Anyone NOT doing some huge bash for LO's 1st bday?

gajumper

My son will be one in a few weeks.  We decided on a small get together of family (my parents, DH's Mom, Great Granny and an Aunt) at our house with just ice cream and cake and of course gifts.

 My friends all have older kids and live about an hour away...its not like all of our kids can play together or anything and its not like LO has a bunch of friends of his own.

Apparently this makes me a bad Mom.  DH's Mom has made some off the wall comments about not having a theme, about me not making his cake (Im ordering it), and about no big party.  This from the woman who only sees her only grandchild once every 4 or 5 months and probably wont even show up because she has to "work".

Is anyone else NOT doing anything huge for the 1st birthday...??

 

jld49

We're celebrating the same way-- intimate with family only: aunt, uncle, grandmas, grandpas, cousins--in total about 15 of us. That's as special as it gets as these are the people that really know the little guy. Theme Sheme. Who cares? As long as you are celebrating his/her life, with joy & love, that's what is important!

shortstuff15

That's us too.  His family is 7+ hours away so if they want to come up they can but I don't expect it.  My family is 9 people in the area, so add us 4 and we've got a grand total of 13 people over for supper & cake.  No theme, no games, no crazy entertainment.

ETA: apparently I can't add.  9+4 is 13 not 14.

ras26

DD's party is this weekend and it will be small.  I think just 10 adults and 1 other kiddo.  I have a pumpkin "theme" but not crazy-over-the-top, meaning her little dress has pumpkins on it, and I'm going to attempt to make little fondant pumpkins for an otherwise plain cake (just because it seems like a fun challenge).  If it's a disaster, everyone there are close friends and it doesn't matter if it looks like a 4-year-old made the cake.  :-)  We might get a couple of balloons, but that's it.  No games, no goodie bags, no smash cake, and entertainment will probably be NFL.  :-)

wychets

Nope we are not doing a huge party. Something very small with family and friends.

gajumper

So glad to know I am not the only one!!  My closest family member is just over 100 miles away, my siblinbgs live 1000 miles away.

I work full time as does my husband (I am also pregnant with #2 and just feel like low key is better.  He can play with his toys in his home where he is comfortable and I can kick everyone out before nap time, I hope.

janicemarieh

I'm with you!  I got talked into doing a huge party for DD's christening and (if you ask me) it was a disaster!  Poor DD was miserable the whole day!  I told my husband after that that I don't care what anyone says, the 1st birthday party is going to be a small family party at home.  Nothing crazy.  I just don't think it's fair to put her through all that chaos (being passed around like a hot potato between people she doesn't even know; not getting to take a nap; being in some strange setting; a scary huge elmo/some other type character; lots of noise; etc.) - it's her birthday and she should be able to have fun and enjoy the day.  I just think big parties at this age put too much stress on little ones.  Even though, I admit, the party planner in me would have fun putting together an all out shindig, that'll have to wait until she's old enough to enjoy it - I'm thinking maybe like 4.  

Natty13umppo

Estwd2:

Your MIL would hate me, then! We're not even doing any kind of party...the horror! It'll just be the three of us hanging out. OMG - worst mom evaaaa.

This is us, too. 

In fact, I'm being kind of selfish b/c since DD won't really remember her 1st b-day anyway, I want it to be a celebration of our little family just the 3 of us.  So we'll spend the day just the three of us doing things DD likes.

I'm not sure my MIL knows this yet and I think she is trying to invite herself to town for DD's bday (ILs live about 3.5 hrs away....but I wouldn't be surprised if MIL shows up for DD's bday, invited or not...), but we're going to be seeing them the next week for Thanksgiving.  We'll celebrate with them Thanksgiving weekend.

My parents live about 9 hours away and I don't think we'll celebrate with them until Christmas.

yssej7

DD's Birthday will be just family. But my Husband is one of 9 kids so there will be tons of Aunts and Uncles 2 of which have kids. DD has friends from our Mommy and me group but my house isn't even big enough for our family's let alone having more mom's and babies here.. I am going all out with the theme though (cupcakes) and am making her a cute little cupcake tutu outfit. I will be doing her 1st birthday Pic's instead of spending hundreds of dollars getting them professionally done..

Like my Dh says "its more for the Mom's then the kids. What ONE yr old is going to hit a pinata,use a slip n slide of bounce in a bounce house or even REMEMBER it?" Its for the Pictures and the memories but its  not a necessity to even have the 1st birthday be a big thing IMO, 3yrs and beyond we will start doing the Chucky Cheese or whatever Big party things. Tell your MIL to "shove it"

jld49

" He can play with his toys in his home where he is comfortable and I can kick everyone out before nap time, I hope./P"

This!!