Helena Isabela & Misha Dov

Mom is trucking through pregnancy (8 months, any day now!) as Helena awaits her new brother. She already knows his name and where he currently lives when asked “where’s the baby?” In the meantime, getting ready with some Yoga

Helena and “older sister”/neighborhood friend Genevieve climb a tree house 

Helena gives the new soft serve ice cream two thumbs up in the nearby Summer hill neighborhood.

Helena is spending a lot of time with grandma and grandpa these days while dad gets used to being back at school and a new furniture type project awaits them at home almost every night in the new house

Helena has gotten more into cooking and cleaning these days

At the zoo…Helena’s favorite Animal, the elephant, is the new focus. Our backyard is a breeding ground now for elephants!

Helena’s favorite book du jour is bad bunny. The moral of the story is very unclear but doesn’t seem like Helena cares.

Guest post from uncle Jonah:

http://abelkessel.com/weblog/?p=10316

And some bonus shots

Helena’s first day back daycare in her new class

Helena has gotten into the habit of riding her bike along side Sherlock when grandpa takes them out most mornings and evenings

It’s back the the norm here for Helena and co.

Daycare starts next week so every day Helena is getting to spend quality time with grandma and grandpa

Helena has some new friends to play with now with her care takers baba and dieda who’ve temporarily moved down south until the old house

Last Wednesday, Helena had a crazy day. She boarded a flight to go back home very early, went straight to a summer camp, and closed on her new home. She was very excited about it!

On Helena’s second day stuck in Jersey she visited the zoo. It was a pretty impressive local zoo.

When thunderstorms cancelled Helena’s flight home Monday, the whole family got some bonus time with uncle Jonah and family. Day 1 consisted of a trip to the Genuis Gems and the fairy trail.Helena was not too upset about it

Award winning New York Times Photographer and brother of papa Jonah Kessel shares some shots from the weekend

A few highlights reels and capturing of the times from the Kessel brother’s reunion on the jersey shore

More to come

First amusement park. It was a little overwhelming but in a good way for Helena as she wanted to try every ride on the boardwalk despite the fact that she was too little too go on every ride but 2 of them. She didn’t seem to care.

Next stop on the whirlwind mid-Atlantic tour was NYC.

carousel at Chelsea pier playground and splash pad Mid-town Queens County Farm Museum

https://youtu.be/ZR7Zy_f9pz4
https://youtu.be/rxopflW1v_A

It was a great reunion of friends and new baby friends in Washington D.C. The family stayed with college friends Chris and Sarah. It was a very hot summer weekend

Italian restaurant comedy night to watch Benjy and eat with friends Ben and AllisonHelena meets River, she’s really starting to come around to babiesoccupying myself at another restaurant mealescaping the summer heat at the public poolsaying a sad goodbye

It was a quick stop-over to see friends Patrick & Marisa before heading to D.C.

The family started a long anticipated northeast-mid-Atlantic trip last Friday. Some scenes from the transit at Hartsfield Jackson:

Helena has recently discovered legos (beyond duplos) and wanted to check out the local Legoland attraction.

A trip to Noble Park playground for the first time in (Morningside neighborhood)

A favorite stop on the way home from North GA. The goats frequently come down from the roof as they expect food from the visitors (readily available for sale in the shop of course) and visitors can’t go up on the roof.

Bike ride: https://v.triller.co/VDvOQr

Waterfall hike: https://youtu.be/UGpmJlIKWFE
Tennessee River Green River trail, Franklin, NCDry Creek falls, near Highlands, NC (not so dry)5th of July rodeo, this literally was our first rodeohanging on the porch with our friends

…jumping on the bed

At the sky valley house, much of the time with Vivek and Arusa’s children was spent jumping on beds as seen in these videos

The family left for a road trip with old Macalester friends for a long weekend in the mountains

Helena loves jumping so much she got her own trampoline at home

Dad and Helena took a great field trip to the local science museum and stayed way past night time.

Helena and co enjoyed the moon beam bungalow in the mountains and the new sparkling Sierra Nevada brewery. They also went for a bike ride on the Brevard bike trail, white water rafting on a big inflatable raft (sans Helena), and Crank coffee shop/bike shop.

https://v.triller.co/dO6Ja0

Sierra Nevada concert amphitheater Crank bike/coffee shop

The family is embarking on a series of road trips to beat the heat this summer. The first was a trip to a tiny house called the Moon beam bungalow in Horseshoe, NC. Along the way the family decided to check out the cool little, surprisingly happening town of Hendersonville, which currently has lots of different ceramic bears posted around town. Now that Helena can bike, she used her tricycle to visit each one while making new friends along the way

Helena is fascinated by cats and is always asking to see the kitty cats now so dad took her on a field trip to Java Cats. Java cats is a local cafe that rescues cats and helps them find new homes while providing a nice temporary home within a coffee shop.

When papa went on a camping trip last weekend, mom took over and rekindled the mama-daughter bond. Now Helena asks for both papa and mama regularly when the other is not around.

Trip to the zoo

Coffee Shop date

Strollin on cars

This is the warm up song for every gymnastics lesson. Helena’s still working on getting it.

“I want friend” is now a regular Helena line. She likes Sam among a few others

One last post from San Fran and a guest post from old Seedpod friend who also lives in the Bay and joined for a hike and dinner. It was a great reunion.

Helena came back late from San Fran and would not go to bed (not until midnight actually that night). She got back on her red radio flyer bike, which normally, she does for a few minutes before she gets tired of it. This time was different. She figured out pedaling:

Within a day or two she was riding the street

She loves being able to pedal, steer, and control her destination

On Helena’s last full day in the Bay Area she joined Caleb and co to check our this amazing children’s museum, the special exhibit of the moment was her favorite – bubbles !

After San Fran. Helena and company traveled down to nearby Redwood City to see friends Tobin, Elizabeth, and their 2 year old Caleb. Caleb and Helena are only a few weeks apart. The last time Caleb and Helena hung out they were teeny little babies (well Caleb not so much) -see here.

They fast became great friends and spent the whole weekend playing together.

On Friday the family ventured downtown to see an old friend from the Ecuador pre-Helena bike trip. After a brief visit they rode the cable car and looked at the city. They went to the famous Ghirardelli square and of course enjoyed some good, but overly priced ice cream and chocolate. They walked from there along the Fisherman’s wharf to go to pier 39 for Helena’s first sea lion encounter and by the time all was said and done it was time to head home for nap and transfer to Redwood City- tomorrow’s post will be about that

Every type of main transport, the family took it on this trip. Helena couldn’t decide if her favorite was the airplane, autobus (bus), train, or boat, but since she’s still asking about cable car, I think we have our answer

Technically it’s day 2 since papa and Helena arrived Wednesday but that was mostly a travel day. After walking from Cousin Joe’s to the Golden Gate park and finding a playground, the family enjoyed a nice paddle boat ride at Stow Lake.

Afterwards they hiked to Land’s End on a windy, cold, typical San Fran summer day.

They took the bus, which is now one of Helena’s favorite forms of transportation, and met up with cousin Joe and Anna for dinner at an authentic Hong Kong street cuisine restaurant. Helena tried using chop sticks for her first time. It was a long and adventurous day.

at entrance to Japanese tea garden riding the Muni buswalking down to Land’s End

After mom’s work conference papa and Helena flew over to join for a family vacation in San Fran. On their first day they went for a walk in Golden Gate park and found some beautiful wild flowers.

Summer has begun and so has splash pad season. For the most part Helena is not that into it the splash part but she likes to look cool in her summer shades

Helena had a great time at her first-ever gymnastic’s lesson. For about 90% of it she was following instruction and doing “the courses” her teachers showed them. The teachers said that was pretty good for her first time.

Helena enjoyed one of her first sleep overs at family friends the Degeorge’s. Besides spending a little too long singing to herself out loud when she was supposed to be going to bed, she did a great job and seemed to enjoy the experience quite a bit (especially trying to find the cat Toby before hand).

 

The tradition in the Kessel family seems for kids to learn how to sing Twinkle Twinkle around 2 years old. Helena has also been working on Frère Jacques et La Formi M’a Piqué la main. Dad apologies for playing the keys too loud in these recordings

 

 

Abel singing Twinkle Twinkle at 2 years and 2 months

And Havi at the exact same time with her advanced singing skills (for the last minute or so of that video)

(still need to) drag a comb across my head

Former teaching colleague Ethan with his kids joined Helena for a just-out-of-school summer road trip to Locust Grove, GA to see the famous animal sanctuary Noah’s Ark. The kids loved seeing all of the animals.

Helena took advantage of the in-town tumbler’s bus set up at this past week-end’s Virginia Highlands festival

Helena is now speaking in three languages regularly. This can result in some interesting sentences such as:

“I lubit araugnée” – I love spiders

“Beaucoup machina” a lot of cars!

“Adrugaya chanson” another song

Tons of “I want/need” French or Russian thing such as velo (bike), moloko (milk), sloanik (little elephant -her blanky), bonbon (candy), miode (honey), quelque chose (something). The latter along with cacuhète (peanut), supermarché, meh doma (we’re home), muha oohadi (fly go away), first shoes on, what’s that, right there, après ____ (for what the next thing is), are some of her favorite words and expressions.

She can also finally pronounce popcorn (not comcorn) and more importantly her name Helena (not haina) too.

Helena loves growing up next to the Atlanta zoo. Every time she passes the zoo she say’s “animaux zoo” (sounds like animo zo) in French. Her backyard is literally a (the) zoo. Here she enjoyed some sort of exotic bird courting her

Helena doesn’t go anywhere without her “sloanik” elephant blanket from cousin Matt

The parrot has awakened!

Atl has become hot Atl. Trying to cool off but unfortunately a dog pooped in the fountain at the Piedmont park splash pad. Instead, the family visited the dog festival, stayed cool at in-town gymnastics, and went to the Concrete Jungle annual fruit ramble later in the day as things cooled off. Another weekend gone by.

Saturday Helena’s street had a fun block party.

Helena is not as interested in the “fight” but she enjoyed (and learned a new word very quickly) the water balloons.

Helena loves grapefruit it turns out. Aka “pamplemousse,” one of pop’s favorite words in French: https://youtu.be/fEKG3Kf8WPw

Helena is adding “s” to everything for some reason. She appears to love basketball.

Helena likes to drive to the Pizzeria too

Helena has hit some big mile stones recently including but not limited to putting on and taking off her own clothes (with some help sometimes), being almost full potty trained (no #2 accidents and very few #1), catching a ball from a few feet away, and doing somersaults. Trampolines are her favorite and she likes to bounce on our neighbor friends’ one whenever she can.

With friend Lola in Piedmont Park last weekend

one of Helena’s favorite books

Helena sees a lot of little ones her age even outside of daycare. Here’s a few photos from last weekend at Catch Air, Passover at the house, and a visit to friend Vivek in the suburb

Was spent at the zoo and the aquarium with family on a perfect Sunday.

Helena’s been having a hard time falling asleep in her new toddler bed and it shows. After day care around 6 tends to be the hardest hour. She’s at least been getting up less in the middle of the night coming to her parents and saying “my cuddle.” Finally got her to bed before 9 tonight.

Still too young to ask any questions but Helena is getting there!

Jennie M flew in for a work trip and met Helena. Everybody had a great local restaurant night out

looking coolHelena loves blowing the whispy dandelion flowers

Two of Helena’s favorite pass times at age two now are jumping on trampolines (beds or really jumping on anything will also do in a pinch) and getting her hair put into bands. She frequently asks any adult around her: “hair?” At least some of us understand her

Helena has not been thrilled with her parents and their hiking quests. At best she’s tolerated it but it seems to be the holder as nature and the outdoors usually bring a smile. Here’s the family at Black Rock mountain in Clayton from a weekend ago

Whether it’s putting on her shoes, reading a story, going potty, or playing, Helena loves to do things with her parents and when she can do something successfully on her own she now say’s, “I did it!”

She also is a milk drinking machine

More photos to come from this weekend’s big celebration but here’s a few fun ones from the park where the girls were hangin

Helena loves the moon! So much so that she got upset when she couldn’t have or take the recent super moon

from climax hill on bike, a favorite pass time for Helena (with papa of course)

Helena has been hanging out with her slightly older buddy Sam and making new friends at daycare with her new class. She’s making great strides with potty training too hanging out with the older kids in her class

Avery Sam’s couch and popsicles

She is much happier, to finish that previous post.

Helena loved visiting the Glenwood Park fountain today. In one minute she said the following vocab: bubbie (for fountain), plane (which flew overhead), lune (moon), doggy (of course as one walked by), swing (she is obsessed now) and “high,” and snack.

Helena say’s this when it is cold as it has been lately. But now things are warming up and

Helena celebrated with her friend Flora who just turned two on Saturday. On Sunday Helena checked out a robot pizza place as a possibility for her upcoming birthday. She was a fan of the robots.

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).