Atlanta

Alan and North got to tag along on a business trip to Atlanta over North's first birthday (the upside of this second layoff). We had a wonderful time and it was great to get to spend that special day in particular together.

North decided to pack himself into our luggage while we were getting ready.

Our hotel was great—as long as you weren’t afraid of heights—all catwalk hallways, glass elevators, and walls of glass in all the rooms. North loved standing against the glass wall in our room and looking out at the city and down to the pool.

He loved swimming in the pool which was huge and as warm as bath water. He particularly loved it when Alan would throw him into the air.

We enjoyed the great weather and outdoor eating opportunities.


North liked all the pillows in our room

Our first grits experience.

While there we also got to see our friend Erin who moved to Atlanta about a year ago. She got to meet North for the first time and took us to a great seafood restaurant called Six Feet Under where we got to eat on their beautiful rooftop patio.

And for N's birthday we went to the AMAZING Atlanta aquarium!

Sawfish!
A whale shark!

The terrifying penguin

Alan and North in one of the caves

Giant catfish over head

Harassing the piranhas

Petting sting rays and sharks--the sharks were smooth and firm; the sting rays really soft and mushy.


First cake--red velvet birthday cupcake

Belugas
Jelly Fish!

Reef tank
Starfish souvenir we bought him for his birthday

We also visited the “World of Coca-cola” while in Atlanta, which is where Coca-cola originates.


terrifying bear!
Original coca-cola bottle created in Terre Haute by the Root glass company. It was redesigned because it wouldn't fit into packaging--made thinner into the shape we all know. Designed to resemble the pods of the cocao plant.

While there we got to taste about 90 coca-cola products from around the world including sugary sweet and fruity sodas from Africa, strange drinks with ingredients like carrots from Asia, and some interesting combinations from Europe (like the infamous “Beverly” soda- an aperitif heavy on quinine). We let North try his first sip of Coke while there—he was a BIG fan. Kept trying to get just a little bit more out of the cup long after he’d downed the little sip I’d shared with him.