Hey there, fellow party planners and DIY enthusiasts!

It's the week of my baby's first birthday, and I am beyond excited and a tad emotional at how quickly time has flown by. With the big day just around the corner, I've been knee-deep in preparations, crafting, and baking to make this celebration extra special. Come join me on this joyous journey as I share all the DIY magic that went into creating my baby's first birthday bash!

When it comes to desserts, I knew I had to go all out because, let's be honest, who doesn't love sweet treats? With my love for baking reignited, I decided to kick things off with adorable chocolate-dipped Oreos. I melted some yellow chocolate, filled up little molds, and placed those Oreo cookies right on top. Once they were set, I couldn't resist drawing smiley faces on them with an edible marker. Yum! Don't worry; I managed to save some for the party – they were too delicious to resist!

Next on the list was ice cream, a must for a sunny outdoor celebration. I found a fantastic sugar-free ice cream recipe made with carrot and orange juice – perfect for both babies and adults. I poured the mix into cute reusable ice cream molds and, voila, a refreshing treat for the little ones to enjoy alongside us grown-ups. And you won't believe it – we used the leftover carrots to make some tasty tater tots for my little munchkin. No waste here!

The highlight of my baking escapades was definitely the smash cake. I wanted to make it extra special for my little one, so I found a healthy recipe made with banana, peanut butter, and oat flour – no added sugar! I even did a test run with different frosting and finally settled on a buttercream frosting for the big day. The cake adorned with cute smiley faces was just perfect for our "One Happy Dude" theme. It was so much fun creating it, knowing that it would be joyfully demolished during the party!

As the day drew nearer, I switched gears to decorating the party space. I tackled my second-ever balloon garland with confidence, having learned from my previous experience. Balloons, smiley face mylar balloons, and checkered balloons – they all came together to create a fabulous backdrop that I couldn't help but admire. The photo shoot with my little one against this backdrop was a heartwarming moment I'll cherish forever.

Finally, the big day arrived, and I couldn't be prouder of how everything turned out. Our guests loved the personalized flair I added to the cupcakes with Leo's adorable faces. The shortbread cookies, inspired by TikTok, were an absolute hit, and everyone had a blast capturing precious moments with Leo smashing his cake!

Of course, not everything was perfect, but that's parenthood, right? Going with the flow and cherishing the beautiful memories is what truly matters. It was an absolute joy to see my little one surrounded by love and laughter, and I'm grateful to all our guests who made it so special.

Now that the birthday festivities are over, I'm already planning my next DIY project – creating a playroom for Leo! So, stay tuned for more adventures on the blog.

Thank you for following along on this incredible journey of DIYing my baby's first birthday party. I hope this inspires you to create your own magical celebrations filled with love, joy, and a touch of DIY magic. Until next time, take care, and keep spreading happiness!

Happy birthday, my Leo baby! 🎂🎉

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