Nanny 911

So, we have switched from having a daycare provider at a daycare center to the children being at home with a "Nanny" for lack of a better term.  They seem happier (the children that is) and it makes my morning less stressful, so that makes me happier.

Our Nanny doesn't live with us, she arrives in the morning while I am getting ready and gets the children breakfast.  They are usually sitting at the table happy as can be when I leave.  I get kisses from them and off I go.

At daycare there would be days I would be LUCKY to even get a wave goodbye, never mind a kiss!  There were fits and tantrums getting dressed in the morning, there were fits depending on which daycare teacher was in the classroom at drop off.

The only thing that hasn't changed, is super excited children when I walk in the door from work... "MOMMY MOMMY!! You look pretty Mommy!!" or "Up, Up!! Up Peace"  How can resist?  I scoop up "A"arron and get a nice big hug and wet kiss!  Even our Furbabies are happy.. they get the privelage of not being a crate for 9 hours a day!

Do any of you have a Nanny or in home caregiver?  What are your likes and dislikes? AND.. what do you do about taxes?

Long time no Blog...

It's been awhile, but again it's really hard to blog about the children without getting into the confidential stuff.  I am going to try my best to at least blog once a week about the goings on. (I did say "TRY" so don't get upset if it doesn't happen -- I apologize in advance.)

With the help of thera-play we are making progress on Bella's potty training issues, which apparently are not potty training issues, but the need to take control over a situation.  She gets mad, sad, or just plain confused she pees (and recently poops) her pants.  The therapist reccomeneded asking her what she was feeling when she soils herself, so I've been trying that.  Most often her response is "Cuzz I has to pee in da potty" but yesterday (during a time-out she wet herself) when asked she said "CUZZ I MAD!" Eureeka!! An answer!! An Answer!!  I thanked her for being honest and reminded her that even when she is mad she needs to go on the potty.  She repeated it "I go on potty"  Now, if we can get through the rest of this week without any daytime incidents I will give her back her big girl undies, but keep the pullups on for nighttime (till we get through that without any accidents).

Cindy is doing really well with "school", she LOVES doing her homework.  Her speech is still delayed, but we are working on her grammar and sentence structure.  I have difficulty teaching her "Kaa" vs. "Taa", but we got the "Saa" instead of "Taa" (any suggestions).

Of course, Aarron is amazing.. he is the cheekiest little guy I know.  We do have some news to report.. he had tubes put in two weeks ago, and the doc said that the mucus in his ears was REALLY bad.  They did another hearing test and he failed.. :(  He has moderate to severe hearing loss in both ears and will require hearing aids.  All in all he is healthy though.. at his last visit he weighed 19 lbs and 25 1/4 inches long (we are getting close to outgrowing the infant carrier.. but I am soo not ready to give it up (so we might get this when he hits 21lbs --> the Chicco KeyFit 30: it goes up to 30lbs and 30inches) .  We currently have the SafetyFirst Designer22 (don't worry I did my research through Consumer Reports before buying that carrier and selecting this new one -- Check out the Comparisson.. Amazingly the Designer22 got much better ratings than the more expensive and more common Graco SnugRide). 

Number 1's and Number 2's

I am so going to have POTTY MOUTH! 

"B"ella is potty trained (so we were told) she was doing really well with her Number 1 on the potty and NEVER has an issue with Number 2.  My understanding is that the last part of potty training are the child's BM's... typically they continue to have them in their pants until they are fully trained.. and "B"ella only has her Number 2's in the toilet.

But recently she has decided that wetting her pants and sitting in them and then lying about it -- example:"'C'indy peed my paints." (yes the girls say "paints" instead of "pants").  So after 3 changes of underwear this past Saturday.. I have put her back in pullups and placed all of her "big girl undies" in a clear container on the counter in the girls' bathroom.  She was told that if she didn't wet herself for 1 week she could have them back (yes, I realize that is an eternity in her world, but she has done it before).

We recently started giving both "C"indy and "B"ella M&M's when "B"ella goes on the potty instead of in her pants.  The thought was that "C"indy would encourage her younger sister to go to the potty when she did so she could get the candy.. but that doesn't seem to be helping any.

So, for those of you that have been through the potty training phase.. any HELP/ADVICE would greatly appreciated!!