Author: andrew@kesselimaging.com

Helena struggling some but progressing

https://youtu.be/GD7Vo-ztMB8

Just like her parents

What’d you do today?

https://youtu.be/OCYZsl80UyQ

This video doesn’t do it justice but Helena is now jumping. Not a whole lot, but she can do it, especially on her parents bed (her favorite). This was taken from the new coffee and tumbling Sunday morning at our newly discovered in-town gymnastics studio.

Helena likes her new little chair

Grandma and grandpa Solomon left last night. Helena was sad to see them go

https://youtu.be/MR3VZ2m_doM

The weather has finally gotten chilly here in ATL. Lower 40’s still beats Vermont but Helena isn’t phased 

Wallet exploration

This year the family spent Thanksgiving in a few different places. First there was Urban Explorer’s day care Thanksgiving (pictured here). Then dad went off to Vermont (see below) to join the Kessel’s while mom stayed behind to work and grandma and grandpa helped care for Helena.

It’s a pretty regular occurence in the household. Helena knows she is not supposed to go up there but can’t resist. 

and a little bit of frolf for dad

https://youtu.be/R2wFIWIFnSA

Helena went to the dentist for her first time today. She didn’t exactly love it but she got through it. The dentist say’s her teeth are a year in a half. in advance and will likely be the first kindergartner to lose her teeth. Most of the time she was crying so the photo opp was missed. She’s also started playing with momma and papa’s friends’ kids!

Helena loves her bike helmet

Helena loves to get jiggy wid it

With the zoo now being a regular weekly visit, Helena is growing up with a unique opportunity to see and learn about animals. It is a 8 minute walk or 4 minute bike ride to the zoo and the family has gone enough times that Helena gets unlimited free train and carousel rides in the zoo which is pretty fun. On this weekends’ visit we had some unusually active lions.

And visit from Boston and soon-to-be-married friend Michelle

Helena met Sam at the park yesterday. Normally Helena has been a little shy or uninterested around other kids but she loved being chased by Sam. She also helped mom and did pick up those digits for some potential new mom and dad friends

Helena only had 2-3 candies but that’s more than she’s ever really had. She did not want to go to bed:

https://youtu.be/QrjK_wlxSvQ

Helena had her first “trick or treat” experience and has quite the sweet tooth. She also hung out with her meerkat friends for a bit too.

It’s time for jean jackets

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The weather has finally cooled, chilled even, in Atlanta. Last week was porch fest in Oakhurst, a trip to the zoo and first time train ride (Helena loved it), and the normal Sunday Grant Park farmer’s market visit

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On Saturday mom fought cancer while Helena touched it

As the weather finally cools here, let’s take a look back at the last week or two when GA saw 90’s 60’s, rain, sun, and many points in between

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Helena visited her grandparents while mom and dad went to a friend’s wedding in Hudson. It was a nice quick moment for them to reconnect and enjoy a break from the summer humidity in Atlanta.

wagon ride with friendflux performance and neighborhood bike shop

https://youtu.be/zESxqfxrPbo

Daycare is taking the kids outside as the weather gets nicer and nicer in Georgia

An art exhibit in the park brought to you by Helena

This was taken a few days ago before grandma and grandpa left

Mom and dad returned from their Utah trip to find Helena well taken care of and happy after a week with grandma and grandpa. They enjoyed their first family dinner back together again.

Helena excited to be picked up from daycare by her grandfather

Helena has a lot of fun at Urban Explorers most days while mom and dad work

Grandma and grandpa report that all is well back in Atlanta and Helena is having a great time with them

Helena loves corn, not sure why she looks so serious in this photo

Grandpa Solomon and grandma Rosa are now lo king after Helena while mom and dad visit the Utah national parks. Her grandparents are helping her prepare her audition for dancing with the stars

Helena has learned to blow on her food when it’s hot

The Lake Claire Land Trust in momma and papa’s old neighborhood has an Emu named Lou. Helena paid a visit to Lou. They were fast friends

The family all celebrated together the Jewish new year at the Freedman’s

Since Helena got a new seat for the bike she has been enjoying more local bike rides around the park. She also joined her parents at a colleague’s wedding on Sunday in her prettiest yellow dress

Helena started off a little hesitant and dipped her feet in the ocean water. The temperature was perfect. After a few minutes she loved it.

After a long car ride, an hour ferry boat ride from st Mary’s, and a bike set up- Helena and co set off for their camp site. The journey was arduous but beautiful

armadillos and wild horses dot the island plum orchard, former vacation home of the Carnegie family

The family traveled to the Georgia coast for the Labor Day weekend for an adventure. Friday night was Helena’s first experience at Hostel in the Forest (more on this in next post) in Brunswick, GA. Helena did great both on the car and boat rides and enjoyed the new sights

Seven minute work out

And

Gardening (picking tomatoes)

https://youtu.be/7K5nnWyDCJQtk

Helena enjoyed the kid zone quite a bit!

Helena sometimes doesn’t seem to like sitting on a couch with her neighborhood groupies but she otherwise normally has a great time !

Helena went on her third Or fourth ever bike ride this past Sunday with mom. They visited the neighborhood splash pad.

Helena’s favorite past time

Maya has finally picked Helena up from NY. One last fun video from her time there

Being passed down

Always Be Climbing

Just practicing since mom’s flight was cancelled and she now has to wait another week to go get Helena and finally bring her back to Atlanta

Watermelon is now Helena’s favorite food. She still likes yogurt but she can’t get enough arbooz!

Helena is picking up speed

Last Sunday Mom and Dad visited Helena and grandparents on their way back from Iceland. Ir was nice but also sad since it was a short visit

Helena now has almost all of her baby teeth. Here she is literally enjoying the fruits of her labor with her grandparents.

(She loves her grandparents)

Helena is almost running now. Joining the track runners at Queens College

While making new NYC summer friends!

After watching a fair amount of the World Cup and seeing Mother Russia lose in the quarter finals, Helena decided to get going on her soccer skills to help the 2032 team

Since mom is working and dad is traveling Helena has become a temporary NY resident at grandma and grandpa’s. As mom and dad prepare to go on vacation to Iceland, most of the pictures and videos here for the next few days will be guest posts.

The last time Helena was held in front of the globe in Corona park she was only just over two months old and it was dad

 

Helena enjoys playing with uncle Adam’s fake ice cream set

Two of Helena’s favorite activities at once and no help needed going straight down these steps!

Popsicles and lights

Childhood friend Joey and new friend Ella meet Helena

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Visiting uncle Amy

deer siting in monsey NYCtrain strolling

Helena and dad have taken off for an extended Northeast escape from the Atlanta heat just as they did last summer. Staying with grandma and grandpa in Flushing has been great. The family arrived Friday sans mom as she has to work this whole week but will meet up in Boston at the end of this week with them.

Helena seems to have figured out that dog food is not for eating but for feeding dogs. Purely on her own she decided to start feeding Sherlock

The whole family is excited about the Honda plug-in car upgrade

The firsts continue with stair climbing at school and then noticing the moon for the first time

fresh cucumber from the garden confuses Helena

Un grand soulagement (a big relief):

Hanging with friends @centennial park downtown

Helena has not been as quick to take up the water as her parents would have thought after showing a great love for it in her early days. But she’s working on getting into again…easing in slowly

A first person view from a young toddler:

Helena can claim to have done the entire walk-in trail with little assistance to the overlook and back at Cloudland Canyon at age 14 months.

Helena lives near the mounted police force in Atlanta and this last weekend she walked over to say hi

Not actually a camper but a future one at dad’s tennis camp for school

Maya’s parents have been visiting this last week and will have another week to spend quality time with their grand-daughter

Oakland Cemetary, our local historic and beautiful cemetery, hosted an art exhibition recently. Helena found it quite fascinating

you want one?

Helena is now going down the big slide all by herself. She is loving it

Helena explores the mole rat tunnels at the zoo

 

Despite some moments of unhappiness, it was a very relaxing nice evening at the gardens.