Barataria Preserve

Jean Lafitte National Park was such an incredible experience! Beautiful, lush untouched swamp land for miles and miles.  It was so dense we had to really stand still and look for all the ridiculously awesome creatures that live there.  I think you could go back daily and it would always be a different experience each time.

 Throughout the park there were wood decks built over the water so you're walking right through the middle of the swamp.

We were told to watch out for stinging caterpillars

Hundreds of Dragonflys flying all around, some even landing on us.  They felt like the fairies of the forest.

Tons of frogs and tadpoles in the water, which Harlow loved!

Giant Carpenter Ants

Harlow and I call Louisiana Land of the Lizard, they run this place

If you look super close you can see a Ribbon Snake

See his little head?

The highlight and biggest reason people come here are to spot Alligators in their natural habitat.  We found one before the mosquitos began to eat us alive

Lubber Grasshopper HUGE

These spiders were everywhere and I was desperate to get a good picture of one.   They're Banana Spiders and so MASSIVE!!!  I saw one eating a dragonfly.

Some guy at the Insectarium said he loves to pull them out of their webs and play with them.  He told us they build the strongest web in the species.  It freaked me out because the webs were so low I was almost running into them.  Could you imagine this guy just hanging out on your face? Nooooooooo  Or better yet Jason had Harlow on his shoulder, I could have easily looked up to find one of these spiders cruising along on the back of her head.  I told Jason if we go back I'll hold one, you know because I'm a bad ass and all.
Soo we'll probably never go back ;)

Home in Uptown New Orleans

I'm in love!  Head over heels in love.  So much in love that I decided the only way to revel in my feelings, is to start the blog again.  Here I can rave on and on about how crazy in love I am over this magnificent city instead of posting one line status updates on Facebook that don't give you the full effect.  Oh no I'm gonna prove it, I'm gonna show you, you'll see just why I should sell my house in Burbank and probably buy one here right?

Since the Redfin app doesn't work in New Orleans, Zillow will have to do for now.  
What....?   I'm just looking.

It's not like this is our first time here, we spent a couple months in New Orleans when Harlow was only 3 months old.  But last time we lived in a hotel close to the French Quarter.  This time we did it right, Uptown!  Three houses from the street car (don't call it a trolley people get offended) on St. Charles. 

Street Car (Not a Trolley)

Our house is fantastic!  I was slightly disappointed that we didn't rent some amazing Victorian or a super old shotgun house from the 1800's.  Could you imagine owning a home that old?  Ghosts.  That's my first and only thought.

Our House

Notice that it's raised?  Just in case a hurricane or flood happens, we'll be safe.  Not sure about the guy that lives in the basement under the house though...sorry guy.

 Here's a quick tour.   I'm a mother of two with a 15 month old glued to my leg right now so the inadequate blurry photos will have to do...

Entry

Living Room

Kids Room

French doors to patio

Kitchen

Our Room

Master Bathroom

Living Room

Backyard

Master Bedroom

And there she is, our home till Christmas.  Tons of character and lots of space.  I already have so many things to blog about, I hope you'll tune in for more on my new boyfriend, New Orleans.

XOXOXO