Lately, my world is focused on finalizing childcare for my Caterpillar. Nanny, daycare, in-home childcare provider… We began looking for a nanny shortly after the Caterpillar was born. In fact, we found several candidates very early on. I was so excited and began the interview process. I started with a phone screen, followed by an in-person interview at Starbucks. If we still liked the candidate, then we brought them to our home to meet the kids. One candidate quickly won my heart over… until she asked for $700 a week. Seven how much? Was that more than my take home salary? She’s come over twice, but we cannot agree to a weekly amount. I really, really want her to work out because I cannot fathom bathing, dressing, nursing, preparing bottles for the day, packing a diaper bag, strapping a baby in her carseat, getting the Lion ready, AND dropping off Gadget all before getting to work. Oh, and I haven’t even mentioned getting myself ready. And then the commotion starts all over again in the evening, requiring me to rush out of work, pick up the Lion, and then speed home to get Gadget before his after school program closes.

I was hesitant to decide on a nanny. I didn’t feel this way with the boys. But it’s different this time with my little girl. The truth is- I’m not ready to leave her with anyone. She cries even when her grandparents hold her. She knows when I’m in the room and when I’m not. She’s the most precious thing in my world, and I’m not close to being prepared to leave her during the day. Aside from the morning hassle, as the Lion says, “it hurts my heart” to think about her crying during the day because she wants me to hold her and I am not there.

Last Tuesday was especially crazy because I returned to work. As I was sitting at my desk trying to answer a few emails before heading off to pump, the potential nanny texted me that she was having reservations about her salary. Did I mention I was at work? At work. My first day back after twelve weeks at home holding, smelling, and cuddling with my daughter. I couldn’t process her text and work at the same time, so I shelved responding to her on my once-I-get-home to-do list and carried on with my day. So, fast forward to today and we’re still waiting to hear back from the nanny on whether or not we can agree to a number. So in the meantime we signed up my Caterpillar for the same daycare where the Lion goes. And I’m worried about how this will turn out.

I’ve had some traumatic daycare experiences in the past, especially with the Lion. He cried everyday I dropped him off for months. I used to arrive at work emotionally worn out after prying my baby off of me and feeling like I abandoned him at daycare. One morning, he cried so hard I knew something was wrong and could not leave him. He was inconsolable and even the food I’d packed that day did not soothe him. When I got home that evening I took out each item in the pantry one by one to figure out what he wanted. When he saw the box of Quaker Oats he bumped his fists together, making the sign we’d taught him for ‘hungry.’ I vaguely remember the details of those crazy mornings, but I do recall each emotion. I recall feeling guilty that I was leaving a crying baby, but also grateful that I had a job to go to that I enjoyed. This time around is totally different. I still love the job, but I’m just not ready to leave my baby girl with anyone else.

No one does the job of caring for her better than me. Even Hubby is not equipped to nourish her the way I am. And I’m not ready to face to stressful mornings prepping for daycare dropoffs, but more importantly I’m not ready to give up my all day baby fix. Oh my, the joys of motherhood.

(pictured above is me on the 1987 Breck school enrollment package)

1. I love all things verbena scented.

2. I only eat cooked tomatoes (on pizza, pasta, etc), but not raw (salads).

3. If my morning schedule gets out of order I can very easily forget to put on deodorant or brush my teeth (so I carry extra with me).

4. I cried watching the beauty and unison of the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.

5. My ears are too small to wear iPod earplugs.

6. My first dog was named Strawberry (after Strawberry Shortcake) and my last, Dark Tagnon (after the 3 musketeer D’Artagnan).

7. I think it’s sooooo cool that my children will think a black president is normal.

8. I fell in love with Hubby because of how patient he is.

9. I have had three miscarriages.

10. I gave my life to Christ at the age of 8 because someone told me that if I didn’t and I died I would go to hell. I chose Heaven.

11. If I could do life all over again I would either be an Alvin Ailey dancer or a Google programmer or a Navy Seal.

12. I want to live in Geneva.

13. Some of my life goals include speaking at a college commencement, designing a family coat of arms and taking my kids to the MN state fair.

14. I went to the same school (elementary, middle, high) for 15 years.

15. On special occasions I make crepes from scratch.

16. The second website I ever made was our wedding website. I didn’t save the first one. Some of you may remember it was a Valentine’s website for Hubby!

17. In high school I placed 4th at the state track competition in triple jump. I scratched a 37′ jump which I probably could have won with. I still think about it.

18. I have been called the N-word once.

19. Whenever a subway train arrives I feel like I have to get on it, even if it’s not my train. Otherwise I feel like I’m being left behind. I’m also self-conscious about my windshield wiper speed when it rains.

20. I almost did Air Force ROTC at Georgia Tech. I could have been in Iraq now. So glad I didn’t!

21. I am allergic to bananas.

22. I have my dream job doing Marketing for Pepsi.

23. I have a library card that I actively used from every state I’ve lived in: MN, GA, NJ, NY, CT and TX.

24. I feel very compassionate for and compelled to help mothers globally.

25. I was a newspaper carrier in MN, in the snow, in -30 weather.

I didn’t have a catastrophic childhood event that created my aversion to folding laundry. In fact, when I was in college I made a huge effort to keep my laundry situation under control because I always had a roommate and never wanted to be the ‘messy roommate.’ Growing up, though, I never folded clothes. I had a laundry chute in my bathroom that went straight to the wash room, and my mom took it over from there. How I miss those days. With two little boys and a baby on the way, I need to accept that I can’t do everything, laundry folding included. Now, I must pay for such luxuries, but will gladly do so.