We don't always know why people come into out lives. And sometimes we don't realize how special someone is until after they've left. Some people have a powerful hold on us. They make us open our eyes to things we've never thought of, ideas, beliefs and views on the world. We've had two nanny's so far with our 9 month old daughter. The first left us, due to a serious injury, after two months, the second after almost four. It was our second nanny that brightened my day each time she showed up to work. Her faith is a powerful burst of postive energy that surrounds her and made me realize how much I not only missed being connected to God, but how lost I am without Him in my life. I've had many people enter my life who've had special relationships with God. I didn't have the level of understanding that I do now in order to appreciate their love and connection. It's only now that I realize how God has tried to re-enter my life through these people so many times in the past, and I've closed the door on Him. God brought this person into my life at just the right time. She showed an amazing love for my daughter and became not only a wonderful nanny, but a great friend. She starts summer classes next week and her schedule does not match my work schedule, which forced us to look for a new nanny.  We hired her friend, hoping they are much the same, but knowing she's irreplaceable. I hope to continue our friendship and continue on the path that she's led me to. I hope to end up where she is someday. To know God the way she does. To share the love and compassion for others in the same way. To open my heart to others, to forgive, to end the worry and accept faith. I've been sad since she left, and I haven't yet figured out why. If it's that I know that no other nanny could love my daughter the way she did, or if it's that I won't be able to have the great conversations that I had each morning and evening or if it's that I feel I've lost more than a great nanny. It was only a few short months, but she really felt like part of the family and will be missed as such.

Almost 8 Months

It's hard to believe, it always is, how quickly time passes. I've really enjoyed these past 8 months though - despite sleepless nights (almost every night), lots of crying, mounds of dirty diapers, and hundreds of loads of laundry. I spent four of those months home with the baby and the next four working three days a week at the office and two days a week from home. I've watched my beautiful baby girl make huge developmental steps from rolling over, to rolling back and forth, to dragging herself, to crawling, to pulling herself up and now pulling herself up on furniture and able to stand with one arm free and sometimes both for a brief moment.  It's amazing to think we all start out this small. We come into the world open to learn and accept new things and discover our world. I find it amazing to watch each time I see her realize how things work. She tries to open the flaps on each page of the book we read each night before bed. She repeats opening and closing things, turns books and blocks over back and forth analyzing each, trying to understand how they work. She has impressive motor skills for her age. I can't wait to hear her talk. I know she has so much to say - if only I could hear her now. I look forward to taking her to the beach for the first time this summer, sharing future vacations with her, reading to her before bedtime, teaching her how to read, how to play sports, how to ride a bike. There's so much to look forward to. I want to be there for every moment, every new discovery, every step she takes.