First Bday

Someone just asked the question of gift for the 1st Birthday and I responded to get a quality Amish table and chairs that will last generations.

We also did a laidback bar-b-que for some friends and family...very casual, fun...got the bulk of the food from Dominique's deli...as far as a unique gift, we bought our daughter a tree and also bought 21 birthday cards so that people could pick a year, fill out a card with wishes for that age/year and I will save them to give to her on her various birthdays...(that was an idea from Wondertime magazine)...good luck and take time to celebrate making it one year as a mom too!

I just had my sons 1st birthday party this past weekend. We had over 20 little kids running around so I got a moonwalk to make sure their energy wasn't put to destroying the house or yard. Fiesta Moonwalks is great (no deposit or cancelation fee). I also hired a clown for face make up, balloons and magic act (Cupcake clowns). Catered food. It was a great party and I don't resent the cost one bit. I don't know why people get so uptight about throwing big birthday parties for one year olds. If you can and want to, why not? Everyone wants in on the celebration. It's a big milestone!

Not sure why people are asking what you are getting him... that's a little odd. Below is what we did in a gist...

1. On invite, asked that prescence is gift enough. Most people still gave a gift. If they asked, I mentioned books. Although we didn't receive any.
2. Asked people to contribute to a time capsule to be opened on 18th birthday
3. We had a small gathering at our house. It was about 20 people and 12 kids. That was more than enough. It was a mixture of immediate family and close, close friends.
4. We catered in...for sure!!! Fox's in Mokena has great chicken and beef. My father made some homemade mostaccoli. And I also did a salad (cheaper than to buy from caterer). And I did a few appetizers.
5. For the cake, I decided I make the adult cake and kids cake. I am a pretty good baker, but things didn't work out for me (still did too much) and should have just bought the cakes. But part of the reason I made them is because our bakery was on vacation. I also made some rice krispie treats and cookie bars and had fruit. Also had ice cream for the cake.

Good luck! :)

If your place is big enough to hold the number of people you want for the birthday party you could just cater in at your house. We had about 50 people, so our place wasn't big enough so we got a room at a Lou Malnatti's which worked out well. I brought along some toys and games for the kids to play with.

As far as gifts if you don't need toys, having people give money towards the child's college fund is nice or I even had some people buy me gift certificates to places where I liked to take my daughter to for music and play classes that she enjoys.

I lived in Naperville for my sons 1st B-Day. A Zoo to you out of Marengo IL came out and set up a baby zoo in my backyard. Let me tell you - I was a little nervous I would get some sickly animals - but was I wrong. The animals were beautiful and healthy. The adults enjoyed the petting zoo just as much as the kids. They set up a fence in zoo in my yard - with food for the kids to feed . They also provided a pony for the party too. Baby animals for my baby's first birthday - could not of been more perfect. Check out the website http://www.azty.net/

Hi S.,

He will not remember this birthday, but you will! I had both of my girls first birthday here in our home, and invited about 80ppl, maybe 50 came. Everyone told me I was crazy, but I did not nor do I now care. Its a special day anyway you look at it, and he will see these pictures/and or video when he is older. I catered the main dishes, like subs and chix, but everyone was kind enough to bring a dish to pass, really cuts down on costs, and only if they offered to help did I accept. I sure did not ask. Family/Friends like to help. :-) My mom usually comes about an hour before to make her app. and its gives us time to catch up. or she'll come early to play with the girls while I finish up a few things.

As far as gifts, Tickets to the Marriot, they are $10.00 for kids plays (I've taken my youngest as early as 18 mths, she loved it - its an hour), or savings bonds, or $ for saving accts. My mom takes my girls every year to the Disney store & lets them pick out something then treats them to lunch. I love this idea, its a day for my kids to bond with their Grandma, and I get a break too! Win win. I have a friend who every year buys them a new DVD, and has really built up their collection. Oh! for those who cannot really afford alot, like Great Granparets, etc. I always ask them for a $5 gift to McDonalds. I rarely go there, so its a huge treat for my girls. They get to "pay" so they feel like big kids.

Good luck and Happy 1st Birthday!
;-) H.

My daughter just turned 1 last week and we had her party last weekend. I told family (grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles) to bring her money for her college fund. It's hard to tell friends to bring money, but our friends that we give money to, gave her money and she only got one actual gift.
Some money envelopes came with a little doll or a bear which was nice, so she had something to open on her b-day....
We don't buy anything for our kids for b-days or x-mas, they get enough toys and clothes from other people. We just add money into their college fund whenever we can..

I had people at my house and had a bbq, granted it was summer, but it worked out well. I do know of people that have had extravagant parties for the first one. I did not! As far as gifts go...i actually sent out a wish list with her invitations. we have soo many toys , that i didnt want to have to ask for gift receipts after the fact, so i included a wish list. i put super small things, and big things, and everything in between, and for money for college fund as well. it worked out really really well. at first the grandparents were offended, but once they heard why...they understood and thought was a good idea! as far as our theme...we did sesame street, since our daughter loves ELMO! it worked out great. we had balloons for all the children attending to take home, and a happy 1st birthday sign, and that was the extent of our decorating.

Our daughter turned one last Sunday. We had family only - 30 people at our house for cake and pizza. It was great, not too overwhelming for her.

We got her the little people barn and it's her favorite toy. My sister's family got her the Leap Frog musical table and she loves that too.

Good luck and have fun!

We had a relatively big 1st birthday party at home with family. I served sloppy joes in the crock pot and macaroni and cheese, among other things, which my family loved (we're that kind of family). It was very easy. I had some decorations and balloons. We gave him some toys, books and dvds but the biggest gift was the "Rock the Horse" rocking horse from Land of Nod. It reminded me of one I had when I was little and I think it's really cool and will last for his kids and grandkids, even. And it's possible that your son has so many toys already, but think ahead to this time next year when he's either gotten bored or outgrown them. There's a long dry spell between Christmas and fall birthdays! Some "older" toys that you can store away in a closet and bring out as brand new next summer will be a lifesaver! I also recommend having the party at home so the birthday boy can nap if he gets tuckered out.

Good luck and congrats on making it one year!

My daughther is 8 months old and for her first Bday I am going to have it at home and have the theme be Books. Have everyone bring books to add to her library. She too has many toys...and being christmas soon, she will get more. Just a thought. If you decide to do it, let me know. I would not go all fancy right now cuz there will be many more "expensive" bdays to come!! and those she will remember! Right now she is too little to know any better. Hope this helps! Good luck!

Hi S.. I had so much anxiety over this. I remembered that all the best first birthdays I had been to had been at the family's house so I wanted to do the same. We had about 30 people in our condo but it was really fun. It was a Sunday lunchtime event so I got sandwich trays from whole foods and bought fruit and veggie platters from Jewel. My husband made a cake. I would suggest renting a room only if you think the number of guests will be too much for your place.

As for gifts, we were honest about what he could use more of and what he had enough of. (In our case, he was ready for new toys and books; has plenty of clothes). We have not bought him a gift from us other than little trinkets. We are thinking of getting a red wagon that he can ride in.

hope that helps. Overall, make the food and stuff as easy as possible on you.

good luck!

For my daughter's first birthday we had all of the family over - both sides of our family. There were a lot of people there and we just had chicken catered from Brown's chicken and italian beef from Caputo's. As far as gifts, we had a lot of people give money and savings bonds for her. She did get clothes and toys, and the family members were gracious enough to buy clothes for seasons to come, so we had a lot of clothes for the next year. Since her birthday was in the summer, I had a little inflatable pool for my daughter and "her friends" to play in plus I made her a small cake to devour on her own. It was really nice and very casual but everyone had a great time.

I have always felt that first birthdays were more a celebration of the parents surviving the first year. I would suggest just a small "cake and punch" celebration in the back yard or your home for just family and really close friends. Your son isn't really going to care who is there as long as you and Daddy are there. Save the big extravaganza's for when the kid is older and will enjoy it more.

I have a friend who threw a book party for her daughter's birthday. I thought it was a great idea and she received a lot of wonderful books for her daughter.

Best of luck . . . .

My suggestion, try to keep it as low key and familiar as possible to have the best day. New surroundings, too many people and too much activity (possibly missed naps or even a badly timed cold) could make the party tiring (read "cranky") for the birthday boy. The larger the groups at the 1 year old parties I went to, the more unhappy the birthday boy/girl was.

If asked, I always say "books". My daughter is now two and LOVES to read books and has a great vocabulary (at least other parents tell me that) I feel that toddlers can never have too many books

Don't go nuts! Your son will not care if it is an over the top elaborate party or a small relaxed gathering.
We had only immediate family over (about 25 people) for a saturday lunch. My brother in law grilled the burgers and corn for me. I made a fruit salad, a green salad, taco dip, etc. I got a really cute cake from Jewel (I ordered it kinda late the night before and it was ready, cute, yummy, and we picked it up an hour before people came over). I got cute plates and tablecloth and streamers and balloons.
We had a fantastic time and it was pretty stress free so I was able to actually enjoy it.
We got her only one thing, a big wooden activity cube thing. She already has tons of stuff, but we felt like we'd be bad parents if we didn't have something to wrap for her :)
My sister went all out and, in addition to a suitcase full of clothes and toys, made us a really beautiful photo album documenting her first year with all the photos I had sent her.
I can hardly keep up with her baby book, so the photo album is too much for me, but if you are a bit more together than I am maybe make something like that. It was so beautiful and thoughtful it made me weepy. She plans on doing one for her every year.
I'm rambling...my advice is not to go nuts. Do something fun but chill so you can enjoy it. Save your energy for birthdays down the line that they will actually remember