Well I will tell you what I did for Waverly and Natasha my two older kids. We did a party at Chucke Cheese for my oldest. On his actual b-day daddy took off and we had a family day. For Natasha we did a cake on her actual b-day and daddy took the day off of work. We did a small park get together for a little party and I made her a cake for that. We got her a little bike the peek a blocks use to make a elephant that was a riding and walking toy....Those are good for beginning walkers!

Deja will have a pretty decent size park party! We are doing a pinata and BBQ hamburgers and hot dogs! I am getting her a little bike the kind made for small kids she can push with her feet. Then on her b-day we will do a family type day like we do with the other two.

When my son turned 1, my husband and I took him to the zoo it was a really fun day. He had his chocolate birthday cake on the kitchen floor (clean floor before anyone exclaims!) so he could dig into it with his hands lol. As for gifts, as well as the usual mountain of toys that kids often receive on their birthdays how about one of those "first years" books that you fill in with all the milestone of their first year or I had one of those photo frames that had a small slot for each month then a large one for when they turned 1. Things like that are great to look back at when they are older. Or even doing a collage box if the day, including photos, gift tags, what she wore, and a little book that family and friends can write something in that she can read when older. Hope this helps and good luck and most importantly have fun!!!

We just had a family a freind party for my little girl. I did go over board with the decorations which where pink an purple. She had a princess party. She loved all the attention. The one nice thing that my nephew did was a CD and it was called Aubrey's First Year. He had all her pics from over the year put to music. It was amazing. Not a dry eye in the house. As what to get her, something that you could start collecting for each of her Birthdays. We did a her piggy bank, it is HUGE. but it is one of a kind. I would love to start a collection of pigs for her because it is so cute. Best of luck and just enjoy it. Let other be in charge of taking pic,and video taping it so you can be right in the middle of it.

For my boys 1st birthday, we did the Blue's Clues theme and kept it only to family. I've read and experienced with friends, that if you have too many people over, it may overwhelm your little girl. Keep it simple and small.
I too, went over board with decorations and the especially the cake. I am not kidding, the cake weighed 7 pounds!!!!!!! It was a double layer full sheet and I put banana pudding in the middle and decorated blue's clues.
My son was just thrilled about everything. I did goody bags for everyone (really they were just keepsakes). But all of the gals in the family loved theirs and still have them to this day.
As for gifts: we got some toys that he grow with, walker type toys with music and such, some Little Tykes cars, etc. I also do a savings bond each year for him and will continue until he's 18. He also gets one for Xmas.
Each year, for my son's birthday, I get a really neat sturdy box. I put special momentos, certain pictures, his birthday goody bags, a balloon from his party and other things that are close to my heart all in this box. Each year will be a different box and later, we can go back and look into each one and see what that year was like. (The Cd video is a wonderful idea too, but for me, I like stuff you can touch and feel)
I say, go with your heart, if you like it, do it!
Have fun and happy early birthday!

We invited everyone! Due to an unexpected cold front, we actually had it at a gym in the yogo/dance room. The kids loved that they could see themselves in the huge mirror and they had a blast playing with the exercise balls. We were going to have it at a park so when we called at the last minuted to tell everyone that it would be at the gym people thought we were nuts. A gym?? Yep at a gym. Afterwards, everyone said it was a great party and told us that it turned out very very well considering. We didn't serve food, only cake & juice.
As far as gifts, we bought her clothes, hair accessories, a small plastic slide, books, shoes, and a few toys. My husband is a shopper!
I will say that putting her shoe & clothes size on the back of the invitations helped because she mostly gets clothes for her b-days instead of toys, toys, toys.