Baby Sitting The Littles

Wednesday of this week I was able to babysit the only niece and nephew Rick and I have on my side of the family. Their regular baby sitter and her daughter were sick so my sister in law asked if I could help out. I am fortunate enough that I was able to leave work and help her out. We had a great time playing all afternoon. Baby Katie is such a good baby. She was actually turning 6 months that day. She can be left on her blanket and she will entertain herself for quite some time. It was great while we ate dinner. She just laid there giggling, blowing raspberries, looking at the Christmas tree and clapping her feet together, which I must say she is a pro!
Jimmy was so good. He sat and watched Rudolph and Cars with me. He was even good when I told him to look at the ornaments with his eyes, not his hands. (he is almost 4 so you can understand the urgent need to touch everything.)
For all the fun that we had, in the end it was nice when Grandma picked them up and took them home. We were once again able to have our quiet house, which I guess I have just grown way too accustomed to these days. (I always forget that if I video tape sideways, the movie comes out sideways...I just need to remember to pull out the real video camera)

Michele and Babies

I was hanging out with some friends last night...one of which has the cutest little 5 month old. He has all sorts of hair and looks so serious. He also appeared to be a cuddle bug. I wouldn't know...I didn't hold him. It isn't that I am afraid of babies or any of that...I remembered when we got home that in reality I haven't head a child under the age of one (other than my niece Katie) in more than a year now. It isn't that I really don't want to BUT they don't like me!
Seriously...it started last year at church one day. I asked to hold a child who was 6 months old. His mom was sitting next to me and instantly - I am not talking 5 or 10 second but INSTANTLY the child started to cry. This then happened again with the next 4 or 5 babies. I don't know what it is. I used to hold babies all the time and they liked me.
Here is the thing, it isn't that these children have to be with their mommies. They go to Rick just fine. Seriously...kids love Rick. It doesn't matter what age either. They all love him. Katie would smile at Rick LONG before she smiled at me. Little Jimmy her big brother always says, HI Shel, Where's Rick? It is the standard greeting.
I really don't mind. I actually think it is kinda funny now. I know someday when I have children that I won't have problems afterall I will be the cafeteria. They will have to like me but until then, if you have children and I don't hold them, just know that it is for the well being of the child and all around...I just don't want them to start crying!

This week has been interesting and a flood of emotions up and down. Last Saturday we spent time at Jim and Carrie's. It was so much fun playing with little Jimmy. Jim and I cooked dinner then Rick and I played with little Jimmy. Poor Carrie seemed to tired. She looks good though, as does the baby.
Prior to going over there I was able to get in some pool time. As you can see by the nice red hugh to my skin.



As you can see, Baby Katie is looking great. She has such beautiful color and is so pretty. She also is very good at keeping her parents awake. Apparently she does not like to have a pacifier and therefore they have to just hold her and calm her down. Doesn't make for getting much sleep.
This hammock was hand made especially for Jim while on his mission. Rick pushed Jimmy and me in Jim's hammock. in Venezuela. We had little Jimmy laughing so hard.So then on Sunday we went to see Rick's parents and then over to his sister's house. Going up there makes us want to move further north so it would be easier to see all our family. Who knows what will happen once we get to that point. So after we had to go by my mom's to pick up my car registration paperwork. On the way we drove past Cottonwood Mall - More accurately, what is left of Cottonwood Mall.

So we got up to my mom's and I ran inside to get my stuff. Since no one was home I had to go in the back door. The yard looked so bad. Inside the house smelled and felt so dirty. As soon as I got back into the car I just started crying. The house felt so horrible to be inside. There were none of the comforts that used to be there. I mentioned this to my mom today and she thought I was criticizing her because that is what she does to people. She didn't get that I was trying to tell her that I don't want to spend time there because she doesn't take care of the things that she has.
Then my visiting teachers came by Tuesday. They are so nice and friendly. They are great! Wednesday was an apron exchange with some ladies in my ward. Here is the thing, I thought it was Thursday! I felt like such a tard when I realized this and I felt so badly. I had really wanted to go and to spend time with these wonderful ladies. They are all so nice to me and I feel so badly that I have to work and that we don't actually live in the neighborhood with them. It makes me really wish we were in a home not an apartment. Sometimes I just feel so left out between not having children and working full time. Don't get me wrong, I love my job but it just isn't conducive to having a life.
Also on Thursday, Maddy and Drew left for Mexico. Yes I know Maddy lives in Oregon and I don't see her all the time BUT I know where she is. I can always call her. While in Mexico she has turned off her phone and she only has the interwebs while at school. I was able to talk with her today though. That made me very happy. She is also having a very hard time and is homesick. So yes both my sisters have left me. They don't understand how attached I am to them! If they knew I would think that the would do a better job at not leaving me alone.
So here is it, Friday afternoon. I stayed home today from work because I had food poisoning last night. (Stupid Harmon's Salsa - It must have been the tomatoes). I have been able to get a few things done today but not all that I had planned. Such is life.
One good thing - I lost another pound! HOORAY for me! I suppose it is time to get off the computer and get some of my house cleaning done so I can have another day at the pool tomorrow. So as I end this, the flood of emotions up and down, ends on the up side as it is 3:30 on a Friday. Life can't be all bad on a Friday in the Summer!

Welcome Katie

Since Jimmy was able to post photos of Katie first I feel that I can post some on here now too. I am so excited for them. And to be honest, I am glad it is them and not me. I am doing really well in the other people having the babies and not me. Quite surprising and refreshing. I guess that is why you should have children in your 20's before you know any better!

I was reading a friend's facebook page the other day and a friend of hers talked about her sister's website www.allthingsribbon.com I have to make a plug for it on here cause it is great! They have THE cutest ribbons and bows on there.

Rick and I are going to try and get to the hospital tomorrow night so I should have some more good photos. Jimmy I know has a ton.

Little Jimmy was so cute with Katie. He wanted to check her out and hold her. The first question he asked was "Where's her diaper?"
Then a few min later my mom was holding Katie (see the first photo) little Jimmy was concerned that she was crying. He told me then that "when the monsters come at night I will crawl into her bed and sing to her so she won't be scared." He was so serious and so cute!!! Katie is sure lucky to have him as a big brother and we are sure lucky to have her in our family!