Kitchen table Conversations...

Mostly the conversations are with Paul, as Ada just interjects an occasional "AAAH", ie "more food/drink now". And check out the book Paul chose from the library! We're halfway through already.

And so the following conversation about children and potential new babies happened a couple of days ago. (We're not expecting, but 3 of our friends have just had newborns this past month, and Paul's not blind to the fact that "the baby's out now", as he says.)

<looking at Paul's 1st bday pic on fridge>
Paul: I'm sitting in Ada's baby chair there.
         And Ada was big and sitting in Paul's big-boy wooden chair <points to current chair>
Me: No, Ada wasn't big, yet. She wasn't here, yet.
P: Ada was in Mama's belly.
Me: No, not yet. You were still a little baby.
P: Ada wasn't there, yet.
Me: No, God hadn't given Ada to us, yet. You were Mama & Papa's only baby for a while.
P: Ada wasn't there, yet...
    Ada was still with God.
Me: Do you want another baby?
P: Yeah.
Me: Yeah? Another baby sister or maybe a brother? Nice.
P: Yeah, a brother.
Me: Well, we'll have to see what God gives us.
P: Yeah, we have to see what God has.
    Maybeee a brother? Maybeee a big excavator?


Then this today when Paul wanted to have his diaper put on for naptime on the changing table, something he hasn't done for aaaages but had just seen done for Ada.

Paul: Paul wants to lay here for the diaper.
Me: What, you're so big now! I remember when you were much smaller laying here.
P: I laid here when I was a baby, when Ada was still with God.

Oh, for cute.

It's MAY already!

And the weather's just getting better and better. 

April showers bring May flowers is spot-on down here in NOLA. It was a thunderous April, complete with tornado watches and downpours. Now, I realize we're only 4 days into May, but it's been a glorious month to honor Mother Mary so far!

All of last week was spent either playing and reading indoors, dodging the rain, or outside in the sun. We enjoyed a bit of NOLA Navy Week (or, to the Navy, "Fleet Week") by visiting one of the 5 ships they had docked on the Mississippi. When we went to visit a second later in the day, though, the lines were so long, we skipped out. We got to hear a little of the Navy Band's concert in St. Louis Cathedral, though, and 4 sailors talked to Paul (and the rest of us) on a streetcar; they started the conversation by asking him whether he wanted to join the Navy or Marine Corps ... gulp.

And then the weekend of parties ensued. Because the weather's been so wet, everything that had been cancelled in the previous weeks was rescheduled for this weekend. Wow. So, we started Saturday with our very own Easter party here at the house. We had a lovely turnout with friends - and family, thanks, Aunt Cyndi! - for a mid-morning to afternoon brunch/lunch playdate, complete with Confetti eggs and an Easter egg hunt. Then, quick! Nap! During which time I made a Costco run for another party. But I'm getting ahead of myself. 

In all their chocolate glory

Saturday evening was Movies on the Point, and there was a NOLA-themed double feature of The Princess and the Frog followed by Streetcar Named Desire. The new little local art center's teachers were there with the parents' group to help kids design boxes into cars for a kids' drive-in, which was adorable! We had our po-boys while the sun was setting and enjoyed the movie once it was dark; Ada made it a little over halfway before falling asleep, and we were trying Paul out with sleeping on our blanket, too, so we could watch Streetcar, maybe? No? Ok, 20min into that one, we called it quits. Such a fun, full day.

Sunday was beautiful again, and we had our church's Eastertide hot-dog grill after Mass, hence the day before's Costco run. We had a great turnout in such nice weather, despite JazzFest going on now, too, and our mystery skywriter made a Sunday appearance, too. He's been writing positive-message-type things like love, hope, pray, think, draw, etc. And, as you see, today's was quite fitting. Sunday afternoon & evening was house-back-in-order time, and it felt so good to lounge around just us, enjoy a beer in the backyard, before Dylan made us pancakes for dinner; the kids loved it. 

And then, and then, Ada went to sleep without nursing ... and didn't wake up til (wait for it) 6am! That was 8 straight hrs of sleep for me! What the whoa - are we turning a new leaf? pleasesayyes.

Paul wore those crocs at 6mos; Ada's 15.