Guaranteed...

In the ever changing world of kids, I know there are things that I am guaranteed to encounter. Things like...

Dirty Diapers

   Temper Tantrums

      Spilled Milk

         Mess after Mess

            Nap Times

               Teething

                  Learning Moments

                    Potty Training

                      Squished Food (in hair)

                         Squeals and Giggles

                            Multitudes of Kisses

                              ...and did I mention tantrums?

Life has been crazy lately (hence the lack of posts). Remember when I wrote about how I felt change coming? Yeah... well, it's here. I am the process of changing jobs which means I am still nannying full time and training for the new full time position at my other job. 

Along with those changes come new developments with the munchkins. Little Man turned a year last month and decided to start walking along with that milestone. He is now very sure of his steps and is intentional in all his actions (especially the disobedient ones), and he is jabbering up a storm. Miss Magee is fully embracing the terrible twos (and by fully embracing I mean loving every minute of driving us mad). They both know how to push my buttons.

At the same time, they both have mastered melting my heart. Every smile, every giggle, every kiss, every hug, and yes...every tear, I cherish because I know that the next day will only be one step closer to me not being with them. It's been 10 months since our worlds collided, and though there have been bumps and twists and turns, there have been many smooth patches and blue skies too. 

Too Fast

It's amazing how quickly they grow. They enter our lives little and helpless, innocent and unaltered by the things of this world. They leave their footprints on our hearts and memories that go with them. They are unaware of just how quickly our hearts melt upon their first look into our eyes or the smile that spreads across their face. Their giggles and coos draw us in more and more, and before we know it, our hearts have been stolen by these little bundles of joy. Each day brings along a new reason to feel blessed.
The love continues to only grow stronger and stronger, and it's hard to remember your life before the joy they introduced. Despite the late nights or short naps, the incessant cries for hours, and the sheer exhaustion, they are seen as perfect. They grow so quickly before our eyes, and we tend to not even realize it until one day when it hits us.
I speak from the position of never having my own children, but I love and adore each child I've taken care of as if they are my own, and I tend to experience many of the same emotions and the overwhelming astonishment that parents go through. I realized today that my Little Man isn't so little anymore. In the blink of an eye he went from barely holding his head up to rolling to crawling and now walking. He took four steps by himself-totally unprompted. He no longer has that baby face, and his personality (and temper) are very well-known. He is capable of carrying on a babbling conversation with anyone who will listen, and he thoroughly enjoys making his presence known. No longer does he require me to entertain him throughout the day. He is perfectly capable of playing with his trucks (he made a "vroom" sound today :-) ), and he fully enjoys tormenting his sister every chance he gets.
It's bad enough when you realize that one child is growing up right before your eyes, but to have two of them surpassing milestones at what seems like morph speed is quite unbearable. Miss Magee is no longer that shy, quiet, untalkative little girl. She is one of the most energetic, inquisitive, spunky, full of life little girls I know. She embraces every moment of life as a learning experience. Her features are no longer that of a baby or toddler, but a little girl. Even now, as I lay here typing, she is on her computer next to me pretending to type away. She is truly two going on seventeen. She loves to dress up and be a princess and have her hair done. She makes me smile and remember how fun life is on more than one occasion a day. She went from refusing to sit on your lap to asking for cuddles.
I realized today that these two are growing up so quickly (major understatement). They aren't even mine, and yet I can't help but feel amazed at how amazing they are. It saddens me to realize that things we did last week might not be done again simply because they will be capable of doing it a different way. I will hold onto the "us" moments like reading with Miss Magee before bed or cradling Little Man right before I lay him down, the occasional moments when Miss Magee reaches up and grabs hold of my finger as we walk in the house or when Little Man barrels toward me at full speed just to lay his head in my  lap for a little lovin'.
I guess, in a way, I could tie this post in with my previous one. These moments that slip by so easily through the day are the ones that I will never get back. Miss Magee may not need me to help her with her shoes and socks tomorrow, and soon Little Man will not need me to hold his hands while he walks across the room. I don't know how long those moments will last, but what I do know is that I am desperately trying to commit every little moment to memory.
If it's this bad now, I hate to think of how hard it will be when I actually have my own kids...

You Know You're a Nanny When...

you understand that a head butt is really just how the little steam roller shows affection...
you go to the store with snot and tear stains on your shirt and you don't even have kids of your own...
you sing the words to Elmo's World and Mickey Mouse Club House on the weekends...
you see a child in the store acting up and you automatically give them the "you better behave or else..." look...
you spend the majority of your day asking "do you need to go potty?"...
you clean up the same toys every 3 hours...

you treasure that quiet time between 1 & 3 (even if it is spent cleaning up and recharging)...
you feel like the only words that every come out of your mouth are "share," "no," "not right now," and "how do you ask?" "eat your food, please," and "leave your sister alone"...
you dread the never ending "Why?" questions...especially when they come out of a 2 year old's mouth (aren't
    they suppose to start that at 3?!)...
your morning strolls are really an intense workout thanks to this...

plus an extra 50lbs thanks to the munchkins...

Anyone out there, nanny or not, feel the same way? There are so many other things I could write that would sum up a day in the life of a nanny, but I figured just sharing the things that consumed my morning would suffice.
...Gotta love it....

Safe and Secure

Slow breathing. Relaxed body. Warm blanket.
That's how I spent my afternoon yesterday. The business that normally consumes my time during the kids' nap was set on hold to rock a sick child.

Glazed eyes. Slow movements. Sad whimpers.
That's how I knew he needed and desperately wanted more sleep. I chose to set aside my to-do list for this afternoon to rock this sweet little guy. I sat and rocked him for an hour and just listened to his congested breathing calm down and become smooth. I watched his eyes flutter open and closed with every twitch or noise. I felt his body grow heavier and heavier as the minutes progressed. I felt his hand carefully reach up and grab onto my shirt to ensure I wasn't going anywhere. Slowly, ever so slowly, comfort flooded his body, and after an hour of fighting it, he gave into the much needed sleep.
As I sat there rocking him, I couldn't help but smile because I felt my body relax. I could feel myself slowly allowing myself to forget about my to do list and just be in the moment of comforting this little guy. It made me think of how we all seek comfort. We all desire to feel that sense of peace come over us. We seek this out in so many different places-wealth, job security, love, kids, friends, and being involved in so many different things. But, all those things can so easily loosen their grip on us and allow us to fall from that place of security. There is a sense of uneasiness when we surround ourselves with these things. Unfortunately, it is easy to mistake that uneasy feeling as needing more. We neglect to recognize that those things cannot fill us.
So often I find myself wanting more. I find myself in states of unrest. I fidget and fuss and try to find something else to hold onto. The crazy thing is, when I find myself agitated and unsettled it's when I let go of God's hand and try to run along the path by myself. The path that I am on is not an easy one (none of our's is). I am on a journey full of twists and turns, ups and downs, fog and storms. The view is not clear to the end, and at times, there are moments when I cannot even see a few feet in front of me. Moments arise when the unknown is more overwhelming than the known, and I begin to feel as though I must reach out to find something else to latch onto. The problem arises because there is nothing out there that will give me the security and guidance I need besides God. He is the only one who can see past the storms that arise. He can see past the steep mountains I must climb, and he knows what is waiting for me around the corner. 

He never lets go. He never closes his eyes. He never rests. He is always there with open arms, ready to rock us until we are able to relax and feel his warmth, his love, and his protection. 

Play to Grow

"Pattapiwar. Eeen moon egg on weef. Up one day sun. Ee very hungy. Wate one apple ee til hungy. Wate 2 pars, ee til hungy. Wate bawberry ee til hungy. Wate wonges til hungy. Pattapiwar ate one chocwate, one cheese, one wowipop, an one wa-ermeyon. Eee no hungy. Wate one weef. Pattapiwar big. *Gasps* buyerfly!

Yay!!!"

If you couldn't tell, that's The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle read by a two year old. I got to start my morning with that. This morning started at 6 for me, and she was wide awake when I got to the house at 7. So, we snuggled and read just like we do before nap time. She loves her books, and I hope that her desire to read all the time will continue to grow as she gets older.
I struggle with the children of this generation because most of them would rather sit inside on their electronics than read or go outside and play.The ability to imagine a whole different world to play in and explore is non-existent to many of these kids. It's not that I completely frown upon kids using electronics, but when it takes away from their ability to pick up a "lifeless" toy and make-believe, I think that there is an issue.
I think it is very important, developmentally, for a child to learn to play on their own in a room of toys that require imagination. Again, I don't see anything wrong with toys that make noise or turning on the television from time to time, but when it occurs every day I believe it can be detrimental. The television is on for a total of 1 hour the whole day that I am here. I will have music on in the background but that's it. For the majority of the day the kids are fully submerged in their toys and the little worlds they create.
There have been studies done that show kids who were taught to pretend have an advanced intellectual development. Not sure how that happens? Well, if you think about it. Kids tend to learn more by hands on application. They don't sit down and learn about the world around them, they explore it and learn from day to day activities. Studies have also shown that it can help a child's ability to empathize. They are able to imagine how one might feel in a situation. There are so many benefits from imaginative play and reading. These are only a few that I can think of off the top of my head. I learned about play therapy while in a college class, and I wish that more people would take the principles of the idea and make them their own.
The point is, I think it's wonderful for a child to develop an interest in books, and I think it's our responsibility as caregivers and parents to help that interest grow and develop. Along with that, I also think it is our responsibility to help introduce imaginative play. Choose to put down the remote, the paper, the computer, even your book, and take the time to play with your kids. I know it can be hard at times, especially after a hard day at work, but it can be so rewarding for you and your child (and you may even be surprised at how much fun you have!).

Thank Goodness for Play Dates

I am sure that quite a few of you out there know what I mean. Play dates can really brighten up a very dark and difficult week. I am a nanny, so my play dates actually involve me sticking with the kids; but even still, it's nice to have a break. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit with another nanny whom I have come to enjoy spending time with.
It's so nice to just talk about our jobs and be able to relate. I have friends that I talk to, but I can't talk to them about my job the way I can talk to a fellow nanny. It's refreshing to know that everyone with a two year old experiences the same thing, and that I am not the only one with a strong willed little man. I enjoy sharing stories and just sitting back and talking while in the middle of children running around making a once clean room very, VERY disorganized. I don't even mind the mid sentence pauses that occur to take care of a child in hysterics or to hunt down the source of running water because we both understand!
I've come to truly think that nannies are of a different breed. We aren't mothers watching our own kids or someone having kids come into our own home. We take care of other people's precious gems, in their home, and take on the responsibility of helping to raise and nurture that prized "possession." We do more than just wipe faces...and other places... When a nanny comes into a home, it's to allow that family the piece of mind that their child is at home in a comfortable environment with more directed attention than say at a day care or preschool (though there's nothing wrong with either of those places).
 There is a sense of personalism (yep, I made it up), and I think that's what makes nannies so special. They give a portion of themselves each day to this youngster(s) that isn't even their own, and yet there is a connection created-a bond.
I don't know where I would be if I didn't have someone to talk to about my job who understands fully what I am going through. I am lucky to have two special nannies in my life, and I am so thankful for their insights and amusing stories.

Potty Training Tidbits

Potty Training... Does that send shivers up your spine (either ones of excitement or dread). It does mine. I love the idea of potty training a child because that means one less diaper to change and one less expense to purchase. But, I am not exactly thrilled about the process. I think that every child has a window that will open when they are ready to venture forth into the land of "big boys or girls." I also think that if you aren't active when that window opens, you may miss your chance at an "easy" process- if that word can even go with potty training.
I am currently working with Miss Magee. She has expressed interest in being a big girl and has reached the point to know when she has to go. We decided to reward her with M&Ms when she goes on the potty and still has a dry diaper. Well, after her going multiple times in one day and bouncing off the walls, I decided to start a sticker book. So, every time she goes she will either get an M&M or a sticker, but she never knows which one is coming.
So far, she has done really well for a child at 28 months. I am so happy that she has expressed interest in the summer as opposed to the winter simply because you can keep her in dresses which makes the process a tad bit "easier" (I still don't think easy really fits in this context, but for the sake of writing, it will have to do). I've helped potty train boys before, and I find them to be less hard simply because you can make it a little more fun (and they can go outside which makes it even more helpful...well, until they try exposing themselves in your neighbor's front lawn and then it gets complicated).
I've thought about letting her run around diaper-less. Any takes? Obviously, I am not a mom. I am simply a nanny with experience, but I am always open to new ideas or tricks that have worked along the way with others.
So, my question to you, my readers is this, Any tips on potty training a girl?
Shall I attempt to go diaper-less while at home or is it more of a hassle than a help?

Day of Celebrating

There are moments of success in everyone's life. Those close to the people celebrating these successes join in the excitement. For me, at this stage of my life, I am celebrating with a couple of cute little people.
Let me just say, it is so very exciting when a little one goes potty on the Big Girl Potty for the first time (after the first time). You might be confused by that statement...but, consistency is the thing to celebrate here! Today, Miss Magee went on the potty twice...in the same day! Hallelujah! Now, I know that this isn't exactly the end all to diapers, but the fact that she actually went and knew that she went is a major break through in the potty training world. She was so excited that she went that she almost forgot about the "Eh-n-Ehs" (M&Ms)...key word being almost.
Not only did I get to celebrate in her potty experience(s), I was able to celebrate with Little Man when he waved good bye to Gramma...twice!! Again, I say Hallelujah!
From yesterday when my sanity was practically lost in a pile of toys to today full of celebrating, I can definitely say my life is by no means the same every day!

In a matter of seconds, a beautifully clean, well organized, vacuumed room can go from looking like this....

to...

looking like this!

At times, I think to myself, "Why bother?" and then I remember it's for my sanity. The tiny little frail pieces of sanity that I am clinging to for dear life are thriving off of making sure the house is cleaned for at least 2 seconds!

Sometimes I think I'm a nanny to little Tasmanian devils and not "sweet" little children.Their abilities to destroy a room in under 5 seconds astounds me. Now, if only they could put their shoes on or clean up their toys that quickly!

 

From the moment these little toes set foot in my life, I found myself hooked. It's been 9 months, and I cannot believe how fast time has flown by. He went from a bobble head baby to a crawling locomotive in the blink of an eye, but his smile and sweet nature haven't changed. From wanting to be held all the time to lunging out of my arms because he just wants to move, he hasn't lost his ability to make my heart smile.
I cannot believe how fast they grow, and I find that each second spent with them is another set of memories burned in my mind. I find myself thinking about him and his sister a lot lately, and I am blown away at just how much their little lives have touched mine. They pick up on how I'm feeling even when I try my hardest to put on a brave grown-up face. Even my bravest face holding back the tears can't hide my true feelings from a little two year old, and I am so thankful for that. Sometimes I fight showing emotion simply because I don't enjoy being vulnerable in front of people. I am so thankful for their ability to see past my brave face and lean in for a kiss or a hug when I need it most. Their little quirks and attitudes have brightened some rather gloomy days for me. 

They remind me to cherish the little moments in life....

Is it nap time yet?!

Do you ever have those days where you feel like you're repeating yourself over and over again? If you spend your day with kids, I'm sure you do. Today has been "just one of those days." My day started at 6am, the sun was just barely starting to "wake up." I don't mind early mornings. I actually feel like I can get a lot more done when I get up early. (Yesterday, I was up at 6, to work by 7, sorted and organized both kids closets, had both kids dressed and fed by 9, the kitchen spotless, and the rest of the house vacuumed by 10. It was a very productive day!) I headed out the door, slightly running late but not horribly, and was to work at 7 on the dot. Miss Magee was in a whiny mood which is slightly understandable since she had been up for an hour. By 9, both kids were up and being fed, but instead of us all being in good moods, we were all in sour moods (and I was ready for nap time!). I should have known it would be all down hill from there.
Not even 10 minutes after Mr. Man woke up, I had repeated the phrases "Drink your milk, please," "No, no touch," "Leave your sister alone," "Please, stop the whining," and "Play with your toys, not the cords" at least eight times a piece. I seriously feel like a broken record. You would think that they would get sick of hearing me say the same thing; heaven knows I do! Distraction works wonders when the children aren't as stubborn as a mule! And, it doesn't help the fact that when you remove Mr. Man from something he's not suppose to be playing with he looks at you, grunts, and swats at you (kid you're not even a year yet!).
I decided we HAD to get out of the house today. Outside the sun was shining, but the humidity wasn't up which means it's perfect weather for a walk to the park. So, by 9:30 we were out the door. Mr. Man was obviously not enthused with the idea since he fussed once we got there. We played on the swings and the slide (and I found five bucks!) which boosted our moods a little bit. Then it was time to hop back into the stroller for that 15 minute walk back. Again, Mr. Man was not enthused, and instead of sleeping his usual 45 minute morning nap, he chose to sleep for 15. Next was bath time before lunch then nap (oh how I've been waiting for this). Bath time went as "smoothly" as I had expected- full of fitful cries from Miss Magee and terrified screams from Mr. Man in response to the echos of his sister's fits. They love the pool but seem to hate baths. Finally, lunch time. To my surprise, it went quite well, but as soon as the bibs came off and the faces were cleaned, it was like we were back in the heat of battle. Mr. Man insisted on playing with his sister's hair (aka...pulling), and Miss Magee insisted on whining about things and tormenting her brother by rolling on him and trying to carry him. -Insert repeat phrases, again-
I am so thankful for nap time. Yes, it gives me a break, but I am much more thankful for what it does to the kids. The poor things have been so busy that their sleep schedule is totally out of whack. Naps recharge all of us and allow me to recover from the morning and prepare for the afternoon.
*Big sigh* Thank goodness for nap time.

So Blessed

I feel as though I have one of the best jobs in the world. I absolutely love what I do! Taking care of kids is so rewarding...and so tiring...but with the good comes the bad. For me, one minute of good outweighs all the bad.
Today, is full of snot. Little Man is teething tooth number 3, and Miss Magee has a cold which she so kindly shared with me. While sitting beside the kiddie pool this morning, I couldn't help but think of how amazing my job was. As that thought came and went, I began to think of all the "other" stuff that came with it. I know that anyone out there who spends most of their day with little kids would agree, there's no privacy, no down time, and no clean days. Miss Magee is at the potty training stage which means every time I use the "big girl potty," she must broadcast it to the world, fling the door wide open (which I had partially closed), and proceed to make comments or ask questions. Then there's Little Man who must get into every little thing while I am being detained by the question Queen in the royal throne room.
There's also the problem of personal space. Let me just say, it doesn't exist. As soon as I lower myself down to 3 feet, I am fair game. In Little Man's eyes, I am better than any other toy out there. I am the ultimate jungle gym. It's like he has a sense about him. I might be in the other room, but as soon as I sit down on the floor or squat down to talk to Miss Magee, he's there  pulling up on me, gnawing on me, drooling, the whole bit.
Staying at home with kids is not pretty. This job is not one that I get dressed up for. I don't wear sweat pants, and I try to look decent for that outing that I can only pray gets accomplished without the many possible malfunctions. I dress practical. I don't put make-up on simply because I don't see the point, and my hair is typically thrown up in a messy bun or pony tail. Upon leaving, I can guarantee you there will be a little bit of snot on my shoulder or a spec or two of leftover lunch from Little Man. Or, you might find finger paint or a hint of playdo somewhere. Then there are the days when the look of "is today over yet?!" is plastered on my face. But despite all of that, the little moments of good still come out in front.
Miss Magee is learning how to pull up her own pants, and it's so adorable how she shakes and tugs to get them up over her bottom. And then there's the time in the pool where Little Man squeals and laughs as he splashes....me, and Miss Magee repeats "shay you boo-eee!" (shake your booty) over and over with a huge smile on her face.
I can't help but feel so blessed to be a part of their lives. Each day brings a new accomplishment (and trial), and I walk away feeling so thankful to have them in my life. At times I feel like they teach me more about myself and the world than I teach them.
Again, I think that every parent or person who invests in the lives of little children would agree, that though it seems like most moments aren't pretty, they're memorable and worth more than words can express.

Stronger than Glue

So many things in this world are easily taken for granted. Our health, home, job, cars, and even our friends and family. This past weekend I was allowed the privilege of preparing and celebrating a friend's wedding. I have known her for roughly eleven years, and our friendship has witnessed many heart aches and victories. We went through high school together, and had it not been for her close and honest friendship, my high school experience would have been less of an adventure and more of a torture device. I am so grateful for all the times we had to spend together at school and in youth group. I am so proud that she has grown into even more of a beautiful woman. Her heart has only grown and the compassion she has for others is still evident. I know that her relationship with her new husband will be one of the most wild adventures of her life, and I know that their love will only grow stronger over the years. She is a dedicated and determined person who strives for success in all aspects of her life.

I have had quite a few different close friends come and go throughout my life. A couple of them I saw this weekend. I realized that we all have many friends, and some of those friends we might call best friends. There are a few that, no matter what might happen, no matter what the circumstances are, they are always there for you. No matter how many years may go by, it always feels as if things never changed and time simply stopped. Those are the friendships I cherish. They are the ones that can get me through the lonely days that come and go. Those friendships are few and far between.

For me, two of those friendships are with family. I realized this weekend just how lucky I am. I have two amazing cousins who love me no matter what. They are there for me and always will be. And, even though I live 600 miles away from them, I know that our relationship will remain strong. I have so many fond memories of us when we were younger, and I am so thankful that we are still making memories every chance we get. I love having cousins that are close. It's one thing to be family, but to be close and family only makes the bond stronger. 

Siblings

It starts at a young age... a VERY young age! Mr. Man has always studied and followed his sister the best way he can. And, now at nine months, he is beginning to torment her. He will see her cup on the floor and not care about it until she sees just how close it is to him. It's like their eyes connect, and it's a mad dash to see who can get it first. His little legs will be crawling along the floor just as fast as he can, and she'll knock over anything in her path. It's rather comical to watch until he beats her to it. Then, it's all out war!
When I think of siblings fighting, I think of the classic "MOM! He's touching me!" or the "I'm not touching you...I'm not touching you!" Well, Mr. Man has that one almost figured out. He will look at Miss Magee and reach his hand over to her shoes or leg and just hover his hand over her, and she will flip out! I keep warning her that in a few years he will be bigger than she is, and she's going to regret all the tormenting she is currently inflicting on him (like poking him through the holes in the cart or keeping all of his toys out of his reach).
I have three older siblings (technically half siblings). One of them lived with us for about a year, but the other years they just visited. I remember interacting and playing with them, and I'm sure I annoyed them (but I don't remember that part). My mom did in home day care, and I remember always being older than the kids she took care of. One of my cousins (you know who you are) was at our house from the time he was six months til 11 (I believe). He was like a brother to me. I remember tormenting him and vice versa. There was four years between us, and I can remember doing things to him to get him into trouble, but I also remembering how much I wanted to look after him and protect him. When he moved to PA with his family, I missed him a lot. I loved having that other person there to have fun with and goof off. I still view him as a brother, and I probably  always will. He means a lot to me.
I can only hope and pray that Miss Magee and Mr. Man develop that close friendship. I think it's so very special to grow up with someone close in age and be able to always count on them. The way they look at each other and giggle out of the blue at each other is so special, and I hope they never lose it.

It's in the Jeans

I think it's in every girl's jeans to be a princess. All through my childhood and high school years and now in my twenties, I love to dress up. I love to put on a pair of heels and feel sophisticated. I don't like wearing all the make-up that others might choose to put on, but give me a dress and cute shoes and I'm happy! Don't get me wrong, I love to wear jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers too.
Today, it became very obvious to me that little girls, when given the opportunity, will act like a princess. I'm not talking about the snotty-the whole world revolves around me-drama (though that often is present). I'm talking about dressing up and walking around feeling special. Miss Magee has a purple lace tutu, heels, a wand, jewelry, and a tiara. Occasionally, she will put it on and prance around the house. Today, she put on the heels and tiara and grabbed the wand loudly pronounced, "I'mma pinshess!" And such a pretty princess she was. I couldn't help but laugh and smile.
I have also been reminded that boys and girls do everything differently. Little girls tend to be nurturing; they might throw the ball and hit another kid, but they're more likely to apologize or soothe that kid afterward. Boys, on the other hand, are more like "go hard or go home." If they hit another kid, their response is usually to walk away, laugh, or tell the kid to get over it. Boys and girls both might play with the same items, but boys put sound affects to it. Miss Magee was playing with a couple cars on a track and not a single car noise was coming from her. You give those cars to the little neighbor boy and it will sound like the cars are alive!
I love noticing the differences.

Big Accomplishments for Little People

It's the little accomplishments in life that I have come to appreciate. They are the things that most of us without kids in our life would not even think about. But when you spend the better half of your life with kids each day, you come to notice these little things. Things like learning how to play by yourself, eat by yourself, sit up by yourself, vocalize what you want, crawl, pull your pants up, get your shoes and socks, put those shoes and socks on by yourself, and pick up your own things. It's things like this that are huge accomplishments in my book. I greatly appreciate them from a selfish perspective because it makes my life easier when taking care of multiple children with a busy schedule.
There are other things that are just as important to me. Popping teeth through, learning to pray, learning to recognize shapes and colors, being able to count, understanding the difference between yes and no, knowing when to say please and thank you, learning to obey, and learning the importance of a clean and organized house are just a few that I am thankful for.
All these things tend to go unnoticed, even to those submersed in a child's life, simply because they are all things that everyone must (or at least should) learn. I was just thinking about all these things while I was loading the kid's dishes into the dishwasher while both kids entertained themselves. I was thankful for the split second of "freedom" to be able to keep the kitchen clean.
Take time out to think about the little milestones or accomplishments in your life or the life of someone close to you. I can guarantee you it will make you a little bit happier today!

Kids and Food

Food. Let's face it. I love food, and I know a lot of other people that would agree with me. Most adults aren't picky when it comes to food. Half the time, we are so busy that it's a hunt through the cupboards and frig to find something quick and easy. Kids, on the other hand, are different. They are still exploring the wonderful world of tasty food. Of all my years of taking care of kids, I have never come across one that hasn't had some issue with food. There's the picky eater, the meager eater, and the over eater. How can you know when the over eater is truly full or if the meager eater has eaten their fill? Or, are they truly hungry or just bored? I know I eat out of boredom all the time. "When in doubt...eat food" seems to be the motto for my brain.
The two kids that I have now both seem to always have a starving stomach. Miss Magee will munch on cereal between 7:30 and 9, eat breakfast (consisting of pancakes, eggs, waffles, more cereal, or yogurt) while I feed Little Man, then by 11 she wants more food. She usually has lunch at noon and tends to eat more than I do and then finally goes down for a nap, but you can bet that the first few words out of her mouth after nap will be "snack?". She's not extremely picky about food, but she wants to eat what she suggests, not what I suggest. With her, I don't know if she's bored or hungry. At times, an ultimatum suffices, and we go outside to do something, other times it's like WW3 to get her out of the kitchen. Then, when I do let her eat something, half way through she's ready to move onto the next thing. I have yet to perfect reasoning with a 2 year old.
Then there's Little Man who is truly just beginning the food exploration. He loves his bottle, and thankfully they are scheduled so we both know when they're coming. Baby food is yet another adventure I get to embark on while Miss Magee is creating WW3 in the background. Thankfully the spitting and attempting to grab the spoon have not yet begun, simply because he just loves food, but my luck those wonderful things are not too far away! So far, fruits are a definite love of his (as is with most babies), and he likes butternut squash but not the regular squash, and occasionally he will eat peas and sweet potatoes. The wonderful meals that come all together, you know...the vegetable dinner, beef stew, chicken and rice, or turkey and rice, are a no go in his mind. One spoonful of them, and all you get is tears, crying, and whining for something better. But, I can't blame him. The stuff smells like cat food! *Poor kids* He does love his cheerios and puffs (as does his sister), and they are my saving grace the rest of the time in between feedings.
I really have no specific reason as to why I decided to post on such a topic, other than because this is what I deal with daily. I have come to find the face of refusal and dislike as comical, and the challenge of finding new foods they will like as an adventure.

It's Raining. It's Pouring...

There is something so amazingly refreshing about rain. I love it in any form. If I had to describe my perfect day, it would consist of a hot day with late warm showers that resulted in a severe thunderstorm full of torrential down pours, window shaking thunder, and bright as day flashes of lightning that helped cool things down for the night. For as long as I can remember, I have loved to just watch the rain come down. I don't even mind being caught in it. What's even better is the fresh smell that comes after a shower in spring. The earth is damp, the flowers are quenched, and the air has a moist, freshly clean earth smell (if that makes any sense).
I still find myself running to my window when I hear the first splatter of rain hit. The sound of rain is rather therapeutic, at least I think so. Actually, the sound of moving water has a therapeutic affect on me. The sound of rain on a tin roof is something that I would willingly sit still and listen to (sitting still is not easily accomplished by me). I also like how the rain streaks down the window and makes different patterns. When it's really pouring out the windows are glazed over with water and the world looks so much different through it.
If it wasn't for rain, I wouldn't have the beautiful flowers that are beginning to bloom in my garden. I wouldn't have the stream to walk next to or the lakes to visit.

I am so thankful that I live in an area that gets plenty of rain!

Kids and schedules

Sometimes I wish kids weren't so sweet. I have the privilege of being the nanny for two precious kids. They are both very sweet and kind natured. The youngest one is a little love bug. He enjoys the snuggles and hugs. But, at times (like today at nap time) I really wish he just wasn't so sweet and lovable. Things would be so much easier if he would just go to sleep like he usually does. But, the last couple of days he has decided that he is going to just lay in his crib and cry and talk and cry some more until I get him. No amount of reinserting the pacifier will soothe him. I think, hmmm... maybe it's gas. So, I pick him up and rock/bounce him, and what does he do? Laugh! He thinks it's funny, and as much as I want to look at him and tell him, No, it's not funny. You need to sleep! The more he smiles and melts my heart.
 So, obviously it has become a game to him (one that I am not willing to lose at). I typically would allow him to cry himself to sleep, but his crying has been getting louder which means his big sister wakes up from her nap and all -excuse my French- hell breaks loose!
So, after two and a half hours of this with him, I finally said ok, fine, if you want to be awake then you are going to have to play. I'm not holding you (thinking this would work since he wanted to be in my arms rather than bed). Well, guess who was proven wrong?! Yep, me! He is perfectly content playing, without me, instead of sleeping. Not cool!
I have realized that his schedule was slightly out of the ordinary these past few days. Instead of the usual errands in the morning, half hour morning nap, play, lunch, nap, it's been errands, go to a play date or museum, half hour morning nap, more play date/museum, lunch, then nap. I think I have created a "schedule snob!" Now, there is nothing wrong with that, to an extent. I am by no means a strict schedule person, especially when it comes to kids, but with the way things always work out during the day, we have a pretty set routine for each day. Apparently, he doesn't enjoy messing that up!
He makes me think about myself and how I don't like being taken out of things that I have actually planned. If there is something planned with a group of people or friends, I look forward to it. When that event or meeting gets cancelled, no matter what the reason, it throws me for a loop and the rest of my day is yucky because of it. A few years ago I learned the importance of being more "care-free." I think it's important to be able to roll with the punches from day to day. Having a schedule is good, but it should be more of a guideline rather than a strict budget of time.
Now that I have remembered this, I guess it's time for me to teach the little guy the importance of rolling with it!

Monkey See, Monkey Do...

I take care of two little ones that I absolutely adore. Each day they make me smile by the silly things they do or attempt to say. I find myself learning from them each day too. Today, I found myself thinking about how much my little sweets (the girl) imitates what she sees. Elmo will say or do something, and she will try to say or do it. I was feeding her little brother (little man), and she was busy occupying herself with her toys. I saw her grab her teddy and carry him ever so gently while picking up her little brothers toys. The way she set up the toys was how I set them up for her brother. As I was watching her, I realized that little kids aren't the only ones who imitate what they see.
It dawned on me that everyone is impressionable. I can think back and remember of many instances where I demonstrated the same actions. It's easier to imitate someone's actions rather than going against the grain and making your own.
It's amazing what two kids under the age of two can teach a person!