Martha Monday: Baby’s 1st Birthday

Little C just celebrated 11 months on the planet earth last week, which means the countdown is officially ON for her 1st birthday! And I couldn’t think of a better occasion to share with you for this month’s Martha Monday. After our super fun Halloween baby bash last year, we decided to go a bit of a different route for C’s birthday and throw a smaller, family affair to celebrate 1 year of my favorite gal. But, the size of the party doesn’t have to dictate the decor! Here’s how we’re planning to ring in the second year of C:

Decor. C LOVES The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and it’s a reading staple at bedtime in our house. It’s not necessarily unique — Pottery Barn Kids actually has a complete online guide on how to throw a VHC 1st birthday party — but C is a huge fan, I think it is beyond adorable, and there is a ton of inspiration out there! Naturally, this means it is a perfect fit for our party theme. To decorate, I plan to put together some things that can not only look great at the party, but double as gifts for C and decor for our home later — like a plush VHC and super cute chevron painted “C”. I especially love this DIY clothespin photo frame, and envision putting the monthly photos I’ve been keeping in there. Next month’s How To Tuesday, perhaps? Last but not least, hosting a small group gives me the opportunity to put a little extra effort into favors, and I’ll make sure they look pretty enough to display on the table and contain something fun!

Food and drink. I’m all about keeping it as easy as possible for C’s birthday, so we decided to order out when it comes to food. We’re huge fans of local eatery East Side King (founded by James Beard Award and Top Chef winner, Paul Qui), and the yummy, asian-themed goodness will be sure to make our guests’ bellies happy. For dessert and the big “smash cake,” I’m lucky to have a good gal pal who knows her way around a cupcake. She has graciously offered to create the caterpillar cupcake cake that will be C’s first taste of the good stuff. C’s savory part of the meal: precious, caterpillar shaped sandwiches that are a must-make. And, since a party isn’t complete without cocktails, these Lillet-Basil cocktails from Martha Stewart sound like the perfect compliment to the rest of our dining experience. Mouth = watering.

To commemorate the big day, we decided to spring for a few nice photos of our 1-year-old lady. Our friend Mel (the same awesome gal that took C’s lovely 6-month and my maternity photos) will help us document the big day, so I’ve been looking for some inspirational shots and planning what C will wear. I really love the idea of including a big bunch of balloons, and capturing action shots of the birthday girl enjoying her day. I’m also hoping to incorporating colors and accessories that give a nod to VHC (like this sweet butterfly hair clip) without overdoing the theme. I’ll be sure to update you on how our photos turn out!

Well, I definitely have my work cut out for me for the next month! How did you celebrate your little’s 1st birthday, and what aspect of the celebration made the day the most special for you?

PS: for links to these products and more 1st birthday inspiration, follow my Baby’s 1st Birthday Board on Pinterest.