Super cute pictures of each DC with the cake and a balloons. Nothing fancy. Just a snapshot. But very sweet reminder of a special day. (We didn't do a party for the first three years Just dessert, balloons and some cute pictures along the way .)

Anonymous wrote:OP, it's ok to let your kid eat the cupcake, it's just one day, one treat, one birthday. Geez... Don't it for him.

+1

OP, it's ok to let your kid eat the cupcake, it's just one day, one treat, one birthday. Geez... Don't it for him.

I made a book with photos of her faded out on shutterfly and had all the guests write a wish for her growing up in it, really nice memory for her and us!!

We had a little picnic in my mom's backyard, with snack food and a homemade applesauce cake from a family recipe and a few friends with young kids. It lasted maybe an hour and we sent the kids home with books for party favors. The only "activity" we did was blowing bubbles. I don't mind smash cakes, but applesauce cake is kind of dense (at least our family recipe) so he managed to eat it without too much mess, and having a family recipe I loved meant more than funny messy pictures. It was gentle, and low key, and everyone had fun.

How exactly is a smash cake disgusting? Do you have OCD? It's one damn day.

Anonymous wrote:We were traveling at the time. I hate seeing pics of messy kids and think the idea of a "smash cake" is disgusting, so we didn't do that.

I thought I might be the only one!

We had a low-key playdate with three other similar-aged kids of our friends, and a couple of grandparents (one set lives here, one other traveled). It was nice to catch up with people we didn't really see that often anymore.

On his actual birthday we went out to dinner and I gave him a terrible grocery store cupcake...which he loved.

I had a party for my friends. I felt like I was celebrating having survived the first year, and feeling like I was once again able to participate in life (I am a single mom, so maybe my sense of the first year's challenges is a bit different.) I remember it as a wonderful time. The pictures say my son and my guests had a lot of fun, too.

We were traveling at the time. I hate seeing pics of messy kids and think the idea of a "smash cake" is disgusting, so we didn't do that.

We bought my son a little cake and let him have at it on a blanket in our back yard picnic style, the pictures of us hosing him off are some of my favorite. We also bought balloons even through it was just the three of us because he LOVES them!

The pictures of our daughter eating her birthday cupcake. She was named for a great-aunt, who also happened to make the best chocolate cake ever, so of course that's what we made for her birthday.

We had a party, as well, an open house with lots of family and friends (from our moms group, she hadn't started daycare at that point), neighbors, etc. It was very casual and lots of fun, but certainly not necessary. The pictures of her with the cake are the best.

For our son's first birthday (the actual day), it was just the 3 of us. We spent time in the park and took pictures on the swing. I have a photo journal called "On the Day You Were Born" (you can get it on amazon) that we read every birthday. We bought 3 cupcakes and let him have at it in his high chair.

We did have a party a week later. It was a shared party with our neighbor's daughter who is 2 weeks younger. We both knew so many people that we would both invite, so we just combined it.

I have adorable pics from my birthday and I cherish them.

For DC we did a picnic with friends in our favorite park. We took lots of pics (I hired a professional) and I love looking at them.

Just out of curiosity, what do you like about your own, or your child's one-year-old birthday? What did you think was memorable and you're glad that you did? Our baby's birthday is coming soon and I don't think we're having a party since we don't have family here (will do video chat though). I know I'll probably buy a little cake for him with a candle, and my husband and I will have a picture taken with him and the cake, and we'll both eat the cake for him! I also want to take him out for a walk and have some fun together since that's what he likes. Anything else?