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First birthdays
I don't have much to talk about these days, and I know most people on this board are newlyweds without kids, but I'll ask this anyway since the board is so slow.
If you have kid(s), what did you do for their first birthday(s)? How many people were there? Formal party or casual gathering?
We don't have many people that would come to a party, and my close mom-friends all have babies born around the same time so I'm guessing the likelihood of them showing up is pretty slim. We're thinking about a very casual gathering at our house whenever my family is available, and just invite friends - if they show, great, if not it's ok.
I have a friend who is planning a themed birthday party at a restaurant, complete with cake smash. I know this is common in "nest land", but how common is it in real life? The only 1st birthday I've been to was a casual thing at someone's house, but there were seriously almost 50 adults there. We'll be lucky to have 15 show, including babies.
Re: First birthdays
Hi,
I have 18 month old twins. Their birthday was in August, so we did a cookout in our backyard it was definitley casual and not themed. We invited family and our close friends which amounted to about 30 people. The only thing we did do was get them each their own little smash cake, but they were small and not expensive. Essentially a cupcake upside down and frosted to look like a cake. It made for some cute photos and video.
I'm am going to try to keep their birthdays casual for as long as I can. I just don't want to get caught up in trying to make each year bigger than the last.
Birthdays have always been about family since I was growing up. I only ever had one "friend" birthday party, and that was when I was in grade school. Since that's what I grew up with, I have done the same for my kids.
Birthday parties are at our home. The guest list is small: my parents, my sister and her husband. I always invite my grandparents, but since I have a large extended family, the likelihood that they'd be free on any given weekend is unlikely and they've only ever made it once. DH's family is not part of our lives, so they don't get invited.
My kids' birthdays are 11 days apart (plus two years). They will have a joint party, often on the weekend in between the two birthdays every year.
We do loose themes. DD's first birthday was Snoopy, since we had called her "Peanut" from the time I found out I was pregnant. Her second birthday was polkadots. Her third birthday, and DS' first birthday were Mickey & Minnie Mouse. The theme extends as far as their cakes (yes, they each get their own, despite there only being 6-8 people), and perhaps their outfit. That's it.
Down the line, we may change things up. But, the actual birthday party will likely remain low-key, casual gatherings of just our immediate family. When they're in school, I may let the choose an activity they want to do, and invite a friend or two to join us on their actual birthdays: movie, sporting event, etc.
I should add... for both of my kids, I made a mini smash cake for their first birthdays. I used way more frosting than necessary, but they had a blast with it! Don't have pictures of DD's, but here's DS last year!