Paris and Provence... you will love both and getting a house in the country and relaxing the second week will be a lot easier with a 18 month old.

Huge huge help! Thank you all! Thank you for posting that trip schedule, definitely going to be printing that, and will email stududley as well!

I think it looks like staying in France is the way to go! I must say, after we looked through some of the links to photos of Italy posted, (Venice, Bologna +more) they look so amazing we are definitely feeling a strong pull to go to Italy, (I have been to Venice a good 20 years ago as a teen and I DO think my wife would love it, would love her to see it, I remember we stayed at a beach town north of Venice...) BUT after reading through the suggestions it is seeming that France will be an easier trip with a toddler.
I'm just feeling that Italy would be more stressful, unless as posters have mentioned, you just plunk down in one spot.

So, we THINK it will be France but still fighting some urges for Italy. :)

Whatever you decide on will be great. Remember, this is not a one time deal. Save something to look forward to for the next trip.
Ann Marie

BTW, I really like combining a stay in a city like Paris with a rural area like St. Remy in Provence rather than staying in two large cities. The contrast makes me appreciate both locations and the way of life in each.

I've been to Paris a number of times and always thought of it as an old city until I combined a stay there with a week in Provence where there are many ancient buildings.
-Ann Marie