One of the family traditions that I would like to start is celebrating half-birthdays for Ellerie and any future kiddos. No real reason other than I think it's a very simple way to make an extra day of the year special. We won't do presents, but when they are old enough to "get it" I will let the little one pick what they want for dinner and I plan on cutting a birthday card in half (just down the center) and giving it to them with breakfast.
And we're going to do half-birthday cakes because I love just about any excuse to make a cake.
I have searched Pinterest for half-birthday ideas (other random things I frequently search Pinterest for – DIY garden beds, chunky yarn & "wall of plants.") and "half-cakes" kept popping up. I loved that idea and it seemed simple enough – bake a circle cake, cut it in half, stack the halves and frost the whole thing.
I bought funfetti cake (because obviously) and a jar of chocolate frosting and on Thursday set to work. Turns out one box equals two 9 inch round pans so I wound up with four halves to stack (even better). I layered frosting in between each cake layer and then used a butter knife to frost the whole thing. I was shocked that it took the whole jar of frosting.
We ate it Friday night (sadly after E was already asleep) with our family in town and toasted to six months of my baby girl & six months of Parenthood. This is a tradition we'll be keeping for sure.
ps and super random giveaway: the garland was just freehand cut from the tons of solid color fabric I have. It's a mix of quilter's cotton, flannel, felt & duck cloth. I just ran circle after circle through my sewing machine. After it served as a makeshift table runner, I hung it in Ellerie's room. Do you want one? In honor of Ellerie's half birthday, I'll give one away. Leave a comment below and I'll post the winner here in this post on 12/26. Giveaway is open to anyone worldwide. as always, thanks for reading.
WINNER IS SARAH! Commentor #47 Thank you!!
enJOY it 
248 responses to “half cake for half a year.”
love this idea, and the garland too!
LikeLike
Would love an ejbc creation!
LikeLike
I’m expecting our first little one in April, and half-birthdays were something that my husband and I were talking about starting as a tradition. It seems like a super simple, fun way to celebrate each child! The garland adds a cheery, colourful touch. Thanks for the giveaway!
LikeLike
What a fun idea for kids! I love a good cake. The circle garland is so fun and cheery. Have a wonderful holiday Elise!
LikeLike
Happy 6 months of parenthood! I love the garland.
LikeLike
Happy half birthday little girl!
LikeLike
I’d love to win! Here’s to half birthdays!
LikeLike
pick me! pick me!
LikeLike
Love the garland and the idea of half birthday celebrations. You truly are amazing 🙂
Good luck to all 🙂
LikeLike
Love this idea. I may have to steal it… 🙂
LikeLike
I would love garland, my husband and I just moved so all my decorations are in storage and some festive garland would be great for dressing up our temporary apartment.
LikeLike
Love this idea! I may have to steal it…
LikeLike
What a cute idea! Love the half cake and the banner is so fun!
LikeLike
Such a fun tradition! Thanks for the chance to win the very fun garland.
LikeLike
How fun! Would love to hang one of these in my office for some color!
LikeLike
What a fun tradition! Cute garland, too.
LikeLike
Love you banner! You are so creative. Happy 6 month to Miss E.
LikeLike
It’s adorable as a runner! Really enjoy reading your blog every day. Thanks for all the inspiration!
LikeLike
Yes please! So pretty!
LikeLike
Cute tradition, she’s lucky to be in your family! And I love the garland…
LikeLike
Awww such a sweet idea. Who doesn’t love cake! I had a giggle when you said you’d give away one garland as in my head I read “one half garland” and I imagined you taking to each piece with the scissors! Love your work, Elise!
LikeLike
Such a fun idea! With a summer birthday, I never got to celebrate my real birthday with friends. Love the garland too!!
LikeLike
I love the idea of celebrating half birthdays! Since I had a summer birthday, I would always celebrate my half birthday in school. It became a very special day. Love the half cake idea!
LikeLike
I’d love an Ellerie garland! Wednesday is my (17) 1/2 birthday. Yay! 🙂
LikeLike
Love the 1/2 birthday celebration and also the circle garland! Have a wonderful holiday!
LikeLike
How cute!
LikeLike
Love the garland! Happy Half-Birthday to your little E. What a great idea!!!
LikeLike
What a great idea! Would love to win 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely! I think I may have to start that very same tradition… Love cake… And love the garland! Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
LikeLike
Love the garland!!! Half birthdays are the best because they are pure silliness and fun!! Glad you started a fun tradition for your family!!
LikeLike
That’s such a fun idea. We’re expecting our first baby now (Due June 4th) and I totally want to do this. Thanks for the sweet giveaway!
LikeLike
happy half birthday to Ellerie! I remember when my guy turned 6 mos (he’s now 13.5 mos) it was a particularly poignant milestone for me. we had such a tough first 6 mos with him with lots of reflux/crying/etc and I still felt so overwhelmed and like such a newb. yet I’d been doing it half a year (what?!) and it seemed like I really should start getting my parenthood act together. it was a very complex set of emotions. all this to say, congrats! and I’d love one of those runners. Merry Christmas to you three!
LikeLike
Happy 1/2 Birthday to Ellerie. And yes, I’d LOVE to win that gorgeous garland! My daughter is 2 months older than yours, so I’ve been enjoying your posts very much!
LikeLike
happy 1/2 birthday, little e!
LikeLike
Happy half birthday Ellerie! Love the idea of this tradition, wish I would have thought of this 😉 No joke I was just talking to a friend about making a garland like this for my daughters room.
LikeLike
Love half birthdays! Would love to use for my little one’s room!
LikeLike
This is such a sweet idea! I love the garland. I made one in fall colours out of cardstock this year (after looking through your archives and seeing the felt one you made), but after moving from Australia to the States (where my husband is from) I had to leave all my scrap fabric behind. Would love to win one. Thankyou, Victoria
LikeLike
Love the garland! So cute and simple, especially as a table runner. And great idea for celebrating half birthdays!
LikeLike
Love the half cake and the beautiful garland! And what a wonderful tradition to celebrate half-birthdays!
LikeLike
I so love cakes that in our home, we celebrate “monthly birthday’s”. Every 10th for my first child until she’s 1 year old. And now on my second, every 18th of the month 🙂
LikeLike
A very sweet tradition!
Love that garland- so cute!
XO,
Anna
LikeLike
Love the half birthday 🙂 As a June baby myself I remember always wanting a birthday during the school year LOL. We started a tradition with our girls many years ago that we bake our own cake on our birthday. They pick their own cake and frosting and they started pretty young and love this tradition to this day. Enjoy
LikeLike
Oh my stars!! I would love to win one 🙂 It looks so cheery and lovely. Thanks for thinking of your readers & for the chance to win! Happy half Birthday, E!
LikeLike
I love everything you make! Would be so fun to have that garland. I’m going to college next year and I already know I want lots of color in my dorm. This would be so cute! Happy half birthday ellerie! And thanks for the giveaway!
LikeLike
Such a cute idea and Happy Half Birthday to your little girl! Love the garland!
LikeLike
I totally want one. I love it. Also, I love this idea. We celebrate Scarlette’s “Homecoming Day” in April, which is pretty close to her half birthday, that cake would be so fun to do!
LikeLike
Happy 6 months!
LikeLike
happy half birthday, little e! love the idea.
LikeLike
I think one of my favorite quotes from you is how starting new traditions like these will seem to children like they have been ‘done this way since the beginning of time’! You make parenthood seem fun while also being honest about how tough it can be – thank you for that 🙂 Happy Half Birthday Little E!
LikeLike
I think I might need to start celebrating half birthdays with my little ones. Such a cute idea.
LikeLike