{ H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y G U N N E R }

On December 29 (yes, 4 short days after Christmas, and NOT my pick of a delivery month), our "budda-bud" turned "FREE" {3}. I, like I'm sure a lot of you moms out there, wonder where the time has gone... How could our sweet little baby have changed so quickly?

Summing up Gunner at {3}:

• Willingly take the back-seat while playing with Cooper. You elect to be player 2, Robin to Batman, Shadow to Sonic, Luigie to Mario... maybe you've realized it's not worth the fight?
• Still do an amazing job playing on your own. You love pretending for hours, organizing, and setting things up.
• You cry just long enough to get the spot on your teacher's lap in Sunbeams.
• Everything is about being your "best-friend". You openly announce who is your best friend at any given moment, and use it as a threat too. "You're not my best friend anymore Mom!"
• You still like to pretend to be a puppy dog.
• You don't like to be "hot" or "fweezing". 
• We still get to hear your daily fit... which you thankfully take in your room... and which ends as if we turned a switch.
• You won't slow down long enough to eat a meal, but want bites of anything anyone else is eating.
• You are in the fun "watch me" stage, and do all you can to be "super cool". 
• You LOVE your brother Cooper... through blood, sweat and tears.
• You pick your nose until it bleeds... especially in bed... and have had enough bloody noses that every time  you have snot, you run to us yelling, "blood is coming out of my nose!"
• Still don't like to be sticky.
• You potty-trained in October.
• Won't pee or play without the light on, but want to sleep in the pitch black with the door closed.

NICKNAMES: Bud, Budda-bud, Gunner Funner Face, Buzz

FAVORITE TOYS: "guys" (mini super-heros), Indiana Jones whip & sword, tech deck dudes, cars, kids meal toys, light sabers, blocks, legos, imaginext batcave, electronic guitar

FAVORITE FOODS: cocoa puffs, chocolate milk, chicken nuggets, french fries, macaroni and cheese, chicken noodle soup, eggs, salad w/ ranch, string cheese

FAVORITE VIDEO GAMES: Wii Sports, Guitar Hero, Mario Party 8, Mario Kart, Leapster Sonic, DS golf

FAVORITE TV SHOWS: Scooby Doo, Maggie and the Ferocious Beast, Little Einsteins

FAVORITE MOVIES: Ice Age, Cars, Letter Factory, Tom & Jerry, Spidermans, Kung Fu Panda

LOVES: any book we will read to him, playing football in the basement with Dad and Cooper, riding your scooter, riding in the wagon, playing the Wii (especially Wii Sports and Guitar Hero), golfing, bowling, wrestling with Dad and Cooper, saying prayers, taking a few toys to bed each night, coloring, playdough, "writing", treasure hunts, pretending.

On your actual birthday, Dad had the day off. We tried to go to the indoor playground, but it was closed, so we went to Wendy's. We had cupcakes (which you sprinkled), and opened most of your family presents. You LOVED the batman add-ons to your bat cave. Cooper got you your LONG-AWAITED Tech Deck Dude Vanformer. Beckett got you an Indiana Jones Potato Head that you'd been asking for, for your birthday, all year long! Thanks to all those who sent presents and called Gunner. He really felt special that day! 

That weekend, we had a "friends and families" party cosmic bowling (bowling with black, strobe and disco lights) at the alley on-base. It was SO MUCH FUN! Here was the invitation:
The cake that mom made. About half way through, I wondered why I get myself into this... but he LOVED it! Seeing it revealed the surprise that we were going bowling for his party.

The party was a hit. It was crazy at times with 4 lanes, and 24 bowlers, but Gunner had so much fun (which is what really matters!). He got a real bowling pin, and everyone who was there signed it. He carried it around and treasured it all night. He is also pictured here fulfilling the Gatten tradition of taking a bite out of the un-cut cake. I love how Cooper is right in on everything. It was hard for him to have everything be about Gunner!

Here are all the friends who came. We had SO much fun, and they were all so nice to bring Gunner presents. He got money, walkie talkies, Whac-A-Mole, Spiderman bath toys, and Indiana Jones sword, books, and a nerf gun. We gave him a jump-track for his Tech Deck Dudes, and some more Dudes. For those who don't know, they are little skateboarders who magnet to their boards. Not pictured below are the Woodruffs too.

For party favors we did glow bracelets, which turned into light sabers for the boys. They LOVED them. And, neon bouncy balls.

Gunner, we LOVE you so much. You definitely add some adventure to our family, and we don't know what we would do without you!