My baby turned 14 months old this week.  So, you guessed it, I am thinking about her 1st Birthday.  1st Birthdays can go many ways- it can be a kid party, it can be a family party, it can be a friends and family party, it can be big, or it can be small.  (I think I have actually done all of these!)

I wanted TJ’s 1st Birthday to be special, but not over the top.  Basically, TJ is a third child and has less friends her own age at a year than my other children.  My other children wanted to have their friends at her party, that is when I decided to simplify.

TJ and Lexi (our beloved family dog) share the same birthday.  Lexi is very special to TJ.  ”Doggie,” was her first word and she hugs her every chance she gets.  With that in mind, I started planning.  Their birthday fell on a Saturday, so I decided they would have a co- party, celebrating Lexi’s 11th and TJ’s 1st birthdays.

The planning was very easy.  I took a picture of them both wearing party hats and made a photo invitation. The people invited were family and life long friends.  There were 12 children and 36 adults.  Every child present had a grandparent at the party.  Basically it was a triple generation party- a group of people who would be in her life forever. The party was going to take place in my home, so I needed decorations to give the house a party vibe.  To accomplish this, I ordered party sets from Birthday Express.  One Deluxe Lady Bug Set and one The Dog set.  My SIL and BIL volunteered to bring the cake.  As far as party favors, my friend sells desserts and had made me delicious decorated cookies when I gave birth.  I ordered cookies in the shape of 1′s and decorated with lady bugs from her.

The food for this party was perfect, if I do say so myself.  Since TJ and Lexi love bagels, I decided to do a bagel brunch at 10:30 am.  I ordered huge Party Bagels (the same ones I had for H’s 5th Birthday) and mini bagels.  In addition I ordered platters of cheese and cold cuts.  Since it was a party at my house, I had to make something.  I made 2 platters of Creme Brulee French Toast (which you make the night before), Belgian Waffles in my new waffle maker, a Weight Watchers Quiche, and breakfast cous-cous.  I also served fresh fruit.  For dessert there was a 30+ lb cake , peanut butter balls, mandel bread, and gluten free goodies from 3 Dogs Bakery (a local gluten free bake shop- who also made me a gluten free 1 cookie as a party favor).

The only food left was the cake.  We had a little bit of everything else, but it was gone by the next day.  The cake was really big and really tasty.  However, I learned that many people don’t eat cake.

The day of the party was very smooth.  Decorating, setting-up, guests arriving.  Because it was small and in my home, I got to relax and talk with everyone.  TJ woke at 7 am and smiled all the way until 1 pm when she went down for a 3 hour nap.  She was super happy, very friendly, and playful.  It was just what I wanted for her.