My son's first birthday is finally upon us. WOW. I can't believe it.
Some thoughts as I think about his party taking place later this month:
1. Should I get a professional cake or make it? My DH wants it to be homemade and I want to get a professional. I hate baking. And I fear I'd ruin it. He thinks it would be more special homemade.
2. I wasn't going to do invites 'cause we live far from family and it's just the grandparents flying in and a few neighbors joining us. However, now I'm thinking I should have DH make some as a keepsake or I will regret it (I'm a scrapbooker so I'm always thinking of keepsakes - LOL).
3. A theme. Is this really necessary? I'm just thinking some helium balloons and colorful paper plates and utensils and napkins will do the trick.
4. Gift bags. There will be some little ones there. What is appropriate to put inside?(the kids coming are all under 5).
5. The food is the one thing I feel confident about. We are doing an Italian buffet and my mom will be here to help me make all the food.
6. His outfit. Should I go out and buy him a special first birthday outfit? Who am I kidding? Of course I will. After all, I know I'll be taking a million pictures of him.
7. What the heck should we get him? Any good ideas for first birthday gifts?

Just remember... The first b'day party is for the parents to show off their precious little one. So, do what would make you happy. But, I'd save the theme party for next year.

And remember: Whatever you get him won't matter. He'll like the box better. And, he'll probably eat more wrapping paper than cake... professionally baked or homemade!

Cannon's first birthday party was great. We used www.birthdayexpress.com for theme ideas. We got John Deere tractor plates, napkins and a really cute personalized banner. My mom made a cake with a tractor theme and we had barbeque. Not too extravagent - but still special for everyone. I agree with FunnyMummy - it is more fun for parents that for the birthday baby!

I'm a believer in keeping it simple. Why stress yourself out with too many details, like turning it into a theme party. Or making invitations just for the sake of a keepsake when you don't actually need invitations. Or making a cake if you don't like to bake. (I do, so that was where I was willing to put the effort. On the other hand, I didn't go crazy on decorations or buying an outfit. My daughter had so many she'd never worn, it wasn't an issue!)

If you decide to have a cake made, let me recommend Rebecca Rothman at The Gingerbread Cat. She can make any kind of cake as you can see from the gallery on her website: http://www.gingerbreadcat.com/index.htm

Ask her about the cake she delivered to Vegas

If you buy something new, be wary of chocolate icing. A 1-year-old's joy in being the center of attention of virtually everyone she knows has high food-smearing potential

My sister-in-law hosted the 1-year-old party for my oldest. It was strictly a family affair.

My SIL, an experienced kid-loving mom, purposedly made a chocolate cake with chocolate icing for photo impact. Impact there was. I could not get the chocolate out of white lace on the birthday girl's new dress.

We're in the same boat with having no family nearby. However, one thing I learned when my oldest turned one was that even family that lived far away wanted to get party invitations. So we sent them anyway - just to people like grandparents, aunts/uncles, etc.

For my oldest, we did a Strawberry Shortcake theme. We actually rented out part of a restaurant and did a buffet b/c we had several local friends and some out of town family. It was definitely more a party for the parents, but SO much easier and cheaper in the long run than having the mess in our house.

For my youngest, who will turn 1 in December, we are doing a much smaller party. Her birthday is right before Christmas and not as many family members can make it from out of state, so it will just be something small in our house.

As for good gift ideas ... we got my oldest the fisher price learning house when she turned one and it remained her favorite toy until she turned 3!

We did big parties with friends and family for our first two kids, but with our third it was only family. Family was still about 20 people. We always went all out with the themes! Farm for my oldest, baseball for my middle, and pink poodle in Paris for my little girl. They are only one once, if you like keepsakes like me I suggest going all out for the occasion.

1. We had a professional cake done. Celebrations bakery in Northport does a really good job and they aren't very expensive. It's really nice not to have a cake to make on top of all of the other things you will be doing.
2. We did invites but only for keepsake purposes, I actually did a then and now picture on the invite since mine was so premature.
3. I don't think it's necessary to have a theme, but it does make decorating easier.
4. We did, suckers, those dip things (with the sugar stick), stickers, and the dollar store has cute packs of toys for $1.
6. I would definately buy a special birthday outfit, but don't spend too much money on it, because it will get covered in icing.
7. We got Rylin a push and rock and ride tricycle thing. It's a tricycle that has a long handle so you can push him, or it folds underneath and becomes a rocker, or it comes off and is a tricycle.

Hope that helps!

Thanks for all the advice ladies. This helps a lot.
I think we have decided on a Red Sox theme. My DH is a huge fan and since they just won the World Series and all I thought it would be cute.
We're going to get a professional cake. Thanks for the suggestions. I'll call and get some prices. For decorations I'll just get some balloons. And I'll get him a cute outfit.
Still unsure about invites. The scrapbooker in me will probably ask DH to whip something up on the computer. LOL.
BTW, Pink Poodles in Paris - that sounds so cute!

Anyone have ideas for a location for a first birthday party? I was thinkging about our house, but I don't know that I want to deal with the mess. It will be in January, so indoors is best. I don't like Chuck-E-Cheese, because it is always so chaotic, and we have been there lots for nieces and nephews parties. Are there any restaraunts that rent out rooms for reasonable?

Thanks,
April-mommy to Ronald-10 months old

Ronaldsmom--When older kids were young, I would often have parties at the Fun Factory. They were located on Greensboro Ave, then. They have moved to the industrial area south of town. I have not been there but I think they still do parties. You could go check it out to see if it is age appropriate, if you like. They also are the ones you call for inflatable rentals. I have always been happy with them. 1st Bday is probably too young for a rental--unless you are inviting a lot of older kids.

BTW--we have a January Bday and rented the "Washing Machine" one year and had it outside. As it turned out, it was a very warm day--some kids wore shorts. My neighbor's child had a similar party a few months later (May) and it was FREEZING. She was so mad.

So, you can't really count on the weather around here!

Well, Jack's first birthday party was yesterday and it was a success!

It was a Red Sox theme. I did buy the cake. My mom made the food. I dressed him in a cute outfit. Everything went great. There were about 25 people there.

I got him a little smash cake and we pictured him really diving into it. Instead, he just dipped his little finger into the sides and seemed almost afraid of it. LOL. Finally he started getting a little messy. Geez. When you WANT a baby to get messy he doesn't!

I'll post some pics as soon as I sort through them.
I can't believe it's over! Feeling relieved and a little sad.