• Throw your 1-year-old a special birthday party.Cute happy one year old baby image by Galina Barskaya from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>
  
  A baby's first birthday is a momentous occasion often celebrated with a party. Hold a party at home or at another location. Plan the party around a theme if desired, or just decorate for a child's birthday party. Start a birthday time capsule tradition that will hold a lifetime of cherished memories.
  
  

Off-Site Location

• Hold a child's first birthday at place that throws parties for young children, such as Gymboree. They are trained to work with small children and will conduct engaging activities appropriate for their age, such as moving to music and playing with balls. Other locations, such as an indoor bounce houses and a zoo, may have party rooms and special activities for birthday parties, even for a one-year old. The workers often set up and clean up, which means you can enjoy the party with your child rather than acting as hostess the whole time.
  
  

Themes

• If want a specific theme, Elmo, butterflies, Mickey Mouse, the number "1," fire trucks and Baby Einsteins are common themes for first birthdays. Design or buy a cake that goes with the theme and decorate using themed merchandise, or simply choose colors that go with the theme. For instance, for an Elmo party, decorate in red and black streamers and paper products rather than purchasing the more expensive themed items. Play games around that theme, such as "Pin the Ears on the Mickey."
  
  

Time Capsule

• Cut a lock of your child's hair, put a couple pictures in and write some down some of your favorite cute and memorable things your child has done in the last year. Record any monuments, such as first steps and first word and place it in the "time capsule," which can simply be a sealed plastic storage container. Enlist everyone at the party to write down a few things about how special your child is and take a picture of everyone at the party to put into the capsule later. Then, place the time capsule in a safe location, such as on the shelf of your closet. If desired, add more items each year at your child's birthday party. At his 18th birthday party, have him open the capsule up to share the items and then keep the treasures for himself.