She’ll turn two in less than two weeks.
And I really want to make it special.
We received her referral just a few days before she turned one.
And submitted our LOI the day before her first birthday.
So there was no time to order her a birthday cake.
Or send her presents.
I want to make this birthday – her second birthday but possibly her first birthday party and certainly her first party as part of our family – something special.
I already have her big gift (a toddler balance bike) chosen. Firstly, because sitting atop a ride-on seems to be one of her favorite places to be. And secondly, because she’s driving her bigger siblings nutty by trying to steal borrow their balance bikes.
But beyond that, I got nothin’.
Ideas for what would make an almost-2 year old swoon would be most appreciated.
My mom did a gift in a really big box…….the gift was small, and maybe even clothing……but inside the box were about 20 helium balloons……….some of them were tied down so she could play with them, and some floated away into the sky…..everyone LOVED the balloons……
My girlie lost her mind over this bath tub butterfly net, especially when the butterflies swim/fly through the water.
http://www.littletikes.com/toys/butterfly-net.aspx
And she still plays with the Leap Frog picnic basket. It’s one of the few electronic toys she has that isn’t obnoxious.
http://www.amazon.com/LeapFrog-Shapes-Sharing-Picnic-Basket/dp/B004560BPY/ref=pd_sim_t_7
I’m enjoying your blog!
BALLOONS! If I want to make my two year old’s day, I give her a balloon, no helium required. She absolutely adores them and they are cheap :o) Bella also just got a really sweet baby doll, it’s from FAO Schwartz (the Toys-R-Us line) and it’s Asian. It’s really small, perfect for her little hands and the features are perfect. Bella is actually African-American and she is momma to many chocolate babies, but this little one is by far her favorite.
Stef…remember when I told you I would make Poppy a romper??? Well, I’d love to send her some birthday love ;o) I just need her inseam, and also tell me what store bought size you buy for her. Please…oh please let me make her a birthday romper, I have the PERFECT fabric!!!
Hey Shasta!
WOW! We would LOVE that 🙂
I emailed you privately… let me know if you need anything else from me!
Thank you so much!
Thank you for the great idea! I’m ordering one for Luke for Christmas!!
Wow- I just read some more great ideas!! I was going to ask if you had a lil tikes car- that is always fun!! And a bitty baby with a stroller. You probably already have all this because you have lots of kiddos!!
Happy Birthday Poppy! It’s going to be a great day!!
we had a luau for our daughter’s second – lots of balloons, kiddie pools and water toys, and a pinata. The kids (mostly 2-4) had a blast. Honestly though, I think what my daughter loved was being surrounded by her favorite people. Poppy’s birthday will be special b/c she has you all with her. Have a great day!
You know how on first birthdays most little kiddos get a “smash cake” to themselves? Along with a cake for all the others? I am guessing sweet Poppy has never had her own cake before so maybe that would be a good idea!
I have to agree with the others who suggested balloons. My 2 year old got a couple leftover balloons from an open house last night and they’ve kept her entertained all day. I don’t think we could pry the balloon strings out of her hand if we tried! I also like the idea of a smash cake. That would be a lot of fun for her.
I would just say, do something visual. (Nothing too scary or overwhelming!) Just beautiful colors everywhere ~ streamers, balloons, table decorations, and more balloons ~ the colors and the festivity of it all will be a big deal for her, I bet. And any gifts that she gets will be great, too. But the vsual memory of her first real party will be well worth the effort!
Good luck! Parties are such fun ~ is it still that way with so many kids, and thus so many birthdays?!
All the best,
Nicole A., now in LA
Make your own tutu’s. Lots of colors to choose from, then let just tie them on for her. (and plenty of ‘extras’ for the sisters that are of tutu wearing age). http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2009/01/want-to-make-your-own.html
Emme has her Fisher Price tea set since she came home at 27 months. It’s always been her favorite next to her kitchen (the FP grow with me one). If you want to experiment Target used to have their own small table top one for $15. We started there and then graduated shortly after to the FP one. At 5 she still loves it. How about a water table? Finger paint?
get a kiddy pool and fill it with plastic balls always a hit!
A doll stroller! Both of my girls got them for their 2nd birthdays and still, at 3 1/2 and 7 1/2 play with them daily.
Um, how ’bout a pony?
I like the way you think, Chrissie!
🙂
Cate’s first birthday with me was her 2nd birthday and oh, do I remember how special I wanted it to be. 🙂
Of course, we had many people to stop in and love on this sweet girl.
The “big” gift was her own table and chairs (I love Pottery Barn…a weakness) and I loved the Farmhouse table and chairs. Friends and family wanted to help me purchase those for her and then I asked those friends and family members to write a blessing to Cate on the bottoms of the chairs. Cate is 5 and we use this table every day. 🙂
I realize you guys probably already have little tables and chairs…but Miss Poppy might like her own special blessing chair or rocker. You could put her handprints on it…everyone could write or draw something for her on it.
You could write a Scripture you’ve prayed for Poppy on it.
I love gifts with words of love and blessing attached in some way. 🙂
Have fun planning and then enjoying Poppy’s day. No doubt you will…you already are.
Blessings,
Suzanne
I love this idea, think how she would treasure this when she has children of her own.
I agree with the balloons suggestion a few people have already mentioned.
I saw a link to this on Pinterest, and I think it is a great idea of little kids…. http://www.craftymoods.com/2010/12/kids-priceless-morning-birthday.html
It’s gonna be a great birthday no matter what!
Bubble machine….about $70 on amazon. You can use it for all their birthdays. She will love it! And talk about a photo op! 🙂
We got my 2 year old a pillow pet. She loved it. I got it for $17 off amazon with free shipping. She carried it around for like 6 mos. Good luck!!
I agree with the balloons! The other big hit with my littles is silly string. There is something so insanely fun about that stuff, and it has become part of every big celebration around here!
Boxes of Kleenex! I am not kidding my LOVED this present we gave her one Christmas!! Ok besides that how about a doll. She already got the best present – a family!
Little People Play House. It has sounds for the doorbell, telephone, potty flushing etc… It’s sooo cute!
I feel the same way, we sent out LOI the day before Chloe’s 1st Birthday last year. Chloe’s big gift is going to be a kitchen, but I think she is going to go wild about the jewelry I picked up at the outlet mall for a couple bucks.
When my girlie turned 2, all she wanted was Band-aids. That’s right…….band-aids. And she got them…..in all different styles and characters. You would have thought she won the lottery! She was SO happy!
There’s some good stuff here – but – her very own cake – all her’s and her’s alone – along with a video and still camera to capture her enjoying getting it everywhere!
hugs – aus and co.
We missed Emma’s first 2 birthdays so on her 3rd birthday 1st to celebrate we had a first bday cake small and round sang happy bday blew out #1 candle played in cake this was done with Momma holding cake and Emma right beside and all friends gathered around…20 min later repeat with #2 little cake..we had Elmo come she lovrs Elmo and he gave her special present and sang and danced with all kids and little gifts for all.yhen last cake big Elmo cake by this point she really liked singing and cake and got into it..we also had a bouncy house slide that everyone could do sorta like a carnival…games too..she had so much fun and it was so special..good luck
PLEASE note that latex balloons are the leading cause of children’s choking deaths. ( I have a friend whose three year old died this way at his own birthday party. )
From the University of Michigan’s medical website:
“Latex balloons: Believe it or not, balloons cause more childhood deaths than any other toy. Any substance that can take the shape of a child’s windpipe or airway (like balloons or disposable diaper stuffing) is a more dangerous choking hazard than a hard, solid object. Children ages 3-8 are still at risk for choking on balloons. Choose mylar balloons instead of latex rubber, keep uninflated or broken balloons out of kids’ reach, and supervise children under age eight when they are around balloons.”
Lots of good ideas already–but have to second the baby stroller idea. My kids also liked Duplo’s around that age and they have some cool girly ones now. Probably the other favorite thing is jewelry, dress-up clothes and pretend cell phone. Oh and pretend computer so they can press buttons like…ahem…Mommy.
My little one turned two last week, and since we brought her home in March of this year, it was her first celebration, too. We had a big party, and I know she was clueless that it was all for her, but we will have pictures that she can look back on and know how much she was celebrated. She got some awesome gifts but her most-treasured was a cheap, pink, plastic cell phone I picked up at Target. (Two year olds! Don’t they appreciate the finer things in life…) We decorated with balloons and those tissue-paper pom poms and had a bubble station – all things whimsical and she loved it! Just have fun and enjoy HER that day.
Oh Stef, I can’t provide any suggestions because I base my *ideas* off of knowing the little person’s personality and preferences from observing them. So, I think you will figure out what will be best to make her day special. But, my goodness. Just look at her smile.. Its obvious that everyday with her family is special to this little blossom.
Last year my husband & blew up a whole bag of colorful balloons & filled my daughters room while she was sleeping. On her birthday, she woke to a room full of balloons. She & her brother had a ball playing in them. Was like a giant ball pit.
My kids used to love water play. When they were smaller we bought kiddy pools, great big giant plastic round bins that were deep and could be used as mini pools for one or two, slip and slides and tons of bubbles. We’d set up bubble machines and pass out bubble guns, and have tons of bubble solution on hand. If you’re crafty at all, you can even make your own giant bubble wands out of metal hangers just by bending them to shape. Mine were always really ugly, but did end up working. Between the water and bubbles, it’s a great big giant mess, but if it’s outdoors and the weather cooperates, it’s all good.
They also loved, loved doing ice cream bars where we would set out different flavors of ice cream and tons of different toppings, which were mostly different candies or cookies that were crunched up. You can have plain frosted cupcakes on the side where they can use the ice cream toppings to decorate.
I can’t imagine anything more exciting than being around your big ole loving family to celebrate Poppy’s birthday together for the first time. What could be more fun! Last year, Josie LOVED when we sang her Happy Birthday even more than she like the presents, I think. Lots of good ideas for simple fun (bubbles, etc.) but I too would skip the latex balloons. I have heard really sad stories, too, and it’s just too easy for a little piece to get lost around the house and then found later (and choked on). I’m still surprised people buy them. Children’s in Boston had a huge poster years ago that told all the dangers…freaked me out enough…we now only buy mylar balloons.
How special! That is a super cool present! Cant wait to see the birthday pictures!!
~Sis
http://adoption-thecrookedroad.blogspot.com
Stef, she’s so beautiful. 🙂 Happy Birthday to your littlest sweetie! 🙂