Let's be honest, first birthday parties are all about the parents! It's a celebration that we made it through that first tough year, a toast to the years to come, and a confidence builder that you are now a seasoned parent.

For each of our three kids, we threw a fairly large first birthday party, and then skipped parties until they asked for a friend birthday party at the age of four. I figured if we went all out for one, we earned a few years off. And honestly, with our large extended family living nearby for the first two kiddos, we couldn't have pulled off a small party without excluding people. Instead, we found spaces that worked for our large group and DIYed as much as possible to keep costs manageable.

By the time our third baby came around, we were no longer living close to family having moved out of state prior to his birth. We landed in an amazing community that constantly brings the term "it takes a village" to life. Feeling supported through that tough first year by our loving friends and neighbors, we decided to do another party even though it wouldn't be quite as large. For the first time, the group was small enough to host at home. With a June birthday, we knew we could bank on good weather and utilize our back yard space. I love parties with a book theme and I found so many great ideas for a Where the Wild Things Are. The theme became an easy choice.

First we made a costume for baby Benjamin. I purchased a snap onesie in ivory from Primary.com and added felt buttons adorned with a black puffy paint x with fabric glue. I wanted the onesie to be utilized as pajamas after the party, so I only used a small dab of glue to the buttons.

Next, I made the tail using faux fur I found at JoAnn Fabrics. It was my first time working with a material that thick and once I got over the shedding, I had fun trying something new. Note: Instead of cutting faux fur, make a small rip then tear the fabric apart. It will give you a much more natural nap. There's a good tutorial here if you're feeling uncertain about the tail, but just make a basic wide shape and sew it shut without any stuffing. I added an elastic loop to pin to the onesie.

For the crown I cut two identical pieces of felt and stitched them together so it would be nice and sturdy. I joined them at the back with a strip of elastic to give a comfortable fit for the birthday boy. Then I glued fabric scraps from tail onto the bottom. I had to add a couple safety pins so the weight of the fur would hold against the felt. I probably could have found a more permanent solution, but I kept reminding myself this was for a photoshoot costume only. I wasn't concerned about it lasting through years of play and abuse.

We tried the crown on to ensure a perfect fit before finalizing the elastic placement.

We went out to a nature park near our home and got adorable shots to use on the invitation and thank you notes.

When purchasing at least 25 cards, I love the Greetings by Costco service. You get quality equal to Minted at a fraction of the price, plus free extras like front and back printing, rounded corners, and return addresses printed on the envelopes.