Helena Isabela & Misha Dov

Helena stopped loving baths awhile go but fortunately Misha still seems happy to take his bath

Misha still happy as a clam !

Misha is moving closer to crawling, starting the backwards shake just like Helena did years ago

Helena seems to be interested like most babies in music.

Helena took her first nap in a long time, just not in the place you would expect it

Helena took a bike ride to centennial park while misha tried standing and hunting for bubbles in his bath

Certainly a different type of Seder this year

Helena made an instrument and new song along with a lot of jumping to pass her time

Misha wanted to jump but fell asleep instead

Helena’s first trip to the local confederate tourist attraction

Meanwhile, misha still getting to taste all of the new somewhat solid foods

Misha is finally ready for and appreciating his jumper and his bouncer, and great weather to be in his bouncer outside

Helena plays with water: https://youtu.be/5_l_M023e90

Misha just came out of water

Misha doesn’t seem to mind being away from mom and dad. Helena notices that everything is closed and that things are different. She may understand some of what’s going on but not a lot.

During the quarantine, one of Helena’s favorite activities has been jumping while filming them in slow-motion. Here is a sampling, put together by uncle Jonah

Beautiful outdoor playground

Helena turns 2 : http://helenakessel.com/wordpress/index.php/2019/03/26/helena-turns-2/

Helena turns 1 : http://helenakessel.com/wordpress/index.php/2018/03/27/1/

Helena had a much needed local “getaway” and animal encounter this past week meeting a bunch of farm animals. But the highlight and focus of the place was the alpacas. She very much enjoyed interacting with and feeding the animals on a private tour

And a good excuse to finish mom’s birthday cake

Everybody is home now with the corona virus outbreak effecting everybody so lots of family time, minus grandma and grandpa unfortunately

Corona virus or not it is still mom’s birthday and the family wasn’t gonna be stopped from celebrating

Siblings having a good time

Helena and friend Sam played their first soccer game Monday. While their was a lot of hand balls, there were also a lot of foot balls. Good first experience, Helena is ready for more!

About a month and a half old now but forgot to post before!

Misha just yesterday

Helena at a slightly younger age

Pictures from his full time care takers -grandpa and grandma Solomon and Roza

Daycare friend Beatrice is going the way of the burbs as it seems many friends are these days. One last hang out in Grant Park @the fountain

Helena is very into magnetiles these days while misha, like most babies, is into crying. Fortunately it’s usually for a reason

With the grandparents always around, each kid gets individual attention and special activities growing up.

Misha saw an amazing sunset with birds 45 minutes south of Atlanta on a cold winter day: https://youtu.be/_3EmPoxxFKs

While Helena went on a bike ride in the beautiful Peachtree Creek of Atlanta

This time with floaties for everyone!

Misha seemed to like these smashed up banana bits he tried.

In other exciting news, about a week ago dad got his first unprompted “I love you” from Helena.

https://youtu.be/TaSpdjRbYPA and misha sitting, chilling, swinging

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