What did you do (or are you doing) for babys first birthday?

[ILikeYourSleeves]

DS will be one next month (28 Oct) and I'm starting to think about what to do. I don't want to do anything huge and fancy as we don't have the space at home and he won't know what's happening anyway, but I do want to mark it in some way. He has some baby friends who I'd like to invite but also there's his family too (as in my and Dh's families) and having them all over in one day wouldn't work I think due to the space issue. I was thinking of doing 2 separate days, one on a Sunday for family and then a 'party' on his actual birthday (Tue) with baby pals so we can have party games and goody bags and the like. But not sure if I should invite the parents and inlaws to that one as it would be cute to see?

Dilemmas! What did you all do? I need some inspiration! Thanks

Nothing for ds. For dd we did have a family party and a cake but that was more for the benefit of ds who expected such things on birthdays.

Buy a bottle of champagne and congratulate yourselves on managing to survice teh first year intact.

He'll never know.

we had a 'naming ceremony' at home with humanist representative leading a very informal ceremony (I know!but not at all hippy/ strange she just gave the afternoon some structure with a couple of readings e.t.c).

Actually fantastic. Invited close family, friends and a couple of DD's 'friends.'

we put fairy lights everywhere, had some nice food, champagne-and basically celebrated the joy that she brought to us.

going to do same with DD2.

We're hiring the IL's bowls club hall. Sounds extravagent, but our house is way too small. Plus we can hire the hall dirt cheap and we'll get to use their glasses, crockery etc which saves clearing up at home.

Grandma is catering which probably means a sausage-on-stick style buffet and I'll get a fancy cake made. Beyond that we hadn't made any plans. I want to try and keep it fairly short and low key.

We didn't have any kind of christening or naming ceremony so it's a good opportunity to get friends and family together and celebrate our DS

ILikeYourSleeves, I'm getting all those catalogues too! I never knew 1st birthdays were such an industry. Panicked me a bit but will probably end up making invitations/thank yous on the PC and just getting a banner for photo opportunities.

We've hired the local village hall (£40 for the whole afternoon!) and invited friends and family. A few drinks for the adults and then some food and soft drinks for the children. Cake for all and that's pretty much it!

Goodness I'm very behind the times here. DD isn't one until beginning of Jan but we'll just have close family round for a slice of birthday cake and a cup of tea. They can all sit and watch/play with her and sing happy birthday. Job done.

For dd we got together with her godparents and went to the zoo. We had a lovely time, she waved at the elephants and went to sleep in her pushchair.

For ds1 we invited his godparents over for tea and birthday cake.

Hmm, bit of a godparents theme here. Not intentional, just chose close friends to be the godparents, so they're the ones we celebrate with!

Ds2 will be 1 in December - we'll just make sure we get a photo of him with his birthday cake so that he knows we did celebrate it! His Dedication service isn't until the end of November, and we'll have a party at that.