Adam is growing still. Today at the doctor they weighed him at 18 pounds, 8 ounces. He really talks a lot and he laughs easily. He's quite an attention seeker too - talking to passersby, who often stopped and said hi to him and remark how cute he is. Several thought he was over a year old too, because he was so much larger than their child/grandchild.
He can get up on all fours, though hasn't figured out the crawling thing. He sits upright by himself without any trouble. If you put his arms on something his height, he'll stand by himself for a minute or two before sitting down. He's started eating peas, carrots, pears, and some occasional goodies I sneak into his mouth.
He was excellent in New Orleans despite being kept up past his bedtime, only getting brief shallow naps, and spending a lot of time in the umbrella stroller and street car. On all four flights (two each way) passengers remarked how well behaved he was, only squawking for a minute until he got a nap. The takeoff and landings didn't seem to bother him.
New Orleans was fun. After a screwup with our first hotel - they gave us a "nonsmoking" room that reeked of smoke and was located on a smoking floor - we moved to a new hotel. The new hotel (quality inn) was great: parking was cheaper, it was located just two blocks from the old hotel, the staff was amazing, it smelled clean and had a microwave to sterilize Adam's bottle, and Adam's crib didn't look like a cage.
On Friday we walked around the French Quarter and riverside. The girls took a horse drawn carriage around, while the boys took a walk and got gelato. Saturday we attended Aaron's graduation, which was typical. Anderson Cooper spoke, and everyone agreed he was actually very funny and shared good advice. Then it started raining.
Sunday morning it was still raining when we left to go to church. It rained so hard, streets began to flood, the fast wiper setting wasn't fast enough, and water was spewing up out of storm drains. We stayed for the full 3 hours, and the rain slowed a bit. Sunday evening we walked around Tulane University and Audubon park, which has a bird sanctuary with tons of egrets, heron, and other large birds. Monday we took a cooking class at the New Orleans Cooking School, and learned how to make a few things. Unfortunately the zoo, aquarium, and insectarium were all closed on Monday.
Mostly we ate food. We had mexican, creole, italian, tex-mex, and more. Lauren had the best crabcakes she's ever had, and we tried an alligator cheesecake (probably didn't really have alligator in it, but you never know). So a good time was had by all.
Also - Lauren got her hair cut shorter, it looks great!
Adam likes swinging
Aaron graduates and the ceremony finally ends
Adam makes a funny face in New Orleans
Whee!!!
Cajun Food - fried chicken on top, jumbalaya and shrimp creole in the middle, and a roast beef po' boy on the bottom.
A hike in brown county state park
Gimme that, it's mine!
Adam really is a good natured baby
Aaron has a soft spot for Adam and he seems to be training Adam to be a fighter pilot. They tried to shoot each other down all across New Orleans.
This was an awesome double rainbow
