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[QueenBee]

It's too early I know but I can't hide how excited I am for my son's first birthday 

Mommies out there who will be celebrating their baby's birthday on January 2013, are you starting your preparations now? or maybe are you thinking about it?

I am a first time mommy and celebrating the every firsts of my baby is just so awesome... first vaccination, first bath, first month, first smile and etc... dapat lahat may picture  Most especially siguro sa first birthday ng baby boy ko. I really want to start scouting venues, thinking what would be the best theme, how will we celebrate it, something like that. Nabanggit ko sa hubby ko the other night na I want to start preparing na sabe ba naman it's too early pa daw. hehe. Naingganyo kase ako sa mga SP mommies na bumibili ng mga party needs sa Divi doing DIY stuffs for the party. 

Any thoughts? Is it really too early o sadyang super excited lang ako? hahaha 
Mod's note:
Get tips on setting your timeline, coordinating with photographers, suppliers, catering and host on these articles from Smart Parenting.

Preparing for your Child’s Birthday Party: Checklists and Timelines (Part 1)
25 Tips from SP Moms (Part 2)

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[trishevil]

^sis, always remember the key to success is a careful and meticulous planning. Without proper planning, di mo ma-aachieve kung anong gusto mo. It applies to everything.

First, isip ka muna ng theme. you can go for the popular ones such as Character-themed, Safari theme, pirates theme..Or if may preferred yung baby mo na item use that as your theme. Sa case ng baby ko, favorite niya ang Baby TV and Balls and Balloons. Since nung magbirthday baby ko, one month preparations lang, we went for Balls and Balloons theme. Though I'm planning to do a Baby TV themed party next year. Puro DIY nga lang ako as it is not commercially available in the Philippines. I'm planning to prepare as early as Dec. 2012 for my baby's June 2013 birthday.

Make a list of what you want to have on your baby's party. Then, mag-canvass ka.

[purplemom]

@QueenBee...ok lang sis yun 6 months preparations as long as may budget ..may iba SP mom (ravenwillis, etc)  nga katatapos lang ng party may theme na agad sa next birthday and meron na agad souvenirs...he he...may mga venue and party hosts din kasi na ang bilis ma booked  kaya mas maganda na din nag scout ka na ng supplier may time ka mamili and mag trial and error sa theme na gusto mo etc...

...ako naman inuunti unti ko pagbili and pag napupunta ako sa isang lugar nasisingit ko ang pagwindow shop ng anything related sa party.. kahit gano kaaga ang preps ok lang.... hindi naman nasasayang ang oras mo dun because you will feel a sense of accomplishments pag may nagagawa ka na project para sa party...

[Planet Baby]

wow, di pala ako nag iisa,,, haha!

last year august ako nagstart magplan.

Pros:
you have all the time to plan,buy the items, make reservations etc...


Cons:
Dami mo na pala nagastos, di lang halata.  Malalaman mo na lang pag nagcompute ka pagkatapos ng party. 

[QueenBee]

Nainspire talaga ako sa inyo mga SP mommies and since 1st birthday toh ng little prince namin I want it to be really hands on and something memorable for my baby. Though hindi naman niya talaga maaalala pag laki niya at least I have videos and pictures to show. As early as now may mga choices na ako ng themes, may naiisip na din ako venues and mga add on carts. I keep on reading topics dito sa SP Forum at as in super dame ko natututunan. It's a good thing may ganito. 

[kiddiedoc]

Hi mommy!
My son will be celebrating his 7th birthday party on Jan.6, and yes I've already started my preparation, I've already booked Yoyo master as the host, and next week I will visit his possible venue:)

[alexismom]

Queenbee- Okay lang to prepare early. Madaming mommies dito who understand.  Yung iba kasi iniisip why we make such a fuss about parties but here you can find a support group. Before my baby's first birthday, nakatambay na ako dito. You can ask the mommies here where to get affordable giveaways, decors, catering services, cakes etc. I found my suppliers here too. I just researched kung ano yung mga within my budget. Sis sis Purplemom , idol ko yan sa DIY. kaya nainspire ako before to make DIY standees nung first birthday ng baby ko and choco fountain and candy buffet. Sa totoo lang kami nila Ravenwillis more than 6 months before the party nagpreprepare. Secret lang kasi iniisip ng husbands namin OA.  Last year kasi 11 months before the party nag-uusap na kami. Make sure lang to think of what you really need at kung anong priority mo sa party para maiwasan yung unnecessary expenses.

For my baby's 3rd birthday, settled na ako sa Mdo because of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme. I'll just wait for feedback from sis Ravenwillis pagpunta niya sa Divi so I can decide what the giveaways will be. I plan to order kasi sa Handicrafts or buy stuffed toys sa Divi.

Happy planning, sis! 

[haydom11]

Me too im already thinking about my baby's first birthday on Jan 2013 in fact ilang araw na rin akong nag baback read about birthdays here in SP  I'm torn between a big party with all the usual kids party stuff since this is her first nga to be done in a function hall or a smaller party at Gymboree Serendra since she's only 1 and still cannot participate sa mga games and activities plus we don't have much relatives din sa Manila kaya I considered gymboree for a small party but i'm yet to inquire sa kanila kung paano yung mga adult guests. Yung sa function hall naman 100 guests ang minimum eh I only expect siguro at the most na yung 50 pax including the kids. Ilan ba usually ang mga guests nyo? Anyone here who have availed the birthday package at Gymboree?

[QueenBee]

For my baby's 3rd birthday, settled na ako sa Mdo because of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme.

me too I want MMC theme kaya I wanna do it sa McDonalds plus the fact na may free toy na mga meals nila. I'm planning either sa McDo Greenbelt 1 or sa MCS branch nila. I do hope hindi sila strict when it comes sa pagpasok ng ice cream cart, mascot, photobooth at kung ano-ano pa. I need to confirm it pa with the GM of the branch na yan.

DIY na lang yong invitations, lootbags and souvenirs. Matiyaga naman ako and my friends to go to Divi. Makakamura pa ako if i'll do it my own plus my touch of love pa. 

Sa photographers, madami ako mga friends na freelancer. Maybe I could ask them to cover the party for free since ninong naman sila ng baby ko. hehe I know a little when it comes to photography. In fact I own a Nikon SLR kaso ayoko naman na ako magpicture for sure lage ako wala nun sa pics. hahaha. Maybe I could ask a close friend of mine na tinuruan ko magpic na magpicture. My brother has a Canon EOS 60D at magaling din sya magpicture. so dame na ako photographer. I'll ask a copy na lang then pick the best shots tas papagawa ako ng photo album niya like nung binyag niya. laki na nag tipid ko diba 

Anyone of you na may kakilala na pwede mag MM mascot at a lower price? photobooth na din...

Ill get the nestle ice cream package din yung 1500 na naka cart. patok yon sa mga visitors. hehe.

plan ko din na lahat ng visitors naka MM headbands at MM shirts. tas black and red balloons lang all over the venue. Yong invitation balak ko head ni mickey mouse. I can do it na on my own since I am making invitations din.

BTW, mga 50-70 guests lang siguro kame including kids na yon. Hay dami ko plano sana magawa ko lahat.

[MommyCaline]

wow meron na palang thread na ganito  my baby will turn 3 years old on Jan 31. i'm planning to celebrate it at McDonalds since her first 2 birthdays are catering. I notice kasi everytime nagpupunta kami ng Mcdo, my daughter rushes to the area where their party items are displayed.  super like niya yung Disney Princess theme.. 

[littleNudger]

Wee di ako rin ako nag-iisa.. My daughter's naman will be on Jan.11 2012 pero baka 13 icelebrate

Katakot takot kasi na kantyaw inaabot ko dito sa house pag naririnig nila plans ko, pati si hubby natatawa lang.. Last May pa kasi ko nagstart mag list down and maghanap ng mga suppliers Hopefully magawa ko lahat ng gusto ko since may adequate time to prepare, binyag kasi niya 1 week preps lang, although maganda naman kinalabasan. Alam ko na din kasi kung ano gusto ko preggy pa lang ako and mahilig naman ako mag organize ng party

Torn ako between tinkerbell and princess theme, so i decided na fairy princess na lang, gusto ko kasi mala-enchated na fairy tale-ish

Venue - naghahanap pa ng iba, pero 70% chance eh sa Atrium Hotel dahil sa malaking discount na makukuha namin (kung san na din sya nung binyag) hehe pero kung makakita ng iba, ok lang din

Giveaways - mini stool na crown and fairies ang design

Yan pa lang naiisip ko for now na medyo decided na.. Yung sa ibang supplier isip isip pa

Meron na din pala kong layout for save the date, invitation na lang gagawin pa.. Meron na din ako idea sa balloon decors and plan ko naman mag DIY na styro backdrop  so magstart na ko now, para matapos by january hahaha

Good luck satin mommies!

[KVsmommy]

Subscribing. Doing basic planning na for my daughter's 4th (sa May pa naman.hihi). Most likely simple party lang ulit, pero type ko yung medyo mas 'elegant' naman this time.

sis QueenBee: You came to the right place! Sa SP, basta birthday planning, it's always done way in advance. And I used to think din I was being OA when I planned ahead, pero nung nakilala ko mga mommies dito, I realized just how very important it is to do that. Pag maaga ka kasi nagplano, whether or not you're doing a big party or just a simple celebration, naiaayos mo lahat ng details. Nakakagawa ka ng DIYs, and you can make adjustments without the need to panic, unlike pag crunch time na before the party tapos saka ka pa lang naplaplan. Nakakapagcanvass ka din ng best prices. So happy planning sis!

[QueenBee]

^tama ka dyan sis. I'll start calling Mcdonalds na. hehe 

[dorgie]

It's alright to plan ahead so you can save time and can also plan your expenses... Ako kasi ganyan din eh.. If Im planning to have a birthday party for my child (I don't give party for him every year) as early as June (December ang birthday niya) Nagpa-plan na ako. I list down lahat ng kailangang gawin, kailangan bilhin, pati mga guests, and yung budget kung how much ang magagastos ko. Mas gusto ko kasi na hindi sabay-sabay ang gastos. Tinitingnan ko kung alin yung pwede nang bayaran o bilhin. Para pagdating ng actual day eh medyo maliit na lang ilalabas kong money... Plus, when you plan early mas marami kang mapupulot na ideas at makakapamili ka ng the best. Kaya ok lang yan... Go ahead!...

[littleNudger]

Hi sis haydom11, same tayo, kinonsider ko din ang gymboree sa choices ko.. Sofitel naman ang accessible samin kaya nagustuhan ko, inisip ko din na since may play area pwedeng no need na ko kumuha ng side entertainments na ibu-book pa.. So ayun, ok din. Kaso ang downside ay hindi bagay yung place sa theme ko w/c is enchanted fairies/princess.. Masyado kasi colorful yung place and may mga decors na hindi bagay sa gusto ko. Hehe. Pero kung wala ka naman susundin na theme, mukhang ok naman sya sis. At least may place ang baby mo to walk/crawl/play din, mageenjoy din sya

Update mo ko kung nakapag decide at nakausap mo na gymboree ha