Episode 3: Nanny, Babysitters, Real Estate

We have been spending more time researching and viewing homes as of late.  I'm feeling the itch to cash in on these rates and be able to have a place I can call my own (even if the bank owns most of it for 30 years).  We've found our dream home and the property to go with it - now I have to fall out of love with it in order to try to get a reasonable price and be prepared to walk away when we don't get it.

The other things we've been up to are:

• Continuing Elimination Communication with Eleanor.  
• I finished up a pretty major work project (28 users).
• Dale, Monica and crew came for a visit this past weekend.  They are all getting ready for Baby #4 to come in the next week or two.
• Granny is coming to town on Sept. 4th to see and help Monica with her 3 kids and also to visit with us and Eleanor.  It's probably the last trip she will be able to see all of us at once since the Poulsbo Klein's are moving to Nebraska sometime in late October or early November.
• I'm taking a hiatus from projects for a a bit.  Not sure how long that hiatus will be, I'm hoping I can last until after Christmas.

Part of the reason for the hiatus is wanting to watch Eleanor grow up and teach her things about the world at this very impressionable age.  After attempting to leave her with the babysitter while I worked during the day, I quickly learned that that option is not good enough for me.  It's hard enough to completely disrupt her (and my) schedule and daily routine -- it's another to hear (and watch) someone not interact with her hardly at all, especially after I gave a list of activities to do with her.

I work downstairs in the basement while the babysitter is up here with Eleanor.  I was extremely frustrated the first project I hired her for and after discussing it with Scott and others, I gave her the list of things to do.  (Take a walk, play with her in the mirror, watch the Baby Sign Language DVDs and practice the with her, read books, etc.)  I would come upstairs only to find that the babysitter was sitting with Eleanor on her lap watching TV or texting her friends.  Yes, she's only 20, but I really expected better, especially with how she interviewed and since her aspirations are to become a Pediatrician - as well, she volunteers at Children's hospital and claims she has been a nanny in the past.  I guess call it what you will, but I don't classify not doing anything but watching TV with my daughter on your lap as being a nanny.

So, the hiatus is partially until I find someone better who can be a nanny - a temporary replacement for me during the time I am working.  I do somewhat enjoy the work - mainly the feeling of being done!  But also the mini-break it gives me from being Mom and getting to exercise my brain.

What I do not love about work is that I typically get up early with Eleanor, play Mom for a while, work while she naps and while the babysitter watches her, eat dinner and play Mom during the time before Scott gets home, then work more, nurse her to sleep, work until 11 or midnight and then start all over again around 6am when she wakes up.  If only I could do this job on a less stressful deadline.  I'm not sure this job exists!  In the meantime, I'm going to keep my eye out for other writing jobs that I can do primarily from home and focus on my Mom job for a while.

Alright, since I'll be up a couple of times at night with her and at 6:30 am tomorrow morning, I'm calling it a night!