Meet Ms. Vanessa (AKA - Nessa)

Hello Friends, 

I was born, raised and currently reside in the beautiful Napa Valley, California. I am grateful to have been engulfed in this amazing environment and culture. Growing up I never fully understood or appreciated the beauty of the Wine Country, however as the older I get and the more that I experience, I have finally found the beauty in this amazing Valley. I am proud to call it Home. 

I am the oldest child of three, as I have a younger sister and a younger brother, whom I am both very close too. They are some of the best Aunties and Uncles around. My Parents, who are Middle School Sweet Hearts have now been married for over 40 years. 

There was a point in my young life when I wanted to be a Marine Biologist. I loved everything Ocean and was obsessed with Dolphins and Whales. I even had a mural of the Ocean Life painted on one wall in my Bedroom for the longest time. However, at the age of Eight, I started playing Softball and it quickly became my favorite sport. I was very passionate about the game and I played competitively till I was 23 years old.

Although my playing career ended, I knew in my heart that I still wanted the game to be a part of my life. That is when I embarked on a new chapter in my life and took an opportunity to coach softball. In my early 20's I starting coaching the Junior Varsity Softball team at Vintage High School. It quickly became a passion of mine, and I realized that teaching, mentoring, and coaching was something that just came natural to me and gave me an overwhelming sense of happiness and fullness. This was the beginning of my educational journey into the realm of Education. 

I didn't start out to be an Early Childhood Educator, although I loved working with young children, in fact, I started out wanting to be a Physical Education teacher. After spending almost 3 years at Napa Valley Community College I graduated with an A.S. Degree and an A.A Degree and I had also been accepted into Sonoma State University's Kinesiology Program. My hopes were to graduate with a B.S. in Kinesiology and apply to the Teaching Credential Program.  After 3 tough and trying semesters at Sonoma State, life hit me hard and I had to follow a different path. 

However that path was not one I wanted to take at the time, it was a necessary path and eventually lead me to where I am now. While on that path, I became a Mom to my first beautiful daughter Rylee or aka "Rylee Roo". About 2 years after Rylee came along I decided that it was time to finish my original goal of graduating college. So, I enrolled in an online program that focused on Early Childhood Education. 

In 2016 I graduated from Ashford University with my Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education. It was a long but rewarding journey that some days I thought I would never get through. But, I did and I would do it again in a heart beat! A year later, I was blessed with another beautiful daughter,  Everlee or aka "Boob a Lou". After Everlee was born, life once again showed me another path that led me to the creation and opening of Roo & Lou's Place. 

I am excited for the possibility of working with your child as they embark on a journey to Grow, Explore and Discover.