McElwee’s Neighborhood

Well today is a big day. Shay and jack are officially sharing a room. I spent much of the day moving things and organizing the room. I had done some preliminary organizing last weekend. I got shay some pink sheets and once I put those on the trundle she was ready to go. She was very upset to hear that she couldn't nap in their today but she recovered. The room looks cute, not many changes but I do need to find a bookcase.

Finn will move into his room in the next week. Probably tomorrow actually. Finn found his thumb two days ago. He isn't proficient yet so he gets a little crazy when trying to found it. He is also very loud with sucking it. He accidentally rolled from his tummy to his back. I can't even believe he will be 3 months old in a week. The last couple of nights I actually started to feel normal. All 3 kids in bed by 8..so I had an hour and a half to myself (with chris).finn is sleeping about 7 hours straight at night then every 3 to feed. I am sooo thankful.i better go to bed now. I just love this new little baby soooo much sometimes it overwhelms me! God is so good.

Here are some pictures of us enjoying our summer. We hope you are all having a great summer too!

Well mýposts are few and far between. Last night finn only woke up one time . It was amazing. I kept waking up ready to feed him. Finally at 7:30 am he woke up. It was crazy but what a blessing. Chris taught me how to convert my video files so videos will be coming soon. I hope to make one for shay's 3rd birthday. I got some fun toys for her at kohl's today for dirt cheap. Well overal we are doing very well. This transitions to 3 isn't as hard as 1 to 2..for me anyway. Finn is a great baby. So sweet and content to just be where the action is. He is a good communicator and his cries are distinguishable. He smiles a lot now and coo's back and forth. He enjoys being outside like his sister. I have decided to have jack and shay share a room. I bought fun pink sheets for shay and I am working on organizing the closet to maximize space. We have proably another month before finn grows out of the bassinet. I like him in my room so I am not in any hurry. A.though I do like organizing so I am eager to set up shay's room as his and create jack's room into co-ed room. I have moved the potty seats out of the house..so shay has to use the big one's now. Jack is getting so tall and working hard at drawing , mot grabbing toys from shay and reading. He wants to read sooo bad. Shay is busy with her imagination. She loves to make 'stages' out of anything elevated. Then she'll climb on it and say " ta da". A star in the making. Both kids adore finn and are very patient with me and him. Chris is running in the half marathon in a month. His new shoe purchase today should motivate him more. I think I need some of that (motivation for exercise). That's all for now.

More pics. On our way to shop in chicago.finn's first trainride. He slept the whole time we shopped. What a champ.

6/23/09

Well I don't have much free time but I wanted to post a few new pics. I will write more later. Finn is smiling , cooing and discovering his hands. He is sleeping 6 hours straight at night and can soothe himself to sleep. This is a huge answer to prayer. Oh, he also knows how to "let em rip" like a little old man.

long time

Well I managed to put the kids down for naps by myself and without losing my patience. What a miracle. Finn is sleeping on me and I will be joining him soon I hope. he is doing well and more alert by the day. We have ventured out to run an errand or two. That is always risky since finn likes to eat every 2 hours. My sister and niece come a week from today. Yeah. We are all excited. We are excited that we'll all fit in the van. I am healing from my section but it's a slow process. Someone is bringing us dinner tonight and I am really excited about that. So long for now.

As many of you already know our little baby arrived may 1st at 9:45 am wieghing 8 lbs. 10 oz. 21.5 inches long via c-section. He was cozy in my womb and needed some help from 3 docs to get out..but out he came screaming for all to hear. @ love that sound. We named him finn christopher. He is healthy, nursing well, a little jaundiced today, and sleeping good. Last night he only woke up at 1:30 and then not till 5:30. That's great for me. I am in the hospital until mon or tuesday. Jack and shay appear to be doing great. Yesterday shay held finn and sang twinkle twinkle, trust and obey, and abc..all while rubbing his head with her hands. Precious. We have it on video. I will post some pics and video. I can't believe I have 3 childrenm what a blessing. As I have been reading through deuteronomy I am overwhelmed by how much the lord loves us and desires for us to impart his truth into the hearts of our children. What a priviledge..and yet it's a hard job to be the model that god desires. I am so filled with joy as I hold, kiss and smell this sweet little newborn! Ahhhh!

I just checked the weather and it's 15 degrees. Brrr! Chris took the kids out this AM to play at the indoor playground at church and Shay was crying on her way back to the car because it was so cold. When I arrived home from work they were drinking hot chocolate. Yum. Today we had a fun "craft time". I am trying to get Jack to do some more fine motor things because this is hard for him. We made Christmas trees and gingerbread men. It was the "just right challenge" for him because he was really into it and proud of his creation. Shay enjoyed herself too and went off to show "James" her completed project. James is a train and there is a picture of him in Jack's room. SHe loves talking and dancing to this picture. She is so funny about this new "imaginary friend".

The kids are down but not sleeping. Shay is all wired up for some reason. The dogs are cozy in their beds as it's much too cold to be outside. They really are good dogs. They just need more attention.

I will enclose some photos over the weekend. We have a lot of fun, new ones.