My Nanny Diary

Late July:
Talked to my Mom today.  Turns out Jeff and Kathy need a nanny for a week and the 'rents are traveling (yet again.)  Mark my words - I WILL find a way to get to Austin.

1 week after "Late July":
Meetings moved, vacation days blocked, ticket to Austin purchased.  Nanny 911 to the rescue!

Sunday, August 22nd:
I arrive in Austin, TX to 105 degree weather.  That's right - even triple digits won't keep me away from my nephew.  Jeff and I grab lunch and Vaughn and I get reacquainted.  He remembers what I taught him last time I was in town ...

Monday, August 23rd:
Full day playing with racecars, hammers, magnets, racecars, stuffed animals ... oh yeah, and racecars.

Tuesday, August 24th:
Repeat Monday ... add playing in the dirt out back and sweating from parts of my body I didn't know I had.  Took a trip to the Splash Pad to cool off.  Put Vaughn in and out of the car seat, oh, three times or so because I kept forgetting things in the house.  Gimme a break, this babysitter has been out of practice for quite some time now.

Weds, August 25th
Trip to the Children's Museum.  He was by far the best kid there, at least, that's what I heard ... SO good, he even talked Aunt Trace into a popsicle when we got home.

Thurs, August 26th
Austin Zoo, here we come!  Vaughn's favorite was the pint-sized deer that he was able to feed.  He couldn't get enough, and neither could the mini-deer.  They were a perfect pair.  We went home with a stuffed donkey as a souvenir.  Buying things from the gift shop - that skill I get from my Dad.

Friday, August 27th
Walk around the block and past the firehouse so we could wave at the fire truck.  BIG day.  Spent some time on the front porch blowing bubbles.  He blows more from the soap on his lips than through the little stick ... hilarious.

The days were so exhausting, Vaughn and I relaxed in the evenings with our "juice."

The weekend was full of quality time with my brother and sister-in-law.  VIP seats at a local fashion show, cocktails, movies, dinner at a great taco place ... they know how to spoil the babysitter.

Bottom line - Vaughn and I are BFF's!  What a wonderful opportunity to spend some one-on-one time bonding with my little nephew whom I don't get to see nearly enough.  Skype is handy but doesn't always cut it.  Now I can understand his language, I know his favorite foods, and he even knows my name ... Ace!