Second Stamp: Nanny Vaca

 There are a few girls that I went to school with still keep in touch via skype, facebook or text. We are a sisterhood and are truly the only ones who get and understand this profession. During a Skype date with my friend Anna, who is now in Connecticut,  had something very important to ask me. "It has been a crazy year and I have worked so hard. I want to go on a vacation somewhere nice and warm to relax. I want someone to go with me who I will have a great time with and works just as hard. So, will you please come to Costa Rica with me??"  How in the world could I say NO???

Swim up bar, A place we frequented.

Watching election day results in Costa Rica sipping a Mojoito!!

   Well.... Anna and I carefully picked the perfect week in November to fly south. She asked me about this trip shortly after I started with my new family so discussing vacation time so early on I was nervous about. They were 100% all about me going insisting that I take Itty E with me. Definitely a good laugh!

Vacation partner in crime

My favorite bartender who makes the most delicious margaritas

Ecstatic to have some Buckeye pride hanging at the Monkey Bar in Costa Rica.

Friends from California! LOVE THEM

   We had the BEST WEEK EVER! It was great to be out of the country with my cell phone not working and getting to do whatever I wanted. I arrived in Liberia, Costa Rica first, Anna arrived an hour after. Once she came through the doors to find our cab I was the one screaming, jumping up and down running to Anna simply because we were both SOOOO excited about this trip. We decided that the week was a free for all, nothing planned, get some sun, and enjoy as many adult beverages as we can.

Zip lining.

  Anna and I had facials at the spa, road on a catamaran during sunset, and went zip lining. We made lots of friends (imagine that!) from all over the place too! Our first day we woke up bright and early at 7am heading to the beach for a horseback ride. Totally worth it! Though our horses had personalities of their own, Anna and I laughed the whole trip. My horse would see the others galloping and speed up. To which I would hold on a little tighter screaming for fear I would fall off. Oh, did I mention I have never been on a horse for more than a 10 minutes?? What an experience that was and I am sure a sight to see for everyone I passed. The oddest part was being in bed by 11pm and waking up by 8am.

Costa Rica treated us well and we are looking forward to our next trip with more our nanny friends.

At the airport at 5am after a crazy night

. Oy vey!

This sums up our week.

Quacks McGee

Watching TV while JK and I are working hard.

Shit or get off the pot!

My friends and I went down to Little Italy for the 5 day feast celebration. While standing in the street enjoying our delicious desserts minding our own business, a guy (older than me by 30 years) approaches me (of all people!) telling me how much he would love for me to have this duck/chick blow up animal. Immediately JK named it and said how I had to keep him. So.... Quacks McGee has become the 3rd roommate to the apartment doing all sorts of crazy things while we are gone. He listens to our crazy stories and enjoys our delicious dinners too!

Itty E Update

Itty E is 7 months old and all over the place! She is doing the bear crawl all over the place and getting into anything she can. She loves play with her toys, hit balls and crawl after them, knock over towers, and to read books (Goodnight Moon and Brown Bear, Brown Bear are her favorites.) Her personality is developing as well as her voice. She LOVES LOVES people and any attention she can get, as if she doesn't get enough between her parents and I. Itty E has been eating delicious organic pureed foods that I make for her, loves her fruits, not crazy about her greens. Her doctor said there is no holding back as far as table foods go. When she sees a plate, she is reaching for it!

Baby Girl in a nutshell. She sat and watched the guy wash the windows until he disappeared.

Day One I was a baby food making machine! Anything  I could get my hands on was streamed and pureed.

  We are getting ready for family vacation in Florida. Looking forward (and a little scared) to Itty E's first plane ride, what Disney World will be like with a baby, and to spend a whole week with mom and dad. 
 

What A Year

What a year it has been. There has been plenty of laughter, emotion, stress and happy times. Never did I think I would be where I am today, right back where this whole adventure began.

  Figuring out what is right for me came with trail and error, some heartaches and lots of tears but it only made me a better and stronger person. There was plenty of lessons to be learned this last year but the one that was most important was being true to who I am. Standing my ground. Make my voice heard. I have stepped outside my comfort zone, learned from others and made decisions that only make me happy.

  Recently I was talking with my mom how much it surprised me when a friend of my brother's asked me how the new job was going and just went wrong with the last one. It then had me thinking, does everyone in Stark county know?  Which then has me absolutely blown away by the concern and support of every individual who has crossed my path in my 28 years. Yes, being an nanny is an unusual profession, but people voicing their opinion and glad to see that I am back in Ohio makes me realize I made the right decision.

 But now, the past is in the past. On to bigger and better things, like planning Itty E's first birthday bash!




 And for the record.... I was never homesick. South Carolina was absolutely amazing! It was the family that put me over the edge. :)

It's The Little Things

      
       I don't require much. A "Thank You" from time to time will do.

 I am three months into this job and both parents tell me over and over how blessed they are to have me, that I am an honorary family member, they support me in any personal or professional decision I make, and how I warm their hearts every time I walk into the apartment and Itty E smiles at me.
I can now add these parents to the listen of many others who value and appreciate me. It doesn't seem like work when I enjoy what I do and who I work for. Believe it or not, I have always felt that way. I am who I am and people like that. (weird, I know!!) These parents want to make sure that I am happy in every possible way! Even if that means taking time a day off because I am working too much.

                 I couldn't be any happier!

Itty E was fussy my first few days. This was from her apologizing for being bad. Can you tell I work for people in the dental profession?

Three weeks after I started to work for them it was my birthday. What an unexpected surprise!!!!

After a crappy few weeks, this was sitting next to Itty E's crib 

when I got her up from her nap.

 

What Are You??

      It hasn't been until recent years that random strangers (Even some friends) have questioned me.  I walked into the hospital and was approached by an employee, "What are you?" At work, walking around the apartment building with Itty E, many of the residents have asked the parents "Where is your nanny from?" when they respond Canton, the residents have been baffled.



Voluminous curly hair is not a norm. Blue eyes are more commonly paired with blonde's. Tanned skin only comes in the summer. (Or possibly in January from the tanning bed!)  However, this is me in a nutshell and people aren't afraid to ask "What I am" to put their minds at ease. My response is very simple.... "I am as white as them come!"


     Though some laugh I am possibly the mailman's child with my curly hair, I am the perfect combination of my German father and Czechoslovakian mother. Blue eyes are rare both sides of my family, but my curls have been traced back to my paternal Grandmother, and maternal Great-Grandmother. I might not look like my brother's either but they both have wavy hair as well.


 Yes there is a little of this and little of that in my blood, but like always, I am as white as white can be!!

MEANT To Be

Within the last 2 weeks in SC I had 3 phone interviews in the Ohio/Pennsylvania area. The first family to call was in Cleveland who pretty much wanted to hire me on the spot if she could. She and her husband wanted to meet me asap which is why I came home so soon. I secretly had my heart set on a family in Pittsburgh but figured I would interview with them just to get my feet wet. They were new parents to a baby girl, Itty E, and were only a few years older than myself. Talking with them was so natural. We had some of the same up bringing and the same views on what we want for Itty E. They knew I had an interview set up with the family in PA within the week to which she responded "Well, what do we have to do to hire you before you interview with them?"  I was shocked that they wanted to hire me ON THE SPOT! They had already interviewed plenty of women that just weren't the right fit. Itty E cried when a few held her. With me, I didn't leave her sight. I like to think it was her thinking of how much she would like to get her fingers in my hair.

  Walking out the door the mom was on the phone with the school. Is this even for real?! I called my mom to tell her how well the interview went and just a few minutes later school was calling me with new that the parents wanted to offer me a contract. I was absolutely shocked!! Apparently this was all meant to be.


  So it has been nearly 4 weeks now and I am in love with my new family. Itty E is as cute as cute can be with chubby cheeks, gorgeous blue eyes, fare complexion and light hair. Both parents text me all day long asking how things are going and telling me over and over how much they appreciate me. I keep asking myself over and over "Is this for real?" Even on the weekends both parents send me pictures of the baby and let me know how long she sleeps for. We are working together as a team to get her on normal feeding and sleeping schedules which has been successful. They want to know everything about me, my friends and my family which is amazing! They also have joked on a few occasions that I didn't read the fine print at the bottom of the contract: Agreeing to stay until Itty E is 25. " You are going to college with her and making sure she only drinks 2 beers at the frat house and gets home safely." It was a good laugh after I told them I would be the wrong influence on her in college.

My special treat from JAK when I arrived

  I am contracted for 30 hrs a week with 2 weeks paid vacation. They are currently building a house in summit county which won't be done until January. This being a live out position, I am staying with JAK until they move, then I will find an apartment close by.