babysitting

I've started taking care of my 6 month old nephew for my sister. It helps her out, we get to see more of each other, and it allows me to make a little money and stay home with the kids. It's been a long time since I babysat someone other than my own kids (and I don't think you can call that babysitting). I forget how hard it can be, especially to get schedules to mesh so you can do things like think, prepare meals, and use the bathroom without a congregation at the door.

Yesterday was easy - only 3 hours. Today was 7 hours. 3 children under the age of 2. It wasn't easy! Jacob and Elizabeth can get very jealous of anyone invading "their space" (ie. mom's lap). Blake doesn't like the floor much. And when you feed one baby a bottle at least one of the 2 nurslings wants some action. And a nursling in action totally confuses the baby that's a nursling with his momma yet is stuck with a bottle!


Actually - they play fairly well together. J and E either sit right next to him and they pass/take toys or B ends up sitting solo while the others crawl/walk away. I wonder how long it will take him to learn the movement skills seeing those 2 in action. This is them yesterday. E is trying to wash B's head just like she does to her baby doll. He wasn't too keen on it. J just observed and was happy it wasn't his head!