Helena Isabela & Misha Dov

Misha went for his first swim and liked it!

Meanwhile Misha is happy at home with grandpa

https://youtu.be/wfxxvJhxyEI
matching frozen slippers

https://youtu.be/TlsnUcZAE9k

Hazel dropped in for a night this weekend and Helena loved the evening play date. They did a lot of running around, screaming, and jumping. They also made cookies, played with toys, played with more toys, played with things ghat weren’t toys, and scaled the backside of the stairs dangerously climbing up until mom and dad noticed.

First time in the baby jumper https://youtu.be/xLTbyetfTK4 not quite sure he’s ready for it though

And first roll-over!

Daycare class, neighbor, gymnastics’ friends !

Helena is now in the upper school with the “bigger” kids in the much bigger room. She’s been very happy with the change.

Her latest “Helenism” is “daddy’s joking” as she’s starting to understand the concept of humor more directly

Helena likes jumping (and climbing ) on everything: https://youtu.be/lF2yWF2aDNc

Misha likes sleeping – wherever/whenever

Helena swims almost once a week at the King Natarium in Atlanta. It’s become one of her favorite activities and she is getting more comfortable in the water each time. Misha is getting over a cold and/or possibly starting teething but is still a sweet baby.

Some more recent Helenisms recently as she discovers humor and other names for emotions

“I’m happy”

“Daddy’s joking”

Misha becomes more interactive every day. Helena has recently made a leap too and say’s new things her parents didn’t know she knew on daily basis.

Some recent Helenisms:

A bit belated but Misha stayed up until midnight and partied deep into the night

Another year gone by and another Florida come and gone. The weather wasn’t quite as good as in some other years but still good enough to get a good 4-5 pool dips in. The family traveled back New Years’ Eve as per the normal routine. Here are a few highlights:

More eco-tourism in Florida with grandpa and grandma and mom and dad

Helena is enjoying her visit to her grandparents in Florida. Sugar Sand Park is a two-years-in-a-row highlight

And just about one year ago from today

Finally some hair coming in!

Helena and Misha are getting some quality time with their grandfather down in Florida

Helena has taken to the screen, there’s no stopping it, just limiting. She did pretty well- only about last 15 minutes with it. Misha did great too and mostly slept

Helena’s still figuring out the candle system

Meanwhile Misha :

was celebrated with the meerkat Jewish friends in East Atlanta

As Helena makes her first gingerbread at daycare, misha works on keeping his head up on his stomach. He is getting stronger every day.

With mama back at work dieda and baba have taken over as full time care-takers. So far so good

Misha’s first laugh, grandma also recently saw him roll over but the report is unconfirmed…setting up shop on the bed

After gymnastics Helena and Ella had fun turning in circles with Ella’s mom Liza

He seemed to enjoy it

Helena wasn’t interested until recently I’m holding Misha. Misha on the other hand didn’t love it

With visiting friend Dave Leiberman

Helena is fascinated by the new robot in the house

Grandma and grandpa Fayfman/Tabak returned to Atlanta for Thanksgiving and continue playing a big team in young Misha and Helena’s life.

Helena’s speech has recently rapidly advanced and she also picked up many “Abelisms” from her cousin including :

“No thank you” and “sharing is caring” and “that’s right,” and independently

“That’s how we do it!” “I’m done with my sleep” (which is usually said 10-15 minutes after trying and not sleeping), and more

November ’19

New tuxedo for Misha

When the extended family came for Thanksgiving Helena and company became members at the great Fernbank museum

And takes some great photos !

Helena also tried her first chestnut this day and loved it.

And one of Misha’s first selfies

Helena with her cousins Havi and Esther on a beautiful “winter” Atlanta afternoon. It reached 75 degrees during their BeltLine bicycle ride.

More To come but for now a mostly complete image

…And meets Misha!

Plus hike with Helena and visit to glasses store

No not at the same time of course but same day

Inspired by cousin Abel, Helena sat down for real talk. Abel’s first one around almost the same age:

http://abelkessel.com/weblog/?p=8859

Both together and for Misha in the big bath

https://youtu.be/jfXVs5ldFTo

Story time

Helena, mom, dad, ans friends Roman and Ella took off for Great Wolf lodge Friday I’m in Lagrange GA. It was an awesome weekend.

As is the costume at UEP, families gather for their annual thanksgiving. This was also misha’s first thanksgiving UEP meal. He mostly just had milk

Misha’s peers and their moms go for a walk in Grant Park

Helena :

First time saying her full name :https://youtu.be/XPOGpW3XKT4

Plus artichokes as favorite food is declared to be a genetic trait

No pictures today but Misha is getting bigger, sleeping for longer at night (thankfully!), and smiling more and more. He also likes music and story telling and having his grandparents here to help take care of him

Misha made a new friend with Mom’s colleague and friend Marcos

Despite Helena’s parents dancing prowess, it is not something she seems to have caught. Or at least not yet. Misha could be different

Grandpa Solomon and Grandma Rosa arrived back in town and Misha was happy to see them

Helena liked going to the rock gym “Wall Crawlers” on Friday night. She was a little scared at first but found some other fun things to do before eventually climbing a little bit.

From daycare:

Meanwhile, Misha took a four hour nap today and gave mom a nice break. He’s been sleeping a little more through the nights often too.

Helena did not try many more chili’s than Misha but everyone still had fun

Misha updates:

Misha has been smiling occasionally, sleeping a little more, starting to grab at things, and turned over on his back today for the first time

…it’s hard

With papa gone last weekend, daycare friend Beatrice and parents went to the zoo together. It looks like they had a great time



After

Helena was very excited

First social smile!

Helena is a little jealous of all of the Misha attention so mom gave her a little bit of rockabye baby time

This time with mom

Helena loves living right next to a playground now. She sees her neighborhood and daycare friend Aya there at least once a week

For boo at the zoo

First (mom and dad think) non-gas smile

Helena enjoyed it as usual. Misha just slept along for the ride

Helena has reached a new milestone. Getting Sherlock to actually respond to her commands.

After watching other kids with scooters and her cousin Abel scooting around for awhile, Helena decided she wanted to learn how to do it. She’s getting the feel for it and very excited on a rainy day here:

The family had a nice dinner at the Atlanta Kollel. Misha missed most of it asleep but Helena enjoyed the “tree house.”

Helena meanwhile still practicing her gymnastics although this photo is now from a few weeks ago

Cousin Shana joined. Papa was the only one actually fasting and while it was a short walk, it was a rough one for him. Beautiful Atlanta weather helped push the group on

Helena wants to do most things herself these days. Here she is at Cider Fest trying to turn apples and here Helena is trying to open some house paint

Meanwhile misha is happy post burp

Helena is still working on her Russian singing- https://youtu.be/OVY-B9Km7wM

Meanwhile, misha continues to mostly just sleep

This website has finally been updated to include a age counter for Misha and an updated description of the family. Along with that, here is Misha’s coming into the world video. He’s been sleeping on and off and changing every day.

From here on out, Misha will also get a post (or a joint one with Helena) so that he too, can share his cuteness with the world. You can also now reach this website by going to misha.helenakessel.com

A quick skinny dip in the Sandy Springs’ pond Rosh Hashanah 2019!

Helena is not even three and already has two giraffe feedings under her belt !

Most days when mom and dad ask how was daycare Helena replies: “Avery.” Started this video a little late of them playing but they are still running around together having fun and it seems Helena is very interested in Avery

Helena has welcomed her new brother to the family even if she’s still working through some adjustments with it all.

Helena is getting lots of quality time with grandma Barbara and the out-of-town visit

With all of the attention on Misha these days, upon grandma and grandpa’s arrival for their visit, they bought Helena a magnet gift that she seems pretty into already.

at catch air

With a new brother now mom and dad want to make sure Helena still feels loved

spending time at daycare together trip by bike to Big Softie

At home and in class

Helena is playing the xylophone while singing here and then applauds for herself at the end for a good concert.

Helena’s been practicing at the Phoenix old 1996 Olympic’s park

Deep in the woods in Tuckee

“I wanna ride in the BeltLine” say’s Helena now on a weekly basis. Just waiting for it to be fully paved but she doesn’t mine the bumps

Helena met Ella at the park a few months ago and have been friends ever since. They practice their Russian together from time to time

an era has passed. The poster at daycare came down and was replaced with a new updated one. No more chubby cheeks for this girl

Pumping iron at 15 lbs. that’s over half of Helena’s weight!

A good ol’ game of hide the cat to learn about prepositions.

Papa’s French teacher side comes out

Helena invited all of her friends and her parent’s friends to break in the new house. Here she is breaking in a gift after everyone had left

Building a pond

Classic Helena expressions approaching 2.5

Gimme try that

Gimme see that

Have some

You ok? Are you ok?

Are you not tired?

I can’t tired

Papa mal?

I need a petit snack

I want a special treat, just a little one

No no not you (especially in reference to when mom or dad tries to sing along with Helena)

I need that

A nice walk on the nearby doll’s head trail

In Russian:

despite the fact that Helena has never heard this song in Russian and translated it herself and that it wasn’t raining…

Helena is a fan of the new porch owner

…but she also likes visiting old friends (Nadia the next door neighbor) at the old house too!

Hanging with friend Sophie

http://helenakessel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/img_5371.mov

The (new) neighbor’s cat “chat” actually tolerates children. Helena is thrilled