When Walter and I expressed our concern that Sophia's birthday would get forgotten at the end of December, caught so closely between Christmas and New Years, we had friends and our Doctor talk to us about how they celebrated or knew of people who celebrated their half birthday. It sounded like a great idea to me, although I still wanted to celebrate Sophia's birthday on or close to her birthday. When her 1st Birthday did come it was hard to get people together on a day near her birthday and after Christmas. We were able to have a little and great party on her birthday, at the Seattle Center with Jane and Jason and Leo, but I had decided, half birthday it was! 
That worked out to be July 4th! Perfect! Here was a holiday that we all got together for anyway, and summer birthday's had a better chance of being sunny, people liked to get together, and on the 4th we met at my parents house where we could swim and it was a prime place for a festive party.
Walter and I decided a Luau theme would be great and we bought plastic leis, plastic Tiki cups (Padon picked out the colors) rub on tattoos, and squirt guns as favors; bought a little grass skirt for Sophia (too flipp'n cute), tiny umbrellas for the drinks, and a multi-colored palm tree garland for decoration. We used the purple table cloth from Padon's 1st Birthday and brought our slip'n'slide down for some extra added water fun. 
Our friend Jen came with her little girl Mia and the kids ran around, Sophia in her adorable ladybug swimsuit, and had a blast playing in the water and on the trampoline. Sophia was so funny because she had to play with and put her blankets (a.k.a Baby and tiny Baby) in the water; like she was showing them the fun. But it wasn't long before big baby was completely saturated and was too heavy for Sophia to pick up which aggravated her. It must have taken us two hours to sneak it away from her, however, to wring it out and throw it in the dryer. It was too funny.
Our friend Jen came with her little girl Mia and the kids ran around, Sophia in her adorable ladybug swimsuit, and had a blast playing in the water and on the trampoline. Sophia was so funny because she had to play with and put her blankets (a.k.a Baby and tiny Baby) in the water; like she was showing them the fun. But it wasn't long before big baby was completely saturated and was too heavy for Sophia to pick up which aggravated her. It must have taken us two hours to sneak it away from her, however, to wring it out and throw it in the dryer. It was too funny. 
My Dad made the most delicious beer marinated ribs, something that I had wanted to have in place of a roasted luau pig, and my Mom had been so awesome in going shopping with me for the other items like chips, and fruit and vegetable platters for the party. 
We ended the party with presents and cupcakes, just in time for Sophia to begin a fast downward spiral towards pajamas and bed time. She had a really great time and it was a perfect 1st birthday. 
At 18 months old she was walking and running, able to open her presents, and show us which present was the one to buy (in this case a dish and pretend food set that had her giggling manically in the store). 
Going forward I think we will celebrate her birthday as a small Warren get together on December 30th and will have her party on the 4th of July (assuming no one else minds). This way Sophia will always have a special day she can share with her friends and still have a rock'n 21 run on New Years Eve.
