Cookie babysits

Carolyn and Brent went to the bay for a couple's weekend with friends. So, I was roped into babysitting. I whined and moaned for a couple of weeks, but it didn't do much good. At least they waited until they got the girls to sleep on Friday night before they left. That was about 9 PM.

I ate my sandwich and watched some TV. Although I usually stay up till at least 1 AM, I decided I'd better get to sleep since I would be on my own for the next day and a half. So, I turned off the TV at about 12:15. Roughly two minutes later, I heard the pitter pat of Kate's little feet running for her door upstairs. I hurried up to her room to get her back to bed. She asked for her daddy and then for her mommy. I told her that Cookie was there to take care of her and she raised her arms and let me pick her up. We sat in the chair in her room for awhile and then I put her back in her bed. She rolled over and went right to sleep. It was 12:24 when I got back downstairs.

When I got back in bed, I realized that I didn't have my "wrist" pillow (it's a ridiculous thing, made even more ridiculous if I tell you it's my left wrist pillow) and I spent a few minutes pulling back covers, etc., looking for it. Finally, I realized that I left it in the closet when I unpacked my body pillow, arm pillow and head pillow (I know, I know.) I retrieved it and settled back in the bed. About one minute later, I heard Kate's feet hit the floor again. So, back I go upstairs. This time she wasn't satisfied that I was there. She wanted Daddy or Mommy. She locked her elbows over the gate across the door and I couldn't move her. Eventually, I went to sit in the chair, thinking that she would come to me when she was ready. After 5 minutes or so, I went to her, again, and tried to pick her up. The elbows had a death grip on the gate and she wouldn't budge. She never said anything, either. I can't imagine what was going through her mind. So, once more, I went to the chair to wait for her to come to me. I have no idea how long I waited, it could have been 15 minutes, before I went to her again. She hadn't moved an inch! But, this time when I asked her if she wanted to sit in the chair with me, she turned and raised her arms. It probably took another 20 minutes for her to relax and go to sleep. When I got back to bed, it was 1:39. About an hour later, she woke up again, but came right to me and fell asleep quickly. That was the last wake-up call of the night.

The next time I heard from her was at about 6:45 on Saturday morning. She pushed down the gate, which made a great deal of racket. She came downstairs with me where we watched TV until about 7:30. Carlee was up before 8. They had breakfast and then we all adjourned to the master bedroom for the beginning of a Barney marathon that continued (except for naps and bedtime) until Carolyn and Brent got back on Sunday.

Luckily for me, eating still takes up a lot of time during the day...two snacks and three meals. Kate will eat just about anything, but Carlee has been a bit fussy in the last couple of months. Carolyn told me that it aggravates Carlee when people mess with her food...so anything that needs to be done to it (slicing, dicing, whatever) should be done out of sight, before her plate is given to her. I was careful to follow that advice and had no problems with her until I gave her some pears. She doesn't care much for apples and the pear slices look like apple slices. At almost the same instant that the bowl was placed in front of her, she swept it off the table, with great force. She got other fruits after that. Kate was pretty good about staying in her chair and eating. She even mentioned it to me a couple of times, just in case I hadn't noticed her good behavior.

After snack, we put Carlee in the stroller and walked out to get the paper. Kate then put on her helmet and rode her new bike that Nana and Pa gave her for her birthday. Carlee stuck out her hand and got a high five every time Kate rode by her. We stayed outside long enough for Carlee to get cranky and then came in to have lunch. After lunch they got bite size s'mores. Carlee took all her s'mores apart before eating them. Carolyn said that she did that the first time she got them. Instinctive, I guess.

Yay! Nap time for Carlee. She dropped right off to sleep and then Kate worked a puzzle before it was time to head upstairs for her nap. I started reading "The Little Engine That Could" to her. About the time the passenger engine steamed off to the roundhouse, Kate fell asleep. Carlee usually sleeps about 2 hours, but, just for me, she cut it to under 1 1/2 hours.

The afternoon went about the same as the morning...snacks, TV, play, supper. At bath time, I tended to Carlee while Kate bathed herself, including (I realized later) washing her own hair. All I did was pour the water on to rinse it. She was even trying to help me wash Carlee, although I wasn't having any trouble.

After baths, we played and watched TV. I got some video of Kate dancing to the music of Zane's toy. Kind of put me in mind of Elaine Benes on Seinfeld...interesting style. Kate only woke up once, at 11:15, and then stayed in bed for the rest of the night.

Carolyn and Brent got back before the girls were down for their naps on Sunday afternoon. Kate and Carlee couldn't have been any better. Carolyn said that maybe she could talk the other couples into starting the getaway on Thursday evening instead of Friday. They would come home on Saturday afternoon. That way, this poor, old babysitter could have the kids in day care all day Friday and would only have them until about midday on Saturday. Now, that would work a lot better for me.