We've had the great blessing of having Mike's older brother, Curtis, and his family here also in New Orleans. It has been fantastic to be close to family and they have been such a huge help. And it's been great for Lydia to have 4 cousins to play with (and a fifth on the way)! Here is the oldest, Emily 9,and Lydia.






Lydia is getting so big and so smart! She's started clapping and waving now. It's so much fun to watch her learn things! Here is a picture of her clapping.






She's not quite crawling yet, but she's definitely going places She'll manuever herself backwards, but no forward motion yet. Nonetheless, she gets around.










We got Lydia a booster seat so she can sit at the table with us like a big girl (that and because high chairs are so expensive!)! She's eating really well. She eats all kinds of baby food, especially peas. And she likes yogurt too. I gave it to her once and now she gets mad if I'm eating it and don't share with her. Anyway, I love this picture because she looks like a little kewpie doll!

BIG UPDATE! We're in Louisiana! Lots has happened since Christmas, including my little sister's wedding (which is one reason why we haven't gotten around to our blog in a while). Mike got a job in New Orleans as a cost analyst with a big company here. We're excited to be someplace warm! So here we are, in the middle of the ocean


This is our new house. Yes, we bought a house! Craziness! And I got my front porch! It's an older home and needs a bit of work, but wer're excited to make it ours.









Elizabeth and Lydia got to go to the New Orleans Audubon Zoo. Supposedly it is a very nice zoo, and that is coming from Elizabeth the zoologist, so it must be good. Lydia's favorite part of the zoo had nothing to so with the animals. She liked watching the kids go around on the carousel. Elizabeth loved the animals, the palm trees everywhere, and she really enjoyed getting a tan in March.





There are huge alligators at the zoo. They're in the special 'Louisiana' exhibit. It's for all us saps that don't get to see them walking across the road.