New Orleans

Our trip started off with a bang on Saturday, February 16. We flew on Southwest Airlines from Oakland to Las Vegas. We had an hour layover at the Vegas airport so my dad, James and I gambled while Mom cared for Dorian. When we got on the airplane to go to New Orleans, the back four rows were empty. We tried to sit there but this huge man told us "These seats are reserved for my gang." We sat in the next row up instead. About 5 minutes later, 6 more huge men boarded the plane. We heard people start fawning all over some tall, skinny guy. As he got closer, we realized it was Snoop Dogg! And when he saw Dorian, he said "What's up, baby?!!!!!" How cool is that?

When we arrived at our hotel in New Orleans, my dad hung out downstairs for a bit. He saw Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant in the hotel bar. New Orleans hosted the NBA All-Star Game this year and the town was crawling with basketball players and fans until Monday. Anyway, enough about celeb sightings. We loved New Orleans. It is a gorgeous city and it was particularly interesting to see after it was on the news for Hurricane Katrina. We took a Hurricane Katrina tour to visit all the devastated areas. It was very sad, but also extremely fascinating. The tour was 3 hours long and the tour guide filled us in on all the ins and outs of the hurricane and the government's response (or lack thereof). If you go to New Orleans, BE SURE YOU TAKE THIS TOUR.

The people in New Orleans are all so nice!!! It is mind-blowing - many of them have been through so much. Everyone seems so optimistic and friendly and happy to be alive. It was really refreshing to experience so much genuine kindness. And Southern hospitality - you can't beat it. Everyone from the homeless to the rich, from the janitors in the cafes to the businessmen walking down the street - they all smiled and said hello and many said "Welcome to New Orleans" or "Thank you for coming." It was amazing. My dad said they all know that tourism will help the city rebound. I like to think they are all just really nice people!

Pictures of the family in NOLA:

Mom and Dad enjoying coffee and a rare moment alone together
Grandma and Grandpa with Dorian
One of the side gardens in the Garden District
The house we just purchased
The Crocker Family by the Mississippi River
Grandpa and Dori in the French Quarter
Dori chilling in his stroller (he can finally sit in it the "Big Boy Way," ie front-facing and out of the infant seat)
Unlike England, we couldn't go into any bars with the baby so we had to settle for being serenaded by the musicians from the doorway! This fiddle player actually came out onto the street and danced around the stroller. We gave him a good tip, of course.
Mom, Dad and Dori on Bourbon Street...I felt a little weird pushing a stroller down this major party street, but we weren't the only ones.
Dori enjoyed himself.
Dori LOVES getting air in his fur - he kicks his legs and makes so many noises whenever we let him go bare bum for a few minutes.
Dori was fussing one night - I found a new position he enjoys. Everyone was laughing as they walked by us.
Sightseeing wears Dori out.
We had a great breakfast and live music at the Market Cafe.
Relaxing with the grandparents.
James doesn't stop working, even on vacation. Does he really need 2 laptops and a cell phone?
Having a drink in the hotel bar (with Dori asleep behind us)
Sleeping a bit better for his Mama now
This is the coolest ball ever - Dori LOVES it (Thanks, yet again, Ransom Family!)
Matching Grandma
In his new sunhat
Back home with all his favorite toys (and really reaching for everything now)