First Birthday - Louisville,KY

For my daughter's first birthday party we had just family and close friends. That was still almost 20 people. I got just a bunch of dollar store toys (stuffed animals, balls, little purses, etc) and put them in a big tub that they could pick what they wanted. We had snacks (veggie tray, chips and dip, etc) and cup cakes and ice cream.
I made a time capsule out of one of her big formula cans, to be opened on her 18th birthday. I wrapped it in fancy paper and made it all pretty. Then I had slips of paper for each person to write a little love note on. I also put pictures from the party, the invitations, and some of the decorations in the can before sealing it up. I hope it will be something special for her when she turns 18!
As for her presents, we got her one big toy (the Laugh and Learn house, which she LOVES), a stuffed bear that she sleeps with every night, and a pearl for her add-a-pearl necklace that we started when she got baptized. I wanted her to have something for now and something to keep.

I come from a huge Italian family so having a party is pretty much a must. I had one for each of my daughters when they turned one. Luckily their b-days are during months with nice weather so we were able to have a backyard party.

You can do a ton of different things. Just depends on how much money you want to spend. At this age the party is more for the parents and your friends and family. Also, it will be nice for your child to look back at pictures and videos and see how much fun she had.

For ours we had around 200 people but that's because the family is so big and we happen to know a lot of people.

We rented a tent and tables and chairs. We made the food ourselves (catering is much easier) we were on a tight budget so we had to cut costs however we could. As far as entertainment goes it all depends on money. We got by on some yard games, a pinata, and we had the kids do a little treasure hunt to find their party bag. What was inside kept them occupied the rest of the evening. You could maybe do a craft for them. I lucked out for their party bags and found crayons at ten cents a box, purchased some $1.00 coloring books and bought a few bags of party toys at party city and split them up in each bag. We had about 30 kids there. Depending on the ages gifts should match accordingly. Babies got a ball and rubber duckie, and the older kids got some jewelery, pencils, and writing pads stuff like that.

We kept decore simple...just some table covers (dollar store) and tied some balloons around the yard and tent, we also tied three or four on weights and used that for the table center pieces.

We had a little cake for the b-day girl and just purchased a sheet cake from Sam's Club...can get anywhere. THere were also cookies and other things that guests brought.

Everyone sang happy b-day and her eating her cake entertained everyone for at least a half hour or more.

Then I spread out a sheet and we opened gifts.

Long day but pretty simple.

As far as a gift goes...we didn't get them one because we paid for the party. If however you really want to get her something I particularly like the mini-baby grand piano me second daughter received. It's adorable and she loves it!

Send me a message if you want me to elaborate on anything. I have had to help with a lot of parties in my day...like I said my family is huge!

Good Luck, and happy birthday to Emmie-Lou.

A Ball Popper! Every kid I know loves them! They even like them several years later. We also bought our kids "child size chairs" for the living room (all prices ranges and many sites to buy them at) and they LOVE them! Best gift for a one year old to feel like they are a member of the family and get a special chair in the family room for them!

I just wanted to say that you don't have to get that big present...I mean you shouldn't feel pressured to have a big fancy/expensive gift OR party. My daughter turned 1 in March, and she's very shy so we just had a family get-together. The best part was when I stripped her down to her diaper, put her in the highchair, and gave her the cake. She was so excited- like she couldn't believe I was letting her have that big, squishy, colorful toy that tasted so good! Plus it made for some fantastic pictures!

Have fun!

These were difficult decisions for me as well. We got Brody a toy box. Custom made with custom painting to make sure it matched his "at the petting zoo" themed room. I think really the present is still something more for you and the baby. She is only 1 and will not remember this, but you, so make it something that will special for you and that she can enjoy later.
The party, wow, what a decision. We invited friends and family, big party, about 30 adults and 13 kids. We had the party at 11:30 am. Just after nap time and we served lunch and cake for everyone. We didn't have games for the kids, so many of them were only 1. We did have a balls for all kids to take home and a big open room for the kids to play with balls and Brody's new toys. The party was pretty good. I will not have another big party for 2 though, just family or maybe our own little family just at the zoo.
I know you want to do the very best, but keep things in perspective that this is more for you. She won't remember. Make is special for you and your family. Good Luck.

I got my son a potty chair for his first birthday. He is 21-months now and has been potty trained for about 3 months now.

with my daughters first birthday we had a small party at our house close friends and family maybe 10 people... we got her books big blocks and just some fun fisher price toys if you look on the boxes it will say what age its for or even go to toysrus.com and do a search by age that way you have an idea before you go shopping so you dont go in blind!! good luck and have fun! oh ya our theme was elmo i got a elmo cake pan and made the cake myself nothing to hard

Well, this isn't really about what to get her, but... If you have cake, make sure you do that before you open presents. We let Aidan open his presents first and when it was time for cake, he didn't want anything to do with it. He just screamed for his new toys.

You can have a party for your childs first birthday. I did for my daughter when she turned one.....I took her to McDonald's with family and friends. I bought her her first happy meal and i saved the bag and put in her baby book. Then we left there and went back to my aunt's house and we had cake and ice cream. Then we opened presents. I bought her toys that were age appropriate at walmart. She got her picture taken that same day with a Birthday crown and onesie that had My 1st birthday on it. She also ended up running a fever too that day. So she didnt really enjoy the party all that much but it something i can show her when she is older about the pics i took from that day.

We had a huge potluck party. We rented tables and chairs and put up a canopy in the backyard. It was for the adults. Our son had his cake and opened presents then off to bed. We stayed up late drinking wine around the chiminea and eating cheesecake. I gave every guest a picture of my son in a refridgerator magnet as a favor and a bag of candy.

get her a ride on toy! best gift ever! they have some that can start off as something they push and then turn into something they ride. as for a party, just have some family and friends over for cake, it doesn't have to be a great deal.

Hey! Here are some things that I thought were great presents that my daugther got for her first birthday: wagon, rocking chair (kid size), Sand & Water table, Leap Frog Little Leaps video game system, blow up ball pit & my firt bike (which you can change from a rocker, to a trike to something that gets pushed by an adult). My daughter's birthday is in July so some of those are more warm weather gifts!

We had some of her friends over (friends from Gymboree, playgroup, etc.), family and family friends. I would say we had about 30 people. We just had snack food, I put out toys for the kids to play and the adults sat around and talked. It was very laid back and fun! I also had small goody bags with baby friendly toys in them, like maracas, bubbles, etc.

Good luck! The first birthday party is so fun! She will probably sleep very well that night!

not a silly question at all... honestly lol we took tristin down the toy aisles at walmart & let him play w/ things... if he seemed interested & we could afford it we got the ones he liked the best. Up up Elmo, the lil xylephone piano lookin things, balls, and the learning maraccas & drum from leap frog have been the greatest toys to him. As went the party... we had friends & family at one big party. he's a people person so that worked for him. if yours doesnt like big crowds then maybe a couple small gatherings or one small party w/ just family. we planned on a 2 hr party & that was it. i fit it's time between naps & kept it simple. come in have some visit time, eat cake, open gifts, out the door! LOL it was a nice party & he seemed to have a great time. just remember you dont have to make a big function out of it to make it special. dont over stress yourself or babygirl.. thats the biggest piece of advice i can give ya