In the beginning...

About four months ago I accepted a job offer that changed my life in a way that I could not have anticipated. Four months ago I became responsible for two young and growing children; Riley who is now eight months and will be one year old in February and her brother Ryan who is two and will be three years old in January. I am a nanny from 7am till 6pm Monday through Friday. It is the most rewarding and most frustrating job I have ever had, and for that I am blessed and thank God for it every day.

For those who aren't parents, or who aren't child care-givers more than likely have a false view of what a nanny really is. Other than the ridiculous shows on television, there isn't a positive insight to a day in the life of a nanny, or maybe I just got lucky with the family God chose to find me. It's not all screaming and terribly disobedient children and messes everywhere. Although those things to occur, the majority of my job is filled with happy days of helping the children grow and learn and progress in their development.

Regretfully I didn't think to start this blog on my first day with this family. I didn't even think to start it now. Due to the numerous amount of entertaining stories I have to tell after a long day or week at work my boyfriend has been urging me to start blogging about it all. I have learned more in four months than I have in my entire life about patience, perseverance, forgiveness, acceptance, integrity, being tolerant of others, the unconditional love that is from a parent/care-giver to a child. The list could continue for a while but I think you get the idea.

Let me give you a quick but thorough recap of the last four months to catch you up on a few things I've experienced and learned...

*The saying, "One day you will turn into your mother" is a factual statement.
*If you put 'new' or 'special' in front of something it becomes more appealing.
*Repetition is where it's at.
*Diapers and pull ups sometimes leak the substance it is holding.
*Children will repeat anything and everything you say.
*If you turn daily tasks into a song it is easier to gain cooperation.
*Food cut into shapes magically taste better.
*Piffle Piffle dust can cure any bump, bruise, or tummy ache.
*The importance of taking vitamins and drinking an airborne daily to prevent myself from catching the many sicknesses that children seem to come down with on a weekly basis.
*Kids take everything of yours: your food, your patience, your rest, your money, your time, your energy, your privacy, your sanity but give back an unconditional love that makes it so worth it!

Favorite quotes: (should be added to the email forward, 'out of the mouths of babes')

"Miss Megan, I'm sorry if it smells, but I need to toot." -Ryan Tyler

"Miss Megan, that truck has my PJ's!!!" -Ryan Tyler (said while pointing to truck with a dresser in the bed)

"Miss Megan, my poop is making funny noises, hehe." -Ryan Tyler (said while tooting on the potty)

"Miss Megan, integrity means doing the right thing no matter what, that's why I have it in my pocket every day" -Ryan Tyler

I know I left out a lot of things but I'm trying to fit four months into just a few paragraphs.

Progress that has been made since I began..

Ryan is potty trained and wearing big boy underwear!!! YAY!

Riley is crawling and sittin up by herself and as of this past weekend is pulling herself up to a standing position. No doubt she'll be walking by Christmas!

Hope I have captured your interest and you will return for updates and new posts :)