https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 08:56:06 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-else-not-plan-a-big-first-birthday-party#post-633843 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:13:54 +0000 red_seattle 633843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't do much because it was during my first semester of law school and frankly, he wouldn't care anyway. I just wanted to have a few pictures to be able to show him someday if he ever asks. It was DH, X, me, and my ILs, who live in town, plus DH's grandma who insisted on coming and drove 5 hours to come. My priorities were to get great pictures and to bake a cake from scratch for his first birthday. We decorated a little-- bunting around his high chair at the restaurant, a dinosaur shirt and dinosaur cake topper-- that was it. We opened presents, ate cake, and got pictures with the birthday boy held by each person there, so we have that for posterity. It was very low-key and perfect. Probably what we'll do for any future birthdays until he's old enough to know/care. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-else-not-plan-a-big-first-birthday-party#post-633814 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:05:50 +0000 bpcmarj 633814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ours will be small, likely just my ILs and us. My family is far away and won't be able to make it, and as much as I would like to throw a big party for friends we just can't afford it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-else-not-plan-a-big-first-birthday-party#post-633791 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:00:42 +0000 Bookish 633791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nothing wrong with a small party! I agree with @OCmama: that the 1st year party is really for the parents. We will probably just have some family (&lt;10) over for a bbq :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-else-not-plan-a-big-first-birthday-party#post-633731 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 11:49:21 +0000 MamaCate 633731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think small parties are great! We had a little party with grandparents and a few friends and it worked out really well for us. We ordered pizza and made brownies instead of cake and opened presents. It was fun and simple! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-else-not-plan-a-big-first-birthday-party#post-633721 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 11:47:27 +0000 Clementine 633721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we had a small family only first birthday party and it was lovely! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-else-not-plan-a-big-first-birthday-party#post-633673 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 11:33:35 +0000 MamaMoose 633673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We aren't planning one. It's an expense I've never understood. Her bday is 11/26 so we'll probably just have a cake for her at Thanksgiving dinner : ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-else-not-plan-a-big-first-birthday-party#post-633647 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 11:26:15 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 633647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope, had a very small party when we were visiting my parents. So we got cute cake pics without all the stress ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-else-not-plan-a-big-first-birthday-party#post-633581 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 11:06:49 +0000 lavender 633581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are having a small party (immediate family and close friends) at our house- lunch time gathering. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-else-not-plan-a-big-first-birthday-party#post-633525 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:53:32 +0000 Honeybee 633525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For DD's first birthday, we had our best friends over for cake. DS's first birthday is next weekend, and we'll have my parents over for cake; that's all that's planned. I don't feel guilty about it at all, but we're really not into big parties and will probably never have one for either kid unless they specifically request it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-else-not-plan-a-big-first-birthday-party#post-633518 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:51:38 +0000 OCmama 633518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think we're also going to skip a big party. My personal opinion is that a big 1 year old bash is really for the parents... not the baby so it's okay NOT to do one. I may get pressured into it by peers and the grandparents... but so far, we're not planning one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-else-not-plan-a-big-first-birthday-party#post-633515 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:50:43 +0000 NerdBee 633515@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're just planning in having a simple lunch at our place with cake. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-else-not-plan-a-big-first-birthday-party#post-633506 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:49:35 +0000 lemondrop 633506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both sets of grandparents were in town and my brother, that's it! 8 people total, and I would have been fine with just the 3 of us too. </p> <p>We went out to brunch, came back and ate a few cupcakes. We spread out opening his gifts through the day and he took his usual naps. I think he would have been a hot mess if we had done anything more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-else-not-plan-a-big-first-birthday-party#post-633497 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:47:05 +0000 autumnlove 633497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just had a small family party for LO. We ordered Dominos, bought a nice grocery store cake, put up simple decorations and my MIL decorated with balloons. We had a blast! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-else-not-plan-a-big-first-birthday-party#post-633489 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:45:20 +0000 lovehoneybee 633489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I doubt ours will be very big. We don't have any friends with kids around here. Some of our friends from Philly might be interested in coming but it's an almost 2 hour drive so I'm doubtful. It'll probably just be family...&lt;20 people. And honestly, maybe he'll be different in August but for now I think something larger would really overwhelm him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-else-not-plan-a-big-first-birthday-party#post-633468 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:40:28 +0000 Mrs. Bee 633468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Charlie had a big one. Olive had nothing. I don't think we even did a cake. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-else-not-plan-a-big-first-birthday-party#post-633463 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:39:06 +0000 aprk 633463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think we'll do anything big. Whatever feels right for your family! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-else-not-plan-a-big-first-birthday-party#post-633439 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:33:23 +0000 HLK208 633439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I kind of want to have a day between just DD and our little family to do something special on her birthday. Did anyone else not/will not throw a party? I feel guilty but our families our out of state and we only have a few friends with children. </p>