You’re the ONE that I want, do do, do, do do duuuu, oh you’re the ONE that I want do do do, do, do do duuuu!! Levi has officially turned ONE and this mama was all sorts of emotional! I despise being pregnant but ADORE the baby stage and Levi turning the big 1 made me super sad beyond belief! With Brody, I was excited for what was to come but with Levi, I never want him to grow up! He’s my baby and if it was up to me, I would keep him this little {and naive to what’s going on in the world} forever. People ask me all the time why the first year is my favorite and my answer to that is, first and foremost, I was lucky enough to have really amazing babies {my reward for tough pregnancies, perhaps?!} But aside from that, I think with Levi I’ve thrived on seeing him do new things on the daily, teaching him new things, and I also enjoy the anticipation of what new trick he’s going to come up with next! Not to mention, his sweet personality is just so pure and happy. I love his little face, 16-lb body, and small but mighty demeanor.

The first year always amazes me because it puts time into perspective! For adults, a lot can happen in a year but we’re not physically changing all that much from day to day to notice it. But with a baby’s first year, they change A WHOLE LOT each and every day and it’s WILD!!! I wanted to do something different yet still fun for everyone at Levi’s first birthday party and I’m here to tell you all about it!

Let’s start with the fact that every week for months now we’ve been attending ‘Broadway & Me’ classes with Stages Performing Arts here in Highland Park, where we live {but they have classes in the city of Chicago too!!! check out their schedule here} It’s pretty much the BEST music class ever and if you follow me on Instagram and watch my instastories you know that we are OBSESSED!!!! Stages puts a new spin on your average baby music class where every week they perform a new Broadway musical for the kids to revel in. If I’m being honest here, it’s truly the cutest, most adorable, fun, interactive, music class we’ve EVER attended!!!!!!!!!! When we first joined, I started out only bringing Levi and he LOVED it. Then, one day when Brody didn’t have school he came with us and of course he had the best time ever too! So now I bring them both and I’m pretty sure it’s their most favorite time of the week {as well as mine, haha}!! Oh and did I mention they have the BEST.PROPS.EVER?!?! I literally leave class each week with a new toy that I HAVE to go and purchase on Amazon because it was so freaking cute {like this one that I posted about a few months ago here!} 

With that being said, I knew I wanted to hire Stages for Levi’s first birthday party! They offer almost any musical show you can think of {we’ve been to birthday parties where they performed Trolls and Lion King!! sooo cute} but I thought Grease would be fun for Mr. Levi! Levi Lightning, I should say!!! I decorated the entire room in a 50’s theme and everyone had a blast jamming out to GREASE!!!!! Levi literally ATE HIS WHOLE ENTIRE SMASH CAKE {!!!!!!!!!} which I had made by a local cake-baker here in the chi-suburbs and it was a real treat being surrounded by all our close friends and family who love Levi as much as we do!

Check out some more pics below! Huge thanks to my friend Julie {see her amazing instagram feed here} who offered to come and take photos for us! I really tried to enjoy the party and not look at my phone or even take pics with my phone so it was huge to have someone there to do that for us!

What I Wore: Black & White Striped Top; Black Jeans

Oh! And you can’t have a shin dig without giving out fun and unique goodie bags! I had Love and Lion create personalized tattoos for all of our little guests!!!!!!! The boys got T-bird jackets and the girls got Pink Lady coats with their names written on the backs! My only regret of the entire day, you ask?? Not putting Levi’s or Brody’s tats on them FOR the party!!! They both wore white v-neck t’s with leather jackets {a la Danny Zuko, obviously!!!} and I’m killing myself for not getting that picture perfect Instagram photo of them with their tats on!!!!! Gahhhh!!!! #tellmeitsokay #imstillmadatmyself2weekslater

One more thing! A few days before the party I came up with the idea to write “Levi Lightning” with a lightning sign on Levi’s white v-neck t-shirt. Obviously I went to my FAVORITE kids store ever, Sprout Kids, where you can personalize just about anything! It’s also located 5 minutes from my house which is like theeeee MOST #dangerous since I’m so obsessed with EVERYTHING they carry for the littles! {check out their website to see what I mean!} Some people have already asked me where I got his shirt made via social media so I thought I would share here too!

And by the way, if you’re in the Chicago area and have a baby or toddler, you MUST go to a Broadway & Me class ASAP!!! Your first one is FREE!!!!!! And if you are interested on using Stages at your next birthday party or event, click here for more information on that! PLEASE tell them Dana from I Adore What I Love sent you!!! I cannot say enough amazing things about Emily {the owner!} and her crew!

[bctt tweet=”You’re the ONE that I want!! Click here to check out the cutest first birthday theme EVER!! #iadorewhatilove #MrLeviTanner #LeviLightning” username=”iadorewhatilove”]

If you were throwing a Broadway party for your kid{s}, what musical would you choose?? Tell me in the comments now!!