Well, I'm sure some of you have read on Facebook that I'm searching for a nanny. What? A Nanny? I thought you were doing daycare? Well, no. In fact, I'm not returning to work.
I turned in my resignation to SCAD on Wednesday after a lot of thought. Derek and I had been discussing this for nearly a month, but for most of that month, we hadn't decided who was going to quit. It went back and forth, "No, you quit your job!" "You're the one that's breastfeeding. You quit." Well, finally, I caved. I started crying that I wanted to be home with Stella.
Now, I'm not going to be just a stay at home mom... You know me. I'm too busy for that. I'm already working for Ashford University again in an ENG 122 class. I've been offered an adjunct faculty position at Technical College of the Lowcountry. I'm going to be teaching 2 classes online, and so far, 2 on campus. I'll teach for 3 hours on Monday and 3 hours on Friday. I'm so nervous about just being gone for roughly 6-7 hours from Stella that I want to bail on those two classes. Derek keeps telling me that it'll be fine and that it will be good for me to have a professional self and get to interact with adults in a "real" environment.
I'm currently searching for an experienced nanny. I was going to do a daycare, just paying whatever the cost. My friend, and Stella's godmother, Emily suggested using Care.com to find a nanny since we have no established network. She's quite experienced in childcare, so I trusted her and went for it. I created the position yesterday, and I've had 7 applicants. I'm interviewing one on Tuesday, and she looks awesome. I'm currently corresponding with another to have a back up. She has a lot more experience and costs a bit more. I'm going to be paying by the hour, so it ends up being a lot cheaper for me. Rather than paying 140/week for daycare, we'll be paying anywhere from 70-90/week.
I am so sad to leave SCAD. It was a tough decision. I had just been offered a promotion, and I was selected as one of ten internationally as NACADA's Emerging Leaders. I loved my students, and I really loved my coworkers. I know this is for the best, though. I was so busy that Stella would've spent roughly 50 hours/week in daycare. That killed me. This way, she can be in her own home all the time and I get to spend 99.9% of the time with her.
My classes will start in August and run until December. Then, I get to spend most of December not worrying about teaching and grading while she naps. I can just watch Flight of the Conchords and bake Christmas cookies... ahhh!
Anyway, I'm going to miss you, SCAD folks. I'm coming in on Monday to clean out my desk, so if you're reading this, stop by. :)
IN THE HEART OF THE HIBERNIAN METROPOLIS
Derek, Stella, and I leave for the big ATL tomorrow (which *cough cough* is my birthday). I'm so stoked to get to visit Ikea. I feel like we make pilgrimages to Ikea. I see it's glorious yellow and blue sign, and it takes my breath away. Haha...maybe that's dramatic, but I do love some Ikea. I'm also looking forward to visiting Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. I really wish we'd get something like that here. I just don't understand why we don't have one. I'd shop there every week. Can somebody please open up a natural foods store in the Lowcountry? Somebody... anybody?!
I'm not sure what else we'll do. I love Piedmont Park, but it may be a bit hot for our piglet. We'll likely just chill and enjoy being away from home for a couple days. The pups aren't coming this time. We usually take them everywhere with us, but since Stella came along, we just don't have the room for them, or the energy. I feel badly about it, and I know we try to pay attention to them. I figure they'll enjoy being together in a nice big run at Bluffton Veterinary and being away from me. I'm usually pissed at them for something - like barking when Stella has finally fallen asleep and I've been trying to get her down for like 45 minutes.
A DAYFATHER
And on Sunday is Father's Day. It'll be Derek's first Father's Day, so I hope to make it a special one. He already opened his present. I decided to get him an iPad, too. He liked mine so much that I thought he needed one, and besides, he can make apps and test them on it. It's academic! We'll be in ATL for half of it, so hopefully we can grab some nice lunch or brunch or whatever he wants. He's an amazing dad, so he deserves to have the best Father's Day ever. :)
Well, I better run. I'm out of Aeolus-inspired headings since I'm burned out from dealing with a reflux-y baby all day. Oh, and quick update on that: Stella is just fine. She has reflux and most babies get that. She's now taking Zantac, and we hope to notice a difference in a short time. We've also elevated the head of her bassinet and crib to combat the reflux until it works. Poor girl :(
Phew... I'm pooped. I hope everyone had a fantastic Bloomsday, and I'll update more on the nanny search. If you know of anyone, please send her my way. My reqs: has experience; non-smoker; comfortable with pets. Obviously, must pass a background check.
Okay.. that's it! I'm going to bed!
