Ideas for a 1st BDay??

[1lilpeanut2love]

Hello guys... I haven't really posted much on here, but I enjoy reading all of the other posts and sometimes I even add my own input to them. NEWayz I have to ask a question. As you can see Kaylee will be a year old in April. I am already trying to plan her birthday. I know it will be here before we even know it. I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas of what we could do for her birthday? I would like it to be something easy and hassle-free. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also, does anyone have any great gift ideas for her?!? I really would like to get her something neat and special. TIA.

[C&K*s Mommie]

As far as the gift, my suggestion would be keep it memorable. I would suggest maybe a tree planted in her honor. There is one a ]baby spruce on Red Envelope that would be nice. I gave it as a 1st Christmas gift for one of my nephews. It signifies that as the child grows so will the tree.

Pottery Barn Kids has great gifts as well. But I, personally, would stick with something that is a keepsake for her to cherish for a long time.

As for party ideas, I would keep it simple. Being that there will be so many more ideas and thus places to have subsequent parties at, I would go for the most simplistic theme now. Maybe a park, or at Gymboree Play & Music centers, but nothing over the top right now for her 1st.

I am glad I was talked out of going over the top with our first child's 1st birthday party. I have saved some of those ideas and slowly I am doing those things that I wanted to do then, for one party~ I am spreading them out over several parties over the next few years.

HTH's.

[1lilpeanut2love]

Geez... I guess no one wants to help me out. I thought lots and lots of people would help me out with this post. TIA. PLEASE HELP ME.

[my2monkeyboys]

I gave a party with the Sesame Street theme in my front yard. I just served hot dogs and chips and juice, and cake/ice cream, to keep it easy and inexpensive. We invited the WHOLE family of course, and I did have a pinata set up for the kids, along with having some balls and other outside toys. I had to hold Will of course and let him have his turn at the pinata. He had a blast with that. As for gifts, we got Will a wagon (put it together before the party so he wouldn't have to wait on it). He rode around in it for over 2 hours that day! You may would like to get her something special though like a necklace with her initials on it or her birthstone (April is diamond!) or something like that... you could "give" it to her, and then put it up for her sixteenth birthday and give it to her again, maybe with a picture of her wearing at her 1st bday party. That would be pretty neat, I think.
The biggest questions you need to answer are how much money you want to spend on the party itself, how much on a gift(s), and how much time do you want to spend preparing food, if you plan on serving anything more than cake/ice cream. I would keep it simple, since she will probably just want to run around and play with a ball or something. If you need more ideas, just let me know!

[MyLuvBugs]

It depends on your budget. I knew a lady who spent $5000 on the party for her daughters 1st b-day. And that wasn't including the gifts. However, we spent around $100 on the whole thing including gifts. We're cheap and realize she's not going to remember it anyway. lol

But if you want a themed party here is a great site you should visit:
http://www.birthdayexpress.com

Figure out who you want to invite, and how many people will be there. You daughter will get TONS of gifts (especially from grandparents), so you don't need to spend a lot on gifts from you. However, do get something that will be memorable and last. Like a little piece of jewelry, a special doll that will last, a wall plaque with their name, etc.

Good luck!!

[coasterqueen]

Well I'm having the same dilemma as mine turns 1 on March 16. I'm so unprepared whereas with Kylie I had the thing planned months in advance. So I need to get busy.

For Kylie her birthday is in September so her's was really easy. We invited everyone to have a picnic in the park with us. They brought their own lunches and then we provided the cake, ice cream and punch. WONDERFUL and easy as far as that went.

With Megan's being in March not sure what we'll do. Guess we'll have 50+ people in our home and either feed them hors d’oeuvres or Dh mentioned having his cousin fix a big thing of pasta and garlic bread (their italian). Other than that, just birthday cake and ice cream. Pretty simple, just having that many people in my house isn't.

We didn't get anything "memorable" for Kylie. We got her a table and chairs and a few other things. For Megan we'll get something memorable because she doesn't need toys/furniture - she has all that from her sister.

[luvmykids]

I'm going to sound like a party pooper. We have a large extended family and all of our friends with kids and friends without kids and neighbors .... I got overwhelmed after the twins 3rd bday. So now we're trying to keep them very simple. For Macie we had pizza and cake and immediate family. I did do balloons and a few simple decorations.

We decided we didn't want the kids to be disappointed if they didn't get a huge bash every year and want them to understand that the real celebration is them, not the party, so after 5 parties at McD's, Chuck E Cheese, etc. with 35-60 people at each one we've decided to do old fashioned cake, ice cream and hats and focus more on a special and more intimate (for us anyway) "family bday dinner" and save the big parties for 5,10,12 and 16th bdays.

But if you want to go for it, just keep in mind it's more for posterity than anything. They sure don't remember so it's just whatever you want them to see in their baby book!

[LovinMyGirls]

Decorate an area of your house..or outside if its nice that day. Do a theme..precious moments, dora. Gets some crepe paper, balloons and invite your guest. One cute thing I'd like to do for Natalie's 1st birthday is make her invitations. But if your not into photography/crafts like I am that'd be a hassle. But if you are get some scrap book paper/supplies and make your own personal invitations. Save one so she can have years down the road.