Little Gym

For Landry's  birthday we asked for a membership to Little Gym. This past Wednesday we tried out our free day. I've been wanting an activity to enjoy with just her on Wednesday mornings. We did Little Gym with Laney for some time and this just became too expensive to maintain. But I'm excited to have this time to watch Landry grow and learn and activities make the best gifts!

At first, Landry just stared at all the crazies running around and singing. She was tight in my lap and not going near the other children; shocker. Then we made our way to the mats and she started listing the colors as she would stand on them warming up to the idea of possibly liking Little Gym.

And as they released them to roaming around free for all she ran all over. Here she is climbing and maneuvering; quite the acrobat I might add!

So, I think we will enjoy this activity with just "us". It's so interesting to me to see her little personality come up when she isn't around Laney. She is very dependent on her big sister when she is around but when she isn't I love seeing her shine. She is the sweetest little toddler and my little Lu Who!

 

Happy 2nd Birthday Landry! CHOO CHOO!

HAPPY  2nd BIRTHDAY LANDRY!!!

Landry's 2nd Birthday at Texas Transportation Museum included all that she loves--choo choo trains, cake, and cookies! The party for Landry was just what I imagined it to be. She kept saying choo choo and cake over again as she had been for a few weeks.

I truly enjoy planning these parties for my little ones and can't wait for the next birthday!

Here are the pictures from my camera and I will receive Morgan's soon!

 

 The party seemed to center around bright colors and choo choo trains! Before the party I took a few pictures of the birthday girl and Laney holding hands. Matching too of course!

Some of the decor....

The conductors....

The rainbow cake. I know it looks simple. I suppose it is compared to a lot of cakes. But this one took a whole lot of precious time. Patience and time and love.

 Laney showing her heart locket that she got the day Landry was born. What a special necklace because of an extra special day!

Some of the guests! So many of Landry's little buddies made it to the party, all the grandparents, and it was truly such a happy day!

 We toured one of the old trains that has been redone and updated to take us back through time and traveling on trains.

Then we took our very own train ride! We had a few problems but I don't think the kids could tell nor minded.

Then we sang Happy Birthday to the sweet little two year old!

 Anxious me seeing if my rainbow cake turned out!

Elated that it did!

Landry Anne, Let's Celebrate You. My beautiful baby girl. Happy Birthday to you and your two years of life! I adore you through and through! The crinkle in your nose, your defiance and no's, the sweet patting of your hand on my cheek and linking my arm. I want to always remember you at two and the happiness you bring. We love you Landry Anne!

My Sweet Two Year Old

Happy 2nd Birthday Landry Anne Crowell!!!!

 What a sweet two year old you are! It's time to Celebrate You!

These past two years seem to have flown by and I'm still learning lots of new things about you. My little blondie! And, yes, your blue eyes have certainly stayed blue.

Some of the things I love about you and never want to forget:

You lead with your head; you are just simply rowdy. And I love how fearless you are when it comes to falls, trips, bang ups, and run into's. You are quite a brave little one. You love to tell stationery objects that they are "mean" and hit them when they hurt you.

We aren't certain that you know your name is Landry. We named you the name right before your sister's, Laney, and apparently this confuses a child. Who knew?! I think it's a game you like to play with us too. We ask you what your name is and your answer is generally: Baby or Laney.

You love sucking your thumb. Absolutely pacificies you and when you have your crocodile tears you have your go too thumb! You do cry big tears too and when you get your feelings hurt it is a sight to see.

Your green blanket is your buddy. You want to take it everywhere with you and always have to have it going to sleep at night. You have a blankie and love your green comforter.

Holding hands is your thing. You love to hold my hand, Laney's hand, Daddy's hand and you always simply say "hands". This is one of the sweetest gestures. I always seem to catch you and Laney holding hands in the back seat and it is priceless.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Itsy Bitsy Spider are your favorite two children's songs to sing. You love doing the hand motions and we sing this a lot. Once we start it is hard to stop.

Reading. I know your sister loved to read but not like this. You simply can't get enough of any book! I love it that you enjoy this so!

When you are in trouble or upset you immediately grasp onto the legs of the one scolding you. It is heartbreaking and leaves me defenseless. It's hard to be upset with you when you just want to be held. I think your manipulation is winning me over.

You will say "huggy" for a kiss or hug and it's so cute! You love to give kisses but you like to tease with them too.

You don't understand getting sick and throwing up yet. It is so sad because you will try to lie down in the towel and say "night night" when you get sick. It's terribly hard to explain to a 2 year old but you are quite the champ and it's hard to tell when you don't feel well. My tough bug!

You love trains, love them! Your birthday party is centered around them! You love to say "choo choo" and "two". You hold up four to five fingers but we will master this soon I'm certain!

There are so many things that I know I'm leaving off. Mostly, I am just glad that you are mine. I never knew my heart could double the way it has and holds you so tightly in it! Landry Anne, you are the most precious blue eyed, blonde haired child I've ever known and I will adore you always. Your sister takes care of you better than any big sister could and I'm so thankful that you have Laney as your big sister and that she has you as her baby sister. We needed Landry Anne as part of the Crowell Crew! How I love the two year old you!

It's All Coming Back To Me Now

For the last month I have been telling myself no more diapers; I am not buying anymore diapers. We have panties ready in size 2. It will save so much money!

Potty Training began with such promise. A box of surprises from Target's $1 aisle and Landry's enthusiasm at receiving them. And she would receive a prize but only if she went tee tee in the big girl potty. You see, this worked well for Laney and we've explained it in detail to Landry. I didn't push it but would take her every 30-45 minutes to the potty and if she went she would get a treat from her basket. So, same idea here as it worked fairly well for my #1.


I remember now. The ups and downs, successes and failures of operant conditioning and allowing the incentive to go to the bathroom on the potty.

The first day could not have gone better. I would take her every 45 minutes-1 hour if she had to use the potty. She went three times the first day. The last, of which, was on her own right before bedtime. Landry brought me the potty, said poo poo, and went completely on her own. I was shocked! She had mastered potty training in one day!!!

Morning of Day 2.

Me: "Do you want to go tee tee on the potty?"

Landry: "Yea, prizzzz"

So, she knew that if she went potty on the potty she would win a prize! Win-win! She went a couple of times on Day 2. Not bad. We had an accident after bath time in her robe as she was telling me she had to go tee tee and we didn't make it to the potty. This was not entirely her fault.

Day 3.

What Landry figured out that I never factored in is she ran out of prizes she was interested in. The motivation is gone. Or maybe she got bored . Or maybe I have conditioned her to do something she wouldn't do without the bribe. So, now that prizes are low and she isn't interested in them she won't go tee tee on the potty either. It doesn't help that she had school on Monday either to not remind her of the magical prize potty.

Now I ask Landry "Are you going to go tee tee?"

"No" crinkling her nose and laughing.

At the end of the day, everyone ends up potty trained, right? 

Regardless, proud of the progression and regression we've made! I'm not in a hurry to do it but at the same time she tells me when she has to go so I would like to seize the day.  More than anything, it has been fun to see, again, the differences with Landry and Laney and learning milestones.

I'm going to stick with it and keep taking her to the potty, regardless if she inherits a prize or not.  I am likely going back to Target.

The latest retort from Landry.

Me: "Landry, are you going to ever get potty trained?"

Landry: "Prizzzze"