Life with a Helper

Back when I shared how we will manage to have a baby in Singapore, I mentioned that we would have to get a live-in helper.  We started our search before Christmas as we wanted someone to start around the first of the year so we could get settled in with them before the baby arrives in March.  We found a sweet Filipino woman who was working with a German family and taking care of their two-year-old.  This family was leaving Singapore and so she was happy to come work for us.  While we were in the US for the holidays, Fedelynn moved into our apartment and has been taking care of us ever since.

Derek was uneasy with having someone we don't know live with us but after a month he has gotten pretty accustomed to it.  I am not sure who enjoys having a helper more, me or the dog!  Maddie has fallen in love with Fedelynn and enjoys having her home all day.  I love having my breakfast ready when I walk out of the bedroom in the morning, snacks for me and lunch for Derek packed, and the dog on the way out the door for a walk.  Our helper does all the grocery shopping and errand running so when we get home from work, we get to spend our time together.  I think for the first time in our marriage, we sit down at the table and have breakfast and dinner together almost every single day.  This makes me excited to have the baby come because of all the quality time we will get to spend with her instead of worrying about cooking and cleaning.

I enjoy cooking and baking again because I have an extra set of eager hands in the kitchen.  Our helper is actually a pretty good cook and I admit is better than me at cooking many things.  Our clothes are always washed and put away, the bed is made, and the dishes done.  I know that she is really going to make the transition to life with the baby so much easier! 

I will share a funny "helper problems" issue we have had.  Derek and I realized that we have been wearing the same three pairs of underwear over and over again because our helper is so on top of the laundry and it is getting washed as soon as there is a full load which is about every three days instead of waiting two weeks to do 6 loads like we got in the habit of doing.  I guess it is time to start rotating the underwear (which is now folded and perfectly stacked for the first time ever). We are beyond spoiled!