Baby Turns 1!!!!!! - Havertown,PA

I dont think you need any kind of theme party for a one year old. For my daughter's first birthday, i just made a dirt cake, got some cute birthday plates and hung balloons. I ordered food from walmart. They do fried chicken and rolls and potato salad or baked beans for really cheap. I got a little favor bags for the kids just filled with a little bit of candy and a toy from the dollar store. I didn't organize any games or anything, we just mingled like you said. I thought it went well. good luck!

you can do whatever YOU want to do! but since you;ll just be moved in, i would keep it simple, have some snacks and cake! no one says you have to have a theme, so i would just get some balloons and call it a day!

OMG - after kid #3 I am sooo tired of having birthday parties so that GMom feels like she had a party!!! Seriously, cake and pizza and take lots of pictures of the mess!!! You will remember this, not you little girl! As long as she has pictures to look back on she'll know you cared, not wether or not there was an " EVENT."

M.,

Since you want great photos...Make signs and take pictures! Ex: Put a sign in her crib next to her while shes sleeping "i turn 1 year old tomorrow!!" Then in the morning, A sign while shes still sleepiing "its my birthday today!!" Do it with family & friends all day at the party.."I'm 1 years old and mommies ??(mommy holds the sign) : Just a marker and paper. I have an album filled of pics like this I did with my girls when they were that age. I did my first tooth & the date, My first lemon, all kinds of neat things...they are hilarious to look back!

Have fun!

Hi M., A 1st birthday with moving boxes...Good luck with that. For the people that ask, tell them you haven't decided yet. I suggest you just pick up a couple of things from a party store...like a Happy 1st Birthday banner, some plates and napkins and a party hat or two (at least enough hats for the kids that will be there). As far as party favors, just put together little treat bags for the kids that you know will be there...don't spend a lot of time, effort or cash it's not worth it. It's amazing that anyone expects you to even have a party much less have one that is totally themed out when you are moving! And your right, the first birthday is more for adults than kids for the most part. Don't stress yourself out and have fun with whatever you have the time/desire to do. Best wishes and Happy Holidays!

Just tell people you are keeping it simple. I never did see the point in having a huge party for a one year old. They're expensive, and you can put the money to better use. They won't remember it anyway.

You could go to the dollar store, see what they have there in the way of plates, cups, etc. if you want color coordination. Maybe a couple of helium balloons. They sell those at some dollars stores also.

Congrats on your almost one year old daughter! Toddlers make life busy and interesting! and you're moving -- oh my!
I say keep it simple! Cut up some veggies and cheese, Ranch dressing is good for dip, some salsa and tortilla chips. I like to make the spinach dip that is found on the Knorr vegetable soup mix packets. It is served in a round pumpernickle bread and people love it. It is easy, good and good for you. Let your husband be in charge of filling people's glasses, and relax when the guests arrive and try to have fun!
N

I had a similar problem when we moved a few years ago. My son's birthday was the same weekend as our open house, so there was no way we could have a party that weekend. We had our party two weeks early. As you said, the baby will not know or remember! All of my family members who we invited understood and thought it was a reasonable thing to do.

Then, my daughter's 4th birthday was two days after we moved. Since that was a less significant event than the first, we did indeed just keep that low key. However, I confess we bought her a few extra gifts that year.

Best of luck with your decision!

Simple is best, you have so much on your plate, don't give in to pressure from other people. Your daughter will love you because you love her not because you had a Barbie party for her when she turned one.

If you just wanted to tell people you were having a theme you could say it was pink and just pick up some pink napkins, no big deal, no favors,just family, maybe some ballons if you really want to go crazy, Have fun and enjoy your baby!

You're right...it is more for the adults. So just treat it like you would whenever you have your family/friends over. Its not necessary to plan any games or have treat bags or favors. For my oldest sons 1st (don't even remember my second son's!) I put some balloons around because they are so easy and they do make it festive-and 1 year olds do like balloons. (They will also make a good backdrop for pictues.) The only other thing I did was to get a "theme" cake with Elmo and Elmo "turning 1" napkins/plates.

If pictures are important to you I would just try to snap a bunch that day. Maybe enlist someone else to help you for the times when you are busy. IF you wanted to do a little more you could get a store picture taken of her and get the 8x10 and frame it in one of those frames that have the matting that people can write messages to her. Or get a pic that you have taken blown up and matted on foamcore at Kinkos. Then display it with markers so people can write a message to her on that.

Seriously-don't stress on this. What is most important is that you stay "in the moment" and try to enjoy your baby's special day. I am sure people will understand that you just moved and not expect anything elaborate.

M., we had the same issue that you have, we moved right b4 my oldest son turned 1 and we had his party 2 wks later. As far as a theme, we just went with Elmo decorations (cake, hats, bib for him). Since he was born in October we decorated pumpkins with foam stickers from Oriental Trading. Since you are around VAlentines Day maybe you could find a cute craft there. Order soon since they charge an arm & a leg for shipping when you need it fast. WE only had about 5 kids and my son was the youngest. I tried to do things and have foods that he liked. Stickers and crayons also bubbles are big too. Don't stress out about it. People are going to want to see your house too and will be excited for all of you. Also M. we did something special for him on his actual b-day, just the 3 of us. We made setlement the day b4 his 1st so we went out to dinner and when we got home we had cake and let his smash it all up. He had a blast. We remember that the most. Pictures are great too. good luck!

All I did for my son's 1st birthday was bake some pizza in the oven and have a cake. A friend of mine picked up some paper goods that had cute clowns on them but no planned theme.

The most fun was the "SMASH" cake. When you order your cake at the store (I know that Giant Eagle does this)let them know that it is your child's first birthday and that you want the smash cake too. The smash cake is FREE and totally hilarious when you put it front of the baby and they go to town. My son needed a bath after but I have some GREAT pictures and it was a lot of fun for all us adults to watch!!!

Hi M.,
I personally HATE (and, yes "hate" is a strong word!) the "theme" party pressure! LOL Seriously, the baby is turning O.. They say O. hour and O. guest per year of age of the child.....just a warning to keep it simple, short and sweet. A simple (but yummy) food buffet, fabulous cake, drinks, lots of ice cream and just hang with your family and enjoy the fact that your little O. is turning O.! If there is REALLY something she likes (ELMO, etc.) you could get it on her cake, but seriously, colorful balloons and a classic cake will look great in the photos 30 years from now.

Take photos and maybe ask another person to snap some as well in case you're busy and miss some things. If I were you, I would take her to a studio around her first birthday and get some nice portraits done. You'll always have those long after she's 2, then 3, then 4...

Enjoy the day and HAVE FUN!

Skip the theme, the favors, the games, the EVENT part of it. Just make a few decisions:
- Do you want something festive like balloons (so easy - just order them ahead and ask another party goer to pick them up for you)?
- What do you want the menu to be? What about beverages?
- Do you want something special on the cake, the plates, the napkins or just keep it simple?
Then hand out responsibilities to everyone else - have them bring a dish, a drink, napkins, etc. People love to feel like they're helping, so I think that pot-luck is the way to go in your case (plus I always hope that people are less likely to bring expensive gifts if they're helping in other ways). If anyone asks about favors or games, tell them that they are more than welcome to put some together if they'd like ;)

Follow your instincts and keep it simple. A cake, some balloons and good food is all you need. The only thing extra we ever did was buy some bottles of bubbles so the guests can blow bubbles for the birthday kid. That way, even if she doesn't like having lots of other people hold her, they can all do something with her. Have fun!

My daughter turned one last summer and we had a party completely for the sake of family, to get to see her (we live out of state) and to simply get everyone together (big extended family). I didn't do a theme, as I knew my daughter wouldn't know the difference. If anything, I matched the color scheme found on the invitations to the paper plates and napkins (purple, pink, blue, etc.). It was summer so we just grilled out, played in the backyard, had cake, opened presents and called it a day. I think the party started at 4pm and was over by 6pm. Don't overwhelm yourself, I'm sure we'll have many many more "big" parties to stress about! Have fun!

You don't need to have a theme as long as you have a few 1st bday decorations. I think the most important picture is him going at his first cake! I love that one :)