I spent soooo much time on a first birthday cake for my little boy. I found a fun cake that was posted on CC from Ilovemyhusband, for a sports themed baby shower cake. It was going to be perfect to try to recreate, only with the sports my family enjoys going to, and playing for his cake. I worked so hard, but in the end, I hate it. I just lost control and sloppy took over. I don't know if I am bummed because of the time spent is incongruent to the looks of the cake, or that it is my little guy's first birthday, and this was the one I wanted perfect... I rationally know that I didn't "ruin" his birthday, that is WAY too much credit for a one year old that won't remember the cake to begin with, but, for some reason... I am really sad about it. eh... work harder for his 2nd birthday cake, right?

Don't be so hard on yourself! I bet it isn't as bad as you think it is. We are always our own worst critics. Congratulations on your little guy's first birthday! I'm sure he will love it.

I have a hard time with cakes I'm not being paid for. I don't know why, but I just do. I have to treat cakes that are for fun or for family the same way. I have to sketch them out, and fill out an order form and pretend it has to be exactly how it was contracted, or I waver off and start doing other things, and end up screwing it up.

My first real attempt to make an elaborate cake was my daughters 7th birthday. I was also really exicited and put alot of time and thought into it. Needless to say in the end I thought it was awful! But it did taste good and she loved it and I know now how the love that went into it is what actually mattered. Don't be too hard on yourself it's obvious you love your son and he would probably be just as happy with mashed bananas with a candle in them as long as it came from his mom!

I don't think the cake looks as bad as you think. I think your bummed because there is a lot going on in life. Also when your baby turns 1 its a big deal, hard to believe, where did the time go? Right? I personally like the cake. And your 1 year old will look back years from now and like it too and be glad his Mom is so cool and can make awesome cakes for him. Chin up, lots to look forward to. Hey before you know it your little guy will be 19 or 22 like my two "little" guys. Hard for me to believe

Have A Great Day and Squeeze Your Little Guy, while you can (Mine just get embarrassed LOL) The cake is great and like TerriLynn said we are our own worst critics.

I'm sending HUGS because I think you need one.

Biya, you actually made me actually LOL!! He would so totally be into a pile of mashed bananas!! I think I just put so much emphasis on this cake that I had no where to go but down. It really doesn't look bad... I have it in my gallery, but not attaching it, cuz, I kinda don't want to look at it anymore until the party. I just know that I am capable of so much better. I had so many cakes due this month and I am just wrecked 'cuz I am happier with those. Oh well. a day not staring at it will do me well.

MsGF, I needed that. so much. thank you!

MsGF, I needed that. so much. thank you!

First of all, it's a really cute cake. Second, let him whomp something with the hockey stick and he'll be in ecstacy. Our little ones' first birthday is SO much more important to us than it is to them.

Sadly, I can't remember my little boy's first birthday cake. I do remember that he was my taste tester, my scrap cleaner-upper, and my disaster eraser. Underfoot from the day he was born until he went in the Navy at 18. I haven't seen him in 7 months and can't wait to make him a very special cake for Christmas.

Your little guy will love it just cause his mommy made it and not because it's the cake of a lifetime (which it is). And just think of all the experience you'll have under your belt for the next one.

About the only thing that pops out to me on your cake is the basketball. A few more rolls around and it would have been perfectly round. Other than that, I think it's a sweet cake for your baby...a baby that won't remember it, but who will love it and who will be the recipient of many, many more cakes. And I guarantee, when he's at the age where he wants a specific cake, you will do it justice.

My daughter's 1st birthday was 28 years ago, and I made her a chocolate cake that looked awful because I knew nothing about cake decorating at that time. But you know what? We have pictures of her digging into it with her little hands and smearing it on her mouth and face and it's the most beautiful cake in the world to me.

Let's face it, big elaborate 1st birthday cakes are for the grown-ups, not the kids! You did a lovely job.

Thank you!! Thank you all!! I have been really hard on myself, but you all are so right. I know people will love how it tastes, and that should be all that matters. My boy gets his own little buttercream "thing" to rip into and that is what i should focus on. Thanks too for the basketball tip!!!! I can surely practice on RKT in the downtime. That is soooo much harder than it looks!

I definitely think you are being way too hard on yourself! I know exactly how you feel though. We all tend to be much harder on ourselves than others. My daughters second birthday cake I was so psyched about this year! 2 tier spiral cake with woodland creatures going up a dirt path to a tree on top full of animals... at least that was the plan. I spent all week making the animals and they were super cute! And then the day of carving, decorating etc came and I just blew it. That was the worst spiral I had ever seen. Cake boards were showing, which I clumsily covered in fondant where i could, the tree was so heavy it was having a hard time staying up... I thought it just looked terrible. In fact, I still have yet to post the picture on here b/c it's not my usual cake. But as I least expected everyone loved it. Kelsen bit the head right off the turtle without a second thought.

So I know how you feel, and for what it's worth I think it's a great cake. Like someone else said, you can tell a little on the basketball, but so what? It's cute, and I bet it tastes FABULOUS.

Jamieq: you are being too hard on yourself. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that cake. I can promise you that if you don't say a word that no one else will find any fault with it either. If you point out what you aren't happy with then people might see those things. It might not be what you are capable of, but sometimes those things happen. I happen to think that, that is a pretty awesome cake for a one year old. I know that I know a lot more now than when my kids were that age. I think that for what I knew that my kids cakes were pretty awesome. They were happy with them and that is what counts. I made a bear for my first daughter's 1st birthday, a cat for the second one's first birthday and a sheet cake for the 3rd. It wasn't an elaborate cake nor shaped, but I had 3 little ones to take care of and did what I could. My kids appreciated their cakes and loved them and that is what mattered to me. Your son will too. Best wishes.

I think your cake looks fine. I think we are less stressed out on cakes we do for family, so we tend to not be as picture perfect. Also, you have a one year old to take care of. It is hard to do cakes when you are distracted by the needs of a little one. I'm sure he will be more concerned with if it tastes yummy then with how it looks. Happy Birthday to your little one, and you keep your chin up. At least you didn't just run out and buy him a supermarket cake, you thought enough to make it yourself...that means a lot.