First Haircut!!

On her first birthday, Elayna also got her first haircut (done by Aunt Patti, of course)! We really just had her trim up her bangs so that they weren't in her eyes so much, and she is so much happier with her big girl 'do. =)

Elayna Grace's 1st Birthday - Part 2 (Cake!)

In the end, Elayna loved her birthday cake. At first she seemed unsure what to make of it though.

Of course we cheered when she got both hands in it, but then she decided it was entirely too messy for her and started to get upset. Once I cleaned off her hands and gave her a spoon she was fine. The funny thing was, it was her first time really using a spoon too! =)

Elayna Grace's 1st Birthday - Part 1

Elayna had quite the first birthday!!

Many of her family and friends were able to come and celebrate with her... and we all had a great time.

The guest list included: Mom & Dad; Aunt Meg; Aunt Patti, Uncle Wade, Cousin Jaden and new Cousin Colton; Nana Syndee, Aunt Larissa, and Uncle Jacob; The Baker Family (Tyler, Heidi, Necia, Aurora, Sawyer, and Sonja); "Auntie" Shafina; "Auntie" Page; The Flores Family (Annie, Damien, and little Joaquin - her BFF); and "Uncle" Lee.
Thank you to everyone who came and made this day extra special for our little girl! She loves you all!!

For those of you who couldn't attend, following is an extended look at what went on at this swanky event. ;)

** One year update - At one year, Elayna can...
* take steps! (she took 3 big girl steps from the couch to mommy on Frirday)
* walk really well while holding onto things to steady herself. she can pretty much walk the perimeter of the apartment if she wants to.
* give kisses
* blow kisses
*say- mom, mama, dad, dada, hat, that and (sometimes) hi, done, up, gumpa, bear.
* crawl like CRAZY - she's fast.
* eat table foods (although not in any great quantity yet... she eats like a bird)
* feed herself (when she feels like it, thank you very much)
* take things in and out of other things
* play drums, keyboard, and saxaphone (toys. haha!)
* dance like crazy!
* snuggle
* be the cutest thing ever.

Yes, Uncle Lee really got her a giant stuffed, pink pony. HA!!
Hi Auntie Meg!
E and her BFF Joaquin
E playing with Tyler's daughter Necia
Happiness with daddy

Blowing kisses!

Giving her new bear kisses

Fun with Nana Syndee!

Aunt Patti and sweet, new cousin Colton

Elayna with the Bradley family. Aunt Patti, Cousin Colton, Cousin Jaden and Uncle Wade.

Aunt Meg is fun!

Nana Syndee and Cousin Jaden

Jaden and Jake

Elayna with Nana Syndee, Uncle Jacob and Aunt Larissa

P.S. Part 2 - involving cake - will come soon. ;)

One Year Photos

Elayna had her one year photos taken yesterday! We were so excited that we got to get them done... and it looks like Kari got some great shots. Here is the "teaser" photo that she emailed me. Beautiful!! I will let you all know when they are completed and uploaded. =)

Photo taken by Kari Renee Photography

Elayna's last, first regular holiday...

... is also her cousin Colton's first, first holiday. Funny.

Thanksgiving is the last holiday that is new to our beautiful baby girl (of the regular holidays, that is). We spent this one with Uncle Lee at his place. He made an amazing turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, etc. and we stuffed ourselves, in the usual fashion.
Elayna sampled our food, but being the picky little eater that she is, ate very little of it. She eats like a bird!!
She did have fun though. She played with Lee's doggie Davinci, got into things, and played with the baby in the big mirror. Her last, first holiday was fun. =)

Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Giving daddy a kiss...

... then smacking him! Ha!

If Elayna were a twin...

She would kiss her twin A LOT. She also giggled and played with herself in the mirror for quite a while. =)

Cuteness from Halloween =)

On Halloween, we took Elayna and her BFF Joaquin to JC Penney's and had their pictures done. It was so fun, and they did great. The people all assumed they were cousins. Haha.
What cute little babies!!! I'm so glad they have each other as friends. =)

Dancing!

Elayna and Joaquin are already checking out colleges!

Elayna and Joaquin are smart babies. Geniuses, really. So I decided it was about time they began checking out colleges.

We went on the tour of Portland State University, talking to some old colleagues and professors of mine. The babies seemed interested, but I think they are definitely keeping their options open. Especially Joaquin. Elayna is a viking baby as of now, but Joaquin seemed unsure. Later his daddy informed me that he is a duck. That explains it.

One of Elayna's newest tricks is to play peek-a-boo with her cute little hands. We love watching her do it!! =)

This video is from the first day she really got the hang of it, and while daddy was getting her ready for bedtime.

Video of our hat lovin baby.

As we have mentioned to most of you, Elayna has said various words by now... some only a few times (like "gumpa," "up," "done," "that," "hi"), some constant (like mama/mom and dada/dad). Well, her third real consistent word was "hat". It cracks us up because she calls her plastic cups, hats. Its our own fault really. We always put them on our heads and say "Elayna, do you like my hat?" and then she would crawl up us to get to them and knock them off. Well.... now she thinks they are hats. Oooops!! Cute though... and she knows what she means. ;)

Elayna goes to Salem!

Yesterday we went to Salem to visit my side of the family. Elayna was happy to see Nana Syndee, Aunt Larissa, Uncle Jacob and Grandpa Bill. =)

My camera was acting weird, but we still managed to capture some fun moments of Elayna with Nana and Auntie. Next time I will have to make sure to get some pictures of her and Uncle Jacob (who she is mesmerized by) and Grandpa Bill!!

Elayna read her book ALL THE WAY to Salem (about an hour drive)!

Elayna Grace and Nana Syndee

Elayna and Auntie Larissa

Nana, Elayna, & Aunt Larissa

Clapping!

E with her Nana.

Playing in the window.