It was a perfect trip, and as much as we missed and talked about Adam, my Dad and Colin, it was so special that it was just us girls.
It was hard, but not as hard as it could have been. All things considered, Liliana did really well. It was over 25 hours of traveling, which is enough to make a grown up want to cry, and she didn't cry very much at all. She loves the airport and traveling, so, like every flight, she was excited for this flight and talked about how "the lady" takes her ticket and "the man" says, "shoes off" and how she gets to read "the "ay-pane book" (safety guidelines manual) once on the plane. My mom also bought her a book the week before the trip called, "Everybody Bonjours" and in the book there is a picture of a little American girl sleeping on the airplane on the way to Paris. She knew that she was going to get to do this and was excited about that, which was in our favor.
The flight from Orange County to Dallas was a breeze. She liked her first class seat with special treats and we landed before her nap time. She fell asleep in her stroller during her layover and was a happy camper as we boarded our next flight to Paris. We lucked out and a nice couple offered to switch seats with us so that we could have a row of 3 seats in first class. She loved the food and watching her own cartoons and movies and eating organic lollipops. We had been telling her that they serve ice cream in first class and she was very excited about that, but once she had the choice of ice cream sundae or cheese and grapes in front of her she opted for the latter (MY GIRL!). After dessert we put her in her jammies and gave her a bottle and tried to put her to bed (it was about 8 our time). It took about 30 minutes of fussing for her to fall asleep and she kept asking for her bed at home but finally she gave in and fell asleep on the bed that we made for her. She slept great for about 4 hours until they woke the plane in the morning for breakfast. She was SOOOO sad when she woke up and it broke my heart. She kept asking for her Daddy and telling me she wanted to go home to her bed. "Ears hurt Momma," she cried and there was nothing that I could do to help her because she wouldn't drink water or even suck on a lollipop much less take Motrin. "Lila Stuck! No Paris! HOME!!" She said over and over. She basically screamed the entire descent. Once we landed she quickly dried her tears and turned on her Lila charm. "Cute pink 'kirt," she told another passenger. "Oh La-las! Lila diamonds too," she told another.
She ran around the Charles de Gaulle airport happily while we waited a few hours for our train. Once on the train she fussed around for about 20 minutes until she fell asleep again in my lap (while I slept too) the entire 4 hour trip to Bouzigues.
I think that the hardest part about the trip was how tired I was and how much stuff we had to lug around traveling that far with a little one. She was a REALLY good traveler, but that trip is difficult on your own much less with a baby.
Silly at the airport.
More champagne and juice please!
The airplane bed.
More champagne and juice please! 
The airplane bed.
Part II: Bouzigues
Debb and Reed's house was the perfect spot to relax and recover from jet lag. It took Liliana a few days to get on a schedule. She would wake in the night hungry and wanting to play, which was hard, but by night 3 she got the hang of it.
Bouzigues is an adorable seaside town that is famous for it's seafood--namely oysters. I have loved oysters since I was Lila's age, so I was excited to have her try her first oyster there. Of course--she loved them and asked for them for breakfast. :)
While in Bouzigues we spent a day at the beach, went on walks to admire the town, visited with friends of Deb and Reed's, and spent a lot of time eating and drinking in their beautiful garden equipped with a summer kitchen. We also spent a day in Montepellier (which is an awesome little University city) and an evening in Sete (which is a beach-y vacation spot) both within a half hour of Bouzigues.
Bouzigues
Taking a walk by the beach:
Debb and Reed's beautiful garden:
Plate of oysters:
Playing with her Parisian dolly's namesake, Elouisa:
Eating fish with her buddy Reed:
Dinner in the garden:
Montpellier
Sete
Sete
Part III: Paris
Our Paris portion of the trip was AMAZING! Liliana kept saying, "I lub Pawis" as she ran around the parks like a "wild child" (her words). My mom and I had the best time touring Paris with no real "have to see" list. The only things on our agenda were parks, shopping and food and wine and we successfully accomplished everything. I was surprised by how child-friendly Paris is. There are parks, rides, ponies, and kind people offering Liliana sugar, "bonjours" and "coo-coos" (that is what they say to babies there), around every corner. It was such a special trip and I am so glad we made the long trek with a baby to enjoy it.
Tulieries
Tulieries, Day 2
Luxembourg Park
This park is amazing. The gardens are gorgeous and the playground is the biggest, coolest playground I have ever seen in my life. It is filled with tons of crazy, potentially dangerous toys that would never be allowed in the United States but that the kids (including Liliana) LOVED!
Liliana's new favorite pastime is spinning around and getting, "bizzy", so these spinner toys were right up her alley. 
Since reading, "Everybody Bonjours", Liliana has been looking forward to the boats in Luxembourg Park. Children rent small boats and push them with a stick to race them around a pond in the middle of one of the most beautiful parks I have ever seen.
Louvre Gardens
I think I mentioned Liliana's portable potty chair in a previous post. It was was a lifesaver on this trip. Liliana was able to go to the bathroom all over the streets of Paris, which meant she only had a few accidents the whole trip. She even did great on the long plane rides where she was napping without a diaper. My mom and I thought it was hilarious that she was going to the bathroom all over Paris. She even pooped in the Louvre gardens! We wish we had gotten a picture of her on her little potty. :)
Eiffel Tower
Liliana was very impressed by the Eiffel Tower at night. So much so that when people have asked her where she went on her trip she says, "Eye-pul towa" instead of "Pawis". It was so much fun to watch her and all of the other kids run around the Champs de Mars at the base of the Eiffel Tower while it lit up with flashing lights. It was magical.
Wining and Dining
Liliana now loves "room serbiss" and has requested her "eggs, toh, and blu-le-les (eggs, toast and bluberries) in momma's bed" a couple of times since we've gotten home.
Delicious gazpacho for lunch in front of the Theatre Odeon.
Time for a cold drink in the hotel after a long day in Paris. As you can see, she was very comfortable in our hotel lobby. She made friends with all of the employees. She would just order from them as soon as we got to the lobby. Usually her order consisted of the lollipops that she knew they all had in their pockets.
Flirting with the waiter before a delicious dinner at Cafe Constant near the Eiffel Tower.
Champagne and snacks at Cafe de Flore in the St. Germain district.
"Meshy girl" (as she says) with her ice cream.
Dinner in the St. Germain district.
Shopping
In between restaurants and parks we did a lot of shopping. Here is a picture of Liliana trying on a dress in a precious little store that we found in the St. Germain district that sells hand made dresses and dolls with matching dresses. The dolls and dresses have been around since the 1800's. Liliana chose a doll that she named Elouisa (pictured in many of the photos from this trip) and a couple of beautiful dresses.
Taking a curbside shopping break to eat sorbet and melt-in-your-mouth macaroons from the famous Laduree macaroon shop.
Part IV: Getting Home
For some reason, getting home was much easier than getting there. We were worried that it would be harder because we were flying coach on the way back, but we got lucky with 3 seats in the bulk head (which is a HUGE space on a plane that size) and Liliana was a SUPER STAR! I can honestly say that she didn't cry the whole day of traveling! She played, watched movies, and napped in my lap a few times. She was in a great mood all day.
She was very excited to see her Daddy at the airport when we landed and has been a total Daddy's girl since we got home. She cried this morning for him when I told her that he was at work and has been practically ignoring me during the evenings once he gets home. He is loving it.
She is still working on her jet lag a little, but coming this way seems to be much easier than going there. I know that she had a great time on this trip and will remember it somehow. She has been talking about it a lot since we got home and says that she had fun. But, I have said the word "trip" on two occasions the past few days while talking to other people and she immediately responded by shaking her finger at me and saying, "no trips Momma!" I think she is happy to be home...for now.
