Gunner's 1st Birthday

Last week, we celebrated Gunner's first birthday. I can hardly believe that he is one already, but watching him talk and talk (babble is more accurate) and walk around the house leaves me with one conclusion... Yep, we have a toddler! And I have to deal with the initial shock of that realization, and the terror that grips my heart when I realize that I have no idea what to do with a toddler, especially a toddler boy. It is seriously a different beast, and it happened almost overnight. Since he started walking and "talking", he has decided that life is just too fun to ever ever slow down for a nap. And those teeth and the shots from the 12-month doctor's visit just clinched things for him, and not only does he think that napping is now optional, he also thinks that morning starts at 5:15 in the morning.

Yes, I did write 5:15!!! In the morning!!!

And remember, naps are now optional. Which means that he usually chooses to opt out.

Sigh.

Anyway, about the birthday festivities. We had a great time. First, my sister was in town, and so we held a little "party" before she left. Lucky Gunner got to dig in to this cake 5 days before the big day.

I must admit that I was pretty excited about the cupcake eating/smashing experience. He loved it, and he was the perfect little performer. When he figured out that he had a yummy, sweet cupcake in front of him, and it was all for him, and he had permission to actually eat it, boy did he dig in. He started by sucking all of the frosting off the top, and then proceeded to devour the entire thing, other than what he smashed onto his hands, belly, face, hair and ears.

We continued his birthday celebrations over the weekend when some friends came into town from Minnesota. We went downtown and visited some parks and the Old Courthouse. We went to the zoo, and we ate a yummy BBQ dinner. Then lucky Gunner got to dig in to this cake:

This time, he wanted to eat the whole thing (all twelve cupcakes in the stack), and when Spiff took the cake back to the table after blowing out the candles, Gunner lost it. There was too much excitement and not enough cake for him, and he cried uncontrollably for a good two minutes before he realized that there was in fact another yummy cupcake sitting on his tray, all for him. He devoured that one, too.

He also got spoiled with lots of fun presents from his aunties, grandparents, friends, and us, of course. And I have loved having some new toys around this week. He is in heaven, carting his new soccer ball, cars, fishies, books, and stacking cups around the house. That's just all part of the fun that is this new life called Toddlerhood.