Happy 1st Birthday, Elliott!

One down and seventeen to go. Woo hoo! We made it through his first year. And nearly unscathed. I wanted so badly to get some really great pictures of Elliott on his birthday. Unfortunately, the rascal won't stand still for more than half a second. I snapped over FORTY pictures and all but this one were blurry because he was constantly walking around. I would have tried to get more pictures sitting on the picnic table you see below, but he started to stand up on top of it so we had to abort mission.

Don't they look sweet?

The next set of photos are an example of something I like to do with the kids when they're little. I'll occasionally take pictures of the things they're into at that time. So here's Elliott playing with some of his favorite toys in his bedroom at one year old.

The Little People Farm. For some reason I saved all of Oliver and Owen's Little People.

He drops the balls into the top of the giraffe and they roll out the leg holes. He's really proud of himself for figuring this one out.

Apparently trying to make a return trip.

Peek-a-boo!

Elliott's birthday was on Friday and we celebrated on Saturday. It was just the five of us with some cake, ice cream and a few gifts. The Os had just as much fun with the new toys as Elliott did.

Oliver really wanted to video and I let him. There was mishap and we ended up singing the happy birthday song and blowing out the candle twice. Elliott loved being the center of all that attention.

We let Owen blow Elliott's candle out since Oliver got to blow Owen's first candle out. Elliott is sporting a custom-made birthday shirt designed by mom.

I really need to take a cake decorating class. So lame!

Click on this one to enlarge it and see if you can read his shirt.

Brian and Elliott reading his new birthday book, Gallop! It's the coolest book ever!

Elliott actually pulled some paper off himself!

This is a fun toy I found at Target. It's a giant gum ball machine he puts the balls into and then there are three ways to release them.

I believe this was Take One. Just look at that grin!

Elliott didn't care too much for the cake by itself. It was too sweet. Once Dad combined it with the ice cream though, he was all over it!