On Babies

There was a time, in the not so distant past, when I was months away from getting married and was mentally on track to progress my life in that direction.  That included kids.  Maybe not immediately, but I was on that track - marriage, babies... 

Then we broke up.  

And then Melissa and Justin had Kayla.

At the time things were very difficult for me - emotionally.  I was so happy for Melissa and Justin, but there was that nagging feeling in my head that I wasn't going to get to have that right now.

I love Kayla.  She was (and still is) the cutest little bundle of giggles.

When Melissa and Justin moved in with me when Kayla was 3 months old, I realized the direct impact of a baby - first hand (well, as first hand as an aunt can get).  She was fussy and didn't sleep well.

There were times when I was babysitting her so Melissa and Justin could get out of the house for a bit that I was frustrated.  She wanted to be standing all the time.  She HATED going to sleep.  But at least I knew the process.  I knew all her tricks and the little things to help get her to sleep.  So I felt like I could definitely still handle taking care of her.

Now Liam and Brody are here also.  And at 3 months, they are giggly little stinkers.

Yesterday, I babysat Liam so Lauren and Kevin could go to the Packers-Bears game.  Melissa, Justin and their gang came by the hang out - so it was a full house.

Liam was a smiley happy guy almost the entire day.  The issue was trying to get him to sleep.  And I gotta be honest - not knowing the tricks is frustrating.  I tried to put him down for a nap and it wasn't working... so Melissa tried and she was able to do it.  Then later, Justin was able to.

It's so hard not to get frustrated and think - man, I can't even make this kid take a nap for one day - how on earth can I be a mom.

At the end of the day, it was fine.  He was happy any time we weren't trying to make him take a nap.  

This weekend I am babysitting Kayla and Brody.

Just one more chance to redeem myself.