Weddingbee boards

So I'm going back and forth with whether or not to have a first b-day party for G. I really don't feel like doing anything big, but everyone is asking me what I'm doing.  She isn't going to remember anything, and she doesn't need a thing.

Am I being really ba-humbug about this? I just want to get a cake, and invite the grandparents but I'm feeling this pressure to have some big stupid party. I didn't send birth announcements, I didn't do holiday cards with her in holiday attire, I'm just not feeling all of this LOOK AT MY KID kind of stuff. Blah.

I, of course, think she is the smartest, most beautifu, magical little being on the entire planet, but based on the fact that I have never felt this about any other child-I'm pretty sure these parties are more for the parents. It has nothing to do with finances or anything.

Let's discuss! What are your thoughts about first birthday parties?

A must. :)

I actually do not think that it's about the parents. I think about all the pictures the baby will see when she is older of herself as a young child. And the birthday parties every year.

It doesn't have to be anything HUGE but I think a celebration is in order. Whether it's with close family and friends or her whole day care class! I don't know, I just personally think the First Birthday is such a huge one too. It's definitely the one that I/we made a point to fly home for for all our nieces and nephews.

And really BA, holiday cards are not really LOOK AT ME to me. I always enjoy getting them from family and friends to see how their kids are doing. So I look forward to them and I know family and friends of ours will look forward to them too. Especially since so many live far away.

I'm in the don't do it camp, but mostly because I went to 2 different 1st birthday parties this weekend. Both parties resulted in people buying a ridiculous amount of stuff that no one needs. Aka; cheap plastic noise-making crap. At 1 year old, it just seemed overkill, especially since they were both talking about taking a load to a local church or daycare the next morning. Now if you could convince people not to bring presents, that might be an option. Unfortunately, that's hard to do. 

I'm all for a quiet dinner with the grandparents, singing "happy birthday," and having a smash cake. Maybe one or two presents that you actually want them to have. 

I feel like a party pooper now. 

I'm all for 1st birthday parties. They don't have to be huge or anything, but it is lovely to have a proper celebration IMO.

I was exactly like you--we had no reason to have a big 1st birthday party. DS had 3 little friends and that was it, all of my other friends didn't have children yet or had older children so I didn't see the point in having a huge bash.

We took DS to a really nice zoo, then out to lunch with just him, DH and I. It was special for all of us and important for DH and I to celebrate one year of being parents together. Then we came home for presents and cake with grand parents and that was it. DS was too tired for anything else but he loved the balloons, opening presents and the CAKE! He knew it was a special day. We made each meal fun too. Of course he doesn't remember it but I always will.

Yeah, no.  Big 1st birthday parties are dumb.  I say this as a mom of an 8 year old and a 5 month old.  Only had grandparents for the older daughter and ill probably do something as small for the new baby in 7 months.  People do think I'm bah humbug- but its my time and money!