The Great Nanny Search

Well, maybe it's not such a huge search, but every time I go onto craig'slist to look for available nannies, I just get this hugely overwhelming feeling of lethargy. I really want someone else to do all this for me, even though I am going to insist on the best possible care for The Bean...unfair? Perhaps, but anyone who has tried to sort out appropriate childcare has to know of what I speak. I have interviewed one person, and have two more coming tomorrow; I am already fairly certain that all three interviews will showcase three intensely different people. I don't really know if that makes the search easier or not.

It's not as though my husband and I have a huge long list of nitpicking questions, and we're pretty relaxed about many things, but it's just so difficult to make that leap of faith that yes, this person will act in the Bean's best interest at all times. Or at least during those all times that are paid. Hm.

On a more interesting note, Bean had a very busy and productive day today: we went up to our favorite zany ocularist, Steve Young, in Oakland, and got her second conformer. She wasn't too happy with us for all the eye prodding and poking, but the difference each successive conformer makes is astounding. We finally got her down for a nap around 2 pm, and I went out for a bit. Came home to a VERY grouchy Bean who was ravenous for more milk than Dad could provide out of the freezer---helped her out with that problem, to paraphrase our friend Amelia, and lo, a good mood shone forth. We played for at least half an hour, singing the ABC song, figuring out that being propped up on Mum's lap is kind of fun, discovering that the right fist is indeed attached to ourself...then I thought I'd try her out in her infant seat. This was a great present from a friend in LA---it's Fisher Price, I think, and has a soft black and white bar across the front from which slightly mad looking soft happy face bugs dangle. These toys are some of our biggest indicators that Bean actually does have reasonably functional sight in her right eye---she grins at these dumb bugs and wiggles around intently, and today, realized that if she kicked at them, THEY MOVED. The first good contact kick brought on a flurry of movement and a "gaaaah!" coupled with a laugh. Needless to say, my husband and I cheered wildly and applauded...which kind of startled her, unfortunately. Damned if she didn't concentrate on kicking at these bugs for a good fifteen minutes, which is an eternity in the life of a 4.5 month old. It was very endearing to watch her working so hard; her activity level can often be measured by how much slobber ends up on her chin, as she tends to use her tongue to "think". I'm guessing this has a lot to do with the fact that kids this age explore everything orally, and so hey, if you're working at something, might as well stick the tongue out.

The other good news is that after her bath (with Mum in the big tub), a nice snack, and a chapter of The House at Pooh Corner, she pretty much fell right asleep. Amazing, but true. Dare we hope that sometime within the next year, she'll start sleeping through the night? Or at least past midnight.

The best part of today, however, was the new game she played with Daddy---she was lying on the floor after her bath, and my husband leaned down over her face. She whacked him on the nose and he said "beep!". So she did it again. And Daddy said "BEEP!". And so she did it again...well, you get the idea. This was great fun for at least ten minutes, and it was clear that she was making some connections. Then our crazy dog Gershwin got into the fun and slurped her fist and head---don't worry, I cleaned her up afterwards. It was just so exciting to see a little brain at work.

So great to hear about Ella's sheananigans. Fancy Footwork.... Beep Beep, indeed!