Back in Baton Rouge ... Starting normal

Thank goodness ... For about a week now, we have been living in our house with power, with 2 cars (each with a car seat), with a Parent's Day Out program that is open, and with a baby who is sleeping through the night in her own bed! Life is good.

Before we left town for Labor Day weekend, Eden helped Ashley organize the closet ...

... and she helped with one of her favorite activities, helping Ashley with laundry.


Smells like Fresh Rain!

After a week's "vacation" after Gustav, we stayed with some family friends who graciously hosted our family as our neighborhood was repowered. One particular night, we decided to join the "King of Coates" for dinner. The Explanation: One of our colleagues (Nathan Crick) also did not have power. His wife and two small children went to stay with her parents in Pennsylvania while he slept in his office. Around 6 each evening, he cooked. We ate. Here are Eden and Ashley working up an appetite in my office (Yes, that is a Coke Icee in the background. They have them in the Union. Ashley is now addicted).

Last week also marked Eden's first time at Mother's Day Out (what we like to call "Parent's Day Out, a.k.a. PaDO). Eden is a hit with her teachers, smiling at them each time Ashley takes her into the room. What's their nickname for Eden? Fat-rat ... said with a charming cajun accent that Ashley says actually makes it sound cute. Ashley did take in a photo of Eden from her second day in the hospital just so Eden's teachers would know how far she had come.

Ashley reports that Eden is a happy camper from the moment she's in the room at PDO. Once she's in the exersaucer (as seen above), she hardly notices Ashley leaving at all. Wonder how long that will last?

Wish we could say things were completely "normal" around here ... but they are much better than before. We are still working on "getting back into the swing of things" having been put a little behind after a week off. Suppose that just goes with the territory - wouldn't have it any other way!