Re: baby's first birthday (and CTTS)

[just me]

"Karen G" > wrote in message
...
> So I asked my 3 and 4.5 year old what we should do for our little boy's
> first birthday coming up. Big surprise: they think he would love a
> "princess birthday". In fact, while we were at Wal-mart last weekend,
> they told me that "it would be lovely." A passerby got a chuckle out of
> it.
>
> In the meantime, I still have to get a birthday cake for this little
> guy. After 4 years of picking flowers, princesses, balloons, Pooh, and
> even Mickey Mouse; I am at wits end to come up with something for a boy
> that isn't from a blockbuster movie or commercial television show.
> Usually, I try to get something different, so there isn't much overlap
> between themes. Middle child is a Pooh fan all the way. She's had Pooh
> cakes for multiple years. Oldest child has had all sorts of things. We
> also have to decide on cake format--baked style or ice cream.
>
> Suggestions?
>
> While I am at it, what are the recommendations on party foods for 1
> year-olds these days? He's had eggs, cheese, and dairy. He hasn't had
> chocolate or peanut butter yet. The middle child gave him a strawberry
> a few months ago--it didn't settle well, but didn't cause any problems.
>


Well......I was going to suggest my DS' favorite birthday cake but your DS
hasn't had chocolate yet........but let me just share it for future
reference.

Chocolate cake, chocolate icing with gummy worms strategically placed on the
surface to suggest worms crawling in mud. Very big hit with the boys.
Didn't taste bad either, although I donated my worm to DS. "Course, this
year I don't get any cake at all [low carb diet] so I will just have to
drool!

-Aula

[Rosalie B.]

x-no-archive:yes
Karen G > wrote:

>In the meantime, I still have to get a birthday cake for this little
>guy. After 4 years of picking flowers, princesses, balloons, Pooh, and
>even Mickey Mouse; I am at wits end to come up with something for a boy
>that isn't from a blockbuster movie or commercial television show.
>Usually, I try to get something different, so there isn't much overlap
>between themes. Middle child is a Pooh fan all the way. She's had Pooh

My son and grandsons really like, and have liked from the git-go
planes and automobiles. Trains too, but they aren't at all common
around here, so not so much. You can do really cute sheet cakes
pretty easily with those themes.

Or possibly, if that doesn't suit, non-trademarked animals like dogs
or elephants or horses.

>cakes for multiple years. Oldest child has had all sorts of things. We
>also have to decide on cake format--baked style or ice cream.
>
>Suggestions?

We've always given a one year old one cupcake (baked) with one candle
on it and let them have at it to eat or wear as desired. I think ice
cream will do for later or for the other guests.
>
>While I am at it, what are the recommendations on party foods for 1
>year-olds these days? He's had eggs, cheese, and dairy. He hasn't had
>chocolate or peanut butter yet. The middle child gave him a strawberry
>a few months ago--it didn't settle well, but didn't cause any problems.

Other than the cupcake, at our 1yo parties, the food was for the other
participants and not the birthday child.

grandma Rosalie

[Louise]

In article >, Karen G
> wrote:

>So I asked my 3 and 4.5 year old what we should do for our little boy's
>first birthday coming up. Big surprise: they think he would love a
>"princess birthday". In fact, while we were at Wal-mart last weekend,
>they told me that "it would be lovely." A passerby got a chuckle out of
>it.
>
>In the meantime, I still have to get a birthday cake for this little
>guy. After 4 years of picking flowers, princesses, balloons, Pooh, and
>even Mickey Mouse; I am at wits end to come up with something for a boy
>that isn't from a blockbuster movie or commercial television show.
>Usually, I try to get something different, so there isn't much overlap
>between themes. Middle child is a Pooh fan all the way. She's had Pooh
>cakes for multiple years. Oldest child has had all sorts of things. We
>also have to decide on cake format--baked style or ice cream.
>
>Suggestions?

A castle?

Make him a king with a crown and his sisters princesses?

Louise

[Iowacookiemom]

wrote:
>We've always given a one year old one cupcake (baked) with one candle
>on it and let them have at it to eat or wear as desired.

That's what we did for Henry's 1st. I made angel food cupcakes and frosted
with a light whipped-cream frosting. He had a little party at daycare and the
other kids his age were also able to eat the cupcakes.

We have a hilarious video of the event. Henry grabbed the cupcake with one
hand and, of course, being angel food, it immediatly squeezed into a little
ball. He proceeded to cram the *entire* cupcake into his mouth, where it
re-expanded back to its original size.

In the video, Henry is grinning and chewing, cake spilling out the sides of his
mouth. I'm freaking out that he's going to choke. His teacher is frantically
yelling, "Chew, Henry, chew!" and Jerry is laughing hyserically off-camera.
The other kids at the table are in various stages of surprise and indifference.

So another suggestion is, cupcake or regular cake, don't forget to cut it into
bite-size pieces before you let him eat it.

Of course I know you know this, but the theme thing is really more for your
daughters and you than for him at this age. Henry's an only and IIRC we had a
simple confetti- like sprinkle on the cupcakes and that was the extent of our
theme.

I'd exercise some caution about gender messages you send your daughters in
coaching them what is and isn't appropriate for a boy versus a girl. Instead,
I'd just gently guide them to non-gender-specific themes with bright colors
like balloons, rainbows, puppies/kittens, etc. Your son is too young to pick
up on any unconscious biases you might impart ("trucks are for boys, princesses
are for girls") but your older two will take these lessons to heart. It
happens so young :-(

-Dawn
Mom to Henry, 10