Tom Carmany's Garden in April

Our friend Tom Carmany is a retired pathologist - now a gardener. He bought a beautiful old farm and planted thousands of tulips, daffodils and more, adding to the garden that began more than 50 years ago.

Boston in April

I (Susan) was in Boston April 8-9 to do a workshop for nursing faculty of Northeastern University. Here we have Jessie, myself and Kelsey having frappes (milkshake) at Johnny's Luncheonette in Newton, near Boston College.

Jessie and I toured the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and Museum of Fine Arts. After I left she took a look at the famous Boston Public Library. We had a wonderful lunch at MFA, including watermelon salad.

Meeting Ozan in Istanbul

Ozan here, content in his crib. mashallah! - what you say when something good happens and you want it to stay that way in the moment. At 6 weeks, he's growing steadily and beginning to smile (evidence farther below)!

Barbara Wood made this sweater which arrived special delivery (with us).
Ozan's mobile, with music.



Barry using the "airplane" manuveur to comfort Ozan.
Their apartment is 5 stories up, walking. Residents are Assistant Professors at Bosphorus University who have lived abroad. Plenty of kids, trikes and community cats and dogs. Here's Dave with Meltem and Barry's car, at the front door of their building.

Grandpa (Dedecim) got to know Ozan over 5 days.

Meltem's mother Sadan (pronounced Sha-dan) here in the nursery with Meltem and Ozan, has been an invaluable help with baby care and food preparation.

Sadan prepares a delicious Turkish dinner.
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I (Susan) called my sister Nancy for coaching on baby care!

Nancy suggested holding the baby on his back, moving the legs. What a smile!

The blue apron goes to the person holding the baby. It was a gift from a mysterious source  I (Susan) confidently held Ozan on my lap one day without it and he lost lunch!

Asleep!

Awake!

Little experiments: the baby Bjorn, provided by Kim and Dave Cohen. I read the directions. Dave figured it out in 30 seconds! Ozan liked it for about 3 minutes. It's a start.

The bouncy seat.

Barry and Ozan having a chat.

Aunt Elif getting a smile! At nine months pregnant, Elif spent the day visiting with us Friday.

Elif and Hasan (Meltem's brother) came to dinner Friday night.

On Sunday Elif gave birth to baby girl Melek. Ozan has a new cousin!
We went for a walk through Bosphorus University, near the apartment, high on the hill.

We stayed in the Bebek Hotel, on the waterfront, "walking distance" from the apartment.

The walk was straight up, with fast moving cars going two ways. We did it once. Taxi!