Planning 1st Birthday Party... already!!

Aaahhh, where does the time go?  My 3rd beautiful baby girl is 10 mos. old already, and I am now starting to think ahead to the all-important 1st birthday party.  Planning a birthday party is no easy task and each one is special, but for those milestone ages especially, we want to make sure everything is just perfect.  As perfect as an event for a bunch of kids can be that is.  There's the decorations/theme to pick out, invitations, birthday outfit, the cake, and of course the gifts!

I think I actually have some party supplies left over from previous birthdays, pink & white, that I can build off of for the decor.  Invitations- I usually print them myself but may decide to use a company online.  And I do already have a couple party dresses for her- just have to narrow it down to THE one.  The cake, I will probably make myself like I have for the other 2 girls.  And the gifts.... this is a tough one!

Having two older sisters, our youngest has pretty much everything she needs in just about every department- clothes, shoes, toys, etc.  But still, you don't want every item to be a hand-me-down... some things should be unique for each girl.  So I'm looking at more clothes (a girl can never have too many), some cups & bowls, & some of these cool wooden toys.  I especially love these four:

Melissa & Doug

Busy Bee High Chair Toy           &        Peek-a-Boo Barn

    
   

      Melissa & Doug

Happy Hippo Pull Toy 

 Imagiplay Veggie

    Cutting Set

There's something so classic about wooden toys.  They remind me of back in the day (no I'm not that old, but old enough) and how things, and toys, were much simpler.  I think these would be perfect for her 1st birthday, and I know all of our girls would enjoy at least one of the above toys so that's a bonus.

Any 1st birthday gift ideas?  What did you get, or plan on getting, your little one on their big day?

Disclosure:  This was a sponsored post written by me- all words & opinions are 100% mine.

5th Birthday Gifts

   My oldest daughter's 5th birthday is only days away…. aahhh!!  Where did the time go, when did my little girl grow up?!  Thankfully she still is a little girl and wants an Ariel themed cake and party, instead of something like Hannah Montana!  And for gifts, now that she’s in school she wants books, stuff to practice her writing, and coloring stuff.  I’m always on the search for fun educational kids toys for my girls so this tickled me pink to hear her say that.

   She of course will still play with almost any toy, and I know she'll love anything we get for her, but she really is into her notebooks, pencils, markers, etc. and things that challenge her.  One of her Christmas gifts was a dry erase board with letter, number, and writing template sheets to practice on and she really enjoys it.  She also received a Melissa & Doug Magnetic Dress-Up Doll and loves playing with it.  And I just seen they have a line of Decorate Your Own kits for kids (jewelry box, mirror, bookmarks, etc.), which I know she would have a fun time doing.

So in addition to her books and writing stuff, some of the other gifts she’ll be getting is a hula hoop, jump rope, play doh set, clothes, shoes, & a sleeping bag (for trips to the Grandparent’s).  And this year she'll be getting her very first piece of jewelry (none of our girls have their ears pierced)... a 'Big Sister' necklace.  I think she's going to really love it and feel so grown up wearing it.  Now that she's getting older, her birthday and Christmas gifts are reflecting that.  I'm so proud and so sad to see her growing up... it's such a bittersweet milestone to have her turning 5 and starting Kindergarten in the fall! 

This was a sponsored post written by me on behalf of TheKidsToyStore.com, from Start Ranking Now.  All opinions are 100% mine... yours may differ.