Sunglasses, Sitters, Strollers

More updates on the busy royal duties of Princess Bean...took her out today to a beautiful historic estate and garden near our home---my friend and I appreciated the flowers and plants, Bean appreciated the fact that I only jostled her stroller up and down steps a few times. Well, all right, more like every time, but like any wellbred monarch, she simply ignored it with a look of "we are so not amused, Mumsy"---in her sleep, too. No small feat.

You have to understand that our stroller is this behemoth of a contraption, replete with snack trays, makeup mirrors, latte holders...I feel like the world's most despised yuppie when I take it out, but let me assure you, Bean isn't getting hurt in this puppy. Unless, of course, I continue to wrestle her up and down historic steps.

Sitters? Well, I have to go back to work at the end of August, and while my husband will be watching her for the mornings, we do need someone to entertain and maintain her for the afternoons. I've debated the pros and cons of all my options, right now it seems that a part-time nanny/babysitter is probably the way to go. It's perhaps a bit more expensive than daycare, but at least I know that Bean is going to get undivided attention. At least, I hope it's undivided. That's the kicker with all this---at what point do I, as a parent, stop stressing and start trusting that the person we choose is working with Bean's best interests at heart? I guess we just need to trust our instincts. But it's a little odd to wonder and worry if this person is going to see and experience milestones in her life that I'll miss by being at work. Presumably these won't be one-time occurrences, but I hope I get to see at least some of the first-time ones.

As for sunglasses, well, okay, I caved in at Gymboree and got her the most adorable and campy pair of cat-eye baby sunglasses. Surprisingly, they pretty much fit, so Bean is definitely growing! She looks very Eloise, which is basically what I hoped to achieve with any daughter of mine. She is all set for fun in the sun.