Giveaway: Lily Jade Diaper Bag
People always ask me why our nanny is never present in the photos on my blog, like it’s some covert operation akin to Angelina Jolie’s pack of caregivers always hovering just out of frame. But the truth is, Ruth is not in my photos because she is usually not there when Mike and I are with the girls. She comes at 8am just as I am leaving to take Mazzy to school and leaves at 6pm when I get home.
Mazzy is in school the majority of the day but sometimes, I’ll meet Ruth and Harlow for lunch or give Ruth some time off while I take Harlow to a class. My schedule is flexible so I am almost always available for doctor’s appointments and class field trips. Depending on timing, I might come home to get Harlow or Ruth will drop Harlow off at my office, which is in walking distance from our apartment.
But it’s not often we all go on an outing together.
Over the course of the day, Ruth and I text each other playdate times and pertinent info, but we are far beyond instructions and schedules. After five years, Ruth knows my kids naptimes and eating quirks almost better than I do.
She sends Mike and I photos and videos of the girls throughout the day and sometimes we’ll send them to her over the weekend too. If Harlow or Mazzy do something particularly amusing, Ruth is usually the first person I want to tell because I know she will get it better than anybody else. Ruth is also the person I text if I can’t locate Mazzy’s Boo or Harlow’s favorite pair of sunglasses— she almost always knows where I can find them.
I know being a nanny is a job, but Ruth is exceptionally close with my kids and I really think of her as family.
She has been our trusted caregiver since Mazzy was six months old.
She has known Harlow since the day she was born.
She has watched my blog grow from something I was doing after work to something I am doing full-time.
Mike and I have always known that as the kids get older, our arrangement with Ruth would need to change, but the change is happening about a year earlier than we expected.
You see, Ruth is expecting a baby of her own.
I swear, I almost burst into tears writing that. Partly because I am so happy for her. Partly because change is hard. But mostly because I know Ruth is going to make the absolute best mom.
Before you get weepy too, Ruth is not leaving us for good. She is taking time off to have her baby over the summer. Her last day is June 30th and she will be returning October 1st. When she comes back, she will be working part time in the afternoons. We have enrolled Harlow in a preschool Monday through Friday morning, so Ruth’s hours will start when she picks up Harlow after school.
Part of being our nanny has been having firsthand experience with all the baby products and gear I have received through the blog over the years. We share a stroller and a diaper bag after all, and Ruth never hesitates to tell me what is and isn’t working for her.
Ruth and I both have a lot of experience with the Lily Jade diaper bags since I have been working with them for the past year and have more than one that we alternate between us. The removable baby organizer comes standard in all Lily Jade diaper bags, which makes it super easy for us to transfer Harlow and Mazzy’s necessities (snacks, cups, diapers, wipes, etc.) from bag to bag, regardless of who is carrying it.
When I asked Ruth what she wanted for her baby shower, she asked for a Lily Jade of her own. She picked the Madeline in red canvas because she likes the option to convert her bag into a backpack when necessary.
We have Ruth’s real baby shower this weekend, but we staged a little baby shower of our own earlier this week.
I can’t wait to see how she stocks the bag when all the choices are her own.
I won’t reveal the name of her baby yet, because it’s not my place, but I will tell you it’s unique and beautiful. I will also tell you that at 6pm when Ruth leaves for the day, Mazzy and Harlow say goodbye to both her and her unborn baby by name, which is just the sweetest thing.
As emotional as I am about Ruth leaving for three months, Harlow and Mazzy are not going to know what hit them. Especially Harlow. She is very attached.
So, I think it’s safe to say, in the remaining days of June, I will be taking TONS of photos of Ruth. I will need them to show my girls, when they tell me they miss her over the summer.
Congratulations, Ruth. You are going to be the most amazing mom! I know better than anybody.
And I can’t wait to meet your new baby girl.
GIVEAWAY:
1) Visit Lily Jade on Facebook (feel free to “follow” while you’re there!) and leave a comment below talking about your the caregiver you could not live without. It could be your spouse, your mom, your sitter, yourself, etc.
2) For a second entry, follow Lily Jade on Instagram and leave a second comment saying you did so.
3) For a third entry, follow Lily Jade on Twitter, tweet the following and leave a third comment saying you did so.
I just entered to win a @lilyjadeco diaper bag from @mommyshorts! http://bit.ly/1I9hT2l
IF YOU’D LIKE TO PURCHASE NOW, ALL LILY JADE BAGS ARE CURRENTLY ON SALE!
One winner will be announced on June 26th.
Good luck!
__________________________
WINNER UPDATE:
And the winner is… Sandy Chiang, who can’t live without her mom.
Congrats! Please contact abby@mommyshorts.com to claim your prize.
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This post was sponsored by Lily Jade, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Couldn’t live without my husband! So glad we’re a team in this whole parenting thing.
Following Lily Jade on Instagram.
And I follow LilyJade on Instagram. Thanks for the chance to win!
I couldn’t do it without my husband! He contributes so much no matter how many hours he’s worked.
I am a follower on instagram and twitter and fan on facebook. I couldn’t live without my husband helping me with my kiddos
Follow on instagram
following on instagram
My wonderful hubby! Couldn’t do it without him!
I follow on instagram!
When mine were very small the caregiver I could not live without was my mom.
Following Lily Jade on instagram as rusthawk1.
The caregiver I couldn’t live without is my husband. I give so much credit to single mothers and fathers because my husband helps do so much and I don’t know what I would do without him.
Following on twitter and tweeted – https://twitter.com/rusthawk/status/610606957745958912
I follow you on Instagram! MorrowFam07
My MOM! She’s an amazing and engaging Grandma, and honestly the only one who really watches our two year old… with another on the way, there’ll be more to love:)
My biggest caregiver helper is my husband. He has been the most amazing father and helper for me. He changes almost every diaper and works so hard to help me out in any way he can.
I follow on instagram
Follow on Twitter: clmorgan802
I am blessed to have my husband beside me raising our 10 month old and 2nd one on the way. Our favorite days are the days he has off and can spend with us.
Follow on Instagram: clmorgan802
My husband is my switch hitter when it comes to our family! I couldn’t do it with out him! But my mom is also amazing!! And my dad came completely out of left field and I can’t even put into words how my children have changed him. When they say it takes a village! Our family is there!!
Following Lily Jade on Facebook. I could not live without my husband and my mom. My husband works 80 hours ever other week. On the week that he is off, he takes care of our 2 girks under 2. He basically has 2 full time jobs! On the week that my husband is working, my mom takes care of my 2 girls. It’s so nice to have 2 people that I completely trust be there when I’m at work. It eases my mind and helps me be a better worker!
I couldn’t live without my mother. She doesn’t watch the boys often, but always steps in if I need her to.
Following on Instagram (@dameech81)
Following on Instagram @alyroll
I also follow on Instagram.
(@justkaybee)
I love to follow Lily Jade on instagram. :@jessmiller575
I could not live without my mom. She lives in another state so I relish in the time we get together! My kids adore her and I love watching their eyes light up when they see her!
100% my husband! we are a military family that has no family close so he’s my rock!
I would follow them anywhere lol on twitter also! @jessmiller575
Tweeted and Instagram-Ed!
I follow on Facebook!
I couldn’t be without my husband! I love having him as a partner in this parenting journey!
My Instagram is jhowdy
I definitely couldn’t live without my mom! I’m a stay at home/work from home mom and she is always seems to come visit just when it feels like my life has gotten too full to handle.
Not entering, just wanted to say, congratulations, Ruth!
My mom is definitely the caregiver I couldn’t live without. She is a lifesaver! —visited on fb!
Followed on IG! 🙂
My sisters! They always come through in a pinch to watch our little guy! ❤️
Followed on Twitter and tweeted! 😀
I was a nanny/babysiter like that for 13 years for a family with 6 children, I started working for them when their 4th child was just 6 months old and I was 13, he is now 18. I and they think of me as part of their family, I was with them through a lot including for the death of her parents in a plane crash and then through the loss of her nine year old to cancer. It felt like I lost my little sister. We had plenty of great and fun times too, I played soccer with the boys and brought dress up for the the girls. And went with them on family vacations. I visit them everytime I go back to my home town and they traveled to see me when I lost my first child at 23 weeks gestation. I love them and cannot imagine those years without them.
Couldn’t live with out Mom helping out on the weekends. Like Lily Jade on FB
My mother has always been a lifesaaver for me and my kids
Tweeted
I follow Lily Jade on instagram
tweetyscute
I follow Lily Jade on IG.
Follow on Instagram
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/tweetyscute/status/610612467232862208
I liked lilyjade on Instagram
I follow Lily Jade on Twitter & I tweeted!
My husband is definitely my rock when it comes to caring for our 6 yr old daughter, 4 ye old son, and newborn baby girl. I thank the Lord for him, although probably not nearly enough!
I also tweeted.
I follow LilyJade on Instagram!
I tweeted!
While I am the person who takes care of the kids majority of the time, my partner is someone I appreciate so much. He helps relieve some of the responsibility and allows me time to do the little things like take a shower. I love him and am super grateful for him. <3
I am blessed to be one of those fortunate people with a village to help raise our girls. My husband is the ultimate pitch in dad, our daytime Childcare provider is loving and a God-following woman, our families of aunts, and uncles, and grandparents and adopted aunts and uncles and grandparents is too long too list the blessings they bring us! I am so thankful for them all.
My husband! He can really get the kids into something and calm them down. I can’t imagine raising our crazy three without him
I follow Lily Jade on IG
I follow Lilly Jade on Twitter. @tasgadesmoines Thanks!
I couldn’t live without an amazing care giver, my husband. He is such a good daddy to our two children. Always there to step up when I need a break or some extra sleep. He is my rock, and the kids just gravitate towards him, and not only ours. He’s a natural 🙂
The care giver I couldn’t live without is my husband. He is currently off work for a little while (due to fibromyalgia) and our daughter stays home with him several days a week. She is a very busy 17 month old but he is so patient and good with her. I’m so grateful for the bonding time they’re getting, and I know my husband is too!
The caretaker I cannot love without is my oldest sister! Not only did she help to care for my twin and I growing up while our parents worked but she is now caring for my son while my husband and I are at work and when she had to work as well as my brother in law I took care of her kids so we have come full circle and we couldn’t have done it without each other!!
I follow on Instagram!
I followed you both on Twitter, and tweeted about the giveaway!
My mom is the caregiver that none of us can do without! I’m one of seven and my mom has 15, going on 17, grandkids!!! I realize she has had a lot of practice, but she’s amazing in every way, and the beauty of it is that she really enjoys every moment she has with each of the kids – I hope to be as amazing of a woman as her!
I follow Lilly Jade on Instagram. @theskeltons Thanks!
I follow lily jade on Instagram!
Following lily jade on Instagram.
My mom stayed for 3 weeks when each of my girls was born. My husband and I both cried each time she left, even though my parents visit once a month from out of state.
I look forward to the day, if and when my girls become moms themselves, I can do the same. My youngest is still an infant, but the closeness between my 3 year old and her Mimi is something wonderful to behold.
We are so blessed to have the most amazing in-home daycare provider! She has been like a second mom to my now 4 year old daughter since she was 3 months old.
I am a stay at home mom of 4, but I could not survive without my mom. She keeps the kids for me whenever I need help. I am so thankful for her!!! I am a long time follower of lily jade both on fb and instagram. I would love to have one of there bags!
Following on Instagram!
I am very blessed to have my daughter with me every day. I am a nanny for a wonderful family and they allow me to bring my daughter which has allowed her and the little one I watch to form an amazing bond! It is the sweetest thing! Other than myself, my mother-in-law is the only person other than my husband and I who has watched our daughter. She is amazing and I’m thankful that I know I can trust to leave my little one with her when we visit 🙂
Follow on IG @and9z
Following on Twitter – and I tweeted! :)https://twitter.com/LovelyLadybug83/status/610619392234287104
I visited lily jade on facebook 🙂
As a stay at home mom I couldn’t live without my husband. Nothing beats hearing daddy’s keys in the door!
I follow Lily Jade on instagram.
I visited lily jade on facebook 🙂 My M is my best friend and my daughter loves her Gigi more than anyone! She’s an amazing mom and grandma!
Both grandmas are amazing when both mom and dad need a break… or schedules don’t jive… or someone needs to meet the bus and mom’s stuck at the doctor… or we just want to have a date night. The kids are so comfortable with them and we feel perfectly at ease leaving them in such capable hands (even if we might pass on all the spoiling!)
I already follwed lily jade on Instag ram @jessberkowit18
@jEssBerKoWitz18
Following Lily Jade on Instagram: brownlin
I tweeted from @jessberkowitz18
Following Lily Jade on Twitter…and I tweeted!
https://twitter.com/brownlin81/status/610622574389800960
I couldn’t live without my husband and my mom’s help with our little one!
I follow you both on Instagram! @thebirdsnestblog
I couldn’t live without my husband as a caregiver! My son loves him so much. We don’t have family in town and we are also still new in town so I don’t know people well enough to trust em with my kids. So thankful for my husband!
I tweeted the twit! from @LynaNeubert on twitter
I also follow Lily Jade on Instagram as of today! @neubertamanda
The lead teachers of my daughter’s daycare room is amazing! We drive out of the way to keep her at this location!
I Follow on Instagram. Mrs_cully
I Follow on Twitter. Tradingvows
I could not live without my mom! She has been there since the birth of my son and we see her multiple times a week and FaceTime on the ones we don’t! Love her!
I couldn’t do it wo my husband. He is an engaged, hands-on daddy. I don’t know how single parents do it on their own. I’d be a mess wo him.
Following on Instagram!
I follow Lilly Jade on Instagram. @akchaney
The caregiver I couldn’t live without is my husband Daniel. He is so patient and kind. He gives me a break if I need one, without me ever having to say a word. With 3 kids 5 and under we are a great team.
Followed on Instagram
Following on Twitter and commented with my tweet
Right now, my husband and I are the caregivers we couldn’t live without….our little man (our first) is just about 6 weeks old so I’m still home with him on maternity leave! The grandparents haven’t had to babysit yet, but they love to come and visit to give mama a break, which is wonderful!