Author: andrew@kesselimaging.com

Helena is very lucky to have grandparents that can visit her in Atlanta from the Northeast so often. She always loves when they visit.

Helena now spends long periods of time experimenting with socks, underwear, pants, and shirts. She’s not quite there but she’s getting close!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyl8VQnYrvc

Helena went to in-town gymnastics where they have a big foam ball pit that she was obsessed with for most of the time. Here’s a quick look at it- she didn’t make the big jump on her own as she always proceeds with caution

Helena is obsessed now with jumping. Not sure how long this jumping phase will last but Barnes and Noble story time seemed like as good a place as any to do it

Just another day of what Helena does most days- can you spot her here ?

Helena was imitating Nelson from the Simpsons for some time but didn’t perform quite as well here. This video is now a few weeks old as mom and dad forgot to post it

Helena continues to do her part after making a total mess throwing everything everywhere

Helena went to her friend Hazel and Genevieve’s house down the road in Grant Park. Everybody had a good time and older sister Genevieve declared Helena one of The now “three” sisters

 

Helena got a heavy dose of screen time Sunday and while she didn’t make it the whole game, she found some ways to entertain herself while mom and dad enjoyed the hang out. Go Pats!

Helena enjoys her Grant Park neighborhood including weekend trips to the zoo and farmer’s market. She thought it was pretty funny hiding under farmer Will’s tablecloth in front of his booth

A little late from last weekend but still worth a post

Just one of many of Helena’s indoor activities with the cold weather for the family’s NYC weekend visit

Helena heads to NYC to see her grandparents and visit the uncles and co

Helena has some bigger and older friends now that she is in her new class. It can be a bit intimidating with their advanced language and fine motor skills but she’s trying to “hang” in there right with them. Sunday a few of the families did a brunch and hangout for the kids

Helena visited her first farm last weekend near Athens GA. It was a little cold but she loved all the dogs on the farm and can now moo like a cow

Helena is fascinated by cats as she only lives with a dog and is trying to understand the difference between them. The cats she might might not like Helena quite as much as she likes them. Here is she during a new playdate friend chasing one:

Helena is less and less into her stroller these days instead preferring to stroll, at least for a few blocks.

One of Helena’s new favorite games

Helena has moved up a class at daycare. She went from being the youngest to now being the oldest pupil. Voilà her new class

Helenas’ obsession of the moment: https://youtu.be/HbZCbD-0ZwY

Helena and daycare/new neighbor pal Flora took off with Sherlock and parents to Sweetwater Creek this past Saturday. Flora walked for almost 40 minutes and Helena helped look for Sherlock when he ran away for a bit chasing a deer deep into the woods. It was a beautiful Atlanta winter day.

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Playing with papa

Helena has taken to singing in the backseat of the car and is working on her ABC’s. This is a pre-cursor to her singing career:

https://soundcloud.com/user-47064830/2450-paces-ferry-rd-se

It was fun while it last but back to the cold weather (although ATL is actually not that cold, around 60, so Helena isn’t too unhappy).

Sugar Sand park in Boca

 

Interesting to see how Helena has grown since one year ago when the family last visited

The other big difference now is that Helena can actually interact with the animals and the smile on her face shows how she loved it (especially feeding the goats).

Uncle Adam and family are also visiting family and getting to spend quality time with Helena

Helena was originally obsessed with this game when she first arrived to Florida

…also escalators are scary

A little urban hiking is just what the doctor ordered. Who needs playgrounds when you have fallen logs

 

Helena rides the choo choo train at the zoo and the merry-go-round most weekends as she’s earned enough points (visits) from her membership for free rides! It is a unique bonus of living next to a major metropolitan zoo. She’s also a big fan of all types of animals!

Grandma and Grandpa were on their way to their new (likely) annual pilgrimage to Florida and they stopped in Atlanta for a few days. Dad did not do a good job of taking photos to capture the visit.

Potty training continues with many ups and downs but some progress

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

https://youtu.be/_2d7vVgkesI

https://youtu.be/B1JvcJ35WWw

https://youtu.be/FGG5hUce3WE

https://youtu.be/FxXpr0WkFvA

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)