Birthday Ideas!!!! - Redford,MI

Dear K., how about a gift that lasts all year long? Like a magazine or book subscription, a membership to the zoo, museums, Greenfield Village-a great place to take baby in the stroller on a nice day, a gift card just for the days when you go to the mall to get out of the house or out of bad weather, and she sees something she wants/you want to sit down and eat soemthing-this is for all year long. How about a gift membership to Gymboree, etc.? Music? Hope this helps-K..

Put on the invations what size your daughter is in now and the next size up that way you will avoide anyone buying so many different sizes. You will then have clothes for the whole winter. Also, the people that do not get her clothes will get her toys. Wait until after the party to see what she needs to avoide buying the same gift. Another idea is to ask people to bring a Thanksgiving or a Christmas book instesd of buying cards just have them sign that.

My daughter's first X-mas is this year and my husband and I decided that we are going to leave the toy buying up to everyone else and we are going to buy our daughter things she needs like the next size up clothing and then after x-mas if there is something special we wanted her to get that she didnt we will pick it up....she's going to be 9 months old and wont know the difference.....

We just had munchies and cake for my son's 1st b-day party. We too have a large family. I had veggies and dip, rolled sandwiches, and other finger foods. We scheduled the party from 1-4 so no one expected to be feed lunch or dinner.

We got my son a ride on toy for his 1st b-day and left the rest of the presents to friends/family. Everyone wants to buy something and she will get a ton of stuff! Buy her something memorable and leave it at that.

My daughter is turning one in Nov also, and I have family coming up from all over. I passed out a list of acceptable presents, (they kept asking me what they should get her) and I'm having semi healthy food. Cream chicken sandwiches, (shreaded chicken w/a can of crm of celery & crm of mushroom-put in a crock pot/slow cooker, and forget about it) Just incase the kids get messy, it doesn't stain like sloppy joes. THen homemade mac n chez w/ bits of bacon, and some veggies. I"m also making birthday cupcakes instead, so it's bite size for the kids who are there.
Hope u got some ideas.

Hey K.,
I am in the same boat my daughters 2nd birthday is December 14th. Doesn't get much harder than that. I am sorry I always stressed about my other daughter who's birthday is Oct. 29th. But as far as keeping the cost down. I understand. Do mostacholli it goes a long way for little money. Or what I am doing this month for my daughter who is turning 6, 5$ pizza's from Little Ceasars, a salad, and cake. Thats it. I am pretty sure that my soon to be 2 year old is getting pizza as well. She loves it and its cheap and no fuss clean up. As far as gifts go take advantage of your daughter being young and not totally understanding of what is going on. Its nice when you can still give one or two gifts and call it a day. Between birthdays and Christmas being so close together they really do get so much from everyone. Oh and since her birthday is so close to Christmas that means a long year with out getting age appropriate stuff. So make sure that you tell people to get her stuff as she goes through her changes. A small trycycle for the summer ect...... Things she can grown into. I hope I helped you at least a little.

I buy something for my kids to open on their birthday but I don't get anything for the day of the party. You will be so overwhelmed with presents that another from you is not needed.

I great gift idea from friends and family for your daughter is a savings bond. My friends and I have been doing it for 8 years and it by far is the best gift over the years.
Have fun!

K.,
I took a practical approach for my son's first birthday because he really did know any better. You are so right that everyone else buys toys. My son was completely overwhelmed.

When comes to food I had a girlfriend make the cake as his present and we had sloppy joes because they go a long way.

Good luck and just keep it simple, she will only remember it by pictures.

I know what you mean about all of the toys. We had the same thing with my daughter's first birthday. My husband and I got her a really nice toy box for all of her toys! It actually matches her bedroom set that she can use forever for blankets or momentos when she is older. Just a thought!

Hi K. - my daughter's first bday is Dec 21st. We have such a large family, so the invitation list is pretty long, almost 80 people. So, we are probably getting a hall and will do the food ourselves to save w/money. B/c there are soooo many people coming, she's going to get so many toys, so we will be getting her one small thing, probably clothes for winter, or something she can grow into. Its so hard having their bdays so close to the holidays! My son is in Feb, and we are expecting our 3rd this Feb! We can't get away from these winter months!

I was 3 months pregnant at my daughters 1st birthday so the party had to be super easy. We just did pizza and cake and ice cream. the party was 3 hours long which is plenty of time for a 1 year old.

my daughters birthday is 12/20 so we get her 1 or 2 presents for her birthday and 1 or 2 for christmas. because she gets so many presents from everyone else.. we buy her things throughout the year to make up for not getting her much at christmas.

I think saving bonds would be a great present for your little one. They can be used for a car when she is 18 or for her college education. Gold or silver coins they are wonderful for her too.

When my children were born, my brother gave my kids an old silver coin to hold in their hand. That was a wonderful treasure.

Hope this helps a little.

S.

My daughter's birthday is next month too. It's right around Thanksgiving but we decided with all that meat and potatoes days prior , we thought it would be interesting to do mexican food. Fairly inexpensive and very easy to make. It's food that you could do so much variety with. For example I'm going to have a big pot of ground chicken for chicken tacos and the same for beef. Also an echilada casserole and taco salad all sorts of dips and chicken tortilla soup and we have a taco stew recipe. All the condiments you can think of and you can make these dishes fun. Hope that's an idea. Let me know!1 N. K

Hello,

My husband has a big family also and our oldest gets a lot of toys also. My husband and I for their Birthday's and Christmas get them a Savings Bond. Normally we buy them a 100 dollar bond for 50 dollars and then something small. We figure at their age it is better because then they will have money for college or perhaps a car when they are older.