NoLa

I'm sorry to say, there is no storytime post today. Was away for the weekend visiting a good friend in New Orleans.

It was my first time.

There was a whole lot a rain and a whole lot of sunshine.

Here are a few bits and pieces from the trip:

Phone Photos

I'm retiring my blackberry at the end of the week.

We've been together for quite some time now, but the time has come to part ways.

This afternoon, I was downloading all the photos from it and thought I would share a few...

Apartment view from roof. Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Anna Sui, Spring 2008

Will and I on a walk, Upper East Side.

Frozen wedding cake top that didn't make the move to Michigan.

Lake Michigan

Growing

Wesco

Quiet afternoon

Back window blooms

Day one

Summer

And summer's end

Shhhh

3 months

We celebrate Neil Diamond

Texas trip

Growing and Growing

Last day in Ludington.

Summer she turned one.

Living in Lawrence.

Playing at the park.

Working at the library.

Halloween

Bundled up

Finger paint

"sno"

Child's note found in a library book.

Late winter picnic.

A week ago tomorrow.

You were a good phone. Lots of news shared and moments captured through you.

But it's time to say..

Bye, Bye Blackberry

Texas Holiday

Under eight hours from Lawrence, Kansas to Dallas, Texas.

Southbound 35.

We were a bit hesitant to make the trip in the car with an extremely active 17-month old, but she did so much better than expected. The primary duration of the trip was occupied with books (two gym bags full!) and toys (likewise!). Had one rough patch at the end, but I called my sister who sang to LBD for 20 minutes. Her singing was made bearable only because it ceased the crying.  Thank you, Rachel.

My girl.

The last time we were in Texas was March. In March, I had a little baby who couldn't yet walk or talk.

My girl is growing up.

We went to an aquarium with my Dad a couple days before Christmas...

She absolutely loved it.

The fish, the turtles, sea horses, sting rays.... I have an affinity for sting rays. They so effortless in water. Like birds gliding on a breeze. There were plenty of little viewing pockets in the tanks for an even closer look.

And then along came the night before Christmas with all it's trimmings...

Grammy made sure LBD was fashioned from curls to toes for the event.

Chez Santa made an appearance.

6am Christmas morning.

I heard LBD wake. She immediately sat up in her crib and looked over at the bed I was laying in.

"Do you think Santa came to visit last night?" I asked.

"YEAH!"

Do you want to go see if there are presents under the tree?"

"Yeah. YEAH! YEAH!"

Just when I start to feel old, or tired, or stressed, or like a grinch, she always brings me back around.

Back to magic and wonder.

We returned home from our holiday on Monday night.

Had old friends over for lunch Tuesday.

Went back to work that evening.

Unpacking, cleaning, catching up on laundry,

Back to life.

On to the New Year.