Letter to my Son in the Gardens

Dear Son,

Your Mommy and Daddy are still learning, right along with you.  I like taking pictures of you and nature, flowers, etc.  We decided to go to the Botanical Gardens in New Orleans City Park.  It’s a beautiful place to go, lots of paths, greenery and flowers in bloom.

We took plenty of pictures, but our lessons from this trip are:

Don’t forget the stroller at the house!  You weigh 16 pounds and the car seat is at least another 5 pounds.  The stroller would have made things easier.

Don’t say, “I’ll feed him after we walk around.”  Because the diaper bag was too much to carry when you don’t have the stroller.  So that gets left in the vehicle.  And you, my sweet son, let us know that you were very hungry!  I’ve wanted to get some pictures of you crying…. This was the trip for that.

Even though it was 10 am, it’s too hot in New Orleans.  We missed the “spring” days small window and it’s gone straight to summer.  We were dripping with sweat… all of us… not a good time to take pictures. 

The gardens are very lovely and I’d definitely want to go back there again with you and Daddy…  maybe for the fall, just as the weather gets a little cooler and before the flowers die out.   And only after you've had a full bottle.  Lo.

We also went to the Sculpture garden.  This next picture’s caption should read, “There isn’t a large enough safety pin for my dirty diaper!”

It felt good to get back to an air conditioned car and feed you.  You drained the bottle and went to sleep.... all that crying during the garden walk was a workout for you and you needed sleep.

There’s also the Storyland area and a cute little put-put area, for when you get older.  I’m looking forward to your reactions at the zoo, aquarium and children’s museum.

Your Daddy decided to surprise us with lunch at Shogun.  I wonder if you will have an allergic reaction to seafood, like your Daddy… or will you be allergic to grass like your Mommy?  Will you enjoy Sushi or shy away from it?

Maybe we'll get a cool day again (wishful thinking, I know) and if we do, hopefully it will be when time permits for another day at the city gardens.  When we were walking the paths, your Daddy said, "This brings back memories. I remember running through here and playing."  I want you to have good memories of our parks and gardens from your childhood.

Love Always,

Mommy

P.S.  Your Daddy insisted that I include this next picture, because he likes it a lot :)