A Hot Air Balloon First Birthday Party!

My little sweetheart Georgia is turning one this week!  I can't believe how fast this past year has gone.  Some nights seemed like they would never end, but here she is 12 months later, sleeping through the night, napping in her crib, eating real food, crawling, pulling up and saying "Dada" like a big girl.

Of course we have many wonderful milestones and memories ahead of us, but this past weekend we celebrated her first birthday with a big party with all our friends and family.  The theme was a continuation of my baby shower and her pretty pink nursery:  hot air balloons with a rainbow of pastel hues.

I had so much fun crafting and decorating for this party!  I think our guests enjoyed the food and conversation, and Georgia sure had a good time eating cake and playing with her cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends! :)

I decorated with rainbow crepe paper streams, white "cloud" balloon clusters and baskets with balloons tied with nets and filled with flowers.  Paper hot air balloons and clouds (from the nursery) adorned the walls and ceiling.  The dessert table was complete with a vintage suitcase for decoration, cupcakes and a little rainbow sprinkled smash cake for the birthday girl.

For the balloon topper I printed the graphic three times, cut around it and sewed down the center.  Then I fanned out the layers to create a dimensional effect.  I added the little cutout clouds last and glued the topper to a stick to place it on the cake.  

On the dinner buffet we had pulled pork, hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, tortellini salad, coleslaw, fruit and chips.  The chips I displayed in a wicker picnic basket suitcase for a fun touch!

I made a hot air balloon prop for photos with a big basket and some dowels.  The giant pink balloon I found on Amazon, and I just tied the dowels to the basket and taped the balloon to the sticks.  Then I decorated it with bunting and ribbon bows!  I drew the banner above and printed little blue birds to stick on the wall.  I think it turned out so cute!! :)

Georgia loved playing in the basket.  :)  And it managed to withstand a deluge of party guests and children, too!

At the party, we asked guests to write a note for Georgia to open on her 18th birthday.  We are going to box up her "time capsule" with photos and mementos from the party for her to open in 17 years.  Hopefully she'll enjoy a look back at her first birthday and appreciate the advice and wishes from family and friends.

Favors for the little guests included watercolors, bubbles and blow pops!

Outside on the deck, we had our beverage station on the potting bench.  Despite the torrential rain that started minutes after the party began, everyone had a good time dodging raindrops and some even braved the storm and sat under the porch.  

After dinner, we let Georgia have her first cake.  It took a little encouragement for her to try the tasty icing for herself, but once she did, she had a fun time eating all the little pink flowers off the top first, before digging into the cake itself. :)

We had a wonderful time celebrating our little girl's birthday.  Thanks to everyone who came to the party.  Georgia is lucky to have such wonderful friends and family!  

Come back soon for more updates from the garden and the house.  Now that I'm through party prepping, maybe I'll get back to posting on the blog.  I have a few projects that I need to share! :)