Cure for Baby Fever

My house looks like an explosion of baby.

Yesterday I hauled the following items, carefully packed away in the garage in large plastic bags, back upstairs: the high chair, the exersaucer, the baby swing. Already upstairs was the activity gym and the bouncer.

I'm sure your first thoughts are that I'm pregnant again. Thankfully I'm not. Not that I don't want kids again, but I'm just not ready. In which case, I probably sound like a crazy person.

The reason for the explosion is the little man I just started babysitting. He is the cutest thing. He's five months old with huge blue eyes and brown hair that is long enough to have already been cut. Even cuter: it's always parted on the side :) His mom is a nurse and often works two 7PM-7AM shifts in a row, so I babysit the little man once or twice a week so she can rest up for shift number two. She gets sleep, I make a little spending money, and everyone is happy.

Except Livers.

She can get quite the jealous streak with him at times. She only wants to play with his toys and screams, "Holdyou Mama!" when I'm holding him or feeding him and can't possibly wrangle her, too. That's not to say that she's a complete holy terror with him, because there have definitely been some precious moments between the two of them, such as:

• Her putting the phone to his ear to talk to someone she's "talking" to
• Grabbing his tiny hands and giving him "peace" (it's a Catholic thing)
• Whispering, "T's sleeping!" when I put him down for a nap
• Getting on her belly next to him to laugh in his face because she thinks he's cute
• Petting him gently on the head, like he's a puppy

It's just difficult for her because she is used to being the center of Mommy's attention, and she doesn't like sharing the affection. I know she acts out because she is jealous and wants me back, and I feel bad for her because of it, but it's a good lesson for her to learn.

It's also been a great vaccination for baby fever. The experience has shown me that yes, babies are great and cute, but I'm not ready to give up the life that my husband, Livers, and I have yet. I like getting sleep, having predictability, being able to shower my love on only Livers without guilt, and having the occasional opportunity for time to myself (like now). It has shown me that I want to wait until Livers is potty trained and is more able to control herself and understand the needs of others.

I do want more bab(ies) someday, but for now I'm content to watch the Little Man for six hours, happily hand him back to his mommy, and head off with Livers for a much deserved afternoon nap.