First Walk after Sandy

Fallen Tree on Bleecker Park

On Thursday I was able to go down to the West Village and see L and her parents. They had no electricity so the apartment was really cold. I spent the day with L and we played with her blocks and her ball inside the apartment. When the sun came out and it was a little warmer we decided to go on a stroller ride. We walked around and a feeling of emptyness, sadness and gratitude filled me. We were lucky to be alive and well and I prayed for those in need.

Bleecker Street Playground was full of leaves and debris. L was able to play for a while. There were a few kids with their parents but the streets where empty. That night I help L and her parents move uptown to a hotel.

L playing at the Park after the Hurricane

Halloween in the West Village

 I usually take L for two walks during the day. She loves to go on stroller rides  for 1 or 1.5 hours at a time. After that I usually take her to the park since she is learning to walk and really loves her independence and the capability she is acquiring of being able to move by herself and go places where she was not able to go at all before without being carried...

Taking her in stroller rides gives me an opportunity to discover places and explore streets that I had never seen before. New York's architecture is eclectic and beautiful. The mixture of styles, materials, designs and proportions are unique to this city. I cannot wait to start showing L all the amazing buildings, gardens and wonderful details that can be found in almost every street.

We were really looking forward to the Halloween Parade and celebration in the Village. It would have been our first. L was going to dress up as a pumpkin but Sandy caused a dramatic change of plans.

Cynthia Rowley

Spiderweb stockings

L and I also love to watch the store windows. Creativity is everywhere.  We enjoyed looking at the windows at Cynthia Rowley's store on Bleecker St. The manequins had a colorful halloween makeup that really caught the attention of the people walking by the store. The stockings on display where also great, specially to wear to a Halloween Party.

For me the best window was  Tom Binn's on Perry Street. The jewelry at this store is really special. Anyone looking for something different and unique should stop by this store. You will not be disappointed. The girls at the store are really nice too.

After the Storm

One of the onesies

 Last night NYC was at the center of Sandy, a record breaking storm by most accounts. People have died, lost their homes and businesses, etc. I thank God for being safe today and I pray for acceptance and strength for those less fortunate.

I did not go to work today or yesterday so I have been cleaning, reading, etc. I also took the time to embroider a couple of onesies for Little Lu, since her birthday is coming up soon.

Welcome!

Being a Nanny in New York is a wonderful job. As with any job, there are a few requirements that are not negotiable: You are a very responsible adult, love the company of children, enjoy walking, can be moved to tears by the smile of a child when he:she looks at you, are very patient and creative, are able to become a child when it comes to playing and a very patient adult when it comes to nap time.

Me

I have been a Nanny for several years. Since February 2012 I have been watching a cute, happy little girl in NYC. I absolutley love to see her grow, develop, learn and smile. This seed of love of observation and discovery was planted in my heart by a wonderful German drawing teacher I had in my first year in college, Heinz Rose. He used to take us to the Botanical Garden sometimes and had us observe how plants grow. The patterns, the light, the forms, the order of the universe. From his classes I learned to love nature and its daily miracles.

So I decided to start this blog on my days as a Nanny to honor all the good nannies that dedicate their lives and hearts to children in the city and who help parents in the important job of raising a human being. As a single parent, I thank all those who helped me raise my two sons.