New Clothes

Gwen got a package in the mail from Grammie and Poppa Crosby, and the contents couldn't have made her happier! She got some adorable new clothes just in time for spring!

A perfect fit!

Gimme a t...T! Gimme a h...H! Gimme an a...A! Gimme a n...N! GIMME A K...K! Gimme a s...S! What's that spell? THANKS!

Thanks Grammie & Poppa!

Little Buns

For church, Gwen had her hair done in two little buns.

She looked so sweet!

Gwen at 2 Years & 1 Month

Gwen loves to “help” Mom prepare food in the kitchen by standing on a chair so she is able to reach the counter and do things. If Mom is standing at the counter, Gwen automatically assumes Mom is making something and says, while pulling a chair from the table, “Ah-make! Ah-make!” She likes to pour things into bowls, stir things, and help measure things. If Mom is cutting up vegetables, Gwen is sure to grab a few and stuff them in her mouth. Once Mom picked up a tomato that was sitting on the counter only to find Gwen had already taken a bite out of it!

Gwen says “NO!” A LOT! She has many ways of saying “No”, and some even sound so sweet! Gwen is really into coloring lately. As might be expected, she a very delicate colorer and makes many small marks on her paper as opposed to lots of scribbles. She’ll lean close to her paper as if she is taking great care as she makes each mark.

Gwen’s newest phrase is “Ah-hold.” She makes her lips into a little “o” shape and furrows her brow a bit when she says “hold,” and she keeps her face like that as she repeats herself and waits to be held. She uses this phrase for a couple different reasons. She says it when she gets hurt or is sad and wants to be held and comforted. That’s normal enough. However, she also says this when she is corrected. For example, Dad will say, “Gwen, you need to put the book back where you got it.” When she doesn’t follow the direction and Dad comes over to make it happen, she’ll quickly say, “Ah-hold! Ah-hold!” and reach for Dad to hold her. The next is to get out of something she doesn’t want to do. When she is sitting in her high chair and doesn’t want whatever food is in front of her, she’ll reach for Mom and say, “Ah-hold. Ah-hold.” She thinks that if Mom will hold her the food will go away. And finally, if she doesn’t have her parents’ full and undivided attention, she’ll come up to Mom and Dad and say, “Ah-hold! Ah-hold!” We hear that phrase A LOT!

Gwen really likes to drink the “juice” out of her bowl that was left behind by whatever food was in there. It started when she had some canned fruit and a little juice would be left behind. After she ate the juice she took a spoonful of juice, and then she just picked up the whole bowl and slurped whatever was left. Now she will take all of the food out of the bowl, drink whatever juice might be there, and then put the food back in the bowl to eat it. It gets messy.

Gwen loves being naked and always wants her clothes taken off. Since she’s working on potty training, she often gets to run around without a diaper on, but she’ll tug at her undershirt and say, “Nake, nake!” She wants to take it off to be naked. She also has some crayons that some of the wrappers kind of slipped of off. She says they are “nake” and she brings Mom or Dad the crayons that still have the wrappers on because she wants the wrappers off so all of her crayons can be “nake”.

Gwen is talking more and more. She says a lot of two word phrases and will even repeat some sentences. She got a book from Grandma Earnshaw called Kiss Goodnight. It is about a mother bear putting a little bear named Sam to bed. She gives him a drink, they read a book, she tucks him in, and after each thing she asks if he’s ready for bed. He always says, “Oh no, I’m waiting!” because he’s waiting for a goodnight kiss. Gwen used to always say, “I’m waiting” in her own really cute way. Recently she’s begun saying the whole phrase, “Oh no, I’m waiting!” It is so cute and she loves to help “read” the book.

Gwen can swing on a regular swing now. She holds on very tightly with her hands, so her arms are probably getting a pretty good workout, but she is proud of herself when she does it.Gwen likes to blow bubbles and it quite good at it. She’s been carrying around a little bubble tumbler that is just her size and doesn’t spill easily. She brought it on a walk around the block the other day and liked to take a break here and there to blow bubbles.

Gwen has multiple names for Dad. Historically he’s been called “Davvy,” but she sometimes calls him “Bobby” or “Bubby”, and most recently, “Davia.”

Gwen's Gardening Guide

First, collect your supplies. I like to use pots, dirt, and seeds.

Put dirt in each pot and give it a gentle pat.

Make a small hole in the dirt (you may get dirty) and put a few seeds in the hole.

Mark your pots so you can remember what you planted, then smile and feel good about your work.

Now all you have to do is keep busy while you wait for your seeds to grow!

"Ah Read"

This morning Mom heard Gwen talking in the living room and found Gwen sitting on the couch with an open book. Mom asked, "Are you reading, Gwen?" Gwen held up one of her little people and said, "Ah read, ah read!" She was reading to her little people!

Stowaway

Even as a two year old, perhaps Gwen can still fly for free...

Reading with Grandpa

Quilt Model

Grandma Earnshaw made these sweet quilts for Gwen's new cousins, Julia and Dallin, born April 1st.

Gwen Walks the Dog

Gwen loved the idea of walking Gretchen herself. However, it was unclear who was walking who as Gwen definitely followed the leash while Gretchen went where ever her nose took her.

Fort Williams Park

Gwen & the Portland Headlight

Grandpa needs a segway!

Gwen doing her funny walk

(which requires her to make a funny face too!)

Mom, Gwen, & Grandma Earnshaw

Gwen demonstrates proper fog horn hearing safety

Gwen & Grandpa Earnshaw

Gwen strutting her stuff

Dad & the lighthouse

(Don't worry, we rounded out this very

Maine day with a trip to L.L.Bean!)

Painting and Stamping

The budding artist...

does not appreciate being interrupted! This was Gwen's first time painting and she liked it a lot. She was quite prolific!

It was difficult to tell which Gwen enjoyed more, stamping or taking the caps off and putting them back on the stamps. Both activities were fun to observe!

How to Throw a Rock

Find the perfect rock...

get set...

and toss! (Don't forget the dainty follow through!)

The bigger the splash the better!

Always be on the lookout for your next rock throwing opportunity.