This blog entry is in honor of our fantastic babysitter (pictured at left with Sophie), who has been working with us for seven years. She started in May 2001 – Chloe was about 3 months old, I was finishing up law school and starting to study for the bar exam.

She’s been with us ever since – through three moves, changing work schedules, and in sickness and in health. She’s like a family member and a second grandma to the girls.

She’s had a huge influence on their young lives, especially Chloe’s. And we’ve had countless people come up to us and say (with a mild degree of amazement) how wonderful and caring she is – an all-too-rare quality in nannies these days, apparently.

When Chloe and Sophie read these musings years from now or when they’re thinking about hiring caregivers of their own (perish the thought!), I want them to remember their dear babysitter with fondness, love and laughter.

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By the way, I haven’t recently mentioned that Sophie has had only one accident in over two weeks of diaperless activity. In fact, she went without a diaper at the swim club the other day. Which wasn’t particularly challenging since the water temperature probably froze the liquids inside her little body. But still – we’ll take progress wherever we can get it!