Helena Isabela & Misha Dov

On route to Delray the Fayfessels stopped at Devil’s Milhopper outside of Gainesville but most of it was sadly shut down due to covid. After a not-so-quick stopover in Gainesville itself, it was a long night slog to Rainberry Bay

The big news though was Misha’s new developments which started on this trup

1. Real first words- “mama” although it should be noted that he attempted to say Papa

2. And waiving to everyone now! He loves saying hi to strangers but won’t do it on command

And not to forget Helena’s development, Helena astutely remarked that lettuces do not have head’s and has been listening to Beethoven.

Glamping near Live Oak, Fl, and Baby Goats!

Helena was reportedly one of the most energetic students but in a good way (this was definitely validating in more ways than one for mom and dad.

Her presence was also very noticed and it was different when Helena wasn’t in school they said. Her teachers said she can work on impulse control and mm and dad can help her by telling her what’s coming next more.

Misha had his first play date. He wasn’t feelin it to much but Helena was as was Misha’s classmate Luna

As usual, Helena and Misha both played with Kendrick Ave neighbor Nadia and her toys

Misha has gotten into the habit of digging around in the fridge now on the bottom shelves

He didn’t have strong feelings one way or another (seemingly) about it

Helena’s daycare sometimes sends her parents some fun pictures of what they get up to!

Misha enjoys and often eats his food loudly

And Helena likes to sing in the car and often does a 1 and a 2 and a 3 intro

In the highlands Misha and Helena spent some time in a different playground and even hopped on a volleyball court for a bit

Misha meets Clara and plays with mom and dad’s friends otp (or the suburbs for you non-Atlantans)

Perfect screen-in patio fireplace weather, first Charlie Brown Thanksgiving- Helena was into it. Misha was more into wondering from point A to point B and picking up and transferring objects. This is a constant pastimes these days for misha. Helena is unsurprisingly more excited about screens

Misha is going up and down the stairs these days on his own.

Misha is getting over his stranger anxiety. He had a baby sitter today and did great even though he tried to find mom (while she was in the shower).

Helena is practicing letters at school. She’s mastered “H” but can go up to HE

Helena loves the “annoncer” voice when her parents narrate everything that she’s doing.

Helena is learning what it’s really like to have a younger brother and when she wants to, she can be secretly (but not too secretly) pretty mean. She’ll pretend to pat his head as she hits him. Occasionally even in front of her parents she’ll full on shove Misha. She also likes to close doors in front of him and her parents.

Any time there is music, or a lyrical phone ringing, Misha starts to bob up and down.

Misha gets very jealous easily, especially when it comes to food, but Helena also gets jealous and wants to be held more again.

A good atl zoo white rhino sighting on a beautiful not-very-like day

It’s been an adjustment but he’s getting to use it and usually happy thwre

Well Roman isn’t exactly a stranger but since starting daycare Misha it seems is more comfortable around people other than mom and dad and of course baba and dieda

This is not recent (late August) but it’s too much of a gem to forgot to post it

The final post from last weekend on Cumberland Island

Meanwhile back in Atl…

Nature games on the island :

Somewhat belated but back to last weekend

Sam is one of Helena’s first friends that she made on her own almost exactly two years ago today. These pictures aren’t great but wanted to capture the reunion

While Helena and mom and dad were off galavanting on Tybee island, Misha was exploring the house on Kendrick Ave with baba and dieda

Just a mile from the ferry lie adventure at this broken down colonial site (and later Carnegie’s)

Misha in this actual day also went to his first day of daycare. It was unsurprisingly a little rough but he is transitioning to a new system, he may need some time. No photo as of yet.

Misha stayed with grandma and grandpa while Helena tried her first McDonald (surprise surprise she liked it) and the family prepped for a big Cumberland Island trip

For Misha walking in his own shoes it should be added. .5 mile in his own shoes actually!

Professional gymnast and grandfather Solomon teaches gymnastics on the weekend

Helena and other kids enjoyed a show with reptiles for Ella’s fourth birthday

Tripped down to the Gulf for the family’s first time. Beautiful fall Florida weather and friend’s Roman and daughter Ella came too

Intentional eco-community 35 minutes south of atl is a very interesting, local field trip

It was a different sort of birthday party but everyone still had a good time in the park. Misha seemed to enjoy his cake a little bit and continued to take a few steps.

Helena started at Grant Park Cooperative Pre-school yesterday and a great first day. She was a a little hesitant at first because it had been so long since she’s been around kids but eventually she was happy.

A rare occurrence to get out in these Covid times but it was just what the family newded

The family spent a day golf carting around this weird town and it was a lot of fun.

About third five minutes south of Atlanta lies Peachtree City and it’s golf cart track down. It’s a strange and very green place and the Fayfessel’s were happy to visit some old Grand Park friends who recently relocated there

Still not doing it regularly but he seems close! He has less than 10 days if he wants to reach the milestone before he turns 1!

Helena and Misha are really enjoying each other’s company on the playground most days as misha Becomes more and mobile. Today he was walking a few steps but did not get it on camera

Still fun, for both children now!

Translation- “that’s cold”

Coming back from Cloudland Canyon the Fayfessels visited a very strange place in Summerville GA. A very unique artist’s memorial

The yurts in this north GA beautiful landmark called the fayfessels back again for a second time this summer.

Misha is now enjoying his standing and bouncing abilities

Just when we (almost) got one child off the table

Misha is now doing the big stairs!

Misha, like his sister was at his age, loves watermelon

Misha is looking for a hand (just one) but wants to walk everywhere. He can walk on his own but it scared and doesn’t want to do it much. Still, making great strides

Helena and dad finally boarded the airplane on Monday night to return to Atlanta for the long awaited reuniting of the family. The plane and car sell all went according to plan and Helena loved going through the airport (and watching Toy Story 3). Contrary to the passengers next to them who thought this little girl must be asleep in 30 minutes on a 9:00pm flight, Helena was wide awake the whole flight and didn’t end up sleeping until midnight that night!

And Helena at almost exactly the same age doing the same thing

Helena relished her last days in Lake Champlain

And then with Ian And at his camp in Colchester

And unrelated, Helena tried jello for her first time:

Helena hiked your about two miles and while she didn’t make it to the peak of Vermont’s great peak, she made it two miles up a steep, challenging trail

Helena is taking advantage of the beautiful Vermont summer’s and ability to be outside unlike Atlanta. Misha is enjoying his time with dieda and baba and only wanting to walk more and more

Playing at dad’s old elementary school

Misha took his first unassisted step today, but the moment was unfortunately not captured on camera. Instead, he was sad that dieda didn’t record it

Helena has been enjoying lots of bike rides with the cooler weather in Vermont and beautiful scenes

Misha likes pasta, just like his sister

Meanwhile in Vermont…

Two days of the dad-daughter road trip where spent in natural bridge VA. The town is of course named for its natural bridge

Going to post some more photos from the trip shortly but arrived yesterday in Vt to visit grandma and grandpa. Misha stayed beyond with mom, dieda, baba, and Sherlock in Atlanta

Mom joined dad and Helena along with Sherlock for the first leg of the journey. The Great Smokies

One of dad’s old college friend sent a nice surprise in the mail so before taking off on a big rod trip with Helena, he posed for a few pictures with the kids

And fire boy of course too!

The outer banks were a lot of fun although maybe not worth the drive with two little ones. The family has been back for a bit now but still updating the blog from last week’s trip. Helena tolerated the drive and sometimes got into music, a movie, or an audio story. Misha mostly slept but if he didn’t he wasn’t too happy to be in the car. Both children like the beach while Misha seemed to not mind the waves and water in his face but Helena was terrified of the water (waves specifically).

A visit to Kitty Hawk and the Wright Brother’s National Park. Helena was excited until she realized she could not get on the replica plain