Success!

I am SO happy to report that the first official week of our new nanny was a success! Gaynell was great and Abby loved her. She was on time, professional, responsible and totally picked up on things (including taking Sadie on walks!) right away. She even babysat for us on Saturday night and survived a short blackout at our house. And my neighbors' two nannies adore her as well, especially since she's been driving them home at night!

Hopefully all will continue in this positive direction because she is so nice and Abby is definitely taking to her. I can hopefully breathe a sigh of relief now.

This past Saturday we took Abby to see Sesame Street Live. I didn't know if she'd be able to sit through the whole thing but she LOVED it! She was so fascinated by singing, dancing Sesame Street characters (esp when they talked about Abby Cadabby!) and was beyond excited when she got a $10 Elmo balloon at intermission. Geniuses, I tell you.

All in all, it was a successful week for everyone, and it was very much needed.

A Fresh Start

Today begins Day One of our new nanny, Gaynell. She did a trial day on Friday and so far, all went well. Hopefully as each day goes by, she'll get more comfortable with Abby and with us and we'll feel more at ease with her. It's just such a strange thing to let a stranger into your house to take care of your most precious goods and to trust them with your child, house and car. I really hope she works out because I can't take another nanny interview at this point! Good luck, Gaynell!

And as for Abby, she turned 16 months yesterday and she is a full-fledged walker and talker. She repeats everything and says so many words, it's crazy. She really has developed so much in the last 2-3 months, it's unbelievable. I cannot believe she'll be 1.5 years in just 2 months! Each day is something new and more fun with her. We're so lucky!!!

Happy Birthday to ME!

I am so not one to tout my own birthday - after all, who really wants to announce that they are a year older?? But today is my birthday and it's been quite a lovely day so far. It started with a box of Munchkins from my neighbors on the train ride to work, then I received a cake, a necklace, flowers, a gift card and a bracelet from work people, and numerous calls/emails from friends. Tonight Jason has arranged for a mint chip ice cream cake to be shared at our house, so I'm looking forward to that - mostly to seeing what Abby thinks of mint chip ice cream, which I'm sure she'll love as much as her parents do!

On the nanny front (aka "saga"), we didn't have to worry about firing our temporary nanny who we increasingly hate each day because she did it herself! She told us she was going back to school 2 days/week and could work for us 3 days/week. Sorry but it's a full-time job! And unfortunately things didn't work out financially with Rebecca (the nanny from last week who I was excited about), so we placed another ad on Craigslist.

We (ok, I) interviewed 4 more people in person and spoke to countless others. We made an offer to one woman on Saturday and she is going to do a trial day with us this week and pending all goes well, she'll start with us next week. Please cross your fingers for us that she is great! I know that's one thing I'll be wishing for over my ice cream cake tonight!

Thank you, Susan!

It's been 3 weeks, 13 interviews, plus numerous phone calls since the new nanny search has begun and I think I might actually have found a gem of a nanny. My friend Susan told me about Rebecca (a friend of her friend's nanny) who I met with over the weekend. She was so nice, had great references and was eager to work with us. She officially accepted our offer today, but still has to resign from her current employer. Assuming they let her go, she'll hopefully start with us in 1-2 weeks. And that day, my friends, cannot come soon enough!

We have a temporary nanny right now (a friend of the nanny next door to us) but we're really not loving her. We liked her when we met her but we've noticed a few issues (nothing terrible, just things we didn't love) and it's only her 2nd day with us. So we need to find a way to gently say goodbye to her once we know when Rebecca can start.

I have to say, this process has been challenging at best - but I hope for our sake and Abby's sake that it gives us a new, more responsible and reliable person who will be with our family for years to come! Or at least until I decide I've had enough of my job and become a SAHM one day....