That was the fastest year EVER!
I know it’s a cliché and everyone tells you how quickly they grow up but I really couldn’t comprehend just how fast time was going to go, or how fast Neive was going to grow up. She is walking around and it seems so normal that it’s mad she could only crawl a couple of weeks ago.
She also does a very good ello when she gets hold of a phone (or remote, she isn’t fussy what she chats to).
So of course, we did a little party for her and of course it had a theme. We went with Eric Carle as Neive has a few of his books and really enjoys them, I love his illustrations and the bright colours lend themselves perfectly to a first birthday bash.
I didn’t want it to feel too much like work so I kept it as simple as I could allow myself and I had lots of help from my family on the day.
A big thank you to Party Pieces who sent me lots of lovely party stuff for Neive’s party. As always, I don’t like to go OTT on themed tableware so i got some Hungry Caterpillar napkins and cups and then everything else in a mix of bright colours.
I set up the cake table as the main feature and with a box of 100 Eric Carle postcards I purchased online I made a back drop. I also used the cards to make signs and posters as well as the thank you tags.
I used Neive’s books as props as well as her Hungry Caterpillar toy and some fake grass mats.
The amazing chocolate mud cake my mum made with the help of her friend took centre stage on the table and was surrounded by cupcakes also made by my mum and jars of sweets.
Neive’s cake was a book cake decorated to look like the open pages of Mr Seahorse, an Eric Carle book we have. It read “As Mr Seahorse drifted gently though the sea he passed right by Neive’s 1st Birthday Party”. Mark (aka Mr Kelly) made a little Neive model who was stood on some books at he back of the cake looking over. Can you see her in the pic above and below, so cute.
I am not someone that can make special cakes but my mum always did the most fantastic cakes for me and my brother so Neive is very lucky to have her do the same.
We had the wrighting for the book and the cupcake toppers printed by My Cupcake Topper and that really made life easier.
I LOVE balloons and these confetti filled balloons were so perfect for the theme along with the mini letters balloons. I used the Large confetti balloons on the cake table, drinks table and mixed them with some latex balloons on the centre of the table for guests to sit at. The letter balloons are filled with air and last for ages, I attached these to the wall with glue dots. And of course I we had a giant number 1.
I was really pleased with how the party room looked but the most important thing was Neive and her little friends having fun so I hired some sensory play and hoppers from Carla’s Castles and they had lots of fun on the mats with all the toys. The balloon weights were also a big hit with the crawling babies!
A huge thank you to Kate Griffin for capturing so many lovely photos for me, I told her I would be fine to get photos (haha) I really should have known better. I’m so delighted we have some beautiful photos of the birthday girl and some family photos. This is myself, and Mark with Nevie, my mum and then my dad and my uncle singing happy birthday. I think Neive quite like the attention!
All the little guests went home with a party bags and the babies a big bubble wand.
Happy 1st Birthday Neive, We love you so much baby girl.
Mwah xxx
