The Drive To Florida!!!

We decided to go on vacation down in Floridafor about 10 days after Christmas. Jessica has family that lives on Marco Island and we headed down Christmas Night. The drive started off pretty good leaving only about 30 or 45 minutes later than we planned. Not bad. Everything flowed smoothly until just after the Florida border. I was driving and the engine started heating up. I took an exit immediately and it was actually an entrance to another interstate. On the way to the first exit it got to hot so I pulled over. The belt was off and stretched out. After unloading half of the trunk I got to the tools and put the belt back on. The belt came off immediately after starting the car, so we drove very slowly to the exit. Jessica's parents weren't far behind us so they got off and went to the town to see what was there. After about two miles at 25 MPH we had to stop and let it cool. Three stops later a female sheriff's deputy pulled up behind us. She wasn't real happy because Elle's car seat was covered and she thought we didn't have a seat for her. Then Jessica's parents pulled up behind her. Cops don't like that a whole lot either. She escorted us to the next stop at a NAPA store and a city police officer met us (also a female). The girls couldn't help but laugh at them. On cop had pink hand cuffs and went on about how she loved the other's ear piece. We had to go to a body shop that was another couple miles. We made it most of the way there and only had a hill left to go over when the car died. After a jump in the middle of the road we barely made it over the hill. Jessica got terribly excited because we were going to get to run a red light, but it turned green right before we went through it. It turned out that the tension pulley had broken, so we had to get it replaced and get a new belt. The body shop had some really neat dogs the we played with while they fixed the car. Three and a half hours later we got back on the road. There weren't any more problems from that point. We made it all the way to Naples and had lunch with Alison's fiance Aaron. Then we finished the drive to Marco.

Christmas Day

Christmas Day!! That was another exciting event for us all, mainly because we all got to watch Eliana open presents from more family that loves her. I think it is hilarious how much she loves the wrapping paper! Except for one book that my mom gave her. She sat and looked intently at each picture. This was definitely a fun year:-)

Elle's First Christmas Eve

Today we spent time with Adam's family celebrating Christmas. This is Eliana's first time to open Christmas presents!! She liked the wrapping paper much better than the gifts themselves. Adam's grandma had made Elle a really pretty smocked Christmas dress and we put her in it and took pics. Here are several for you all to enjoy. May each of you have a blessed Christmas season and enjoy your time with family and friends.

Applesauce!

Today Eliana enjoyed her first taste of homemade applesauce. It was so hilarious as you'll see...every time I took a bite she opened her mouth assuming it was for her:-) Of course I couldn't resist sharing the healthy treat!

Catching up...

Well, it has been ever so long since we've shared photos with you all. We've had a trip to Mi to visit friends, birthday parties, Elle's monthly birthdays and lots of everyday fun! Elle rolled over for the first time last Friday and now that's all she does when I lay her on the floor to play. If I want her in the kitchen with me I have to put her in a laundry basket full of (clean) clothes and keep her contained!! So much fun:-) She is developing quite a little personality....most days I wake up and wonder what new little thing she'll do today!

Hope you all are doing well and are enjoying our little posts. Keep in touch!!

Reading, writing, 'rithmetic....

Thought we'd start Eliana early on her learning. Here Aunt Angela reads a book to her...we were so surprised at how interested Elle looked in this story. It was so cute watch her study each page:-) Good friends of ours sent Elle a few new books as a gift and they have already gotten used!! Thank you Hird family!!

Videos

These are some more recent videos of Eliana. One is of Jessica saying boo to her while she is in the foam bag and the other one is of her telling us something. Really not sure what, but she looks like she knows exactly what it is.

Here comes the bride!!!

We are SO behind on our blogging! This special occasion happened a few weeks ago now! Adam and I had the privilege of helping Alison's boyfriend plan the big proposal when he was up here visiting last. It started out as a "double-date" downtown Louisville. We "happened" to walk into the museum adjacent to Proof (a restaurant) downtown where Alison and Aaron went on their first official date! Aaron had called beforehand and reserved a rose so when we were walking around looking at the unusual, modern, abstract (rather disturbing?) art displays he fetched the flower and was waiting in the lower level of the museum for us, or rather for Alison!! Of course, she had no clue as to the surprise awaiting her so she wanted to take pictures with one of the red penguins on display....
Anyway, Aaron walks through a doorway with his beautiful rose and Adam and I sneak back up the steps to quietly snap a few pics and then wander off to leave them to their sweet selves.
I'm certain that you all can tell from the pics here what the answer was to the big question Aaron asked down on one knee:-) What an exciting night it was!! The happy couple has yet to finalize a date for their wedding, but are so looking forward to marriage. We could not be happier for them as they embark on this journey of life together. If you click on this picture it will give you a better close up of the ring!!!

Natural Bridge

Well Alison's boyfiend Aaron was in town this past weekend so we all decided to go hiking. We filled the van and went to Natural bridge State Park. It is about an hour and fourty five minutes away from Shelbyville. I think we ended up hiking about 5 miles, mostly on an UNKEPT trail. It is in caps because the lady at the gift shop said it like there probably wasn't even a trail left. But it wasn't that bad and turned out to be a pretty good trail. We packed a lunch so there was food when we got through. It ended up being a lot of fun. The picture of us isn't on the natural bridge though. And of course what do you do on a long car ride. Sleep.

Little Treasures

At the Little Treasures childrens' consignment sale this week we found great deals on clothes for Elle. Along with that, we bought a bouncy seat that she just loves!! I think she likes how high it sits up...so that she can see everything going on. She doesn't want to miss out:-) Our daughter is very social!!
That's about it for now. Enjoy the video Adam took of her enjoying the bouncy seat.

Happy Anniversary!!

Today is our 2nd anniversary!! Adam and I spent most of the day running errands in Shelbyville and Louisville.We did have Elle with us, of course, but it was so much fun to be together all day. She can be a pretty good shopper...we're starting her early!

Tonight Adam's parents invited us over for dinner. Julie made a delicious chicken dish:-) They had also bought us a DQ ice cream cake!!!! Their good friend Lisa Yancey and her daughter Rebekah are in visiting today. Mrs. Yancey just found out that she is going to be a grandmother, so she spent much of our visit practicing holding a baby:-) Baby Elle was quite obliging. She was out cold the whole time! Why is it that she'll sleep like the dead in all the noise but won't stay down for her normal naptime??

Bath Time!!!

First we have a video of our very active little girl. Then we had bath time and there is a great picture of Elle in her bath towel from grandma Shephard.

Baby Shower

Last Saturday Adam's cousin Lainey threw us a "sip and see" baby shower so that the extended family could welcome Eliana to the family. She wore her party dress and was very happy to have her picture taken with everyone. All the ladies brought wonderful gifts for Elle and Lainey did such a great job of hosting and decorating so beautifully. She made a couple of new kinds of drinks-lemonades and punch and teas. We made the most of our trip to Louisville and ran some errands ...even though we forgot to take our stroller. But Elle didn't mind us holding her the whole time, in fact she slept. She missed some really neat paintings of a balcony overlooking the ocean, and a milkshake from Chic-Fil-A. Then we went back to Matt and Lainey's for the evening. Matt and Adam had a wonderful time trying to figure out how to order Pizza Hut online. The page kept deleting the order when they tried to place it. But when we finally got the pizza it was amazing. It's been a long time since we've had Pizza Hut. All in all it made for a great Saturday.

Eliana's First Big Outing

Last Friday Eliana, I, Gramma Wisley and the two aunts ~ Angela and Cheri went for a long ride to Lexington to go shopping. Gramma bought us lunch at KFC where Elle sat in her chair and stared at the hanging plant above her. She was so content the whole time and enjoyed the library where Angela and Cheri had an auction for a reading program that they were involved in this summer. Oh and she took a bottle very well during the auction. Hopefully she will be more and more portable as she gets older. We are enjoying her so much!! I am sure we'll have lots more little stories to post as the days go by.

Welcome to our blog

This is a blog for the friends and family of Adam and Jessica Shephard. We would like to say welcome and thank you for checking to see what is going on in our lives.

Eliana Zalyn Mae Shephard

The newest member of our family is Eliana. She was born on June 19th at 10:56 pm. Eliana weighed 8 pounds and 6 ounces. She was born in Hendersonville Tennesse at Kathy's house (she is our midwife).