His first birthday is right around the corner. What can I do to make it special?

I agree with the others, try to keep it nice and simple, perhaps just a cake and a banner and a few balloons up in your home, then invited family around either throughout the day or all in one go. You dont need to spend lots of money to make it special, birthdays should be about families not about how lavish your party and presents are. Im sure he will have a wonderful day whaetever you do

Just have a not so big birthday cake with a lighted candle he would blow, a dozen or less colorful balloons, he would surely appreciate. Spaghetti and juice, that's enough already plus the presence of other children, maybe his cousins and closed neighbors to sing him Happy Birthday. If you can still afford, you can add chicken or hotdog on the stick or barbecue plus ice cream. You can have games for the children or candies and little toys for give aways. You can also make it special by dining out with the whole family, stroll and let him play or buy him with toys and other gifts.

you can do a little party just for family and a few close friends. your baby wont be able to really udnerstand it yet, so dont put too much in it. i have three kids, my eldest when she turned one it was really a bit stressing trying to think of something that would make it special... and i had this children's party for her. had a lot of pics taken. but after i had my 2nd and third child, i realized these little ones dont still understand those things, party and stuff with lots of guests and games, etc. so on my second and third child, i made a simple birthday party for them, just the family, not too much spending and took lots of pics... for my third child i made a blog on his first birthday :), which i find more special than anything else.