Logan’s First Birthday Party – Part 1

The party was held at our home and the theme was sock monkey(…and red…and aqua…and bunting flags…but mainly sock monkey). Why the sock monkey theme you ask? Well, how exactly do you pick a theme for a 1 year old? They can’t really tell you what they want, and at 1 my child isn’t really into anything other than chasing around our cats and attempting to eat their food. I vetoed the cat theme when I saw how much Logan loved the sock monkey we got him for Easter. It was love at first sight, he kissed it and hugged it and tried to eat it. A sock monkey theme it was.

I woke up that morning thinking about how, just a year ago, I was in labor for most of the day. I thought of how I finally met my tiny 6lb 8oz newborn on the outside at exactly 7:48pm that night, a whole month early. I remembered how peaceful my home birth was. I recalled holding him close to my chest and how he stared up at me, knowing exactly who I was. I thought of not being able to sleep because I was too busy watching my precious baby sleep. How quickly a year goes by. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate the past year of Logan’s life.

A big thanks to my mom, dad and Mr. Crafty Nest for all of their help with this party (and for tolerating my crazy-type A-party planning-nazi-behavior). On to the details…and boy were there lots of details, including banana scented tarts from Scentfully Soy Candles burning as guests arrived (yes, I realize I need help).

This radio flyer was a yard sale find, by my treasure hunting dad, and went outside our front door. I painted the large ONE letters, found at Jo-Anns, and added mini paper bunting to the O to match the bunting found on the cake and centerpieces. I made the sock monkey wreath, simply wrapping yarn around a straw wreath and adding ric-rac. The mini sock monkey is handmade from Terrace Hill.

Instead of a traditional guestbook, guests signed The Happy Birthday Book by Dr. Seuss and left wishes in Logan’s time capsule. The time capsule will be opened by Logan on his 18th birthday. Using the monthly photos I took of Logan, I created a banner using scrapbook paper and strung with ribbon.

Guests enjoyed decorating their own mini sock monkey. I found these little monkeys at Oriental Trading. I put out googly eyes, pom poms, fabric pens and other craft supplies. I think the adults liked this activity more than the kids! Oh and my mom sewed all of the sock monkey table runners that you see.

I’ve been collecting glass containers of all shapes and sizes over the past year for the candy buffet table. I found most of them at Hobby Lobby, Michaels and Home Goods. I purchased a plain square cardboard cupcake tower from Cupcake Tree and spray painted it brown. I also added some ribbon to the edges. All of the red “stands” you see, that give the table dimension, are actually just boxes covered in red wrapping paper. I stamped the brown kraft bags with a sock monkey stamp from Stampin’ Up. All of our guests were sent home in a sugar coma.The large fabric bunting was custom made by Blue Moon Studios and matched the mini fabric bunting on the highchair. I also used the bunting during Logan’s cake smash photo session. The large photos hanging above the table were taken by Jen of Green Apple Images, the same photographer who took all of these amazing photos. I mounted them to large foam boards with double sided tape to give them more dimension. I figure if there was ever a time to hang life size photos of your child in your home, his first birthday party would be the day. My grandmother now has these proudly displayed in her living room, I kid you not.