The Official 1st Birthday Thread!

[soon2bmrsn]

I hope it's not too early to do this!

I saw a couple of people mention birthday plans in the HDBD thread and figured we could use a place to post theme ideas, Pintetest links, gift ideas, pictures, etc.

(As much as I am in denial that my youngest is going to turn one, I do love planning birthday parties!)

[soon2bmrsn]

My current dilemma (more like FWP) is that I've pinned too many possible themes!

-giraffe theme (DD loves Sophie; I have ideas pinned for a pink & gold Parisian/Sophie party AND separate ideas for a purple/green/chevron giraffe party)

-lemonade stand (super cute stuff with a pink and yellow color scheme and strawberry lemonade cupcakes!)

-strawberry theme (adorable!)

-preppy pink & navy whale/nautical theme

-owl theme with bright colors (pink, purple, turquoise, yellow, green)

-cute as a button theme


I'm definitely saving my "tea for two" ideas for her 2nd birthday but I don't know what to pick for this year. I also have a soft spot for Hello Kitty but that seems more appropriate for a slightly older toddler/preschooler.

eta pictures.

Themes I've used before for my two sons include: ODS--puppies (age 1), Cozy Coupe (2), Thomas the train (3), construction site (4), and firemen/firetruck (5); YDS--The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1), monkeys (2), and Frozen/Olaf (3).

[soon2bmrsn]

Jan 31, 2015 12:01:26 GMT -5 Cdnfroggy said:

I am so not ready to face the fact he'll be one in the summer and I have to go back to work but that being said, I am really excited to see everyone's ideas!

I have to go back to work after this summer, too. Blah!

[lea]

We only do family celebrations with dinner, cake, presents, and maybe balloons. My children are so deprived.

[gingergrant]

Jan 31, 2015 14:05:34 GMT -5 lea said:

We only do family celebrations with dinner, cake, presents, and maybe balloons. My children are so deprived.

This. I thought I would be going all out if I got balloons.

[jnnfrrose6]

Way too early people, way to early. Our kids just turned 6 months (some 7 if they came early), why in the world do you need to be thinking/planning for a party that far in advance? It's a birthday party, not a wedding. You're overthinking it.

[Deleted]

As I said in the other thread - we'll be moving right before so to keep the family happy will be doing ILs, myself, DH, DD1&2, SIL & her 3 with pizza, balloons and muffins. My family and BIL are overseas so it'll be easy to keep small.

[mamanorris]

Nnnooooooooooooo! I'm not ready to even think about my little fatty magoo turning 1! Wwaaaaaaa!

[surfmama106]

It's definitely too early for this, however if be lying if I said that I haven't been thinking/pinning away at possible themes. I'm a planner and I love a good party theme!!

I LOVE pink lemonade theme! It was sort of the theme for my wedding so I'm instantly drawn to bright yellow and pink!!

I love cute as a button as well and Sophie!! Ahh don't know what I'll actually decide on but I loved seeing these ideas!!

[soon2bmrsn]

Jan 31, 2015 14:29:18 GMT -5 jnnfrrose6 said:

Way too early people, way to early. Our kids just turned 6 months (some 7 if they came early), why in the world do you need to be thinking/planning for a party that far in advance? It's a birthday party, not a wedding. You're overthinking it.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to ruffle any feathers. Just bringing up a topic of conversation.

[littlemissmarla]

Jan 31, 2015 12:02:34 GMT -5 soon2bmrsn said:

Jan 31, 2015 12:01:26 GMT -5 Cdnfroggy said:

I am so not ready to face the fact he'll be one in the summer and I have to go back to work but that being said, I am really excited to see everyone's ideas!

I have to go back to work after this summer, too. Blah!

Count me in for going back to work after the summer! boo.

[jnnfrrose6]

Jan 31, 2015 16:22:55 GMT -5 soon2bmrsn said:

Jan 31, 2015 14:29:18 GMT -5 jnnfrrose6 said:

Way too early people, way to early. Our kids just turned 6 months (some 7 if they came early), why in the world do you need to be thinking/planning for a party that far in advance? It's a birthday party, not a wedding. You're overthinking it.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to ruffle any feathers. Just bringing up a topic of conversation.

Nothing ruffled!  I just can't imagine thinking about this already. I'm just trying to focus on figuring sippy cup introduction and introducting more table food. I can't even put my brain in a place to think about the first birthday, much less any kind of theme for it (though I do love the "cute as a button" idea from surfmama106). 

ETA fixed tag (I hope)

ETA2 because now I see it was your picture with the cute as a button. I just scrolled past them all because it was making me anxious to even look!

[honeybee434]

I love the pink and gold you posted! I have that onesie on my Etsy site waiting to order it in case I find something I like better . We might reserve a gazebo at the golf club, which is right by the pool so the kids can all swim. We don't plan on anyone being there but family and close friends, but just family alone is 17 people. Add in a few close friends and their kids and we are up to 25-30 without even trying. So, I figure the pool will be an easy distraction so I don't have to worry about entertaining that many people in my home.

[littlemissmarla]

Jan 31, 2015 16:22:55 GMT -5 soon2bmrsn said:

Jan 31, 2015 14:29:18 GMT -5 jnnfrrose6 said:

Way too early people, way to early. Our kids just turned 6 months (some 7 if they came early), why in the world do you need to be thinking/planning for a party that far in advance? It's a birthday party, not a wedding. You're overthinking it.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to ruffle any feathers. Just bringing up a topic of conversation.

Don't be sorry, I'm excited to plan DD's first birthday! Some people keep it low key, some people go all out. I plan to go all out and don't see anything wrong with that and if someone wants it low key that's fine too. 

soon2bmrsn I'm leaning towards a muppet themed party, but DD doesn't really know them. I want to save Mickey for when she's older but as of right now her interests are drooling and playing with her toy keys haha so I can't really find an appropriate theme for that. I LOVE the giraffe party idea, the pink is cute but i LOVE the blues/purples!




Actually, DD loves her Dumbo toys and I just found this on Pinterest.. this could be a definite possibility!

[jnnfrrose6]

littlemissmarla there's got to be a key theme you could do. Key to my/our heart seems a little cheesy, but I'm sure there's more creTive people than me who could figure something out.

[soon2bmrsn]

Jan 31, 2015 16:37:10 GMT -5 honeybee434 said:

I love the pink and gold you posted! I have that onesie on my Etsy site waiting to order it in case I find something I like better . We might reserve a gazebo at the golf club, which is right by the pool so the kids can all swim. We don't plan on anyone being there but family and close friends, but just family alone is 17 people. Add in a few close friends and their kids and we are up to 25-30 without even trying. So, I figure the pool will be an easy distraction so I don't have to worry about entertaining that many people in my home.

That's approximately how many guests we typically have. Mostly family plus some close friends and a few neighbors.

[soon2bmrsn]

littlemissmarla - super cute ideas! I love the Dumbo cake!

I totally pick themes for my kids (focusing on their interests) until they start voicing an opinion. For my boys, it was the 3rd birthday for each of them when they started choosing. ODS is already excited for a Lego themed party for his 6th...which is 4 days before DD's! I'm going to be busy!

[kam3100]

I have started pinning ideas. I'm planning an Ariel beach party. My cousin is having the party at her house and she has a pool. So many ideas. I had avoided Pinterest but now I'm probably going to become obsessed.

[Deleted]

I don't think it's too early! I have already started pinning ideas! DS was born on July 3rd and we'll be having a BBQ on the fourth! So the easy thing to do is a Fourth of July themed party! So many cute ideas!

[oldwheeze]

I don't have a pin board but I know I'll do a 4th of July bday bc fireworks with smash cake pics will be priceless.

Don't curr that DS was born at the end of the month. July4 is mine and H's dating anniversary.

[surfmama106]

I've been reading alot of "The Cat in the Hat" with DD before naps and bedtime and it really makes me want to do a Dr. Seuss themed party. I've seen a million cute ideas on Pinterest, but sadly it's not very girly so I prob won't go for it. So... I'll put it in the vault for a future DS

[jnnfrrose6]

Jan 31, 2015 19:50:19 GMT -5 surfmama106 said:

I've been reading alot of "The Cat in the Hat" with DD before naps and bedtime and it really makes me want to do a Dr. Seuss themed party. I've seen a million cute ideas on Pinterest, but sadly it's not very girly so I prob won't go for it. So... I'll put it in the vault for a future DS

Who says it's not very girly (or that it has to be)? I think you could rock it. 

[surfmama106]

Jan 31, 2015 20:06:06 GMT -5 jnnfrrose6 said:

Jan 31, 2015 19:50:19 GMT -5 surfmama106 said:

I've been reading alot of "The Cat in the Hat" with DD before naps and bedtime and it really makes me want to do a Dr. Seuss themed party. I've seen a million cute ideas on Pinterest, but sadly it's not very girly so I prob won't go for it. So... I'll put it in the vault for a future DS

Who says it's not very girly (or that it has to be)? I think you could rock it. 

I prob could... 

Another idea I had was "pink elephant"... DD uses a pink elephant wubanub and our nursery is elephant themed, grey white and pink... so I was thinking of doing that too.. but I'm obviously all over the place with my ideas... good think we've got 5+ months to figure it out... 

[anotherdreamer]

Jan 31, 2015 19:50:19 GMT -5 surfmama106 said:

I've been reading alot of "The Cat in the Hat" with DD before naps and bedtime and it really makes me want to do a Dr. Seuss themed party. I've seen a million cute ideas on Pinterest, but sadly it's not very girly so I prob won't go for it. So... I'll put it in the vault for a future DS

I also don't see why it's not girly. I would go with it

[anotherdreamer]

I'm planning on flowers/birds. DS's first party was owls.

I bought a couple things on clearance already: balloons, cupcake liners, floral print hanging lanterns, two little bird cages. I've spent like $10. I wanted to hang the lanterns and some faux Pom flowers (made with tissue paper) from the cherry tree in our yard, and have the party back there. We planted the tree in memory of our first baby we lost in 2008, so it has special significance. However we probably can't have it in the yard now, and if DH gets either of the jobs he's interviewed for this week we'll be moving before then.

We have aunts/uncles, grandparents, and a close friend or two come usually. Not all the aunts/uncles live locally or come. If we move we'll have way less, and may just be us. Still going to do something though.

[Leapinglizards]

I think I am going to do a Spish Splash birthday. I am going to have sprinklers to play in and slip and slides. I am thinking about having water balloons for the older kids. I am going to give each kid a small water gun as a favor that they can also play with. Then set up a tent and do BBQ food. I wanna do some water games but that is TBD.

[jnnfrrose6]

Feb 1, 2015 9:55:50 GMT -5 Leapinglizards said:

I think I am going to do a Spish Splash birthday. I am going to have sprinklers to play in and slip and slides. I am thinking about having water balloons for the older kids. I am going to give each kid a small water gun as a favor that they can also play with. Then set up a tent and do BBQ food. I wanna do some water games but that is TBD.

FWIW DS was afraid of the sprinkler last summer (he was almost 2). Just make sure your LO isn't scared like ours was or this could be a bust. 

[bigrock74]

There are some great ideas here! I don't want to even think of his first birthday because it means..he'll be ONE. It also means my mat leave will be over and that makes me sad

[honeybee434]

soon2bmrsn I want to steal that Sophie cake idea! It's so adorable!

[mary1217]

I only even have a theme because I wanted to find invitations first before planning a party and then not finding invites to go with it. I quickly found the one in the pic below and had just happened to buy the onesie below. I went back and got it in a bigger size and I going from there. So it will be a mermaid/under the sea theme. Pinterest Board Here