James and I were so lucky to find Abigail's nanny. It's kind of a crazy little story. Today is an anniversary of sorts (although a very sad one). I went back to work a year ago today, after Abigail was born.

Abigail started out in childcare that was just right down the road from where I work. This was really great at the time. I left later for work, I spent my lunches at her house so I could nurse Abigail, and it only took me five minutes after work to pick her up. This was great until that provider starting watching a member of her own family and I noticed a decline in some very important care of shmabel (Schmabel is Abigail's nickname).

So when Abigail was just five months old a friend of mine started watching her. My friends life took on a new direction and just a few weeks into that situation we were looking for new care.
The search began and I was trying to not be picky but still meet our comfort level...

We found another child care provider, there were some compromises, like I couldn't go and see Abigail on my lunch anymore, which was okay because our breastfeeding experience was declining (but thats another story). The only other problem was that this day care could not take Abigail in until April and it was only the end of January! Luckily our parents helped us get by as we looked for temporary care.

That was when I decided I would post a child care ad on Craigslist. I had so many people respond, and I was mentally and emotionally drained talking to the varied and unqualified candidates. Until the day I got an email from the above miss. Jessica.

The day I met Jessica I had just come from another interview with a woman the day before who I wouldn't even let touch Abigail. I was weary, anxious and all to paranoid about who I was going to find for sweet Abigail.

Me and Jessica (not even joking) talked for over two hours during our interview. Jessica's qualifications were amazing, she was trained, experienced, professional, ingaging, intelligent and is a natural educator.

Those were the things that were tangible that I fell in love with. There is some more unseen qualities that I really can't describe that draws me to Jess. I trust her completely, I believe in what she does and who she is.

All those things don't seem to paint the complete picture of all the things that make my life better because she is in it!

Jessica really goes above and beyond what anyone could ever dream of to have taking care of their child. Although she does so much more than "just take care of our daughter" she's really helping us raise her.

Oh yeah, back to my story. Jessica started taking care of Mabel in February and by the end of the time when we were getting closer to having to move Abigail to the new day care both Jessica and I didn't want to end our relationship. So in the process of finding temporary care we ended up with a permanent friend and a permanent Nanny.

Abigail's life is enriched, her care is speacial to her very own needs, and she has everything I would want to give to her if I didn't have to go to work everyday. I am blessed, I'm very fortunate, I am extremely grateful that Jessica is a part of our life.