I quickly realized we have a lot of family and friends after my son’s baptism, and I want to be able to include all of them in my baby’s first birthday celebration. Unlike our wedding that was “adult reception only,” and my baby shower that was “women only,” I am no longer able to shorten the headcount by leaving some people out.
After all, it wouldn’t be right to have a kid’s party with no kids; although I have to admit this party feels like more of a party for me making it through the first year of motherhood. It also feels like I am hosting a big thank you party to all of our loved ones who have contributed gifts, time, and love. As the saying goes, “it takes a village to raise a child” and a village is who I have to thank.
Planning For Baby’s First Birthday
I wish I could give you tips and tricks for how to do a baby’s first birthday on a budget, but budget just doesn’t exist when you have to feed and entertain so many people. My son was born in the month of January. Being one of the coldest months in Vegas, we can’t throw a backyard barbecue, and the inside of my home does not accommodate a village of people. This has left me with the reality that I will be doing most parties at a venue that can hold everyone comfortably inside. Once he is older and has friends of his own I will lessen the list, but for now, I found a beautiful banquet room on a golf course which will be the perfect fit for this very special occasion.
My husband and I are Disney fanatics, and so, naturally, our son loves Mickey Mouse. Baby Mickey is the theme for the party. Everyone will be greeted with a pair of ears upon entering. The centerpieces are baby Mickey and baby Minnie 14″ plush dolls held up on a doll stand and holding a single balloon. There will be a two-tiered cake with a fondant figurine of Mickey and a smaller version for his “cake smash” cake! I have also hired a mascot Mickey and friend to entertain the children with dance, piñata, treasure hunt, and balloon animals.
As for food, we will have a buffet of sandwiches and appetizers so guests can graze and it won’t look so formal. Luckily my husband hasn’t asked how much any of this will cost, for if he did, he would have a slight coronary. For now I’ll just keep it between myself and Mickey Mouse.
I am so very happy that my husband is able to make it to celebrate our baby’s first birthday! Being in Afghanistan, he had to miss a lot of our son’s first year. He missed Mikey’s first breath, first smile, first rollover, first solid foods, first crawl, first sit, first tooth, first word, first walk, and all of his first holidays. It has been one tough year to say the least. Although we are so thankful for FaceTime, it just isn’t the same without him here. He was able to come home for two weeks a couple days after Mikey’s birth and again for two weeks for the baptism in August. I guess that is what is so special about this party — we have so much to celebrate all wrapped up in one tiny little human who we love and adore more than anything in the world.
Happy very first birthday to our son Michael Joseph, and welcome home daddy!
Marisa — Mom of Mikey
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