Diana’s First Birthday Ideas

We’ve been thinking about Diana’s upcoming first birthday, and didn’t realize that “baby’s first birthday” is a HUGE deal to a lot of people. Here are a few ideas from BabyCenter.com parents:

We will have catered sandwiches, party platters and some hot dishes my mom and [husband] will make. I’m getting someone to decorate for me also since I won’t have time. We are going all out since he’s only 1 once and will have small party’s in the future.

The parties in the future can be smaller, but since she can’t remember this one, we might as well go all out and get someone else to decorate!

Our immediate family with first cousins, uncles and aunts, closest family friends is about 90+ people, I have managed to get the list to 75 adults and 15 kids. We have a big back yard, a large and medium sized tent to put up and a deck, and a bar in the basement. I really want to have it at my house but my [husband] wants to have it at a hall (of course he refuses to except that they all book up in the Fall by the Spring). He is worried he’ll be tending the bar and I will be running around and we’ll miss the party but I feel like we can’t start having her party in a hall now, the number will never get smaller and we entertain a lot…

Should we serve Jack Daniels or Maker’s Mark at Diana’s first birthday? And we’d better book a bartender so we don’t miss anything!

I’m not doing kid’s stuff with the exception of the theme of Moose A. Moose and Zee since it’s really a family/friends party (none of my friends have little ones anymore). But I will be giving out a party favor of a piece of chocolate, or a lollipop, or a cookie with his picture on it.

All the adults we’re inviting are really excited about that sissy theme too! But we have to get cookies with Diana’s picture on them? This party is starting to get out of control…

Small is NOT an option…. I have 9 aunts 2 uncles, 30 cousins and 17 2nd cousins…. lol. [My significant other] has some ppl he wants to invite as well who have children. Not sure if his family will b here as the r distant and live at least 700 miles away. I am not sure if they will all be coming… just being nice and inviting w/RSVP’s the week b4 to be sure. I am an event planner so I have been thinking since May.

Shoot, we forgot to invite all of our 2nd cousins! I sure hope all the relatives that live at least 700 miles away will make it on a week’s notice, or at least send a gift!!
My children’s parties are usually in the $1000 range, but that is okay with us. We do venues, or home parties with rentals (dunk tank, cotton candy machine, etc.)

How many cupcakes does $1000 buy? Good thing that budget “is okay” with you.

I know [my son] will not remember his big day, but I think it’s more a party for the adults to celebrate having him in our lives. I am getting a bouncy house, cotton candy machine, and a petting zoo for the older kids. [My darling son] will love the petting zoo and being able to touch animals that don’t run away like the cats. Oh, and a margarita machine for all the adults!

The combination of margaritas, cotton candy, carnies, and a bouncy house will surely crush junior’s innocence.

We’re up to about 100 people, but I know not all will be able to attend. We have a finished basement/playroom for the kids, tables to set up in the garage, and the backyard/deck area to entertain. We also bought a bouncy house from ToysRUs for some of our smaller guests. I know my son won’t remember his first birthday, but since it is his first I want to make it special for him. He’ll have lots of pictures/videos to look back at when he’s older. As far as food, we’re getting catered pulled pork and I’ll grab some large containers of mac salad /potato salad, chips,etc. I also grabbed some banana runts, M&Ms with his name/picture on them, and we’re making chocolate covered bananas – it’s a monkey theme.

Ooooh, a monkey theme! Because I’m sure when Diana’s 15 she’s going to want to watch a video of herself puking up a chocolate covered banana in a bouncy house!