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If you’re planning your baby’s first birthday party, don’t feel overwhelmed.  There are easy ways to celebrate this milestone and still minimize the stress and maximize the enjoyment.  Here are eight tips to get you there.

1. Celebrate.  This party is for you.  Oh, I know your little one is the star.  But you’re the one who has made it through the most exhausting, exhilarating, scary, crazy, wonderful first year of your baby’s life.  You deserve a party!  Choose a theme, food, guests and everything else that makes you happy and your child will be happy, too.

2. Keep it simple.  Yes, you and your child should celebrate this milestone, but don’t lose sleep over it.  Choose foods that are easy to prepare, or better yet, get take-out.  There’s also nothing wrong with asking guests to each bring a dish.  You don’t have to run around to every party store, trying to track down the perfect decorations, invitations or favors.  Pick a theme that is easy to find.  Order your supplies online to save time.

3. Let your baby help you plan.  You know your child’s temperament.  If he or she loves to be around people, then invite the whole gang.  But if your little one is shy, then keep the party on the small side.  What time of day is he or she most active and alert?  Make that the time for the celebration, so that your baby will be awake for the festivities.

4. Go picture crazy.  Take a million snapshots of the big event.  Fill an entire album or scrapbook with the results. Order first birthday photo invitations (or thank you cards) that feature your baby.  Consider giving your guests photo favors as a keepsake.  Document the wonderful day with photographs, so that your precious little one will be able to visualize the celebration when he or she is older.

5. Select a co-host.  Ask a friend, relative or spouse to be a very present partner during the party.  They can keep the celebration going if you have to stop and change a diaper.  He or she can also watch the baby, if you have to take something out of the oven or attend to another guest.  Plus, it’s always good to have another pair of attentive eyes making sure that the little ones are safe.  Finally, it helps to have a dedicated volunteer who will participate in taking photos and video, when you’re busy.

6. Games are not necessary.  Yes, you can include them if you want, but you don’t need to go out of your way to entertain your guests.  Your baby will be the center of attention and the entertainment at his or her first birthday party.  Plus, these celebrations are usually on the short side, around two hours or so.  That’s because your child will get quickly worn out by all the festivities, if they continue much longer than that.  So, it may be hard to even find time for games during the event.

7. Don’t forget the cake.  Not only is this your baby’s first birthday cake, but it is a great photo opportunity.  Just about every little angel enjoys it and making a mess of it is an added bonus for them.  Arm yourself with baby wipes, get out the camcorder and enjoy watching your child dive into this special treat.

8. Create a time capsule.  Pass out slips of paper and ask each of your guests to write a message to your child.  It can be anything from a loving sentiment to words of wisdom and advice for living.  Or you could ask everyone to stick to a topic, such as hopes and dreams for your baby or guesses for their future.  Add all the contributions to a clean popcorn tin or other large air tight container.  You might want to also include a news and entertainment magazine from that week, photos from the party, the invitation, favors, and any other memento that represents either the party, your child or the world at that time.  Seal it up and place in the back of a closet until your child opens it when he or she is eighteen or twenty-one.

You don’t have to go crazy and plan an elaborate event for this to be a wonderful occasion.  Make it a simple celebration. Ask for help. Take tons of photos. Put together a time capsule. Enjoy the cake. With just a little effort and a lot of love, you are sure to create a wonderful first birthday party for your child.

Linda Kling, as the owner of www.photo-party-favors.com, has offered ideas to people planning birthday parties since 1992. She recommends these 1st birthday photo favors and 1st birthday photo invitations. Visit her website for free printables, party recipes, birthday quotes, more.
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By using native plants in their landscaping plan, homeowners can be assured that their plants will thrive in the dry, sunny Texas climate. Native plants make good environmental sense as well, as they generally require less water and can survive for extended periods with little or no watering. Many also serve to attract butterflies and other wildlife, providing an additional level of beauty to these practical and attractive plantings. Here are five of the best native plants for Texas landscape design.

For a burst of color throughout the spring, the huisache daisy’s bright yellow blooms will brighten any yard. Also known as the butterfly daisy or honey daisy, this charming flower of the aster family has attractive foliage and a sweet scent that attracts butterflies; the flower grows up to one foot in height. Huisache daisies can be found growing in large quantities along Texas roads and highways, providing a solid blanket of golden color from March to June; they require partial shade in order to thrive. Because the huisache daisy flourishes in the dry conditions of Texas, it is an outstanding choice for environmentally conscious homeowners who want to conserve water.

The anacacho orchid tree, also known simply as the orchid tree, is so named for its springtime display of orchid-like flowers ranging in hue from soft white to pale pink. Standing six to twelve feet high, it is tolerant to Texas heat and does well on very little water, but requires a certain amount of shielding from harsh winter wind. After the flowers are gone, silver bark and dense green foliage make this a lovely ornamental tree all year round.

Also known as the hummingbird bush, flame acanthus is a native Texas honeysuckle shrub with reddish-orange flowers and light green leaves. Blooms appear in early June and persist throughout the fall, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds with their sweet-smelling fragrance. Drought tolerant, this hardy plant prefers fairly moist soil for best results. It likes full sun and can survive extremes of hot and cold better than average. Pruning in winter produces a denser and more attractive plant for ornamental purposes.

With large, dramatic flowers ranging in hue from golden yellow to red and magenta, Indian blanket is a showy addition to any landscaping project. Also known as firewheel due to the firework-like appearance of its blooms, Indian blanket grows to one or two feet tall and spreads like a shrub. It does well in dry conditions and prefers full sun or partial shade; the sandier the soil, the more flowers it produces. Indian blanket is an excellent choice for first-time native plant gardening since it requires little care and is exceptionally hardy, even reseeding itself naturally at the end of its growing season. It attracts butterflies and stands up reasonably well to incursions by deer.

Because buffalograss is a native prairie grass endemic to Texas, it is an environmentally responsible and hardy alternative to other types of lawn grass. It requires little water to survive, and is tolerant of both sun and heat. Soft to the touch and varying in color between grayish green and blue-green, its flowers attract butterflies and, if left unmowed, it can provide homes for a variety of native wildlife. Buffalograss can grow to a height of one foot, but generally ranges between three and ten inches tall. It does best in clay loam, and goes dormant during extended droughts and in the winter.

Joe Cline writes articles for Austin Texas real estate. Other articles written by the author related to Realtors Property Resource and Austin real estate can be found on the net.
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