A Perfect Fit, Part 2

I know that my last few posts have ended abruptly, but I am just blogging at the shop when I have a few free minutes. So when someone comes in, the post ends! No more staying up til 3 am for me....nope. I try to go to bed before 11 pm now. And truthfully, that isn't even early enough! I should be in bed before 9...Mr. Wonderful and I have always wondered how people can get in bed so early every night. How do they get everything done? Well, at this point, I don't care if I get it all done or not as long as I get some sleep!! I know that if my awesome neighbor/friend happens to read this, she will laugh out loud. She will probably even come by the shop just to say, "I told you so!"

At this point I should probably inform you that I used to make fun of said neighbor/friend for having her lights out before 9 pm every night. We would just be leaving for the grocery store at 10 pm and their house would be completely dark! I probably even called them "old" a time or two. So any mockery I get from her, I fully deserve :o) 

But back to the shop and why this post is called "a perfect fit, part 2." The nanny. She is a perfect fit for us. As nervous and worried about leaving my girls as I was, Nanny has calmed all those fears. She was obviously meant to be, because she actually came up in a frantic, last minute whining session with my mother, Mrs. Incredible, about not having anyone to keep the girls until school was out. As I was crying about it, I just asked out of desperation, "Don't you know of anyone?!" Well, she actually did. The next day we hired Nanny. 

We had first thought they would be able to start preschool early. That didn't work out because there wasn't enough room. Both girls will be in preschool in the fall and I really didn't want to start them at one daycare and then take them out to go somewhere else. Addie just wouldn't like that. She needs something stable. Nanny is that stability she needs. She is young and energetic, but also laid back. She is great with them. She takes them places and plans activities for them. They love her and so do I. Not only do they have fun with her, but I know that they are safe with her. This means everything in the world to me. Although she is young, she is responsible and dependable. I know she isn't perfect, because nobody is. But she is definitely perfect for us. I used to babysit quite a bit when I was younger. I also worked at a daycare for a while. Watching Nanny with the girls reminds me of how I was with the kids I kept. She doesn't look at them as if she is annoyed with them (even if she is...and it wouldn't surprise me if she was, because sometimes even I am!) she just looks at them with patience and love...even if she has to grit her teeth to do it!!  

This is where God's divine intervention comes into play again...I was seconds from calling the daycare and sending the girls. I may have been stressed and worried about what to do with them, but He had it taken care of all along. I would have never had the peace about being separated from my girls if they were in daycare. I am in no way implying anything against daycare!!! I worked at one and loved it and still love it. The people who work there are incredibly gifted at what they do and they do an incredible job.
If I am implying anything, it would be that my little girls are spoiled! They have been home with me their whole life. They have structure, but are not used to a schedule. We have always had a daily routine, but if something came up we could tweak it as we wished. If they slept late, we ate late and napped late. No big deal. If they were in a bad mood, they could just sit alone and pout until they felt better. It would not be fair to the workers or other children or my girls if I had thrown them straight into a strict schedule. With Nanny, they have the opportunity to get used to having someone else as the authority figure other than me. They have the opportunity to use the Summer to get used to waking up earlier and having to leave the house....which is a major adjustment for me also!! I have the hardest time finding something to wear each day. My wardrobe for the past 6 years has consisted of maternity clothes, sweat pants, and t-shirts. I am in desperate need of a shopping trip, but then again, I really don't even know what to buy because I have only shopped for the girls for so long. Boo-hoo, I know! But I think having Nanny will help prepare the girls for preschool.

I don't know why I always get so worked up and worried over things. God has a plan and it is so much greater than mine. He sees the big picture. He is just sitting back waiting on me to stop whining and just turn everything over to Him. And when it comes to my girls, there is no place better than safe in His arms.

Love and prayers for you all!







   

a perfect fit

I feel the need to tell you that I absolutely LOVE my job!!!!!! Dont' get me wrong, I LOVED my job staying home with my girls, too. I'm actually pretty sure that one prepared me for the other.

It isn't really about which one was better. I guess it is just that the timing for each was perfect. I suppose I am just amazed by God's amazing plan and His divine intervention. When I first started planning to open the shop, I wasn't even sure that I was ready for it. I knew it was time for me to leave home and go to work...I just didn't feel great about leaving my girls. I was sure that they would be fine...it was me who was the problem! I didn't think I would make it without them there with me every day!!

It has turned out to be a perfect fit, though. I love being here and having some quiet time to work and keep busy. I love getting to come home to the girls and not take one second of my time with them for granted. I love having the opportunity to talk with people when they come in the shop. I love getting to know them and hearing their stories. I especially love it when they bring their little ones with them. LizzieLu & BabySue immediately transforms from "children's boutique" to "children's playroom" when a child comes through the door.

I remember when Addie was a toddler and I was expecting Avie. It was so difficult to go shopping because not many children's boutiques are "stroller friendly." There just isn't an easy way to get inside with them, plus once you get inside with them there isn't room to push them between the clothing racks. That meant that I had to carry Addie, and her oversized diaper bag, and my purse, and keys, all with my AvieLu baby bump. I started dropping my wallet down into Addie's diaper bag, along with my keys and cell phone...thinking it would make things easier. And it did...until time to pay and I had to dig for my wallet while holding her. Of course, she took advantage of this opportunity and would let go of me and try to slide down my hip and get to the floor, pulling off my elastic band maternity pants, then she would make a mad dash for the most breakable -and expensive- thing in the store while I looked like an idiot trying to chase her down. When I finally gathered her up and got the bill paid, I would just drop my debit card back into the diaper bag to get out of there, because she would be screaming and fighting to get back down once she had tasted the freedom of running.

It only happened twice before I finally learned my lesson....on two separate occasions I went to the grocery store after leaving a boutique only to get to the check-out and realize that I brought my purse inside the store-not the diaper bag. And where was the diaper bag? In the car. Why? Because it took up too much space in the shopping cart. Why is this such a problem? Because although I had thought to grab my wallet out of the diaper bag, my debit card was still in there!!! "Live and learn" is a phrase used often. You would think that I lived and learned to put my debit card back in my wallet, but nope. Not me. What did I learn? Well, I learned that a "children's shop" that isn't "child friendly" just doesn't make sense!!! Therefore, if any child of any age walks into LizzieLu & BabySue, we encourage the parent to let them get down and play. Anyone willing to hand over an infant? We will dab on some hand sanitizer and gladly accept them also!

 My mom and I have had the pleasure of entertaining so many children while their mothers, grandmothers and even a few fathers shopped. I am aware that not all parents/guardians appreciate this. Some people don't want you to even look at their children much less talk to them, and while I don't understand this, I totally respect it. I have absolutely no question about what my spiritual gift is...loving others. Loving them where they are, how they are. Loving them and their children. Not just loving them "in Christian love" and moving on. I love them up close and personal. Loving them and their situation. I love them and can't help but get involved. If I see someone struggle, even with something simple, I feel a strong need to help them, whether they want me to or not!

Not long ago Mr. Wonderful and I were in a book store shopping. There was a woman in line ahead of us at the checkout with three children. She had several items and the cashier was being a bit slow. One of the children was a toddler in a stroller who was beginning to fuss and try to climb out. The cashier kept asking the woman questions, and the woman couldn't hear her because she was trying to poke the toddler back in the stroller and he was fussing and crying. Without thinking, I just stepped up to the side of the stroller and said hello to the handsome little guy. He looked at me like I was nuts and then looked at his mom to see what her reaction to me would be. I just squatted next to him and talked to him about the toy tied to his stroller, his shoes, etc. Once I had his attention, he sat quietly and smiled at me, probably still thinking I was nuts. His mom was able to answer the questions and get out the door without a full meltdown from him. I'm not really sure what she thought about it, or if she even noticed, but if it had been me and someone had bothered to entertain my child instead of talking bad about me and giving me dirty looks, I would have thanked God for putting them in my path and probably kissed them on my way out of the store!! Please read this carefully: I didn't expect or even want her to say thank you to me. I just wanted to help. I just did what I would have wanted someone to do for me. I just loved her and wanted to make those few minutes easier on her. If that makes me weird, then so be it :o)

I am loving my life and the changes that have taken place over the past several months! Love and prayers for you all!

     

Today it's totally different

Today is my first day alone at the shop. We opened on Saturday, but my mom and I were both here. Today, it's totally different.

Today is the first day I have ever left the girls with anyone to go to work. In fact, today is the first day I have worked since I found out I was expecting Addie. Don't get me wrong....I'm certainly not trying to say they have never been out of my sight...I have wonderful sisters, Awesome and Amazing, and my parents, the Incredibles, who keep the girls any time I even mention having things to do. I also have great friends who keep them for me. But today? Today is the first time I have left them to go to work. Today is the first time I have left them with the nanny. Today is my first day to leave them knowing that I will leave them again tomorrow.

I feel like I'm doing pretty good. The shop has been pretty quiet at times today, and that makes me miss the girls because when they are around it is never quiet! It has also been fairly busy at times today and that has helped keep my mind off of them.

 Earlier today I was pretty busy with phone calls from sales reps and orders and my huge "things to do" list. But when things slowed down and it got quiet, I did a little blog surfing. I know it sounds silly, but I have really missed blog land. I love getting ideas and recipes from others. I especially love sharing what's been on my mind lately. I always gain such motivation from reading what other people are doing and I hope those who read my blog feel the same.

Today I read a blog from a woman who has started her spring cleaning. She is cleaning specific things each day and blogging about it. Her latest post was about cleaning her windows. She washed curtains, dusted blinds, etc. As I was reading, I started thinking about how much dust must be piled up on my blinds. Ick. I'm embarrassed to even be writing this. But I have been complaining to Mr. Wonderful about the house smelling for weeks. It doesn't smell funky or bad, it just smells. I don't think it had a smell before, so this is very concerning to me. The woman in the blog talked about how great her house smelled after she cleaned the windows, so......on Monday my windows will be cleaned!!

I know you were expecting me to say "tomorrow" or "this afternoon" not "Monday" but Mondays are my only day off now. In the past, every day was spring cleaning day! Plus, I had all week to accomplish whatever I needed to do. If I didn't get it done today, there was always tomorrow. Well, that is not the case anymore. My store hours are 10 am to 6 pm Tuesday through Friday and 10 am to 2 pm Saturday. This means that by the time I get home in the evening, it will be supper, bath, and bedtime. I want to spend every minute possible with the girls when I get home!! So that means doing as little housework as possible. Mondays will certainly become my "major" work days, because what I do then will have to be enough to last!!

On top of that, the nanny will be keeping the girls at my house and the thought of anyone seeing my house is disarray brings on an anxiety attack. I just feel as though my home should be presentable at all times. Everyone who comes in should feel comfortable and welcome. It is hard to feel comfortable when you are sitting in filth and clutter.

 Well, a customer just came in so we'll talk later!

Love and prayers for you all!