Calling all December babies... how is your birthday best separated from Christmas?

So... I am trying to plan a 1st birthday party for my sweet boy who will celebrate the big ONE in just a few short weeks.

The problem is, I am also trying to get my Christmas shopping done in a few short weeks too!

I am sure I am not the first Mom to come across this challenge, but I do know that I try to make birthdays in this house a big deal, and this is my first experience with party planning when another mega holiday is staring me right in the face.

And, I know that every December I am going to be facing this challenge, as H blows out his first big candle on December 16th, just 9 days before Santa Claus comes to town!

I'd like to hear from the December babies out there, or the parents of December babies, to find out how you or your parents separated your December birthday from Christmas in this very busy month of holiday hoopla.

I feel like there should be some code or book out there that I'm missing... you know the one titled 'how not to f'up your baby's December birthday'! I can't seem to get my hands on a copy, but my desire to know whats in that book is borderline obsessive!

For this year, I am hosting H's big party a bit early so that I won't have the house all decorated up for Christmas... but I know this won't be the case every year.  I guess I am wondering from all the December babies if you prefer to have your birthday looped in with Christmas or if you wish it was a completely separate event?

I do know that I vow never to wrap H's birthday gifts in Christmas paper... and to always give him the special birthday attention that anyone in our family would get on their special day... but I am still concerned that because his birthday is so close to Christmas, he'll be gypted just a little in the birthday department.

So... let's hear it December babies... what's the secret to having a fabulous birthday in the month of Christmas?