You are so thoughtful! I have a child about thw same age and I would be THRILLED to stay at your place. If you live in a rural area, I know my child would love to go outside (not sure how cold it is where you live). Another fun thing to entertain is just a ball- any kind about the size of a soccer ball I’ve never seen a kid not love that. As far as things to do, my little one is just so excited to explore or see anything new- are there animals around where you live? In terms of outings, anything with a play area, or even just an enclosed open space for children to run around (I.e. a restaurant with a patio or green space) is a hit for everyone.

For baby proofing, that's tough because there is SO much, and as a parent I wouldn't expect someone to baby proof, I would just want to keep a close eye on my child in a new place. Things to watch out for though would be stairs, sharp corners on furniture, medicine and chemicals out of reach, anything with small parts they could choke on (including food), and outlets. If you can do some rearranging to get things out of reach before they arrive that would be great!

Another thought to make the mama comfortable is to offer to watch the little one while she showers or rests or whatever. She may not accept, but I am personally so grateful anytime someone offers.

Last thing I'll say is that when I stay at a new place I am so thankful and relieved when someone has put forth the effort to make my child comfortable. Just the fact that you are thinking of them to this level is amazing. I hope it's great, please update!

thanks Kelly! I appreciate the input more than you know!

what I didn't mention in the primary post is that my bf is much older than myself. I am 31, he is 56. his daughters are 29 and 27 and the baby is 1 and a half. I don't have any kids and I don't have any experience. Kids terrify me, I have no idea how to interact with them so I freeze up and I feel like they hate me! I mean, I've never even babysat! This baby is the first baby I ever held and I just love her to pieces! Unfortunately his oldest, her hubby, and the baby live overseas so we don't see them often. His youngest only lives about 1.5 hr away but they barely even talk so we see her even less.

to top it all off my bf is a real life hoarder. this house is small and every inch of it is filled with one thing or another. I am a minimalist but thanks to a house fire last year I don't own anything anyway. he is also super protective over all his stuff so he barely tolerates me touching anything. It makes cleaning and organizing incredibly difficult bc everything is his and theres so much of it. if I dont get the "dont touch it, ill do it later" speech, I usually just get overwhelmed and give up. I'm also embarrassed about it. ive tried to change him, thats not gona happen. I know it sounds shallow but I want them to know its not me and I don't approve either. I wish I could change this one part of him but since I cannot I need ppl to know its not me. I know how shallow that sounds but its the facts.

Luckily his daughters are awesome in every way and have always been accepting of me regardless of the age difference. I want to make sure they feel at home here and know they're welcome anytime. What I dont want is for the girls to think this place is dirty bc its cluttered, feel uncomfortable having the baby here thinking we would leave something out that could hurt her, and never come back.

bottom line is that I have to get it right and I have to go above and beyond their expectations. growing up they lived with him for longer than I have so they know all about him and his ways! but baby needs to be safe so things need to be perfect today and, god willing, maybe his beautiful granddaughter who he loves to pieces will give him some incentive to change his hoarding ways.

fingers crossed!

they were planning on coming for Xmas but an unexpected death in the fam brought his daughter her hubby and the babe back to america early. they've been here for 2 wks already and did some family trips to nyc, etc. her hubby is going back overseas today so she now its just her and the baby and i think that increases ths chances she will want to visit and stay over exponentially. just yest she asked if she could stop by today and then later on saod she could stay at a friends but asked if she would be able to stay with us overnight. I was delighted! hopefully this one overnighter will turn into many more but I feel a strong need to impress her. she will still be here for weeks to come and o can tell her shes welcome to stay all day long but I think showing her, making her feel at home and safe and relaxed, that would be key.

Ok, so you are dealing with a lot of stuff around and the baby might, possibly, stay longer.

Well, it sounds like you have a lot of fires to keep control of.

It is probably not a good idea to offer to keep the baby for any length of time if you are uncomfortable with small children or unless grandpa is going to be there with you. Small children sense fear and discomfort and you are a stranger to her. It is likely that it would be very uncomfortable for both you and her. One of you is going to cry.

haha I have no intention of taking the rugrat off her hands and being alone with her (not anytime on the near future at least). like u said we are not familiar with each other like that yet and the bambino and I would both be uncomfortable.

last night went very well and I want mommy and baby to both stay! heck, they're over here for basically a month. when her hubby was here they were staying in hotels as a fam but now that he has gone back... if she has no place to call home base... I want her to feel comfortable calling this home base and I want her to know she's welcome to do so

Kids that age aren’t anything to be scared of. They’re kind of past the “breakable” stage and starting to become little people, little people with weird ideas, but still more autonomous then they have been.

Try playing “peek-a-boo” with her, it’s a great ice breaker. My personal variant is “Where’s [child’s name]?” “THERE she is!” (sounding surprised and delighted). Most little ones are entertained by this for quite a while.

Singing silly, repetitive songs is also good. Kiddies that age are learning language and love repetition. Reading simple stories with lots of pictures, going off the storyline and interacting with the little one asking questions about the pictures- “What colour is the man’s coat? It’s red, isn’t it?” “Where is the doggie? Can you show me where the doggie is?” etc, also amuses them.

I love kiddies that age. They’re generally really easy to keep amused, and so non-judgmental.

colleenoz- great advice! thanks

Chrissy, don't count on his commitment to his grand children to change his ways. I am certain that, in your heart of hearts, you know that is not going to happen.

Once a hoarder, usually, always a hoarder.

Hoarding and the behavior that is at the root of it often is a factor in a person's personal relations, as well and that is unlikely to change at his age.