batman & belle: Never Grow Up

It's no secret that I love planning parties. Everything about it is fun for me. Picking the perfect theme, making decorations or finding cute things for cheap, and planning food. I also know that many people think it is ridiculous to go all out for babies birthdays, and that is great for them. I am under no illusion that my kids are going to remember these parties from their first birthday, and that's OK. I think it is more for us as parents. A celebration of their sweet life of course, but also a celebration of surviving and somewhat thriving in that first year of their life because that certainly deserves a celebration.

I knew pretty early on that I wanted to do a "Never Grow Up" Peter Pan theme for Lincoln's first birthday. As my last baby, I am two-fists-tightly-gripping onto his baby-ness. I'm not wishing it away this time so "Never Grow Up" has been my motto for him since day one.

I love Peter Pan and the movie Finding Neverland is one of my all-time favorites and makes me sob all the ugly tears every time. I wanted to run with the theme but not in a traditional Peter Pan and Tinkerbell way. So, I just subtly went with feathers, arrows, moss and trees, teepee, pirates and treasure. We had chocolate gold coins and gummy tick-tock crocs for the kids to make goody bags out of as their party favor and black tape leading to the red "X" marks the spot on the front porch. Some "Lost boys rules" and a bunch of photos of our sweet boy through his first year completed it all.

We did a taco bar because tacos are always a good idea. I prayed the rain away (although it showered on us for a few minutes) and we enjoyed having an outdoor party with a bounce house. Lincoln was a pro at the cake smash which was hilarious and I was so glad we were outside for it as he started throwing cake on the ground after shoving his face.

I swear by these words "Little boys should never be sent to bed, they always wake up a day older and then before you know it, they're grown." To my little boy who just keeps growing, I love you.