America Part 5--New Orleans!

I have to admit that I really wasn't a very good sport about driving before our ride from Birmingham to New Orleans. I did a lot of whining and crying and kicking my legs and throwing my toys around and, generally, being in my car seat put me in a bad mood.

BUT that all changed when my Dad rode in the back seat with me! Sticker Party!!!!

Another great thing about taking a road trip with my Dad is that even though my mom tries to make sure I'm eating things that are good for me (like orange pieces and raisins), my Dad always lets me have some of the bad stuff (like french fries..YUM!). And then my mom has to get all stern with him. Lucky for me, she was totally out numbered because my grandparents also let me eat whatever I want.
We stayed in a hotel in the French Quarter in New Orleans and had a great view of the city and the Mississippi River from our room:
Our room also had an antique baby walker in it, which I'm pretty sure I shouldn't have been playing in (it was actually a table, but my Dad took the glass top off of it because, for some reason, everyone thinks I'm kind of accident prone).

When everyone else arrived, our room became party central. Cheers!

I had my first taste of gumbo while we were in New Orleans and I liked it a lot. I also liked red beans and rice.

I also tried my first beignet and wasn't a fan. That just meant there was more deep fried deliciousness for everyone else to eat.

It was so hot in New Orleans that we couldn't really stay outside for very long, so we decided to go to the wonderful New Orleans aquarium, which was definitely a highlight of my young life.

Hello, fish!

I was a little wary of stepping on this glass floor over the shark tank...especially since my pregnant mom was also on it. It pays to be careful when you are sharing such a tenuous space with someone who is a little on the heavy side. We survived, fortunately.
Jellyfish:

And taking a closer look at the shark tank with my Dad:

I also got to pet a sting ray, much to my surprise. I sure didn't want to do THAT again.

After all that fish action, it was time to eat again. And we ate a lot of...well, fish, in the form of shrimp and catfish po'boys and seafood gumbo. My enthusiasm for New Orleans food was waning at that point, so I just had a PB&J. Peace!
On the way back to the hotel, I danced a little to a brass band in Jackson Square...

and was unable to deny the advances of the balloon man. He saw me coming a mile away.


What a fun time we had in New Orleans, but it was time to head back to Houston and be reunited with Nana and Papa, Jenna, Olivia, Aunt Mendy and my future Uncle Rick! But not before I finished relaxing by the pool.