Dear Sitter...

It's been pretty blog silent around these parts, and for that I apologize.  My little babe, Elliott, has become my life.  As my baby's vision develops, my vision becomes more nearsighted.  I cannot see beyond his little face.  I hold him close, and TRY to get him to stare into my eyes.  The poor little wiggle worm just wants to squirm away, though, because the world is oh so amazing and interesting.  The more he wants to explore and see new things, the more I want just him.  Yes, I have a terrible, middle-school crush on my son.  I love him so very much.

 So, I think Dear Sitter will be a series on this blog, since I have many things to say to a potential babysitter.  I have had my parents, sister, and friends watch Elliott, and I even interviewed a stranger to sit, but I have yet to hire someone to take care of him.  Elliott is almost 8 months old, and I am not against hiring someone to sit for him at all, but nothing seems that important.  But tonight I left a holiday party just to come home and put Elliott to bed.  He needed sleep, but I would have loved to mingle with other adults.  And I was thinking, what would I tell a babysitter on a night like this?  Just off the cuff, I think it might go something like this...

Dear Sitter,
Don't get stressed out about putting Elliott to bed.  I used to worry so much when I was a new mom.  Putting my baby to bed seemed so mysterious and impossible.  But Elliott is easy.  He will go to sleep when he is tired.  How will you know he is tired?  He starts wiggling in your arms and rubbing his eyes.  He might yawn.  When you see any two of these signs, hold him and rock him.  Don't worry about giving him a bottle; he hates bottles.  I fed him before I left, so he is not hungry.  Just rock him a bit, and if he gets more wiggly, put him down in the crib.  When you put him down, help him to roll over onto his tummy because he only sleeps on his tummy.  I know about "back to sleep," but our Elliott is a roller and will get onto his tummy on his own even without out help. (He will cry and cry if you don't help him roll over.)  If he doesn't get more wiggly, he will fall asleep in your arms.  Bliss!  When this happens, put him in the crib and help him onto his belly.  Before you leave his room, make sure he can breathe easily, and put a light blanket on him.  Congratulations and thank you!  Please have some chocolate and relax.  That's what I do every night after he falls asleep.


And that is what I will tell him/her.  Someday.  Soon.