calling all party planners

We are now in full-force of the planning stages of Levi’s first birthday party.

I am a planner by nature. (Not always flawless at the following-through part, but great at the imagining/strategizing/planning part… and usually good at delivery. At least I try to be.)

I have been thinking about Levi’s birthday for months. Months.

And yet this is one thing that I refused to plan too far in advance.

Could it be that I wanted to focus on enjoying Christmas? Maybe…

Could it be that I had a lack of ideas? Hardly…

Could it be that the thought of a celebration didn’t excite me? No way, Jose…

Could it be that I was in denial about the fact that my baby is becoming a toddler? Ummm…

Well I can’t deny it any longer. He is as spirited as ever: exerting his—ahem—opinions, playing independently, feeding himself (well, when he feels like it at least!), learning how to talk, teetering on the verge of fully transitioning to walking (for more than a few steps at a time), and throwing far more tantrums than I anticipated for this age.

My baby turns one in two weeks.

My baby is disappearing fast... and a strong, funny, intelligent, curious, dynamic, spirited toddler stands in his place.

But this isn’t meant to be a mushy post. (I have the next few weeks to bomb the blogosphere with my sentimentality.)

This is a yay-we’re-throwing-our-first-birthday-party-and-it’s-all-really-fun-and-exciting post!

This is also a I’m-soliciting-the-best-ideas-to-finalize-our-party-plans post!

In case you hadn’t already guessed, we’re having a sock-monkey themed party. There will be hats. There will be balloons. There will be cupcakes. There will be a smash cake. There will be a surprise or two.

There will be perhaps a little more celebrating of this milestone than we’ll have at birthdays #2, 3, 4… Because, you know, there’s something really significant about celebrating our first born’s first year of life… Our first year of parenthood. (I’ll leave it there so I don’t turn this into the sappy post that is sure to come soon.)

So although I don’t want to go too crazy (there will be no jumping castle or magician or elaborate party favors), I do want to mark this occasion in a manner worthy of celebrating this important milestone… for Levi’s sake and for our own as parents.

And this is where you come in… I’d love your advice and/or suggestions about your favorite part of your child’s first birthday party. (Or another one you’ve been to.)

I’m all ears folks, all ears. My pen is in hand and I’m taking notes of your tips.

Dear friends, is the baby’s first birthday more of a milestone for the baby or for the parents?!!? Do you have any ideas about how to make our celebration special and memorable and oh-so-super-fun?

giddy with anticipation,

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission