E had a good long nap and when she woke up we headed down to the park! We stayed there for about 2.5 hrs, which was great! It was long enough to just feel like we were relaxing, in no rush, with all the time in the world. However, with a change right before heading out, it also meant that we didn't have to worry about a diaper change in public (unless there was a #2, so I had supplies just in case). We brought a snack with us (a banana and some carrots and hummus) so we could have a little picnic. We played on the playground, rolled down the hill, ran around in the grass, and drew on each others' arms in dirt. The last might not be the most normal activity, but she loved it and arms are washable so I let it become a really fun game. It was dry dirt and it was applied with a small stick, so it was not as messy as it sounds.
I realized that I'm kind of awkward with other caretakers at a park. They assume I'm a mom (which is logical, better to assume an aunt/nanny a mom, than to assume a mom to be an aunt or a nanny!!) - so I have to find the right time to fit in "I'm her aunt". Also it requires smalltalk which I often try to avoid. That said, it was fun and there was a nice mother there who is going to look into E's preschool for her own child next year!
The walk home from the park was a big trickier - she would stop occasionally, tried to put her souvenir rock in her mouth, didn't always want to have her hand held. I threatened our evening movie (a reward that she only got if she had a good day and obeyed). That worked and we were able to get home much quicker from then on. After dinner we did watch a bit of a movie, and we also talked to Anna for a bit. Overall, it was a good evening. I'm exhausted though! I've gotten very used to a particular routine, which does not involve going out places, talking to people or keeping a youngin' happy, healthy, safe and mannered.
I'm trying to keep her diet balanced. She is used to a really good variety. When explaining the routine, Brad said it doesn't matter too much what she eats as long as it isn't all carbs, all dairy, etc. When I came over this morning he told me really not to worry about it, saying he wants it to be easy for me. I still want to give her a really good healthy balance, but it can be hard!
Lunch: some beans (soupish) with half a wheat tortilla, some cottage cheese... she ate a lot less than I thought she would, so after half the tortilla she wasn't too hungry for more beans or cottage cheese - the main points of the lunch!
Snack: a small banana and some carrots and hummus ...
Dinner: a pita with cheese, hummus and lettuce, and a small side of beans.... the beans are repetitive but I wanted her to get her protein! Also, the hummus was repetitive too... Considering my love for hummus, I wouldn't be surprised if we eat it all this weekend!
Anyway, my goal was to cut out carbs because I knew she had those for breakfast and morning snack. I think tomorrow I'll keep the carbs out of the first half of the day so that we can do nice and easy pasta for dinner. :)
Ok... I need to go to bed! I apologize that this place is just where I spew my thoughts, and don't necessarily tell anything that would be interesting to read. I realized that what really keeps me writing is not the thought that one or two friends may read (in fact I often forget this), but instead the thought that in a few years I can look back on my life at this time. It makes for a rather boring blog. Sorry!
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