City of Lights

We just returned from a 9-day trip to Paris to visit Patrick's parents. They have been living there since shortly after Leila was born but will be returning home for good in June, which we are all excited about. Our trip could not have been any better. To answer the question everyone is asking: Leila was WONDERFUL. Amazing. Super-baby if you will. 10-hour plane ride--no problem. Jet lag? Not this girl. We took her to see all of the sites and she was happy and friendly to everyone. The stewardesses on the plane and waiters at the restaurants could not get enough of her. We even had tourists pose for a picture with her, seriously!

The McKinney's were gracious hosts and we all had a good time exploring the city together. Their apartment in Paris is amazing. It is on the top floor of an old building with a spiral staircase and rickety elevator and overlooks the Seine River, the Eiffel Tower, and Napolean's tomb. We drank our coffee each morning watching the sun rise over the Eiffel Tower.

We probably walked close to 50 miles over the whole trip. We went to the Louvre and saw the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, visited Napolean's tomb and the military museum, walked to the Rodin Museum to see the Thinker, shopped at Galleries Lafayette, traveled to Versailles to see the Hall of Mirrors and Marie Antoinette's home, Notre Dame cathedral, Sacred Heart cathedral and Montmarte, walked up the Eiffel Tower, walked through the Tuilleries, took a dinner cruise down the Seine, saw a show at the Lido on the Champs-Elysees, and Patrick and his dad visited Normandy.

Patrick showing Leila her picture book on the plane.

Leila had a bassinet for sleeping on the plane. We loved Air France.

Chic baby. The apartment is on the other side of this bridge.

We figured out the heel of a loaf of french bread would keep Leila entertained the entire meal.

Patrick was a champ and carried Leila the entire trip. She even napped in the Baby Bjorn.

The view of the Eiffel Tower from the McKinney's apartment on Avenue President Kennedy.

The princess gets a kiss in the gardens at Verseilles.

A view of the gardens at Verseilles.

The coast of Normandy.

Walking through the park near the Eiffel Tower on our last day.

Leila's scarf was knitted by our sweet neighbor, Carson.

She fits perfectly into her Grandmary's shopping cart. Grocery shopping entails a 2-mile walk uphill and you can only buy what will fit into this cart.

A view of the Eiffel Tower lit up at night.