Exploring Atlanta

In Elliot updates...about a month ago he started saying a few district words!  He started with "bubble" and even blew one of his own bubbles!  He also picked up how to sign "more" and practices that one a lot when he's hungry.  Henry has been as sweet as ever with his brother. He actually told me the other day "Elliot's my best friend. When Elliot is upset I will 'nuggle' (his word for snuggle) him and when I'm upset he'll nuggle me." I've been recording some of his quotes which I'll have to post one of these days soon.

Here are some photos from our Atlanta explorations:

We spent one rainy afternoon at the Fernbank Science Center. I think we spent 1.5 hours on one 50 yard hallway - Henry was having such a good time! Henry paid close attention to what I told him about bumble bees and showed off his new knowledge when he told Elliot about how the bees collect pollen from flower and fly in to their home to make honey.

And we spent time at the nearby park

We had a great time at a butterfly festival.  A man drove up ~300 butterflies from his butterfly farm in Gainesville, FL.  In the butterfly tent we were able to "catch" butterflies by luring them in with nectar covered mallets.  By the way Henry is wearing a coat because on the day of this festival it was 65 degrees in Atlanta!

Also at the festival was face painting - (Henry determinedly wanted a pink butterfly with purple spots)

 And a tattoo station

And a little fishing stall - that returned a candy catch

First weeks in Atlanta

In our first month back in America we had a fun, but too short, visit at my sister's, a brief stay at my dads, and reunions with great friends.  I was so thankful that despite the ~24 hour trip from Bangladesh, the 12 hour time difference, sleeping in four houses in 2 weeks, and all the other changes, the boys handled the transition quite well.
Cousins reunion with our newly developed ice cream cake tradition

Important lessons at Tad's by Charlotte - oh how I have missed corn on the cob

Time with old friends

Elliot learning about some great technology

The first nap at our new place when it was still empty

And some of the basics

Reflecting and moving forward

The dust has settled.  We're in Atlanta with a majority of our boxes unpacked - although these boxes are from our storage unit in Baltimore and we're still waiting on our shipment from Dhaka - we have a pretty stable weekly routine established, and we're enjoying the splendors that the grand US of A has to offer.  Interestingly, Scott is back in Dhaka right now helping out at this office there so we've been able to skype with our dear friends back in Bangladesh.  Here are a number of photos from our last week or two in Dhaka saying by to friends, 'family', and our humble abode.
From our last visit to Shobita's house:

 I don't think I posted these before - but Henry cooking breakfast with Shobita:

Henry getting a "how to wear a lungi" lesson:

Some last play groups - with Jafe, Sophia, and my own with Vanessa at the spa:

Scott's Going Away party with his office at a turkish restuarant.

 Packing up...

The last night - a good time with great friends

Good bye Bangladesh