I’m in the midst of planning a Birthday Party for my daughter. She will be turning two years old. It’s the first birthday we will be celebrating with her. I went to a Party Store the other day just to browse and goodness gracious I had no idea how extravagant one can get with birthday stuff. There were several themes, gadgets, decorations, coordinating dinnerware and party favors. I see a piñata and think ohhh that would be fun…but she is only two.

That seems to be the saving grace. God help me next year. It’s so easy to go overboard. I guess it stems from never having a birthday party as a child. I had my first party when I turned thirty. Birthdays growing up were low-key & understated .We got our favorite meal cooked and we got to pick out the flavor of cake we wanted. It was just family and we got one gift. Don’t get me wrong It was fine, just never WOW. I want Livi’s first birthday at home to be special, I guess I want every birthday to be special but you have to draw the line somewhere. She loves Cinderella so I thought about having that for our theme.


Do we even need a theme? What’s it with Themes anyway? I think my theme is out of the question. I have picked up little things here & there on sale and nothing matches. I have classic pooh invites, princess noisemakers, and ladybug party hats. I bought her a little silver tiara to wear on her special day and she got a pretty floral dress at her welcome home party that I’m going to have her wear. I want to make her a special doll cake and we will have some balloons, ice cream and punch. What else does a Mom plan for a toddler’s birthday? Do I have to do party favors? Should I have my husband dress up as a clown & entertain? We can’t afford a pony but I could give pony rides.

I decided long before becoming a Mom that I would make my future child’s birthday special. It’s less about the material stuff and more about letting her know how much I value her. On every birthday I will wake her up and put on her tiara and allow her to be princess for the day. One day out of the year that is all about her.I would allow her to miss school and if I was working I would take off and we would spend the day together.
I know I would have loved that as a child. How do you celebrate your child’s birthday? Do you have a party every year? Any tips for a toddler party? How do you keep from going overboard?