Eliana's First Birthday Bash

We celebrated Eliana's first birthday on her actual birthday, February 20, 2011. Grandma and Grandpa Dahlgren, Auntie Amy, Uncle Matt, Aunt Lindsey and cousin Beckett were there along with many of our Seattle 'family' members. We're sorry we couldn't celebrate with all family members, but we knew you were there in spirit.

As a celebration of our one year of being parents/grandparents/aunts/uncles, us adults went out to Matt's in the Market for a nice dinner on the eve of Elle Belle's birthday. We had a babysitter come to the house and sit while both babies slept. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Dahlgren for the treat. We are all still alive and kickin' one year later and feel very blessed to have had such a huge support group through Eliana's first year of life. She is such a fun, joyful little baby/girl/toddler (can't really call her anything but a baby still)>

After "Happy Birthday" was sung and she was already wondering why everyone was staring at her, Eliana actually put her finger in the candle. Oops! Us parents are new to this thing; please don't report us to CPS:)









Dad, Eliana and Mom





"So Big"...


Starting to get very sleepy and over the cake at this point


Some of the guests watching the cake eating: Brett Schlameus


Michelle Pickard, Casey and Katherine Newman


Aunt Lindsey, Uncle Matt, Dad and Grandma


Thanks to Auntie Amy and Grandma for helping with all the food!








Rolf Gruen (who married Nate and I) made his infamous rainbow cakes, which were a huge hit; thanks, Rolf!











Just like the day she was born, the weather was sunny and warm. It wouldn't be a perfect day for Elle Belle unless there was swinging involved. This one looks like she might just take a little nap in the sun.


Dad pushing Elle Belle and Uncle Matt and Aunt Lindsey taking some pics of Beckett (in the yellow swing).


Beckett loved it, too!


Elle Belle and Becks in the wagon and ready for the park





Clowning around with Beckett. Eliana was so happy to see her cousin.












Aunt Lindsey and Dad blew up a bunch of balloons and I think that was the highlight for Eliana. She rolled around, wrestled with them and could not get enough of them. I'm still surprised none of them popped as she was trying to eat them and poke them with her little teeth. It was so fun to watch her with them; she was having so much fun with her room of balloons.


Elle Belle had a total of 20 minutes of napping on her birthday, so every once in a while, we thought she was going to just lay down and pass out on the floor.







Thanks, Nana, for the wonderful books!