Re: the first birthday party?!?!?!
I just invited all the close friends in pizza hut asked them for balloons for kids, made goody bags for all the bacha party got a nice dress for baby cut the cake kids enjoyed in playing area we had dinner random pictures and finish :), I was so stressed in the beginning n wanted to do so much but thn I thought a small get together is fine because then managing stuff for bigger parties becomes difficult
Re: the first birthday party?!?!?!
First birthdays, nurseries, etc are all for the parents. A kid cares not one iota for such things
If u don’t wanna do one cuz u don’t believe in em… Then don’t. Why do u have to come up with an excuse for others? Off’d rather do something else.. Go ahead and do that… As long as the kid sees, 20 yrs down the road, how u celebratd his or her life, that’s all that matters.
It could be a party, it could be a day of fun outside… Anything… That involves spending time with the kid and showing them how much u love them.
Jo samaj na chahey, samjhay… Jo nahin tho na sahi. Why should u care 
I on the other hand have an orgy of themes goin on in my head between multiple themes…MOnTHs before the kid turns one… Genie has hers on the 11th and I’m drooling over everything I have done so far… She on the other hand peed on the banner and chewed one of the garlands to mush 
Re: the first birthday party?!?!?!
^ lol! genie is pretty awesome, peeing and chewing included! i cannot wait to see how you put everything together for her party!
gtg, you saw the pics from the kid's party, right?
so we did a big one for him. we had lootbags, a big ole cake, lots of kids, balloons and good food. we did it outdoors at a park and the entire event was really for me :p
he had a great tme, of course, but he'd have had a great time anywhere with lots of people. he was confused about the happy birthday singing, didn't really want any cake, and his biggest excitement came from the balloons. but i love looking back at the pictures, the kids attending had a great time as did the hubs and i, and we have great memories to look back on.
oh, and we had a smash cake but he kept falling asleep early that whole week so it sat in our fridge for 4 days and then i took it to work finally.
ultimately though, as khawa said, do it for yourself if you do it at all.
Re: the first birthday party?!?!?!
Its different for everyone I think.
My parents didn’t have a huge birthday bash for me until I turned 7 and I think it was great that way because I actually remember it 
Re: the first birthday party?!?!?!
i hear you girls.. honestly I didnt know abotu the grand first birthday parties while growing up in Pakistan.. I wonder if it's an american thing so I felt obligated to throw one even though I have been very clear about my intentions for not doing so.. its the same that my co worker bought my baby a halloween costume that we had seen at Old Navy.. she asked me to buy it and I said nopse I am not spending money on these things.. next thing I know, she gets one for him! and when I explained to her that I am nto into letting my boy celebrate halloween, she looked disappointed like i am depriving him of something! and I may get the same pressure around his birtdhay too.. I dont want to fall for it!!
I think I will organize something small for him at home for memories to cherish btu will come up with something whoever wants to know why I am depriving him of a grand birthday party!!
Re: the first birthday party?!?!?!
I’m gonna stay quiet… butOMGGGGGGG bachai!!!
parties — fun!!!
We’re endowed people why not?!
I want to give Ali a party!!!
Why don’t you pick an charity and ask people to not give him any gifts rather donate to that charity.
Works out wonderfully - you help others while having a good time.
I had a one year party in pakistan and I had a tajj on .. it was awesome.
and red outfit with ghota… my mom still hangs the photos.
Re: the first birthday party?!?!?!
It doesn’t have to be on such a grand scale, at a hall with the entire pakistani community there. A party at home with close friends and family is more than enough. And if you are really really not feeling doing even that, skip all the hoop la and have his photographs taken on the day of for his birthday, with a birthday hat and anything festive for a birthday so at least the memories are there. First birthday trash the cake shoots are so much fun with some of the whole family in there. I did one recently for a friends twin babies and they are just so memorable. Something for you to show people when they ask, and memories for yourself and him when hes older. But ca mon you have to do something, even just for pictures! …but maybe thats just me… I am all about the pictures lol.
1st Birthday Shoots ie:
Re: the first birthday party?!?!?!
^hahahaha oh i have seen those taaaj pictures of people.. girls and boys :D
I dont know Munz.. its not about the gifts or anything, its just that I feel like I dont want to worry about anything or entertain people on his special day.. I have seen cranky kids at their birthday parties while parents are running around asking guests if they were okay nc omfortable and what not.. I cant see myself doing that.. I cant mutli task.. I cant give him full attention if I have to talk to someone.. I have seen that happening at eid parties and other events.. I am not someone who can carry on the conversation with an adult while taking care of the baby at her hip.. I guess I am nto ready to throw a party for him. :-(
Re: the first birthday party?!?!?!
^hahahaha oh i have seen those taaaj pictures of people.. girls and boys :D
I dont know Munz.. its not about the gifts or anything, its just that I feel like I dont want to worry about anything or entertain people on his special day.. I have seen cranky kids at their birthday parties while parents are running around asking guests if they were okay nc omfortable and what not.. I cant see myself doing that.. I cant mutli task.. I cant give him full attention if I have to talk to someone.. I have seen that happening at eid parties and other events.. I am not someone who can carry on the conversation with an adult while taking care of the baby at her hip.. I guess I am nto ready to throw a party for him. :-(
then its not for everyone and dont do it just to please other people. a day spent as a family sounds just as nice
Re: the first birthday party?!?!?!
oh yaar - don't invite high maintainence walai loki..
just have good friends who will join in....
and like everyone else said it doesnt ahve to be grand scale but you can make it quaint and fun. :)
Re: the first birthday party?!?!?!
If you feel that this is how it will end up being,do not do it.
Don't let it be a high maintenance event if you have to do a BD party.People do them in a park or play area and every one has fun...people do it in a five star hall with top class catered food and guests still complain.
It is simple.Do what you feel like doing.You should not have to do it if people want it or expect it and you should not be giving reasons for either doing it or not doing it.
whatever makes it special for the kid and his parents.That is it..!!
P.S...You are depriving people of cake...Not good.not good...:p
Re: the first birthday party?!?!?!
My husband and I were also not too keen on having a grand first birthday since it's not about the kid at all. The thing that put me off most was how the birthday kid is usually in a bad mood probably because of all the attention. But when we told our parents, they almost had a coronary. My sister even said that she'll throw a party if we don't do so. So now we have to throw a party because our families are eagerly waiting for one. We're just inviting family and very close friends but that alone would mean 50 people. We're just doing it this once and after this we plan on
going on a trip somewhere for her birthday every year. Once she's older, I'm going to let her decide how she wants to celebrate her birthday.
Re: the first birthday party?!?!?!
If you feel that this is how it will end up being,do not do it. Don't let it be a high maintenance event if you have to do a BD party.People do them in a park or play area and every one has fun...people do it in a five star hall with top class catered food and guests still complain. It is simple.Do what you feel like doing.You should not have to do it if people want it or expect it and you should not be giving reasons for either doing it or not doing it. whatever makes it special for the kid and his parents.That is it..!!
P.S...You are depriving people of cake...Not good.not good...:p
I wish I had a Spring/Summer baby, as I love the picnic parties!
Re: the first birthday party?!?!?!
^^ I know.They seem to be fun,infact more fun.
I can't do a BD for mine outdoors either.The weather is too unpredictable at that time of the year.
On a sidenote,I came across an idea on these forums about an Eid party for kids.Since Eid is now gonna be a summer event for quite some time,I might think of doing one next year.
Re: the first birthday party?!?!?!
munz... I dont deal with high maintaince people.. like i said I dont think I can manage and let Ali have a good day as well! he loves people but I wont know how to take care of him and people at the same time!
chipsy... I shall send you the cake... or have you come over for the cake :p
cherryontop.. yep this is it... you know exactly what I am saying...lets see how it turns out for us.. I was also thinking of taking him to disney world and keep that as an annual tradition (ok i admit i love disney world and go tehre for our anniversary :$) but with some unexpected expenses I dont see that happening anytime soon! may be start something next year inshaAllah.. a weekend getaway of his choice.. fun place!
chipsy... we are doing the eid parties next year inshaAllah.. you invite me to yours and I will invite you to mine and that other eid stuff too :D
I love outdoor parties too!!
Re: the first birthday party?!?!?!
My advice: he's too young for Disney world. Save $$ until he can make the most out of it at age 4/5.
I did have 1st birthdays for both my kids. Both were at home with friends and family and to celebrate milestones. Dora and Mickey Mouse themed birthday.
It was more for me than them.
But I love looking back at the pictures though and so do they.
Definitely have it. You don't need to do a big dawat hoopla but definitely have a cake and candles. He'll enjoy the pictures.
Re: the first birthday party?!?!?!
munz... I dont deal with high maintaince people.. like i said I dont think I can manage and let Ali have a good day as well! he loves people but I wont know how to take care of him and people at the same time!
chipsy... I shall send you the cake... or have you come over for the cake :p
cherryontop.. yep this is it... you know exactly what I am saying...lets see how it turns out for us.. I was also thinking of taking him to disney world and keep that as an annual tradition (ok i admit i love disney world and go tehre for our anniversary :$) but with some unexpected expenses I dont see that happening anytime soon! may be start something next year inshaAllah.. a weekend getaway of his choice.. fun place!
chipsy... we are doing the eid parties next year inshaAllah.. you invite me to yours and I will invite you to mine and that other eid stuff too :D
I love outdoor parties too!!
As long as I get cake,I am good.
Regarding Eid stuff,Inshallah...:)
Re: the first birthday party?!?!?!
my older nephew had a grand first-birthday party. each b-day after that has been an at-home family thing.
the younger one on the other hand, has never had a proper birthday party like his brother did. I feel so bad, I don't know if he cares or even remembers....but...yeah. Now they celebrate well (doing all kid-stuff since there's no family around) but I still feel bad there was never that one big grand b-day party.