Nan our new Nanny

For the past few weeks we've been adjusting to a new nanny. Her name is Wanalee and we call her Nan for short. She is from Thailand and has been an Au Pair for 2 other families before in the US before us. Finding childcare is always my job and I've embraced it despite how difficult it is to do. In January we knew we had to find a new caregiver so I signed up for care.com. I will say that the site made it much easier to find people. But it didn't eliminate the flakes or the drama completely. But Nan is wonderful and with all the option out there we feel we found a loving, energetic and caring nanny.

They obvious have a lot of fun during the day and I continue to thank God that I can be so close to them. Working from home in this season of life has been such a blessing.

Jack is turning 3 in just a couple weeks. He has developed so much, singing his ABC's, counting, memory games and just communicating better. He takes a little interest in coloring and painting but prefers to play make believe with his Toy Story figures or his many animals.

Jack continues to love the Zoo. It's his favorite place to go and often when we are leaving the house he will say "We're going to the zoo!" even when we are not.

Jack is starting to ask "Why Mommy" which is that dreaded question. It is normally when I am saying no to his request and I respond with "please say, ok mommy". It usually works.

 Amelie is getting to be such a big girl. Quickly approaching 2! Part of being a little sister means getting to learn lots from her big brother but still getting the benefits of being "the baby".

Amelie says little words like "Apple, Please, Bye, Cracker, Blankie and Poo Poo". She has this darling little way about her words. She looks at you shyly and says "Pease" (ie. Please).

She has had a harder time adjusting to Nan. She normally gets really clingy and whinny when Nan comes in the morning. I have to sneak away but thankfully the kids don't come looking for me once I've left for my office to go to work.

It is a little hard no matter how you look at it to intrust your kids to someone else's charge when you are still around. But I am thankful that I feel completely comfortable with it.

Last weekend the sweetest thing happened. Nan told me she was getting married. I knew that she had this planned from when we hired her but the actual date got picked a couple days before. Her husband is a sweet guy, a teacher and a native to Houston. They met while she was working for another family and they dated for over a year before getting engaged. As Nan was telling me about the date and her plans to get married at the courthouse she asked me to be her "best friend". I translated this to her to mean her maid of honor. I wholeheartedly agreed and went to house before hand to do her hair and make up. It was a treasured moment.

I think it is safe to say that we have bonded with Nan. She is a wonderful Nanny and I hope she will stay with us for the long run. She lives in the city where Mike works and really hopes that in September when our lease is up, that we will move to be closer. I hope we do.