McEldowneys

Summer 2009

2009-09-06T22:18:00.003-04:00

OK...so it's been a long time. I know, but I do have some excuse. It's been a busy summer around here. Let me update you....

Jamie and I spent June getting baby Jillian's room ready for her arrival. It turned out so cute. Here is a pic of her bedding...very girlie! Jamie's work at Frito Lay always keeps him busy, especially in the summer. We are thankful that this summer was not as bad as last summer (work wise). I, of course, was very pregnant for half of the summer so I feel like I didn't do much else. I was so ready to have the baby and was happy when she was born! The weather this summer has been, well, weird! It was either too cool or raining. We only got out in the pool twice as a result.

Jesse is now 2 1/2 which has been fun but very challenging. We have plenty of discipline issues to deal with. He is also so smart and learning so much. I was excited when we signed him up to start Mother's Day Out once a week starting this month. It has been good for both of us so far. He like his teacher, Mrs. Carol, and loves the structure the program provides. The other day, after his class, he told me that "B says ba". He has given us and his grandparents many "Jesse stories" to tell. For example, he went downstairs one morning while I was in the shower and got 2 cartons of eggs out of the fridge and a bowl and took them to the coffee table. He proceeded to crack the eggs into the bowl and also on the table. When I came downstairs I was shocked and he said "I make eggs". He got into my makeup one day, again while I was in the shower, and tried to put mascara on his eyes. I have pics of these incidents and will try to get them on here this week.

Jillian was born July 17, 2009 via c-section. She weighed 7 lbs 2 oz and was 19 in long. She is beautiful and we just adore her. She is a good baby despite her acid reflux issues. She is growing well and we look forward to seeing how her personality develops. Jesse is a great big brother and very sweet although we have to watch him because he can be rough (all boy). Again, I hope to get pics on here this week.

Our family has done some fun things this summer too. We got a family zoo pass and took a few trips before the baby was born. Jesse loves the animals. We had visits from Jamie's family too and enjoyed our time together. Jamie and Jesse had several fun Father Son Days out. They went to a vintage airplane show, Chuck E Cheese for the first time, and a car show to name a few. They always came back home with great stories and pics. We also made it to the KY State Fair again this year where we always enjoy seeing the animals and exhibits. The weather was great for that.

Well, we look forward to keeping you apprised this fall on all the fun things we will do as a family and on how the kids are growing and changing. God Bless!

Jesus Loves Me

2009-02-17T23:24:00.002-05:00

Today, while we were riding in the car with LoLo, Jesse sang "Jesus Loves Me" all by himself. He was so cute and I was so proud! He also sang it for his Daddy tonight when he got home. He is just soaking everything up and repeats all of it. We think he's pretty smart!

Ultrasound Pics

2009-01-27T20:13:00.002-05:00

I am finally putting my ultrasound pics on here. This is our baby boy or girl. We find out on February 19th which one it is.

Update on Life in the McEldowney House

2009-01-17T18:53:00.004-05:00

I have not done a good job of updated our blog for a while now. My intentions are good, I just never get around to it. My first trimester of pregnancy was rough. I was sick at night and have been exhausted. I'm still pretty tired but the nausea has gone away. We had an ultrasound on Wednesday that showed the baby is doing fine. The heartbeat was 150, which is normal. The baby was moving around right away so I was very relieved to see that. We could see the heart beating and it's mouth moving around. I am amazed everytime! I was so nervous going in because of our past experiences. Even though Jesse was healthy I don't think I'll ever get over those past ones! We are thankful and blessed that this baby is doing well. We'll try to keep you updated!

I'm Pregnant!

2008-11-14T16:07:00.003-05:00

We found out last Wednesday night after church that I am pregnant with child #2. We are very excited that Jesse will have a brother or sister. I will be due some time in July.

Carving Pumpkins

2008-11-14T16:04:00.002-05:00

Jesse and I carved pumpkins before Halloween. Unfortunately, Jamie couldn't be there. At first he didn't like the way the inside of the pumpkin felt but then he got the hang of it. We had fun!

Trick or Treat

2008-11-14T15:56:00.003-05:00

Here are some pics from our fun night of trick or treating in our neighborhood. Nana, Papaw, Lolo, Uncle D, Seth, Kiersten, Benj and Tali all went with us. We taught Jesse how to say trick or treat and thank you to everyone. We had a great time!

Fall is here!

2008-10-20T11:05:00.003-04:00

I love fall! It is my favorite time of year. I love the colors, the cool air, the pumpkins, all of it. A few weeks ago we took our annual trip to Huber Farm in Starlight, Indiana. My mom, sister and brother-in-law went with us. Unfortunately my dad was sick and couldn't go with us. The weather was unseasonable warm the Sunday we went. Jesse had a great time soaking it all in. We took some cute pictures to remember the trip. Have a blessed fall season!

Summer's Almost Over!

2008-08-28T14:27:00.004-04:00

Well, summer is almost over. I can't believe it. Time sure does fly by. It has been a long time since I have posted anything but things have been crazy around here. Jamie graduated on August 16 and I hope to post pics of that soon. Jesse is so big now. He is into everything and can be very stubborn. I look forward to his nap time because he wears me out. He is our busy bee and is constantly on the move. He'd rather be playing outside than inside but it's too hot most days to be out there. We tend to either go out early or at night. He's learning new words and repeats things which means we really have to watch what we say. We don't use foul language in our home but there are still words that aren't necessarily bad but I don't think a 1 year old should be saying. One word in particular is "ewe". That's not a word that I do not want to hear, for example, when I give him his dinner, but it's hard not to laugh when he says it. He thinks it's so funny! Here are some miscellaneous pics for your enjoyment!

Fourth of July

2008-07-09T14:51:00.002-04:00

We had a good 4th with our friends the Rodriquez family. We had originally planned to go downtown to the waterfront festival but the rain made us decide to stay at our house. We played cards (Nertz) instead. What else would we do? At least we took a few pics of the kids in their patriotic outfits. When our neighbors started setting off their expensive fireworks that night we stepped outside to view the live show. And best of all - it was free! The next night we went to the Smith's house to watch their fireworks.

I am also including a cute pic of Jesse in his first Mickey Mouse ear hat that Jamie's sister and family sent when he was a baby. He looks so cute!

The Zoo

2008-06-30T23:10:00.002-04:00

Jesse and I went to the Louisville Zoo today with Cindy Smith. The weather was perfect and we had a great time. Watching Jesse's expressions was the most fun. He loved looking at the animals and he especially liked the fish. We bought home a stuffed turtle for Jesse (his favorite in the shop). We only wish that Jamie could've come with us.

Texas Trip

2008-06-30T22:59:00.004-04:00

Sorry that it's been so long. I am finally posting pictures from our trip to Texas a few weeks ago. We went to Houston to visit our good friends Travis, Keri, Haley, Brayden and Kyle Duke. Travis is the Childrens pastor at Pearland Baptist Church just outside of Houston. We had a great time hanging out with old friends. We mostly played cards and Wii but we did take a day trip to San Antonio where we saw the Alamo. Funny, it's not as big as you would think. Anyway, we hope to go back again some day.

Memorial Day

2008-05-27T22:00:00.003-04:00

Well, we had a good Memorial Day and hope that you did too! We went for a cookout at my parents' house and got to visit with family. We managed to make it through eating and playing some games before the rain sent us inside. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera and failed to take any pictures on my phone. Jesse had a great time eating everyone's food and playing with his cousin Cassidy. We rarely get to see her so that was great. She always takes good care of him and he loves her. Well, next week Jamie is off of work and we will spend part of that time in Texas. I'll make sure to blog about our trip complete with pictures when we get back.

Cute pics!

2008-05-15T22:12:00.009-04:00

Here is a cute pic I took of Jesse tonight while we were waiting for my parents to pick him up. He is spending the night and all day tomorrow with them. I will LOVE the freedom but miss him so much. He's so cute! I know, I'm biased.

Mad TV

2008-05-15T22:01:00.003-04:00

Ok, let me start by saying that I'm a little addicted to TV. These are strictly my opinions and some of you may not agree. And yes, I know that there are way more important things in life than TV shows.

So, My sister texted me tonight to tell me that one of our fav shows, Men In Trees, has been cancelled. I then verified that it, in fact, was true. ABC kept moving the day and time and would put other new shows in its place for weeks at a time so it's no wonder. I am also tired of all of these ridiculous "reality" shows that have taken over the networks (Sorry to my friends who watch them). The only reality shows I watch are on TLC. That's enough reality for me. I'm even getting tired of American Idol. I only like to watch the first half of the season now.

On a happier note I am looking forward to the game show Password. I'm not much into game shows but this one looks like fun. I guess the moral of my story is that I watch way too much TV.

Jesse

2008-05-13T22:06:00.000-04:00

2008-05-13T15:33:00.002-04:00

We had a great Mother's Day on Sunday, except for the weather. Boy was it a nasty weather day. We originally planned to go to Hubers in Indiana but had to change our plans. I got the ferns for the front porch that I've wanted for 4 years. When we first built the house I wanted to hang ferns; I love that southern look. Jamie hated the idea, though, and it never happened. This mother's day I told him that I would settle for some nice flower hanging baskets unless he decided to get me the ferns I've always wanted. Well, low and behold, he got me 2 ferns and I was very happy!! On another note, I want to give God thanks for the wonderful Mom that I have and all of the wonderful moms he's placed in my life. Especially since I've become a mom I have been more thankful for their love, prayer, help, and direction.

On a funnier note, Jesse has been a little mischievous lately. Friday morning I had to get ready for us to go to Shelbyville for the day. Normally I just lock the gate at the top of the stairs and let him run around so I can get my shower. I also leave the spare bathroom door open because there's nothing in there that can hurt him. (See old blog) Anyway, I get out of the shower and go looking around for Jesse but I can't find him. Then I realize that the spare bathroom door is closed. I try to open it and I can't except for a tiny bit. Jesse had closed the door on himself and then he opened the drawer under the sink which meant that I couldn't get the door open. I try to reason with a one year old to close the drawer to no avail and when I talk to him he doesn't respond. I then to use a hanger to try and close the drawer through the tiny crack in the drawer but that won't work. I look under the door to see him sitting on the floor and I notice that he has scissors. Of course, I have thoughts of cut hair or an accidental stabbing of himself. I then call Jamie hoping he has a brilliant idea but he just says to "try a screwdriver". I throw my robe on and run down to the garage, get a screwdriver only to find that it won't fit through the tiny space in the door. I realize that I'm starting to panic so I just sit on the floor in front of the door and talk to God. I said "Lord, I don't know what to do to get him out, but I know that you do. Please either make him shut that drawer or show me what to use to get it closed so I can open the door." Then I think (God's work) to go into our water heater closet and see what I can find. I found two putty knives so I tried the metal one first and it worked! Praise God for getting Jesse out of that bathroom. At least we can laugh about it now!

Stress

2008-05-07T13:08:00.002-04:00

Just writing to update you on our life over the past week. I hope to have some new pictures to add soon. Jesse is great but has started throwing very mild tantrums when he doesn't get his way. We just ignore him and he stops. I have been mentally exhausted lately for some reason. Maybe it's the ridiculous hours Jamie has been working. I feel bad for him too because he needs rest. He really makes an effort to help me out especially when I've reached my limit. I must give him credit for being the great provider for our family that he is. Last night he took Jesse until it was Jesse's bed time. That meant a lot to this stressed out mom. Anyway, enough of that for now.

We officially have our plane tickets for our trip to Texas to visit our friends the Dukes. I can't tell you how excited we all are to see them again and to see baby Kyle for the first time. We desperately need a family vacation.

Nothing much!

2008-04-29T15:37:00.002-04:00

Well, not much new is going on here in the McEldowney household. Let's see, what can I tell you? Jesse is fast and furious; he's into everything. He's also a great hugger. Sometimes, though, I think he's working us to get things like food. That kid loves to eat! He's a very sweet kid. I think that he will grow up to be a very caring young man.

The weather has turned colder the last 2 days, so we haven't had much outside time. I think it will warm up in a few days. We are looking at new vehicles, in particular crossover vehicles. Jamie's Blazer has been on the fritz lately and we will probably have to do something soon. I hate the whole process of buying a car but am excited about the possiblity of driving something with more room.

We're also planning a trip to Texas in June to visit some of our best friends, the Dukes. We have missed them since they left us and can't wait to visit. Well, I guess we had more going on than I thought. Until next time...

It's been so long!

2008-04-16T21:45:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd write a new post since it's been a while. So what's new? Well Jesse is an expert walker now and into everything. He stole a roll from his daddy the other night when Jamie put his plate on the table to get something. Jesse just reached up and grabbed it. We laughed so hard. The little thief!!

Jamie has enjoyed his "business trip" this week to Kiawa Island, SC. I think they did more celebrating than business but he deserved it. I'm a little bit bitter that spouses couldn't go. Jamie says he would rather be there with me and Jesse anyway.

Last night we ate dinner with my sister and brother-in-law at their new apartment. Jesse had a blast just walking around checking everything out. He also loved that his Uncle Danny fed him ice cream. That kid is so spoiled!

My Review of 3-in-1 Sit and Store Tub-Side Seat

2008-04-15T15:06:00.001-04:00

Originally submitted at One Step Ahead

You'll be supervising hundreds of baths in the years ahead, so make yourself comfortable! No kneeling and bending: our tub-side seat lets you sit in comfort. And what value: it doubles as a step-stool and storage bin. Air-vented, so it's perfect for bath toys. With two-height positions and a skid-r...

I love this seat!

By Mom21 from Louisville, KY on 4/15/2008

Pros: Lightweight, Easily Assembled, Dries Quickly

Best Uses: Toddlers, Washing, Bathroom Safety, Bathing

Describe Yourself: First Time Parent

This solved two problems for me. First, the tub toy net we had wouldn't stay put. Second, I was tired of sitting on my knees to give my son a bath. This stores all of his bath toys and makes bathing him a lot easier on me. My son also sits on it to get his teeth brushed and will be able to use it as a step stool when he's older. It's the perfect solution!

(legalese)

Coloring Eggs

2008-04-02T14:52:00.000-04:00

I decided that we would try coloring Easter eggs this year. And, as you can see, it was an adventure. Jesse had a blast sticking his eggs in the colored water. He liked to stick his whole hand in it. At one point he spilled the yellow all over his high chair tray. They turned out great and we all had fun as a family.

Easter

2008-04-02T14:42:00.000-04:00

Well, I am finally getting our Easter pics on our blog. We had a great Easter even though it was cold. I am so thankful that our Lord and Savior died and rose again so that we could have eternal life. May we remember His sacrifice every day, not just on Easter.

We went to my parents' church and house on Easter Sunday. Jesse looked so handsome in his suit! We enjoyed a great meal, time with family and an indoor Easter egg hunt. Nana and Papaw stuffed the plastic eggs with cookies just for Jesse. There were a few chocolates in there for us adults too!

Easter Cookies

2008-03-18T15:43:00.001-04:00

I decided to make Easter cutout cookies yesterday on a whim when we were in the store. I bought premade dough and a few cookie cutters and Jesse helped me cut out the cookies. The icing was my handywork. Jamie came home and we all ate cookies after dinner. As you can see, Jesse enjoyed his very much!

Jesse's First Haircut

2008-03-18T15:35:00.000-04:00

Jesse had his first hair cut on Friday and he looks so cute! I was putting it off because everyone would tell me that he would look so grown up. He does look more grown up but oh so cute! He was an angel while Kathy at Cookie Cutters cut his hair. Check him out!

Busted Again!

2008-03-14T12:51:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I caught Jesse taking everything out of his bathroom cabinet. Don't worry, there's nothing harmful in there. He was having a great time playing with all of his bath stuff. I also caught Chester sleeping on top of my clean clothes. Poor thing, he's been a little sick lately and attention deprived. We had a great day yesterday. It was warm and so nice outside. Today it's rainy and cold. Jesse is such a great kid. We went to my allergist yesterday and he was so well behaved. I also took him out to dinner by myself while Jamie had class last night and he was the best! I love that kid!

What's new

2008-03-12T12:03:00.000-04:00

Ok, this blog is going to be a synopsis of what's been going on in the McEldowney household for the past week.

First of all, this past weekend we got a snow storm here in Louisville. We had about 8-10 inches, which is good for KY. Jamie had to go out and shovel the driveway. He also helped our neighbor shovel his. He's such a nice guy!

The other night Jamie was getting ready to put something together for me and Jesse wanted to help. The problem is that Jesse's help means crawling on top of the box so Daddy can't do anything. Oh well! Jamie can't wait until he's old enough to help him do manly things!

Last but not least, I busted Jesse yesterday. I was on the computer upstairs and he was playing quietly. I got up to check on him and looked around the corner to find that he had pulled all of his clean clothes out of the laundry basket. He was having so much fun! Needless to say, I folded all of those clothes later that day and put them away.

Jesse's 1st Steps!!!

2008-03-06T11:08:00.000-05:00

Hey! We were so excited last night at about 6 pm Jesse took his first few steps!! Yea!! We were so excited and I was happy that Jamie was home to see it. He did it again this morning. He can only take about 2 steps before he falls down but we are so excited about those 2 steps. We called his Nana and Papaw and they were very excited to. His Auntie Lauren, who we have decided to now call LoLo, was also very happy to hear the good news. Our precious little boy is growing up so fast and we are loving every minute!

On another note, we are happy that LoLo, Uncle Danny & Cassidy now have their own blog. For those of you who know them or have heard me talk about them please check out their link.

Still not walking!

2008-03-04T13:46:00.000-05:00

Well, Jesse is now 13 months old but he still isn't walking. That isn't necessarily a bad thing though. He's definitely close, at least I think so. We've caught him a few times standing on his own for a few seconds over the last couple of days. His new favorite thing to do is to hold on to momma's fingers and walk around the house. He gets upset if I won't do it. I know, we are biased, but we think that he's just the cutest little boy that ever was. I look at him every day in amazement. Since turning 1 he's had his first peanut butter & jelly sandwich and, as you can see from his picture, he thoroughly enjoyed it! He loves bath time and enjoys playing with all of his great bath toys. He loves the water and we are thinking of getting swimming lessons before the summer. The other night he fell asleep while drinking his bed time bottle. He looked so peaceful laying next to daddy!

We cannot wait until we get some warmer weather. The other day was about 70 degrees but it was just a tease. We were so happy to get outside in the sunshine. Jesse especially loves the outdoors. We took him for a walk in his new buggy that we got him for his birthday. I should have taken a picture but I didn't think about it. Oh well! Maybe next time.

Jesse Turns 1

2008-02-14T09:42:00.000-05:00

Jesse turned 1 on Saturday, February 2nd. We had a huge party with family and friends and a great time. Jamie's family came in from out of town to celebrate with us. We had a farm theme. Jesse seemed a bit overwhelmed by all of the attention but he did well. When we brought his cake out to him he didn't know what to do with it at first but quickly figured it out. He loved it! He got a lot of great gifts. He loved his "four wheeler" from his Uncle Danny and Auntie Lauren. Thanks to everyone who came and helped. It's been a great first year!

2008-01-09T15:10:00.000-05:00

Wow, I can't believe it's 2008! We had a great time ringing in the New Year with our ABF friends. We ate and played games until 2 am. I also can't believe that Jesse is almost 1 year old. I have already started preparing for his birthday party. We look forward to celebrating with a lot of family and friends.

Jamie and I were talking the other night and I commented on the fact that I'm more and more aware of the discipline challenges we will face in the future. As Jesse gets older his personality is coming out more. Jamie and I both have a stubborn side, which we saw in Jesse early on. I'm just thankful that God has given us so many resources to draw from. Jesse is getting stronger each day and we are wondering if he will walk by his birthday. He is so much fun!

Christmas 2007

2007-12-26T22:08:00.000-05:00

Well, we had a great Christmas and hope you did too! We are reminded how blessed we are to have wonderful friends and family. We are also reminded to praise God for the birth of Christ and the gift of salvation. 2007 has brought us one of the best gifts we could ever receive - our son, Jesse. He is truly a miracle and a joy in our lives. He made Christmas even more special for us this year. He didn't really understand what it was all about but I think he enjoyed it anyway. We look forward to the blessings that 2008 will bring. Merry Christmas everyone!

The Gift

2007-12-05T15:08:00.000-05:00

Hello! This is my first blog ever! We have friends who have blogs, but we've never had our own. Hopefully I can get some pictures uploaded soon. It's cold here in Louisville, KY today. Jesse is currently down for a nap so I have a little time to get some things done. Jesse has been pulling up a lot lately which makes us wonder when he will start walking. We are looking forward to his first Christmas. He's already seen Santa and did well. Everyone's said "you'll have to leave ornaments off of the bottom of your Christmas tree" but we didn't and Jesse really hasn't bothered them. He doesn't seem to care that there's a tree in our living room. Everything, including Christmas, is different now that we have a child. I have a greater appreciation for the holidays now. Jesse is our blessing and truly a miracle. He's been the best gift we've gotten this year! Til the next time...