Brody's girls

We have been so blessed to have been able to find childcare in our home for Brody since he was 6 months old. When I had to go back to work in March 2007 from maternity leave - working 5 days a week - God led us to a lady who did daycare in her home. It was a Christian daycare - her husband was the music minister at a church in Jacksonville so we were very excited. She only had one other boy she kept who only stayed PT and she had her own boy who was about 6 months older than Brody. It was a great situation because it was only about 2 minutes from our house. She was great and loved Brody. When Brody was about 6 months old, her and her husband felt God was leading them to a church in Macon, GA. We were very sad but knew God would lead us to the next person to keep Brody.
Here's Brody's first daycare - Beth.

We were praying for someone to come to our house and watch Brody. We just weren't ready to put him in a big daycare. It was a great day when April Lee decided that she could come to our house and watch Brody. I have known her family all of my life. My family and her grandpa, grandma, dad, and uncles (when we were all much younger) would all take vacations together so we have a close bond with the Lee family. April was wonderful with Brody and it was great to be able to let him sleep in in the mornings so he didn't get in the routine of 6AM rising on the weekends. As a result he doesn't wake up until around 8:30 - 9:00 now which is GREAT!!!

Brody and April

Well, April took off during the 2007 summer for about a 2 month mission trip over seas, but thankfully TaTa (Aunt Tara) and mom were available to come to the house and watch him since they are teachers and off through the summer.

TaTa and Brody when he was about 2 months old.

NeNe and Brody Easter 2008

When April returned from her mission trip she actually took some time off of school and was able to continue keeping Brody. We were so excited. It's amazing how God always seemed to bring us someone to watch Brody just when we needed it. April continued watching Brody until the Summer of 2008 when she took a harder load at college and couldn't continue. Thankfully, Brooke Outler had just graduated high school and would be going off to school in the fall so she was available during the summer to watch Brody. She was great and full of energy. Brody loved her and even learned to say her name but of course it sounded like Book. It was so cute.

Brooke and Brody

When Aug 2008 came around, we had NO idea who was going to keep Brody since Brooke was heading off to school and April couldn't work her schedule around my 3 day work schedule. At the last minute, Kristin Carr called me up and said she was available to help out until she found a job and passed her boards from hair school. Whew - just in time. She watched Brody on Tues and Thurs and April ended up keeping him on Mondays. It was a great schedule. They would go up to the Chicken House once a week, take him to the park, take him to the mall, and wherever else they needed to go. They said he was already really good - I sure hope so. Brody would always tell Jason and I who he saw that day - usually Emily White was in the mix. He really never knew who would be picking him up out of the crib that day. Thank goodness he adapts well.

Kristin, Emily, and April - the 3 Amigos.

I say all of this, because April has now gone away to school out to Graceville, FL. We are very proud of her and wish her the best. Her last day with Brody was Dec 30 and it was definitely a sad day. She had kept him since he was 6 months old and people at Target and the Chicken House thought he was her child - which I know she got tons of looks - not a great way to pick up a guy (sorry April). Enjoy every minute of school because it won't last.

God is continuing to bless us because we put Brody on the wait list at Sonshine but he still hasn't gotten in - however Jessica Horton, who I also taught in Sunday School when she was in the youth department, decided to take a break from college for a couple of months and was looking for somewhere to watch kids in their home. Coincidence?? I don't think so - God is really looking out for us. She has been wonderful - she keeps Brody very active which is a big help so he is exhausted by naptime and takes great naps.

Jessica - his latest sitter.

I know this was a long post, but I feel so blessed to have been able to find in home childcare for Brody for 2 years now. God is so good!!!