Birthday!!!

Oh Mom....maybe this getting messy thing isn't so bad afterall. It is eve good!
Inspecting, Elli hates to get her hands dirty!
Me trying to show her, it's yummy and she should eat it!
Her own special "big girl" cake! I can't believe my baby is 1!
Tom and I got Elli a computer, so she doesn't keep trying to play with Tom's. She loves to type just like daddy!
Elli got a couple of dresses from our friends Angie and Russell and their boys.
Elli got a camera from her friend Zhar; she LOVES to say cheese.
Elli got some stacking toys that sing from her friend Tanner.
Elli got a bubble blower from her friend Mila and Bryn.
Elli got a gift certificate from her friend Krystal and Leandro and she got a shirt and some bath toys with her certificate. She also got some money from them and was able to get some blocks.

Thanks for everyone who came! We had a blast!

All backwards...

Here is one of the photos that was taken today on Elli's 1st year Photo Shoot! My internet is on the fritz, so the other posts might not be til tomorrow, but will include: Birthday Party, Family Pics, Zoo Lights and more....keep looking back!

Birthday Girl

Wow! I can't believe a year has come and gone! Here are some of Elli's accomplishments/milestones/and troubles...

*Pnemonia (2 times)
*RSV (2 time/hoping to avoid three right now)
*4 teeth
*ear pierced
*first flight
*curly hair
*attitude
*acid reflux
*enema for blocked intestines
*tubes put in ears (no infections since) :)
*won't sleep without her "woobie" little blankie that is flannel on one side and silk on the other, this started at like 3 months old.
*hates the car....refused to sit in her carrying car seat after like 9 months
*loves sphagettios
*loves vegetables; way more than fruit
*loves her daddy
*sat up at 4 1/2 months old
*rolled over starting at not quite 8 months
*crawling at 9 1/2 months (like a weirdo with her right leg in front of her, kind of like a monkey)
*walking at 11 months
*loves other babies
*words she says: daddy, hi, moma, buh bye, baba (bottle), thank you (signs), more, done, no, don't.
*loves to give kisses
*Had her first Upper GI ( a test to determine reflux).

Here are some of my favorite pictures of Elliana throughout the year! You are a joy to have around Elliana, and I can't imagine my life without you! I love you!
PS...Mara haven't had her party yet, will post pics! Don't worry!

Build A Bear, Rodizio, TV, Taxes

Okay, so pictures first, then the explanations!


So, we went to the Rodizio, a glorious, wonderful restraunt! It was outstanding, below is a list of things you can eat! The appetizers are amazing, the meats are amazing, and let's be honest, who's going to eat salad at a place like this! But they are good!

Elli's Build A Bear Bunny Pinkie, from Grandpa B and Grandma J! Elliana loves this Bunny and insists on taking it with us everywhere we go! In the car, Pinkie comes, in the store, she comes...otherwise we have a tantrum, and lets be honest, we'd rather have her happy then throwing a tantrum!

Tom and I did our taxes while my Dad was here and we decided that it was time for a new TV...not a used one, or one that was SUPER old ,but something nice and new and pretty! Behold, our lovely 42 inch LCD flat panel 1080 P TV. It is wonderful! It took us awhile to get one that would work properly, but we now have it and it's awesome! The TV we got, when turned off had no sound. You had to restart the TV and cable box in order to get sound. We returned it (after much guff from the store, Sam's because we aren't on my parents membership)...got TV 2, believe it or not, SAME problem, by this time I am VERY upset!!! Go looking for a new TV alone while Elli is home sleeping and Tom is studying. I find that no one has ever heard of such a problem and am made to look like an idiot, which I'm not. Decide that we'll try another of the same TV, and WAHLA; it works and it's wonderful! We spoiled ourselves, and now we need to pay the bills.... :(

Meats As a result of our slow roasting and seasoning process, our rotisserie grilled meats melt in your mouth, satisfying even the most discriminating taste bud. We cut thin for tenderness and flavor. BEEF Picanha (Pea-con-yah) Top Sirloin, a very lean, juicy cut Picanha Com Alho (Pea-con-yah com Al-yo) Top Sirloin basted in garlic seasonings Fraldinha (Frall-ding-yah) Beef Tender, our most flavorful and tender cut of beef Assado (Ah-saw-dough) Brazilian Pot Roast served with potatoes, carrots and onions Alcatra (Al-cah-tra) Chef's Special - Rotisserie grilled Whole Sirloin. POULTRY Peru Com Bacon (Pay-roo com Bacon) Lean, juicy turkey breast wrapped in bacon Sobre Coxa (So-bree Co-shah) Marinated & Seasoned Chicken Thighs Coracão (Ko-da-son) Tender chicken hearts seasoned and grilled…a Brazilian favorite Frango Agri-Doce (Frango Awh-gree Do-see) Sweet and spicy chicken covered in a flavorful sauce. PORK Linguiça (Ling-we-sah) A very mild and flavorful Brazilian sausage Lombo (Lome-bow) Marinated Pork Loin Presunto (Pray-zoon-toe) A lean cut of Ham grilled to perfection

Grandma J and Grandpa B come to visit!

Elli got to celebrate her birthday a little early, we got this amazing cake from Costco, a Red Velvet Cream Cheese cake, it cost $20, but man was it good! Elli was not so sure she wanted to touch it, she hates to get her hands dirty, but after a bit, she learned, oh wow, this is good!



Elli got spoiled with presents from Grandma and Grandpa, and her Great Grandparents too! She is a lucky girl to have so many people who love her!
The amazing, spectacular twenty dollar cake before we eat it! :D
This was a Christmas present (above) from her Grandma J and Grandpa B! She is just getting big enough to enjoy it, and have the chance to drive me nuts with the music! Thanks Mom and Dad!





I think we wore Grandpa right out...he had only been here a couple of hours, and he was out like a light! This is the night my parents got her, and Elli is loving all the attention! She also got this cute little tails quiet book that she LOVES! Thanks for coming Mom and Dad, it was great to have you!

Christmas 2...

These are our adventures Christmas day at the Duncan household! They LOVE to get freezing cold and go sledding! This is not my favorite activity; but I am trying to learn so that my daughter can enjoy it! Elli wasn't SUPER fond of the time, but loved being with her daddy...shocker, I know! Overall it was fun, plus when we got done Mom made us all homemade hot chocolate that was TO DIE for! This is the end of our Christmas of 2009!

Christmas...yes, I know it's a little late

This is at my families Christmas Eve party, the 2 dollar gift exchange! Elli got some cute little stuffed animal magnets for the fridge! She loves them....but hates them on the fridge!

This is Elli Christmas morning in her new Christmas jammies and yes, her hair is done! We honestly do nothing unless our hair is done!!! :D This is being retared....okay, so the picture to the left is my Mom and Elli. Don't kill me Mom, you look GREAT! :D Elli was spoiled rotten as you can imagine and she got this adorable Cabbage Patch doll. Betty Katherine I believe is her name! She LOVES that doll.

New post, since these pictures are being dumb!