playing go fish, reading stories, and giggling.

I loved seeing Freddie so tickled with being out in the tent.  I may even be brave enough to go on a more adventures camp out with my guys.  

Cook Out

Nothing quite like eating outdoors.  We had many meals outside and even got to cook supper over the fire.

It was fun, and the novelty prompted Freddie to finally try a hot dog.

He liked it!  He ate the whole thing!!! 

There were also s'mores.

Perfection.

Freddie thought the s'mores were just ok, so he stuck to plain Hersey bars.

Hans made sure there were no leftover s'mores.

On the lake

Charlie got in some wake boarding.  There were no injuries, so it can be considered successful.  We didn't even hear about how soar he was, so it was really successful.

Freddie and Charlie went tubing.  Last year he went, and wasn't thrilled.  This year he went, and still wasn't thrilled.  He looked uncomfortable with his life jacket so close to his face, but he also wasn't wild about the idea of ending up in the lake.  He was concerned about the fish, and the lake is pretty chilly.

So Charlie rode solo and acted a fool.  I was rooting for him to be thrown in the water, but Pudge went easy on him.

14 Months

Appearance:

• Blonde
• Tan
• Big brown eyes
• Round belly
• Outie belly button
• Scratched up knees from crawling around outside
• 8 teeth but two more cutting through

Diet:

• Let's just say you eat everything.  The only thing I have ever put in front of you that you've refused is eggs.  I'm still trying on that one.
• We work really hard to offer you a variety of foods.  I am hoping that prevents you from being stuck in the picky toddler food rut that so many toddlers, your brother included, go through.
• You love taking a bite of hamburger or sandwich.  You request a bite of mine or Dada's because the small pieces of burger on your tray are not the same as taking a big bite!
• About 16 oz cow milk per day, most of which is consumed in the morning or after your nap 

Vocabulary:

• Belly, pointing to Mama's belly and your own belly
• Water, I've heard this one before but it is becoming more frequent
• Boat, have heard this before but now it is more frequent
• Ni-Ni, you're saying this every night now and at naptime after stories
• I can say "Get your diaper and hand it to me." And you do it.  So amazing to see how much you understand.
• MINES!  This along with NO! are probably the most frequently heard.  We have Freddie to thank for "Mines."
• I have also heard All done, Uh-oh, and I'm pretty sure you're trying to say I love you.
• You wave, a lot.  And blow kisses.  So sweet.

Motor skills:

• You are walking so much in the past few days.  You now see it as a mode of transport and not just a novelty and will walk around without a destination in mind.  You still crawl if you're in a hurry though.
• You can get from sitting to standing without pulling up.  
• You are great at using your fork!  You especially like one in each hand and can always manage to get something on the end and then to your mouth.  
• You will get on your belly to slide off the couch or bed.  I request you use your belly to go down the stairs but you like to scoot to the edge on your bottom and plop down stair by stair.  You will also do the stairs holding on to my hand.
• Climbing still is quite entertaining, but now you seem to do it with more purpose rather than just to explore.
• You can grab a crayon and get lots of scribbles down on a piece of paper....or the wall or the table.  The chalkboard and white board on the art easel gets lots of action. 

Da plane, da plane!

Likes:

• You'll stand behind my back and then creep around to my side and say "Boo!"  Always brings lots of giggles.
• Singing
• Dancing
• Books.  I love when you pick up a book, turn the pages, and "read," especially Brown Bear by Eric Carle because Freddie usually sings that to you and you try to hum the tune when you "read" it on your own.
• You like cars and trucks and trains more than Freddie did at this age.  I suppose that's because there are so many more of them around.

 Dancing

Dislikes:

• Diaper changes are awful.  You fight me through the entire ordeal.  And getting dressed is the same thing.  A struggle every single time.
• You do not like being told "no."  You pitch a royal fit.  It is pretty dramatic, but when you finally decide to stop you shut it off all at once.  

Sleep:

• 11-12 hours each night.  Lately it has been 7.00pm-6.30am.
• 2-3 hours of nap.  Lately it has been 12pm-2.30pm
• We read stories and sing before nap and bedtime.  You grab hold of my hands to request The Itsy Bitsy Spider or Patty Cake.
• You like sleeping in your bed.  You're not good at catching zzz's in the stroller or the car.  We work really hard to honor naptime and bedtime.  Things tend to fall apart fast if you go more than a day without a good nap.

Personality:

• Whiny, but apparently this is just something you do when Mama's around.  
• Determined
• Head strong
• Loving
•  Giggly