Forthcoming Friday - Are we too old to babysit?

Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day.  So today our unlucky thing is that we were asked to babysit Jeff's grandchildren (8 and 3 yrs).  Honestly it has been such a long time since we last babysat that I am not sure if we even know how to.  LOL.  Anyway since we didn't have any plans and we have not been asked to look after the kids, we thought it was about time.  We are hoping that the little one who is now three has develop a better bed time routine and sleeping through the night.  I am a bit jaded by they way things has been so I am not going to react until we actually see them at our home tonight.  Previous requests seems to have been cancelled or sometimes just not informed until later that it was not going to happen.  Too bad for us because it would be too late to make other plans.  We have not seen the kids since Christmas when they came by to get their gifts. Since we have not had them for a very long time, we have decided to give them back their toys that we kept at home.  But they have enough and did want them back to we decided to give it to other kids who will make use of them and are appreciative of extra toys.  We shall see how our pre-valentine night turns out. I guess it's more like our lucky day because we get a chance to spend time with them for a short time.  Maybe, if this actually happens, we shall see.

This was taken last Christmas and she loves anything pink.

Still one of my favorite - this was taken about four years ago.

 

Miserable Monday - Lack of sleep

Why would I be miserable specially after a weekend?  Because we had to babysit again the grandkids.  For whatever reason the little one has a bit of a cold and stuffy nose and I believe that is why she was uncomfortable sleeping.  We tried to keep her up a little longer than her normal bedtime so she will be really tired.  During the night she must have cried almost every couple of hours.  Poor Jeff who had to get up to give her a bottle or change diapers.  Even though I did not get up, I would wake up too and we would both have a difficult time going back to sleep.  Just as we are in our deep sleep, the little one with start crying again.  I don't know how other grandparents do it but we are exhausted by the time their parents pick them up.  My patience was being tested and I was happy to leave early on Sunday to go my volunteer.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy playing with both kids but they do need constant attention.  Before they arrived, I manage to make a dress and a skirt for the little girl.  This material was originally my skirt and then my sister used it last time she was here.  The fabric seem to have lost its elasticity so I thought why not make something out of it. Check it out.

Left one is a sundress and the right one is a skirt.

She wore the sundress on Saturday and the skirt on Sunday - forgot to take a photo

Sporadic Saturday - Babysitting again

Since we don't have the schedule of having Gamble spend overnight every other weekend, we now just have him and his sister whenever the parents can't find anyone to look after them.  It's usually a day or two notice and if we have some plans, Jeff will usually cancel his because he is such a nice Grandfather who wants to help his son.  Today we will have them from around noon to almost after dinner or maybe even longer.  There are times that they ask Jeff if he was able to babysit and of course Jeff will say yes and then after a day or two things changes and he ends up not babysitting at all.  It just seems that they try to see if we will refuse so they can say we are such bad grandparents.  Unfortunately each time they ask, we are able to accomodate and we are still not sure if they are just testing or they are just so flaky and unable to organize their schedule or just playing some sort of head games.  We do try to not make a big deal out of all these drama that they create.  As you know Jeff and I are such easy going people and we just want to help out without being judged.  We know that the grand kids loves staying with us and that's all that counts.

It would be nice if we can take Gamble to Cars Land

Not sure if Greenlee likes the princess - she might enjoy the Cars Land instead.

Surprise Saturday - The two G's came by

We planned our day with house chores and sewing for me, while Jeff was taking my car for a smog check and continue with some more yard work.  After Jeff' received a phone call from his son, everything got changed.  The grand kids were coming over and spending a couple of hours or so.  We needed to do a little adjustment and yard work was postponed as well as the house chores but I manage to continue the much needed sewing.  Gamble has a new hair cut and Greenlee was wearing a foot ball jersey that's matching to her dad's.  She seemed to be happy to stay with us and did not cry when her dad left.  While I did a bit of sewing, Jeff was watching both kids.  It was very nice to hear every now and then Gamble would say "I love you" to Jeff.  Greenlee on the other hand is learning how to speak and so far she can say, "bye", "aye", "stop" and Dad.  She also loves to blow kisses, clap her hands and dance a little.  When Gamble started playing video game, Greenlee started getting tired and needed a little nap which she did for about half an hour.  It was very tiring to look after them as they need a lot of attention.  Their dad came back and picked them up and I am sure you know what happen to Jeff and I.  Yes, that's right, we both took a nap because we were exhausted.

Gamble's new hairstyle

Greenlee wearing #14 Florida Seminols Jersey

 

Sitting Saturday - Babysitting again

A couple of weekends ago we were babysitting the grandkids not just for a couple of hours but a sleepover.  Today we were asked again to babysit because Dan (Jeff's son) wants to go out with a friend.  Since we did not have anything planned for tonight, Jeff agreed to accept the request.  Unfortunately I cannot spend a lot of time with them tomorrow because I do volunteer work on Sundays.  After the phone call from Dan, Jeff got another call from his friend Carlos asking if we wanted to play tennis in the morning.  It's too bad Jeff did not get this call first, it would have been more fun to play doubles with Carlos and Mark. Oh bother.

Even if the grandkids will be dropped off after dinner and will be picked up before lunch, it is still a few hours before their bedtime.  Sometimes it's very tiring entertaining them because they do require a lot of attention specially the little one.  She needs a lot of comforting before she goes to sleep.  She usually cries a lot but Jeff seems to know how to take care of her.  I feel like I am not a good grandmother because I can't make her stop crying.  Even when changing diapers, it takes both of us to change her and again she does a lot of crying.  The rest of the time, she would just go around the living room and dining room exploring.  She likes to touch or play with anything different she sees in our home.  The majority of items she is not allowed to play with or touch.  She then gets a little upset but she does listen when we say "NO".  Well, that's how our weekend is about.  I hope yours is more exciting than this.

Simply Saturday - Babysitting report

It has been a week since we babysat Jeff's grandchildren (Gamble and Greenlee).  Honestly it was not so bad as they are good kids but of course going to bed could sometimes be tough.

Gamble who is use to sleeping over and knows the schedule, he usually just goes along with the program.  On the other hand Greenlee has only slept over twice so we still are not use to her schedule.  Jeff ended up putting her to bed because I can't figure out what she wanted.  She just cried loud and as if I was beating her up.  The good part is that she slept through until around 500 am and Jeff ask me if I heard her cry.  I guess not, because I was not the one who gave her the bottle that early in morning.  She must have gone back to sleep until 800 am.  Greenlee is already walking and she loves to go around the living room and the kitchen.  She is very happy just going around the coffee table and moving the stools that are around the table.  She also likes playing with my hula hoop and the four fabric coasters.  Gamble sometimes plays with her but still does the grabbing of toys from her and not wanting to share.  Both of them loves watching Sponge Bob as it's probably what they both watch at their parents home and the other grand parents.  As for eating, Gamble still a little picky but did try to eat my home made spaghetti and meat balls.  Greenlee ate chicken nuggets, pancake, bacon and of course drank a lot of milk from her bottle.  Jeff and I have noticed how both of them have grown a lot that most of the clothes we have for Gamble is a tad smaller.  We do not have the same for Greenlee so we have to make sure that their parents pack some clothes for her.  Anyway, here's a couple of photos I took while they were here.  As for the next schedule of their sleep over, we will have to wait for when they need us to look after them.

 

Sitting Saturday - Babysitting that is

Gamble for an overnight as he is such an easy going boy to look after.  My problem is the baby who requires a lot of attention and is very hard to please.  She cries when she does not see her Dad.  She cries when we have to change her diapers and it takes two people to do it.  I am not sure what it is but she does not want to be held either.  What she loves to do is walk around from the living room to the dining room and kitchen and keeps going around in circles. Sometimes when she is so content with that, then Gamble tries to play with her and she starts crying again.  She calms down when you give her her bottle, but how much can she drink?  I feel bad for Jeff because on Sunday I have to leave both kids with him because I have to do my volunteer in the afternoon.  I am really hoping that this is going to be only a once a month thing and not every other weekend.  Maybe when Greenlee is a bit older, it might be less stressful and actually more fun when she is able to communicate.  It all boils down to me being old and not having much patience when it comes to crying and consistent attention.  According to their parents they are really easy to care for, like just give her the bottle and put on the Sponge Bob cartoon channel and that's it. 

A very tired little girl.

Maybe Monday - Grandchildren Duties

Babysitting is not an easy job unless the children are between 4 and 7 yrs of age.  I have not done this job for a very long time.  The only babysitting experience I have is looking after my own children.  For the next four days, I will be stuck at home with Jeff's grandchildren (5 and 1) as their regular sitter (the real Grandma) is away on holidays.  Gamble will be easy to look after as he likes playing with all his toys that are at our home.  GreenLee just turned one and is learning how to walk but a little heavy to pick up and carry around the house.  Apparently she has a nap from around 930 to 1130 am.  I have to see it to believe it.  There was only one time that we babysat both kids but it was only for a couple of hours and Jeff was at home.  As you can see I am a little worried already about this four day job.  Honestly I think it's because I am retired and older and don't have a lot of patience with small children.  The other thing that worries me is that some mornings when I wake up, I don't feel as good and it takes most of the morning to actually get going.  I guess I just have to do it and hope that all goes well.  By the end of this week, I will be looking forward to going out and having adult conversations.  But honestly, both kids are really cute and it's so difficult to say no.