Dear Sweet Baby Girl,
When I moved back to the Midwest ten
months ago, I prayed about what kind of job I should look for. I felt very
strongly on my heart that I was supposed to look for a nanny job. I have always
wanted to be a mom and I love babies, so I was excited to try and find a family
to work for. I made a profile on an Internet website that helps connect
families with nannies. When I got the first email from your mom I felt like God
was telling me, “This is the family! This is the baby you are going to love!” I
started being your nanny nine months ago and have gotten to watch you grow from
a tiny four-month old into an incredibly talkative on-the-go one-year old!
This week is my last week with you
because I am about to have baby of my own and you are going to start on a new
adventure at a daycare center. I’m writing you this letter so that someday you
will be able to read it and know that for your first year of life you had a
nanny who loved you very much. It didn’t take long for you to win over my heart.
After a couple days you smiled at me and I knew in that moment that I already
loved you. Getting to spend my days with you never felt like work. I can
honestly tell you that there was never a day when I didn’t want to come see you.
I looked forward to it!
Now that I am having a baby of my
own, I can look back on our time together and see how much I learned by taking
care of you. The only problem is, you have spoiled me! You have been the
happiest and most patient baby I have ever met! In the nine months we spent
together you only had two meltdowns where you cried and cried. Most babies
would have had many more tearful days! When I would put you down for a nap,
sometimes I would sing Disney songs to you and your little eyes would smile up
at me until they started to get heavy. When you woke up, instead of screaming
for me to come get you, I would know you were awake because I would hear your
happy little babbles on the monitor. Sometimes to be silly, I would crawl into
your room and then very slowly peek my head over the top of your crib. Your
face would light up as soon as you saw me.
One of my friends hosted a
playgroup that I would take you to once a week. At home you were always very
talkative and babbling almost every moment of the day. When we would get to
playgroup you would be very quiet at first and just watch the other babies
playing. Then after a few minutes all you wanted to do was play with them. One
time at playgroup, one of the moms offered to hold you while I went to the bathroom.
I handed you off to her and only got two steps away before you started
screaming with the full force of your lungs. I tried saying calming words to
you to show that you were safe, but you were inconsolable. I gently scooped you
back in my arms and it was as if someone had turned off a switch. The moment
you made contact with me you stopped crying. It was the first time I realized I
was a safe place for you and that made me feel good.
It’s a little hard to know that because
you are still so young, you will have no memory of me when you get older. I
have hundreds of fun memories of you! Your favorite game to play was when I
pretended I was going to “get you”. I would hold my hand up over your face and
slowly drop it closer as I made silly noises. You always laughed so hard every time
my hand finally reached your tummy to tickle you.
I hope I have made it clear to you
just how special I think you are. There are two more people in your life who think
you are the most precious thing in the world. I’m taking about your mom and dad
of course! Even at such a young age, you made it clear that you loved them too.
When your dad would come home from work you would get the biggest smile on your
face when you saw him and you would erupt with laughter. You were always so
happy to see him. When you saw your mom come home you would make a happy scream
and put your arms up the air. If she didn’t come over and immediately swoop you
up in her arms you would start to scream! All you wanted was a hug from your
mommy and you wouldn’t settle for anything else!
My heart is very torn as I
anticipate saying goodbye to you at the end of this week. I’ve already cried
about it a couple times because of how much I will miss you. You have brought
so much joy into my life. I believe God allowed me to be part of your life so
that I could get glimpses of how wonderful motherhood will be. I have told my
husband, Seth, on many occasions that I hope our baby is as happy, joyful,
and loveable as Sweet Baby Girl.
Blessings,
Shantastic
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