Sooo…for Deen’s first birthday we won’t be in our hometown.
I am caught between two things:
*First birthday fundraiser…meaning I can do a fundraiser for CF kids. I saw another mom do it and thought it was pretty neat. All the money I’d spend on a party could go to a child with CF like Deen’s and that would be money really well spent. I could also announce it and have people gift whatever they’d like. There would be a gathering but it would be small.
*First birthday bash…having a really nice first birthday party for him and going all out. The only thing I am thinking about is 1st birthdays are not really fun for the baby…they’re more for parents. And I am wondering if I should do a big party now or give him a huge one when he turns 5 that he’d really enjoy. But for this, I’d have to plan the part from the new city and fly back to our hometown. I don’t know how practical that will be in January or even where we will be living.
Whatever it is, I’d have to plan for it so trying to brainstorm ideas.
Me too planning my little girl’s first birthday. We are going to have 2 birthday events - 1 in the US on a smallish scale (not all our friends have kids yet, so it will be more of an adults’ get-together). The other bigger one will be in India. We are going to sponsor a meal and cut the birthday cake at an orphanage or old age home. My dream is that the whole extended family shows up and we volunteer time to do something meaningful for the charity. I know for sure my immediate family will join us, just not sure what the others will think.. might be too radical for some of my relos
Can you handle planning for a party with a birthday theme and everything?
One of my friends had a big themed party.. She started planning for it 6 months earlier.. She says bday planning kept her sane...(she had a small gathering at home for second one)..her son only became moody towards the end when party was winding down... Before that, he was happy enough in the ball pit and whatever else was.there to entertain kids
Another friend had a small one at home... Cake shaped in kiddo's favorite toy..balloons on his cot etc...
I knew i couldn't handle a bday party at home (all that cooking and cleaning up) so went for dinner (actually iftari+dinner) with close friends at a restaurant ....it was really enjoyable for my husband and i... Luckily our daughter had a good time and was cheerful throughout...
First bday really is always for the parents! Sort of a celebration for surviving the first year...so i went with what was easiest to organize and most relaxing/enjoyable for us... I'll continue with this for the next 2-3 bdays inshallah..
Go to pinterest... It was a treasure trove of ideas when I was planning
I would suggest definitely having a first birthday bash! Your baby only turns one once and having gotten through the first year of parenthood is a milestone for you and your hubby as well- celebrate! Plus when your baby is older I am sure he will appreciate seeing the pictures etc. You don't even have to do anything massive- have close family and friends over for a dinner, cut the cake OR invite a select few to a restaurant and cut the cake there. However, I think you should certainly mark the event with a gathering in some way.
Reha i really like the charity idea. But i am also big on planning big parties My son’s first birthday party was for about 70 people. The theme was Under the sea and we had about 15 kids. I asked a friend of mine who was good at playing the keyboard and had one, to come play nursery rhymes for kids. The kids looked it and song all of the rhymes long with the music. I also hired a professional photographer and had her cover the event only for 2 hours (to save money.) I didn’t spent too much on the decoration but you could tell the theme by the decoration. here are some pictures:
I am glad i did have the bash and plan to have another one for my next child iA!
You know something funny, my dad was so against the idea of collecting funds for charity on a bday.
I wanted to do that as well; ask for charitble gifts to be made directly to a foundation.
Dad was like the kids enjoy the little toys and trinklets they get and he hated the idea that we were forcing people or telling them what to do with their money.
Noooo. I am saying instead of having the party, I’d donate the money to the charity and run it for anyone that wanted to donate. I’d just cut a cake for him at home then.
But I’ll be honest…something about dressing him up all cute and adorable is really tempting me to do the party.
^^ Oh I guess that's different then. I wanted to have a party but just wanted to have the guests donate to a charitble cause on behalf of baby. I thought it'd be good karma --- my dad wasn't having it.
So the party. Then you'll have 4 years to save up for another huge one.
We are giving Yousuf his big party at 3, he now gets the concept. Haider just got lucky that his b.day is just 1 week later so we will get a small cake at the party for haider too. When Yousuf turned 1, we had moved, it was Ramzan so I got a cake from Costco and made 2 tray of pasta, 1 tray of samosas and took it to the masjid. There were no gifts given at masjid as we took the food and cake unannounced. :)
^ I love both names but Haider is just so…awesome. Reminds me of the old TV Series Tipu Sultan. Did you ever see it?
I don’t know what to do…I mean I wanna wait until he’s older but will he ever be 1 again? No. I don’t even know if I will have any other babies…so saray armaan issay nikalnay hein
we had a family only 1st bday for zoya and i wouldnt do it any other way. going to do the same for my duaa too. the only thing id add to duaas 1st bday is professional pics! wish i did those for zoya.
zoya had a big 2nd and 3rd bday and she had so much fun. it made the planning n hoopla worthwhile.
I think you should do what you want. These days don't come back. I would love to throw a big party for any future babies but we just don't have the circle of friends for it in this city. But I also think that pictures are the most important part of the night as the babies don't remember much and it ends up being another party for the grown ups anyway. I think maybe why not hire a good photographer and maybe take some memorable birthday family photos instead. It's not a party but you can do a smash the cake shoot for your little one and get some memorable shots and still have something to hold on to. Just an idea that I think about considering I won't get the big bash I really desire here.
Ps. On another note, is it tacky to not ask for presents for a baby's birthday? Someone I know did this and I LOVED the idea that they listed three of their favorite chairities instead on the invite but I know a lot of guests made comments about this and the mom had to clarify numerous times to people that they weren't asking for cash instead wished people to donate on behalf of their kids instead of buying a gift. People didn't get it and also thought it was a strange thing to do, maybe showing off that they were making donations?? Just trying to gauge on what people would do/handle it if they decided on no gifts. I love the idea and don't even have space in my house so it seems like the best idea for us too but I'm always afraid of what people think. :(
Parents will request donations to certain charities or request no gifts but on a first birthday the babies won't even remember gifts. That's the point, it's kind of a waste I believe.
We had a family only bday for my son... we got him a Hakuna Matata/Lion King cake cos it was his fav (still is...) and i made a bunch of food.. it was my family, my parents and sister, and one of our very good family friends.. it was nice. We're planning on giving him a big bash when he's 5ish... he's more likely to remember, have friends he wants to invite etc etc.
off Topic - My dad’s name is Haider. And he’s a tiny lil man that an khoonkhar as any lion I’ve ever met. Haider = bachkai rehna
Themes: for Ayman we really went all out. We set up a mini carnival for him. At the time we had a huge empty lot net to our backyard we tented it all up and set up Jumping houses, cotton candy, popcorn and face painting. We then had a mgaician come to perform and finally ended with baloon animals and those sand fill bottle thingies. Ayman took part in everything and he freaking loved it! We had so much fun!!!
For favors; I got M&M’s with ayman’s name and Happy birthday and goody bags on it.
Best time of my life. Better then my wedding. hahahah
Daniyal - the 1st bday didn’t happen due to deaths in our families. But we gave him a 2nd party. HE had a sesame street theme with Elmo and games. His was in a hall because he’s in October. I did try to up the centerpieces - which were medium size stuffed Sesame Street animals that everyone got to take home.
Was a good time. But Ayman’s party was Epic! I’m glad I did it.
My son’s first birthday party was for about 70 people. The theme was Under the sea and we had about 15 kids. I asked a friend of mine who was good at playing the keyboard and had one, to come play nursery rhymes for kids. The kids looked it and song all of the rhymes long with the music. I also hired a professional photographer and had her cover the event only for 2 hours (to save money.) I didn’t spent too much on the decoration but you could tell the theme by the decoration. here are some pictures:
